004 Weekly TrendDown
Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2024
The Apple Vision Pro Drops
If you're curious, this is what it's like to use the Apple Vision Pro.
The device is currently only available in the US and was delivered Friday (Feb 2nd) for the initial batch of preorders. It's a hefty price tag at $3,499 USD (even the developer STRAP is $299), which would be ~$4,750 CAD, but there is no confirmation on when they will be available in Canada or other countries outside of the US.
It's a simulated Augmented Reality experience that uses video passthrough and LED screens on the outside that simulate your eyes - to have conversations with "real" people. There is also an Apple Watch style dial that allows you to move from an AR experience to more of a VR experience.
The device comes with most of the standard Apple apps: Apple Mail, Messages, FaceTime, Freeform, Notes, Files, Photos, Music, AppleTV, and Mindfulness, as well as the Encounter Dinosaurs app to show off the immersive 3D experience. Other spatial apps are available on the visionOS App Store (like Adobe’s Lightroom and Firefly AI and Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, and more), along with some ported 2D iPhone and iPad apps.
You are also able to immerse yourself in "Environments," which are dynamic landscapes in places like Haleakalā, Joshua Tree, and Yosemite national parks, and even the surface of the moon. You can also view and experience your "spacial photos" that can be captured with an iPhone 15 Pro/Max.
There seems to be only 2D gaming experiences (in a window) via Apple Arcade and the App Store, but I'm certain that 3D/spatial games will be released very soon.
The device is somewhat geared towards having an IMAX type entertainment experience on your couch, but Netflix and YouTube are some notable apps that are missing at launch. Although all of the other usual suspects are there: HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Paramount+, Peacock, Disney+, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Discovery+. You can watch sports on apps from ESPN, NBA, MLB, PGA Tour, and Fubo. Additional streaming content will be available in apps from Crunchyroll, Red Bull TV, IMAX, TikTok, and MUBI.
John LePore showed the true potential of the Vision Pro with his prototype F1 companion app. It's a simply brilliant UX and likely something that all sports will eventually adopt.
John's F1 App: https://lnkd.in/gTrhz6qa
Tim Cook had an initial awe-inspiring experience with a prototype years ago, emphasizing its potential to transform computing, entertainment, and everyday experiences. Despite its hefty price tag of $3,500 and concerns about its size and weight, early adopters are eagerly preordering the device, suggesting a promising future for this new product category.
However, some critics express reservations about the device's potential to further entrench society in technology addiction. Cook remains optimistic about the future of spatial computing, acknowledging both the excitement and uncertainty surrounding this innovative technology.
If you’re interested, iFixit did a teardown of the impressive device.
Meta’s Quest headsets add spatial video and pinch controls to compete with Vision Pro
Meta is enhancing its Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets with new features to compete with Apple's Vision Pro, including spatial video support and pinch controls, similar to those found in the Vision Pro, as part of update v62. The spatial video capability enables users to view 3D footage captured with Apple's headset or iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max, with a maximum length of 20 minutes. While Meta's Quest 3, priced at $499, is significantly cheaper than the $3,499 Vision Pro, Meta has invested millions in building the metaverse, although with some notable losses. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg teased the feature on Instagram, showcasing spatial video playback on the Quest headset. Additionally, the update introduces pinch gestures for menu navigation, support for external gamepads in the Quest Browser, and improvements to Quest Link, including 120Hz refresh rates for compatible PCVR titles, and a continuity feature allowing users to resume tasks across various VR experiences.
SpaceX Signs Deal to Launch Private Space Station
SpaceX has entered into a partnership with Voyager Space and Airbus to launch a private space station named Starlab into orbit using a single Starship rocket, a bold endeavor aiming to surpass the International Space Station before NASA decommissions it in 2030. Although no launch date has been announced yet, Starlab Space expresses confidence in achieving liftoff within the next decade. Voyager Space CEO Dylan Taylor highlights SpaceX's track record for success and reliability as the reason behind selecting Starship for the mission, emphasizing the unmatched capability of Starship for high-cadence launches. Starlab is envisioned as a successor to the ISS, catering to a global clientele of space agencies, researchers, and businesses, ensuring a continued human presence in low-Earth orbit.
However, the success of the venture hinges on SpaceX's ability to demonstrate the reliability of its Starship launch platform, with upcoming flight tests crucial for validating its viability. Despite the challenges, SpaceX remains optimistic about Starlab's launch, viewing it as a significant step toward realizing humanity's presence in low-Earth orbit and eventual multiplanetary existence.
Space Force Finally Launching a Single Employee Into Space
The US Space Force, established over four years ago, is finally preparing to send its first "guardian" into space as part of NASA and SpaceX's Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this August. Space Force colonel Nick Hague, a former NASA astronaut with previous spaceflight experience, will undertake a six-month mission to perform science experiments and collect data on the ISS. This marks a significant milestone for the Space Force, an organization often questioned for its purpose and relevance. Although it's not the first instance of a Space Force officer in space—Colonel Mike Hopkins transferred to the Space Force while on the ISS in 2020—it represents a pivotal moment for the military branch in asserting its presence in space. Hague's upcoming mission is anticipated to be smoother than his first, which ended in an emergency abort due to a Soyuz booster failure. The SpaceX Crew Dragon, which has successfully launched eight ISS crews, is expected to deliver him safely to the orbital lab.
Tim Cook confirms Apple’s generative AI features are coming ‘later this year’
During Apple’s quarterly earnings call, CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the company is integrating generative AI features into its software platforms, set to be released later this year. Cook emphasized the "tremendous time and effort" Apple is investing in AI, aligning with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman's report that iOS 18 could be the operating system’s most significant update. Although Cook remained vague on specifics, he reiterated Apple's approach of developing technology before discussing it publicly, hinting at significant upcoming innovations in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This move follows the trend of AI-driven features becoming major selling points in the smartphone industry, as seen with competitors like Google and Samsung.
EU member states approve world-first AI law
The European Union's member states have approved the world's first comprehensive AI regulation, known as the AI Act, following extensive negotiations between the European Council, European Parliament, and European Commission. The agreement was reached after France, Germany, and Italy expressed concerns over the regulation of foundation models like OpenAI's ChatGPT, with France eventually dropping its objections after securing additional conditions. This landmark legislation aims to give the EU a competitive edge globally, as the US has taken a more hands-off approach and China has yet to enact a comprehensive AI law.
The AI Act now moves to the implementation phase, amid ongoing lobbying and concerns about potential changes or the law's impact on innovation. Bruna de Castro e Silva, an AI Governance Specialist, emphasized the need for transparent guidelines to help corporate stakeholders understand and comply with the new regulations.
Bodycam Maker Axon Is on a Mission to Surveil America with AI
Axon, known for Tasers and police body cameras, has acquired AI surveillance company Fusus to enhance real-time video analysis capabilities in schools, retail stores, hospitals, and other public spaces. This acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, enables Axon to integrate its body cameras and drones with Fusus' Real
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