Apple’s Vision Pro VR/AR headset set to go on sale on February 2
Apple’s highly anticipated Vision Pro VR/AR headset is set to go on sale on February 2, and as the launch date approaches, more details about the app requirements are starting to emerge. One particularly interesting aspect is the company’s request for developers not to use the terms AR and VR when referring to Vision Pro apps, but rather to call them “spatial computing apps,” according to the developer page spotted by 9to5Mac.
“Spatial computing: Refer to your app as a spatial computing app. Don’t describe your app experience as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), or mixed reality (MR),” the company states in the developer guidelines. The headset itself should be called “Apple Vision Pro” with three uppercase words, while “visionOS begins with a lowercase v, even when it’s the first word in a sentence.” The terms should never be translated or transliterated, Apple added.
This stipulation is certainly raising eyebrows, as the headset is designed for AR and VR experiences. It appears that Apple may be attempting to differentiate its offerings in order to avoid confusion with apps for other VR/AR headsets, particularly Meta’s Quest 3. Despite the request to avoid using these terms, Apple has extensively used them to describe the Vision Pro headset, with CEO Tim Cook calling it an “entirely new AR platform” when it was launched at WWDC 2023.
In addition to the unusual request regarding app terminology, Apple has also asked developers to indicate if their “spatial computing” apps contain movements like quick turns or sudden changes in camera perspective, so that the product page will show a badge to warn users. The company also provided guidelines for the use of privacy labels and game controllers.
The Vision Pro headset is priced at $3,495, a figure likely to attract only highly motivated buyers. With the launch date rapidly approaching, it’s clear that Apple is taking significant steps to ensure a unique and high-quality experience for users of its Vision Pro headset.