After years of speculation and then months after the initial announcement, Apple has finally released its mixed reality headset. The Vision Pro could be set to revolutionize the virtual and augmented reality market, if it manages to replicate the same influence that the iPhone had, and continues to have, on smartphones.
Live streaming has boomed in recent years, and developers are constantly striving to make it more immersive. The Vision Pro’s release could potentially lead to more VR and AR integrations with the platform.
Apple’s Vision Pro Has Finally Dropped in the USA
The Vision Pro finally launched in January this year, and sales were higher than analysts had originally anticipated. Many had predicted that the high price point of $3499 would put a lot of users off, but loyal Apple followers have come out in force and bought the new device.
Apple sold 200,000 units within the first few days, exceeding estimates of around 150,000 sales in that timeframe. If this initial success is extrapolated to the rest of the world upon the international release, the Vision Pro may end up having a more fruitful first year than the iPhone had. Of course, as future generations are released, the price of older units will go down. This will make the device even more accessible to the public.
Likely to Have an Impact on Live Streaming
When VR was predicted to blow up in 2016, it was live streaming that surprisingly became the internet’s next huge development. Now, that platform is enjoying much greater success than VR, as it has been backed by several leading internet industries.
Social media was a driving force behind the rise of live streaming, as it enabled users to share live videos and invite audience interaction. The online casino industry also played a massive part, with live streaming of table games to players in their homes. Now, live casinos in Ontario have a variety of unique titles, including Mega Wheel and Boom City. The next stage for live streaming offerings such as these could be to incorporate VR, and the introduction of the Vision Pro could influence that.
Could Act as Catalyst for VR Boom
The Vision Pro could have an impact on the wider VR and AR market too, causing other developers to rethink their approach. This is the first major headset that combines elements of VR and AR in the same device, with most companies having worked on these mediums separately.
Apple entering the VR and AR market is also significant, as the brand brings a lot of credibility with it. As a household name, it can attract people to the platform who may have been skeptical about the devices of lesser-known companies. Despite the Oculus Rift now being owned by Meta, the name doesn’t have anywhere near the same influence as Apple has. There’s no doubt that the Vision Pro will garner mass attention, and people will start to take this technology seriously.
Live streaming is constantly evolving and incorporating state-of-the-art technology, so there’s a good chance that the Vision Pro could shake things up. It will be interesting to see how the new device impacts the wider VR and AR market as well.
