Apple made some major announcements earlier this week showcasing its future direction and what it’s betting on as a game changer
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) has been typically earmarked as the event where the company showcases brand new updates to its operating systems: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS. But this year, Apple made a splash as it chose to unveil its long-awaited mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro as well as a slew of upgrades to its devices and user interface.
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Located at Apple Park in California, the conference kicked off on June 5, 2023 and was held both online and in-person. The biggest announcement was of course the debut of the Apple Vision Pro headset, which Apple CEO Tim Cook says is “a new kind of computer”. It seems that the tech giant is trying to go against the grain by betting on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) instead of artificial intelligence (AI) which pretty much every tech company is investing heavily into.
Apple bets big on the Vision Pro
Its first-ever VR headset, the Apple Vision Pro combines augmented reality and virtual reality, with a front-facing display that shows the wearer's eyes to others. Powered by two chips, the M2 Ultra and R1, the device uses visionOS to let users see the familiar Apple apps directly projected in front of them once they put on the headset. They can then navigate with their eyes, select by tapping, scroll by flicking, or dictate with voice.
The unveiling of this headset is a big deal for Apple as this is its first new product category in 8 years with the last being the Apple Watch in 2014. Since its release, the smartwatch has grown to account for 35% of all smartwatch shipments globally in 2022 giving the company the lead in the market. But will its bet on virtual and augmented reality pay out? Especially since Meta has been struggling to gain ground in this space with its Oculus headset for a few years now. Slated for release in the US early 2024, and with a hefty price tag of US$3,499, can this be a game changer for Apple? Only time will tell.
