Apple Vision Pro is coming soon. Next week, major computing companies will debut their products for US customers after years of leaks and teasers. Apple’s entry into the market could mean several things. The brand’s almost cult-like following could lead to a surge in adoption of XR devices, drawing more attention to Apple’s space productivity mission than ever before.
XR could have its mainstream moment this year. With a significant company like Apple placing a stake in the market and maintaining a strong balance, XR could gain the momentum it needs to achieve what seems like a distant goal of enterprise/consumer ubiquity.
Pre-orders for the upcoming headset are already sold out. While some purchases may be made through scalpers and bots, the sales figure of around 180,000 units may paint a positive picture of the device’s adoption rate at launch.
Apple is also keen on educating new audiences about XR and related technologies. Nonetheless, XR and ‘next-generation’ computing are new concepts for many users. Some don’t understand technology and some don’t want to understand technology. Maybe you’re stuck in old ways.
Apple is taking a hands-on approach to educating customers to address their lack of understanding of XR. The company is sending XR experts to its U.S. retail stores to help employees prepare 25-minute demos and onboarding sessions to walk potential customers through the product.
Moreover, Vision Pro adoption may continue to grow as international audiences look forward to a global launch window at WWDC 24. But whether the device will reach enterprise end users is a fair question. The device boasts impressive productivity gains, but has yet to see a roadmap for profound enterprise adoption. Meanwhile, competitors like Meta and Microsoft are currently working to get XR devices into the hands of employees.
Can Apple’s spatial computing vision reach enterprise customers?
But corporate adoption may come. Similar to the argument that the quest under the Christmas tree could lead to broader consumer understanding and thus the adoption/ubiquitousness of XR like smartphones, Apple could easily lead the ubiquitous race by starting with a consumer-focused, immersive productivity device. can. Then, just like the iOS platform, it could drive consumer adoption of space productivity tools, marking Apple’s first step toward Vision Pro in every office building.
Tom Carter, CEO and co-founder of Ultraleap We provided input to XR Today regarding the debut of the Vision Pro.
He added:
Welcome Apple and Vision Pro. We see this coming to market as validation of the XR work we have mastered for over a decade. That means blurring the lines between virtual and reality and breaking down some of the key barriers to XR adoption, making it more consumer and user-friendly. . Users want to feel less strained when using their XR devices, and what sets Apple Vision Pro apart from others on the market is its focus on a hand-first user interface that uses the arm in a comfortable position. View and interact with content.
Carter also highlighted how Ultraleap technology can go “further” and be accurate down to the millimeter.
“More and more users are scrolling by simply rubbing their thumb against their index finger. It provides users with natural, realistic interactions across their digital environments. Apple’s presence will put the overall market ahead, and we look forward to being a part of that,” said Carter.
While Apple is stealing the headlines, promoting a potential ‘mainstream moment’ for the general audience, XR enthusiasts can choose from a slew of dedicated XR device vendors and solution providers already laying the groundwork for enterprises, so comments like Carter’s It’s essential. From Ultraleap to Xreal to HTC Vive to Immersed, the XR tiers are truly diverse. The hope is that as more attention is focused on XR through Apple, other companies in the space will also thrive.
Moreover, with Apple jumping into XR, other giants like Samsung, LG, and Google appear to be taking an interest in the market and are probably watching Apple closely to see if their XR gamble pays off.
Will we see another example of a “metaverse crash”?
But despite the valuable views, keen XR observers may experience a flashback or two. It wasn’t that long ago Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Touted the Metaverse as the next big thing.
With 2022/23 technology trends like NFTs, the Metaverse concept was blown out of the gate with incredible marketing that convinced many that immersive worlds would be the future, with a slew of emerging tech companies designing Metacverse services. That may still be the case, but Meta was about a decade ahead of its predictions.
With the pandemic and the rise of teleconferencing applications, it’s no surprise that the metaverse has fully captured the imagination. But unfortunately, at the Connect event where the 2023 Meta debuted the 2022 Metaverse, the company didn’t even mention the previously much-touted digital dream.
The report also highlights how the Meta Horizon platform saw its user base decline almost immediately. As a result, Meta, like many others, is turning to MR devices and the industrial Metaverse.
Apple wants to separate itself from this period by not using terms like mixed reality or metaverse, but instead using spatial computing to describe its solutions.
Due to the high price tag, Apple may have a hard time finding first-time buyers outside of its trusted and devoted fans. But if the company appears to have learned its lesson from the metaverse collapse in 2023, XR could have its next mainstream moment. But how long will it take?