As CES opens its doors, Apple has announced that its $3,499 Vision Pro headset will be on sale in the US on Feb. 2. Pre-orders will begin on Jan. 19.
Apple has always promised to ship the product “early” in 2024, and in the last week, speculation of a CES-timed intro has been rife, as noted here and here.
Since then, we’ve learned that the company has begun training retail staff to demonstrate the product. Apple has confirmed that Vision Pro will be available at all US Apple Store locations.
A new era for Apple
“The era of spatial computing has arrived,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. “Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created. Its revolutionary and magical user interface will redefine how we connect, create, and explore.”
Apple claims that Vision Pro will ship with a million “compatible” existing iPad and iPhone apps, along with new apps designed specifically for the new hardware. Vision Pro apps will be available via a new purpose-built App Store, with a range of titles for health, entertainment, productivity, and games, along with spatial photos and videos which are a huge leap forward in creating immersive memories.
There’s a historical precedent to note — arguably Apple’s most important product, the Macintosh, also began retail sales in January.
Inside the box
We’ve covered Vision Pro since its official announcement last year, and now we have learned a little more as it hits retail.
It comes with 256GB of storage on board.
Prescription lens inserts for those who need vision correction will cost $149, with readers available for $99 a set.
Vision Pro ships with two headbands, giving users two options to find the best fit.
In addition to a cover, Light Seal, battery, USB-C charge cable, and power adapter, Vision Pro ships with what has become a celebrated signature Apple product: a polishing cloth. (Someone out there probably hopes to collect the full set.)
As we’ve explained before, interaction leans heavily into Apple’s years of experience in accessible technologies. You control apps with voice, glance, motion, gesture, and using a virtual keyboard. You can also use the device like a Minority Report virtual Mac.
Don’t expect sales in huge numbers (yet)
Of course, at the price and with availability confined to the US, it seems unlikely that Vision Pro will contribute much materially to Apple’s sales revenues in the short term. But we know, based on previous form, that the company will press forward to ramp sales up.
We also know that in the context of declining iPhone sales and all the other headwinds (political, environmental, economic, disease, and more) Apple and other companies face at this time, success isn’t necessarily going to be measured in a linear sense. In a changing world, the barometers for success will also transform. Wall Street investors will eventually moderate expectations to meet this new reality.
For Apple, the…
2024-01-09 19:00:05
Original from www.computerworld.com rnrn