Even if there is an update Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro It still feels like a tech demo of something bigger. Rather, the current beta of the upcoming visionOS 2 shows that Apple is still in uncharted territory. The beta update has made the headset better; new gestures make it more responsive and much easier to operate. Unlike those who say the Vision Pro has no apps (and admittedly, it’s currently lacking in content), I think the device will really start to shine once Apple expands its availability across popular Apple devices.
I’m tired of hearing about “killer apps” selling hardware. A cool app might sell a product, but versatility is key. So that users don’t abandon itIf you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars, or in the case of the Apple Vision Pro, thousands of dollars on a device, it needs to do more than one thing. That may sum up the whole point of a video game console, but most people probably won’t buy one. Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 Just to play one game. If you buy a gaming laptop for over $3,500, you’re going to use it for more than just gaming. Alan Wake II On high settings.
I’ve been using Apple’s AR headset for most of my daily tasks for as long as my head can stand it. The Vision Pro already had best-in-class hand-eye tracking, but the updates make it feel tighter and more precise. The headset itself is the same. I’m hoping that gestures beyond pinching and dragging will help you feel like you’re truly interacting with the VR space you’re in. We’re not in the promised land of AR yet. We’re gearing up for a full review of this headset six months after Apple fully rolls out visionOS 2. Let’s see what changes with the full release.
The visionOS 2 update is expected to be released later this year. A release date has not yet been announced, but it could be as soon as September. The highly anticipated iPhone 16 In line iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia.
VisionOS 2 makes headset operation easier
The current beta version introduces a feature that lets you easily access apps with gestures. Just open your hand, look at the icons that pop up, and tap them. Flip your hand over to access the Control Center. This feature is Metaquest 3 A recent update has changed the app significantly, but it’s still far more convenient to just tap the Digital Crown to launch apps or check the control panel at the top of the screen.
Many of the quality of life improvements help alleviate the pain points you feel when your headset narrows your field of view. When working in a spatial environment, your keyboard is now easier to find if your hands drift near it. You can also connect a first- or third-party mouse to Vision Pro for easier navigation. It’s pretty easy to navigate most apps without gestures using just your Mac’s trackpad. When you’re sitting at a desk, a trackpad can be easier to use than tapping and swiping.
The next big change, important for any household, is treating the Vision Pro as a computer. Previously, you could set up guest accounts for additional users, but you had to go through all the steps to set up a guest account every time you wanted to use it. Now, Vision Pro can save a guest profile and unlock it with just the guest’s eyes. As long as the guest continues to use it within 30 days of their last use, you won’t have to repeat the same process with your primary account.
The current version of OS 2 is still missing promised features such as the ability to scale a mirrored Mac display onto a giant curved screen equivalent to “two 4K monitors.” This feature won’t be available in time for the first visionOS 2 release. That’s a shame, because my first thought is the Spacetop G1 laptop with AR glasses. At $1900, the upside is not having to wear a giant headset, but I’d love to see how it looks on the AVP’s micro-OLED display.
Will visionOS 2 really change how and what you use Vision Pro for?
When using a large and expensive AR headset, it’s the little things that make a big difference. Vision Pro now lets you reorder apps in the Home view. You can add apps that are not AVP native to the Home view for easy access. This is something that should have been there from the start.
While improved usability is good, Apple is pushing spatial photography even further with the new update. As promised, you can turn almost any photo into a 3D-like spatial photo. The effect is outstanding, especially for photos with depth of field. I will admit to being saddened when I turned a photo of my friend’s dog, Remus, into a 3D photo. Remus passed away a few months ago, and his nose will now be remembered forever, and not just because I spatialized his long nose.
There Passive viewing experiences are limited on AVP and the headset has grown even more since its launch, and Apple is clearly investing heavily in immersive-like 360-degree productions. Wildlife The series. Indeed, these short films are truly wonderful in that they give a sense of familiarity to the rhino and elephant scenes. There are currently only seven Apple Immersive experiences in the AppleTV app, and once you try them, you’ll never go back.
The critics went crazy. At launch, the Vision Pro didn’t have native Netflix or YouTube apps, the new beta introduces a Big Picture Mode for streaming. You can view either app full screen via Safari, which produces the large windows you see in native apps like Disney+ and Paramount+, and even if you’re not technically getting 4K visuals (you’re not getting 4K visuals anyway unless you pay for a subscription to both), it looks great.
One big thing Apple is still missing: better iPhone mirroring
Disney+ may have some special VR environments for subscribers, but you won’t be able to use most of the apps like you can in Apple’s main environment. Recent games include: Warped Kart Racing, Or other distractions such as Marvel Studios’ “What if?”… and Synth Riders, It’s worth a try, but there are far too many titles out there that are simply 3D versions of mobile games. Stream games Digging into early Vision Pro emulation For a more substantive title.
So, inevitably, we return to basic practicality. Apple is marketing this device as a computer, and it’s clear that that’s how it’s intended to be used. Standing or sitting, it doesn’t matter. Browse the internet, stream videos, type emails and Slack messages on a connected keyboard. This is all what you do with a Mac. And as if to make this even worse, I can’t imagine using the Vision Pro without the ability to mirror your Mac screen.
MacOS Sequoia Users can mirror their iPhone to the screen And you can navigate with your Mac cursor. This already works very well, even in beta, for quickly accessing restricted apps and navigating your phone. Macs have become easier to use with AVP. The same can’t be said for iPhones. In visionOS 2, you can mirror your iPhone to your headset if you enable AirPlay receiver in the AVP settings. You still can’t navigate your phone this way, and with the headset you can’t unlock it using your face.
I’d love to try AVP’s wraparound Mac mirror display. It would make a huge difference in how users get more out of their headsets, so long as they stay within the warm confines of Apple’s walled garden. Now imagine if Apple did the same with the iPhone and iPad? What if they made other Apple devices even easier to use? It’s something Apple fans could get behind, but perhaps at a more reasonable price point.
