Apple Plans a Slow, Appointment-Only Rollout of Its $3,500 Vision Pro (bloomberg.com) 52
Apple plans to launch its Vision Pro mixed-reality headset in select US markets early next year, with designated sections in Apple stores offering demos, seating, and tools for sizing accessories. Bloomberg reports: The company will designate special areas in the stores with seating, headset demo units and tools to size accessories for buyers. While the device will be sold at all of Apple's roughly 270 US locations, the company is planning the sections for the Vision Pro initially at stores in major areas -- such as New York and Los Angeles -- before rolling them out nationwide, according to people with knowledge of the plans.
Apple said it will offer the headset in other countries at the end of 2024. The company is discussing the UK and Canada as two of its first international markets with Asia and Europe soon after, although a final decision hasn't been made, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal matters. Apple engineers are working to localize the device for France, Germany, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea, the people said. Apple will also sell the Vision Pro through its US web store in early 2024 before expanding online elsewhere.
Apple said it will offer the headset in other countries at the end of 2024. The company is discussing the UK and Canada as two of its first international markets with Asia and Europe soon after, although a final decision hasn't been made, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal matters. Apple engineers are working to localize the device for France, Germany, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea, the people said. Apple will also sell the Vision Pro through its US web store in early 2024 before expanding online elsewhere.
Like getting into Google Glass on the ground floor (Score:1)
Re:Like getting into Google Glass on the ground fl (Score:5, Insightful)
...and that was a one story building! I really can't imagine what kind of person it takes to dump $3,500 on something like this...
I imagine the on-purpose "slow, appointment-only" rollout will disguise -- I mean "explain" -- any actual slow sales. :-)
Re:Like getting into Google Glass on the ground fl (Score:5, Interesting)
They're not expecting it to be a run away hit and sell in crazy numbers. They're well aware of that. This is a first generation product with a high buy-in price. So they need to be sure that people understand the benefits and how to use it, so they don't return it because they don't really get it but bought it only because they thought it'd be the next super hot thing.
The volume-sales lower priced version is a few years out. This first one is about getting some onboard to show and tell their friends how much they like it.
Re:Like getting into Google Glass on the ground fl (Score:5, Informative)
This is a first generation product with a high buy-in price.
It's worth noting that the Apple 2 [wikipedia.org] launched at $6,270 when adjusted for inflation, nearly twice as much as the Vision Pro.
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Totally agree. This first offering is more for developers and early adopters than anyone else. This is the Pro version. Get them to build the apps that attract the next group of buyers. Later will be a consumer-focused version with a lower price and less features.
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TBH I don't think the first one's even about that. Sure, they're selling to some super rich people who will mess around with it and spend tons of cash on apps and content, but this is mostly going to be professionals buying it to develop with e.g. some making apps for it, but likely a lot of people in industries like Arch Viz and filmmaking who are seeing if it can be integrated into their workflows.
They even put the target demographic in the name
Although I agree with you somewhat, I resist the notion that you have to be "super rich" to comfortably afford a $3,500 tech purchase.
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I could have been less hyperbolic in my language. I'm not talking about the wealthy, just very well-to-do by typical standards e.g. 3x+ median annual income for their country.
But there's a matter of 'could' vs 'would' here. There'll be some people in the initial demographic who aren't 'rich' relative to the median... but there's a reason why the focus is so strongly on the specifications and general user interface. There are no productivity apps available that will make this useful to typical consumers. VR's biggest demographic is gamers, and so far all I've seen advertised for that is being able to play iPad games on a virtual TV pane that floats in the air.
For typical consumer end-users, the product is nowhere near justifying the price yet. People are saying "that's neat but expensive" not "it's expensive, but damn do I want one for [X, Y and Z features]!"
Every new compute-based Product starts with "no productivity apps"; but, in the case of VisionOS, that isn't going to be true for very long.
Apple has jumped in the deep end when it comes to their commitment to Developers interested in creating Applications for VisionOS; so, it's pretty much going to be "The ball's in your court!" very soon as far as the Development Community goes!
As I have shown in another Post in this Thread:
https://apple.slashdot.org/com... [slashdot.org]
So, we shall see what we shall see. . .
Re:The volume-sales lower priced version (Score:1)
So, like $3400?
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...and that was a one story building! I really can't imagine what kind of person it takes to dump $3,500 on something like this...
I imagine the on-purpose "slow, appointment-only" rollout will disguise -- I mean "explain" -- any actual slow sales. :-)
Actually, the slow roll out will create artificial scarcity. If it's scarce, then it must be valuable. If it's valuable, it must be a great product. Right? Riiiiiight?
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...and that was a one story building! I really can't imagine what kind of person it takes to dump $3,500 on something like this...
I imagine the on-purpose "slow, appointment-only" rollout will disguise -- I mean "explain" -- any actual slow sales. :-)
Think about it: You have a product that has at least two options (facial-fit and vision-correction) that are obviously far above the skillset of the average salesperson.
How else is Apple going to properly address those requirements without a significant amount of one-on-one "dispensing" time?
Kudos to Apple for realizing that this product, at least not in its initial spare-no-expense version, cannot just be added to the Apple Online Store for mass-shipments to the masses.
Can you imagine Samsung setting up th
Re: Like getting into Google Glass on the ground f (Score:2)
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I guess every other reasonably successful ar vr requires said salesperson to adjust. The other ones must not be user friendly for having adjustable straps
1. Those other attempts don't have integrated vision correction, optimized for use with the display system.
2. Those also have a much more generic idea of "Perfect Fit".
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unclear (Score:4)
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Oh no it's very clear. You can look at pictures, watch movies, Facetime and screen mirror, but in VR!
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but in VR!
Is this the new "but on the Internet" thing?
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Just because there's currently no content in VR doesn't mean it won't exist. People said the same thing when HD televisions and 4K came out.
Re:unclear (Score:5, Insightful)
A better analogy would be "they said the same things when 3D TVs came out".
And they were right.
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VR is different though, it gives you a different experience. For example if you see a blue whale on TV you have no idea how big it really is. Not so with VR. You can get the sensation of scale standing next to a whale or at the entrance or inside of a pyramid. Documentaries, movies, and games can be a lot more immersive in VR.
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"3D TV is different though, it gives you a different experience. Documentaries, movies, and games can be a lot more immersive on 3D TV."
Sounds the same to me.
Just because there's currently no content in VR doesn't mean it won't exist.
It's been ~10 years since affordable consumer VR hit store shelves. I'm betting that we've seen just about all there is to see with this cycle.
As for AR, if you want to see what the future looks like, take a look at the XReal or Rokid glasses. While they're certainly nothing to write home about, this is closer to what AR needs to look like if it's go
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A better analogy would be "they said the same things when 3D TVs came out".
Still not a good comparison. We have a 3D TV and it had no problem playing non 3D content for nearly a decade. So even 3D TVs could sell well.
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A better analogy would be "they said the same things when 3D TVs came out".
And they were right.
But you are wrong. See my previous Post:
https://apple.slashdot.org/com... [slashdot.org]
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Just because there's currently no content in VR doesn't mean it won't exist. People said the same thing when HD televisions and 4K came out.
HD televisions had no problem playing literally limitless non HD content. Making the comparison is utterly silly.
A better comparison would be between the very first iPhone. Except... that launched with actual functionality and in the process created nice memes of Jobs saying "there's an app for that".
Jobs understood that people bought functionality not hardware. Heck even Meta understood this *holds down vomit* which is why their showcase almost exclusively focused on what they were releasing for the Quest
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Just because there's currently no content in VR doesn't mean it won't exist. People said the same thing when HD televisions and 4K came out.
See my previous Post:
https://apple.slashdot.org/com... [slashdot.org]
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Oh no it's very clear. You can look at pictures, watch movies, Facetime and screen mirror, but in VR!
Bullshit. It's already much more than that.
Most iOS/iPadOS Apps Just Work; though some will need tweaking.
https://developer.apple.com/do... [apple.com]
Second, there's already very robust Developer Support for Porting existing iOS/iPadOS Apps as well as the creation of entirely new VisionOS Apps. For Example:
https://developer.apple.com/vi... [apple.com]
https://developer.apple.com/vi... [apple.com]
https://developer.apple.com/do... [apple.com]
https://developer.apple.com/do... [apple.com]
https://developer.apple.com/do... [apple.com]
https://9to5mac.com/2023/07/06... [9to5mac.com]
https://techcrunc [techcrunch.com]
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It's not an easy sale, that's for sure. There isn't a whole lot of software, noting notable, and this thing has a battery that won't even last a full two hours. The general public still isn't sold on AR/VR and a device that costs 3x as much as the next most expensive headset isn't what you'd normally pickup just to see what it's all about.
VR is neat. I absolutely loved the VR news reels that put you in the middle of the action. Those are few and far between, and there isn't much else on offer. I can't t
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That's why the device is aimed at developers. It was released at WWDC, Apple's developer oriented conference. Basically hardware announced there is a heads up to developers so they can develop for it.
Apple is letting developers have a go at making stuff for it.
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That's why the device is aimed at developers. It was released at WWDC, Apple's developer oriented conference. Basically hardware announced there is a heads up to developers so they can develop for it.
Apple is letting developers have a go at making stuff for it.
Boy howdy, you said a mouthful! See my previous Post:
https://apple.slashdot.org/com... [slashdot.org]
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That is why you wait. It should get better and cheaper. I am going to wait for its holodeck.
Translation (Score:2)
Not even Apple themselves expect to sell it properly.
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Not even Apple themselves expect to sell it properly.
Actually, Apple is taking extraordinary pains to sell it properly.
Apple's favorite market ploy (Score:2)
Create buzz and artificial demand based on controlling output. Nothing makes people want something more than being told there's limited numbers and they can't have it.
Smart Move (Score:2)
If they're selling a $3,500 device, a big part is about experience and making sure people get the most of it in order to prevent them from returning it. So you want to give personalized service and make sure people see all the best uses and really understand the product.
We see this done all the time with high-end products. Sports car makers like Corvette, BMW, and others fly people out to pick up their car and take a driving school. High-end luxury auto makers do the same. Other luxury product makers do too
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If they're selling a $3,500 device, a big part is about experience and making sure people get the most of it in order to prevent them from returning it. So you want to give personalized service and make sure people see all the best uses and really understand the product.
We see this done all the time with high-end products. Sports car makers like Corvette, BMW, and others fly people out to pick up their car and take a driving school. High-end luxury auto makers do the same. Other luxury product makers do too.
Not to mention that both the fit and possible vision-correction require skilled Dispensing personnel.
That alone demands a much more Concierge-type sales process than an iPhone or Mac purchase. Hats off to Apple to recognizing that!
Profit potential (Score:2)
Sorry Apple (Score:1)
My dance card has no empty spots for the foreseeable future when it comes to overpriced toys like this. So send your invitation elsewhere.
I told Google, Occulus, and Meta the same thing regarding their VR stuff...no time for such toys.
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My dance card has no empty spots for the foreseeable future when it comes to overpriced toys like this. So send your invitation elsewhere.
I told Google, Occulus, and Meta the same thing regarding their VR stuff...no time for such toys.
So what are you even doing in this Thread, Sunshine?
I Know The Perfect Shop! (Score:2)
"Hello? This is Patsy Stone and I'm with Jeremy's..."
Good Idea (Score:3)
How to make it harder for your customers... (Score:1)
Apple has a problem, and this particular one is they designed a product nobody "loves" either at first sight (no pun intended) or later. Worse, they've priced it out of reach of most of their fans, let alone people who really need VR, SR, etc. This has resulted in an obvious lack of market demand, product sales, and penetration.
The ways to resolve this are numerous, but requiring "appointments" and "lectures" for people who actually WANT to buy the product, let alone can afford this software-less beauty-f
Doens't this point to lower initial numbers (Score:1)
A little while ago Slashdot had a story about how initial production numbers were going to be lower than expected.
I seem to remember the low end being around 150k...
Well back then I posted I thought I remembered someone giving an initial estimate of just 10k in the first year... it sure seems to me with by-appointment sales that 150k might be too large a target for the first year.
They are also allowing direct sales so maybe it could still happen, but I think it points to first year sales being a pretty low
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I seem to remember [...] Well back then
It was 4 days ago.
This AR device is different (Score:2)
This AR device is going to have a much different path than others in the past, due to Apple's visionary thinking. Planning the slow roll-out of the Vision Pro is an absolutely genius move that will be envied by every other company that has been in the industry.
It is a vast improvement over the unplanned slow roll-out every other company has done. Apple will have way less unsold inventory to dispose of and fewer stores to remodel later when this doesn't sell either.
In other words (Score:1)
So what they're going to do is give out the first models to carefully selected people who consistently give all apple products high ratings and glowing reviews AKA fanboys.
Unsourced (Score:2)
As usual, the article has no sources.