Even if there is an update, Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro Still feels like a greater technology demonstration. If anything, the current beta version of the upcoming visionOS 2 shows us that Apple is still in uncharted territory. After the beta update, this is a better headset. New gestures make it more responsive and easier to navigate. Unlike those who say the Vision Pro lacks apps (and to be sure, there is currently a lack of content), I think if Apple expanded its availability through more typical Apple devices, this device would really start to sing.
I’m tired of the “killer app” narrative selling hardware. Cool apps may sell products, but versatility gets in the way user abandons it. If you invest hundreds or thousands of dollars in a device (take the Apple Vision Pro as an example), it better do more than one thing. You might say that describes video game consoles in a nutshell, but I’d say most people won’t buy a console Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 Play a game. If I bought a $3,500+ gaming laptop, you’re right, I wouldn’t just use it for gaming Alan Wake II on high settings.
As long as my head can support it, I’ve been using Apple’s AR headsets for most daily tasks. The updated Vision Pro feels more compact and accurate, with best-in-class hand and eye tracking. Still the same headset. I’m waiting for more gestures beyond pinching and dragging to make me feel like I’m truly interacting with the VR space I’m in. We’re still preparing for a full review of the headphones six months after launch, when Apple fully deploys visionOS 2.
The VisionOS 2 update is gearing up for release later this year. While there’s no word on a release date, we expect it could be released in September The highly anticipated iPhone 16 beside iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.
VisionOS 2 makes navigation easier with headsets
The current beta version introduces features that make it easier to access apps through gestures. All you have to do is open your hand, then look and click on the icon that pops up. Flip your hand and you can access Control Center. This function is similar to Meta task 3 There have been recent updates. However, it’s still much better when you tap the Digital Crown to bring up apps or view the control panel at the top of the screen.
Many quality-of-life improvements help ease the pain points of viewing through the narrow field of view of the headset. Now, when working in a spatial environment, you can more easily spot your keyboard if your hand hovers near it. You can also connect a first- or third-party mouse to Vision Pro for easier navigation. Just use your Mac trackpad to easily navigate through most apps, no gestures required. If I’m sitting at my desk, I sometimes prefer it to clicking or swiping.
The next big change for any home is to think of the Vision Pro as a computer. Previously, you could set up a guest account for other users, but they needed to go through the entire setup process every time they wanted to use it. Vision Pro now saves guests’ profiles and can be unlocked with just their eyes. The master account doesn’t have to replay the song and dance as long as they continue to use it within 30 days of their last claim.
The current version of OS 2 still lacks promised features, such as the ability to enlarge a mirrored Mac display to a giant curved screen equivalent to “two 4K monitors.” This feature probably won’t come in time for the first VisionOS 2 version, which is a shame because it first reminded me of the Spacetop G1 laptop and AR glasses combo. The added benefit of $1,900 is that it doesn’t require you to strap on a giant headset, although I’d really like to see what the AVP’s micro-OLED display looks like.
Has VisionOS 2 really changed how or why you use Vision Pro?
When you want to use such a large and expensive AR headset, these small details make a big difference. Vision Pro now allows users to rearrange their applications in the main view. You can add non-AVP native applications to the home view for easier access. This is something that should have been there from the beginning.
Improved usability is one thing, but Apple is pushing Space Photos even more with the new update. As promised, you can convert almost any photo into a 3D-like space photo. This works especially well when taking photos with depth of field. When I turned a photo of my friend’s dog Remus into a 3D photo, I admit I had a strong desire. Remus died a few months ago. His nose will be remembered from now until the end of time, and not just because I spatialized his long nose.
There is one There are a limited number of passive viewing experiences on AVP, and the number of headphones has been increasing since launch. Apple is clearly investing heavily in 360-degree production, such as immersive experiences wild animals series. Yes, these short films are truly amazing because of how intimately you feel the rhino and elephant scenes, despite the Currently, there are only seven Apple immersive experiences available on the AppleTV app. Once you complete them, you probably won’t go back.
Critics trumpet Vision Pro launched without native apps for Netflix or YouTube. New beta introduces big picture mode for streaming Go full screen in any app with Safari. It produces the large windows you see on native apps like Disney+ or Paramount+, even though you’re not technically getting 4K visuals (unless you pay for those two apps, you’re not getting 4K anyway visual effects), it looks good too.
Apple is still missing one big thing: better iPhone mirroring
Disney+ may have some specific VR environments available to subscribers, but you won’t be able to use most apps like Apple’s main environment. Some recent games include twisted kart racing, or some such pastime Marvel Studios’ What If? and synthetic knight, It’s worth trying, but too many games are just 3D renditions of mobile games. You’re better off streaming games or A Deep Dive into New Vision Pro Simulation for a more substantive title.
So inevitably we return to basic practicality. Apple is marketing the device as a computer, which is clearly its purpose. It doesn’t matter if you’re standing or sitting. You can use the connected keyboard to browse the web, stream videos, and type email and Slack messages; that’s all you do on your Mac. What seems worse is that I can’t imagine using Vision Pro without mirroring my Mac screen.
MacOS Sequoia Let users mirror their iPhone on screen And allows you to control it using Mac cursors. This is already great for quickly accessing restricted apps or operating your phone, even in beta. Mac usage just got easier with AVP. Not so with the iPhone. With VisionOS 2, you can mirror your iPhone to headphones once you enable the AirPlay receiver in AVP settings. That way you still lose control of the phone, and the headphones prevent you from using face unlock.
I’d really like to try the wraparound Mac mirror display on the AVP. Once implemented, it will make a huge difference as long as users stick within the warm confines of Apple’s walled garden, allowing them to get better use of their headphones. So imagine if Apple did the same thing with the iPhone or iPad. What if it enhanced the usability of other Apple devices? It sounds like something Apple fans might get behind, albeit at a more reasonable price.
