Apple Vision Pro
I am breaking my streak of getting new Apple products at launch by skipping the Vision Pro (for now), but I could not be more bullish on the future of this product line and VR/AR/Spatial/whatever we call it.
I own a Quest, and I understand some of the things featured below are now and have been available for years. Apps like Bigscreen Beyond made me realize the potential of these platforms for the first time. Many people roll their eyes at any thought related to VR today, but I cannot help but think one of these use cases will be worth a few grand to tens of millions of people in the next 2-3 years. I also don’t see how the abilities of this product don’t dramatically change how many people work, relax, and eventually work out and shop.
Live sports and events: In 2020, Apple bought NextVR, a company figuring out live streaming sports in virtual reality. Today, Apple owns the rights to all MLS matches, and some MLB and more sports will follow (RedBull Events would be a good one). Spatial audio and courtside seats during an NBA game or sitting ringside during an MMA fight will make you genuinely feel like you are there. If you have a Quest, you can try this today by looking at some of NextVR’s 3-5-year-old YouTube videos to get a taste of what it might be like with Apple’s touch. How much would diehards pay to have NFL Sunday Ticket that included a ticket inside every stadium? It might sound lame today, but I think it will click when people experience their first big play in VR.
Peace on demand: I have not experienced the Vision Pro yet, but I do know that a $350 headset today can convince your brain you are standing somewhere you are not. Apple has officially topped today’s top-tier specs with pass-through so good that some people thought it was actual reality (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/tim-cook-apple-vision-pro). I would imagine their ability to create 360° environments using 23 million pixels for each eye will blow what I have seen away. It won’t take long for customizable environments to come along (we’re already kind of close before launch https://twitter.com/_chuckyc/status/1753086194605289517) and could you imagine living in a small apartment that you don’t really like and having the ability to go somewhere else? Anywhere else? And when you get there you can do anything or nothing. Tim Cook said he has meditated his entire life and this was unlike anything he’s experienced. He’s also the top sales guy, so we’ll take that with a grain of salt, but I do not see how this doesn’t provide a unique way to boost mental health in the immediate term for so many people in a variety of experiences.
Learning and skills development: The real magic of VR/AR tech is its ability to transform how we learn and master new skills. Imagine strapping on a headset and sitting at a piano, with your virtual instructor sitting next to you guiding each finger placement and note in real-time. You’re not just watching a tutorial; you’re in it, getting feedback as if a master was right there with you. This isn’t limited to music either. Think about diving deep into mechanics, cooking, or even languages. VR/AR puts you in the room, or better yet, in the workshop, kitchen, or country where what you’re learning is lived daily. It’s about making those “I wish I could do that” moments a reality, offering a hands-on approach that beats any classroom or online course. I truly think what this can do for students who choose to use it will be unlike any technical advantage we have seen to date. My elementary school figured out how to have a few dozen iMac G3s in 1999, and hopefully it doesn’t take long for schools to realize that spatial computing is how, what and where they will be teaching soon.