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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Vision Pro: Apple's new augmented reality headset unveiled | Vision Pro: Apple's new augmented reality headset unveiled |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Apple has unveiled a much-anticipated augmented reality headset, Apple Vision Pro, in its first major hardware launch for almost a decade. | Apple has unveiled a much-anticipated augmented reality headset, Apple Vision Pro, in its first major hardware launch for almost a decade. |
| Apple CEO Tim Cook said the new headset "seamlessly blends the real world and the virtual world". | Apple CEO Tim Cook said the new headset "seamlessly blends the real world and the virtual world". |
| The tech firm also announced its latest iPhone operating system, as well as updates to MacBook Air. | The tech firm also announced its latest iPhone operating system, as well as updates to MacBook Air. |
| The headset has a two-hour battery life, costs $3,499 (£2,849) and will be released early next year in the US. | The headset has a two-hour battery life, costs $3,499 (£2,849) and will be released early next year in the US. |
| The cost is considerably more than virtual reality headsets currently on the market. Last week Meta announced its Quest - which costs $449. | The cost is considerably more than virtual reality headsets currently on the market. Last week Meta announced its Quest - which costs $449. |
| Apple said little about generative artificial intelligence - the buzzy technology that is the talk of Silicon Valley. | Apple said little about generative artificial intelligence - the buzzy technology that is the talk of Silicon Valley. |
| The company's share price fell slightly during the announcement, made at a developer's conference at Apple Park, the company's headquarters, in Cupertino, California. | The company's share price fell slightly during the announcement, made at a developer's conference at Apple Park, the company's headquarters, in Cupertino, California. |
| The BBC is among the media outlets at the event, but has yet to try out the new device. | The BBC is among the media outlets at the event, but has yet to try out the new device. |
| 'Ski goggles' | 'Ski goggles' |
| Apple Vision Pro looks different to similar headsets on the market - and is more reminiscent of a pair of ski goggles than a virtual reality headset. | Apple Vision Pro looks different to similar headsets on the market - and is more reminiscent of a pair of ski goggles than a virtual reality headset. |
| Apple used the phrase "augmented reality" to describe what the new device does. | Apple used the phrase "augmented reality" to describe what the new device does. |
| Augmented reality, also known as mixed reality, superimposes virtual objects in the world around us - enabling us to mix reality with virtual reality by looking through a screen. | Augmented reality, also known as mixed reality, superimposes virtual objects in the world around us - enabling us to mix reality with virtual reality by looking through a screen. |
| Users can access apps, watch movies, and write documents in a virtual world. But so far, there is little evidence of a big market for this kind of wearable tech. | Users can access apps, watch movies, and write documents in a virtual world. But so far, there is little evidence of a big market for this kind of wearable tech. |
| Hartley Charlton, senior editor of MacRumors, was unsure how much the headset would appeal to the general public. | Hartley Charlton, senior editor of MacRumors, was unsure how much the headset would appeal to the general public. |
| "It won't appeal to mainstream consumers at first on account of its extremely high price point and immediate shortcomings as a first-generation device," he said, "such as its separate wired battery pack." | "It won't appeal to mainstream consumers at first on account of its extremely high price point and immediate shortcomings as a first-generation device," he said, "such as its separate wired battery pack." |
| But he said Apple has a track record of "overcoming scepticism" about new devices, and has historically encouraged people to "part with their cash to add a new gadget to their repertoire". | But he said Apple has a track record of "overcoming scepticism" about new devices, and has historically encouraged people to "part with their cash to add a new gadget to their repertoire". |
| Journalists and developers at Monday's conference saw a glimpse of the headset | Journalists and developers at Monday's conference saw a glimpse of the headset |
| In his sales pitch, Mr Cook said the headset allows users to "see, hear and interact with digital content just like it's in your physical space". | In his sales pitch, Mr Cook said the headset allows users to "see, hear and interact with digital content just like it's in your physical space". |
| It is controlled by using a combination of your hands, eyes and voice - such as tapping your fingers together to select, and flicking them to scroll. | It is controlled by using a combination of your hands, eyes and voice - such as tapping your fingers together to select, and flicking them to scroll. |
| The announcement comes a week after Meta and Lenovo announced new iterations of their pre-existing virtual-reality headsets, that do not superimpose objects onto a view of the real world. | The announcement comes a week after Meta and Lenovo announced new iterations of their pre-existing virtual-reality headsets, that do not superimpose objects onto a view of the real world. |
| Meta has also invested heavily in mixed reality - but right now the sector is struggling. | Meta has also invested heavily in mixed reality - but right now the sector is struggling. |
| The headset market saw a 54% drop in global sales last year, according to the International Data Corporation. | The headset market saw a 54% drop in global sales last year, according to the International Data Corporation. |
| Apple's last major hardware release was for the Apple Watch device in 2015. | Apple's last major hardware release was for the Apple Watch device in 2015. |
| Thomas Husson, of Forrester Research, told BBC News it may take time for Apple's new headset to take off. | Thomas Husson, of Forrester Research, told BBC News it may take time for Apple's new headset to take off. |
| "The overall AR/VR space has been a bit overhyped over the past few years with the metaverse and that kind of experience," he said. "That's the reason why I think it will take a bit more time. | "The overall AR/VR space has been a bit overhyped over the past few years with the metaverse and that kind of experience," he said. "That's the reason why I think it will take a bit more time. |
| "Having said that, if I told you 10-15 years ago that people would be ready to pay almost $2,000 for a mobile phone, I don't think many people would have said they would be willing to pay that." | "Having said that, if I told you 10-15 years ago that people would be ready to pay almost $2,000 for a mobile phone, I don't think many people would have said they would be willing to pay that." |
| iOS 17 | iOS 17 |
| Aside from the Vision Pro announcement, Apple also unveiled iOS17, the latest version of its iPhone operating system. | Aside from the Vision Pro announcement, Apple also unveiled iOS17, the latest version of its iPhone operating system. |
| Updates include "contact posters" - a picture or image of yourself that will appear on a person's phone when you call them - and "live voicemail" - which provides a real-time transcription of an answerphone message being left to you. | Updates include "contact posters" - a picture or image of yourself that will appear on a person's phone when you call them - and "live voicemail" - which provides a real-time transcription of an answerphone message being left to you. |
| This transcription will also apply to audio messages left using Apple Messages. | This transcription will also apply to audio messages left using Apple Messages. |
| And Apple has introduced a system called Check-In - which will automatically tell a friend or family member when you've arrived home. | And Apple has introduced a system called Check-In - which will automatically tell a friend or family member when you've arrived home. |
| If your journey is substantially delayed, it has the power to tell others that you have not made it home safely yet. | If your journey is substantially delayed, it has the power to tell others that you have not made it home safely yet. |
| The new operating system will be available in Autumn 2023. | The new operating system will be available in Autumn 2023. |
| Additional reporting by Shiona McCallum and Tom Gerken | |
| The BBC is launching a brand new technology newsletter for international audiences, called Tech Decoded. | The BBC is launching a brand new technology newsletter for international audiences, called Tech Decoded. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Mixed reality | Mixed reality |
| Apple | Apple |
| iPhones | iPhones |
| Virtual reality | Virtual reality |