In Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality News
June 11, 2024 – This week at its WWDC 2024 event, Apple has announced that its Vision Pro virtual and mixed reality headset will be available for pre-order in new countries and regions. Customers in mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore can pre-order the device on June 13, with availability beginning June 28, while customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom can pre-order starting June 28, with availability beginning on July 12.
What Is Apple Vision Pro?
Vision Pro is Apple’s first spatial computing device that blends digital content with the physical world. Powered by visionOS, it offers a seamless user experience across Apple’s ecosystem of hardware, software, and services. Users can interact with apps using their eyes, hands, and voice, creating a unique and intuitive interface.
What is visionOS?
Apple also announced this week an update to visionOS, the operating system for Vision Pro, with the launch of visionOS 2. The new OS introduces features such as transforming photos into 3D memories, intuitive hand gestures, and more.
What Entertainment Options Are Available on Vision Pro?
Vision Pro offers users a personal cinema experience that is compatible with major streaming services, including Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ with Hulu, Max, Peacock, Paramount+ with Showtime, Pluto TV, and Tubi.
The Apple TV app on Vision Pro features all Apple Originals, as well as more than 250 3D movies, available to Apple TV+ subscribers at no additional cost. Users can also enjoy streaming and online video services through Safari and apps like IMAX, Juno, Supercut, and Television.
How Does Apple Vision Pro Enhance Sports Viewing?
Sports fans with Vision Pro can use their device to enjoy apps from major sports leagues like the NBA, MLS, MLB, NHL, PGA TOUR, The Masters, UFC, World Surf League, and Red Bull TV. Features such as multiview, real-time stats, and live object mapping can provide a far more immersive sports viewing experience for users as a result.
What Are the Gaming Capabilities of Apple Vision Pro?
Although the headset doesn’t come with any physical controllers, unlike nearly all other VR headsets (especially those aimed at gaming), Apple Vision Pro supports thousands of games, including over 250 titles with Apple Arcade.
The device also supports 2D iPad and iPhone games, PC and console games via apps like Steam Link, and games on Mac, all compatible with PlayStation DualSense and Xbox Wireless controllers. Although, the vast majority of these games will simply be on a larger screen, with no additional immersive features added to them.
Creative Tools on Vision Pro
Vision Pro also offers designers and creators apps like AirDraw and Da Vinci Eye, enabling users to sketch, draw, and paint using the headset’s powerful spatial computing capabilities.
Apple’s headset also introduces Apple Immersive Video, which uses 3D 8K video with a 180-degree field of view and Spatial Audio to create immersive storytelling experiences. The Apple TV app includes immersive films and series, while the App Store features unique experiences like ‘Encounter Dinosaurs’ and GUCCI’s film ‘Who Is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story.’
Vision Pro Availability and Pricing
Apple Vision Pro will be available at all Apple Store locations in the new regions and online, starting at USD $3,499 with storage options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Apple also noted that customers ordering the headset in these countries will receive a Vision Pro shipped with visionOS 1.2, as well as with support for languages in these countries and regions. The recently announced visionOS 2 software update will be available to all Vision Pro users for free some time this fall.
For more information on Apple Vision Pro, visit Apple’s website.
Image / video credit: Apple
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About the author
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.