Subj : 5 big features that the Apple Vision Pro is strangely missing To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Feb 05 2024 18:15:04 5 big features that the Apple Vision Pro is strangely missing Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:05:51 +0000 Description: The Vision Pro is missing a few important features. Heres everything Apple needs to add to its headset. FULL STORY ====================================================================== So far, Apples Vision Pro headset has received a largely positive reception , with reviewers all over the internet praising its incredible immersion and top-notch build quality. But that doesnt mean everything is perfect, and there are a few features that are strangely absent from Apples device. Here, weve looked over five features that didnt make the cut. Whether Apple brings them via a quick software update or we have to wait for a later version of the headset, were hoping we arent without them for long. 1. Support for Bluetooth mice (Image credit: Future) One of the key features of the Vision Pro is how you can control everything with your eyes and fingers, from opening apps to playing Fruit Ninja . Thats a key advantage it has over rival headsets , but there are times when youll want to sit down and use a mouse and keyboard. Well, right now youre pretty limited in that regard. Sure, Apples own Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard work just fine. But try connecting a third-party mouse and youll likely run into an error saying it simply isnt compatible (external keyboards should work, though). Were hoping this is something Apple patches out with a software update, but for now it seriously limits your input options. 2. Find My location tracking (Image credit: Apple) With a starting price of $3,499, the Vision Pro isnt cheap, so the last thing you want to do is lose it. Yet if you do, you might be out of luck, since Find My location tracking isnt yet compatible with Apples headset. As Apple's support page states, you do get Activation Lock, which means a thief can't set up your headset unless they have your Apple ID and password. But what you can't do, like other Find My-compatible Apple products, is track your Vision Pro's location. Thats a strange state of affairs since Find My is also made by Apple. Considering how much youll spend on a Vision Pro, you would imagine Find My compatibility would be a priority for Apple. This is another thing we hope will be fixed with a software update, but for now, youll need to be extra careful where you leave your pricey headset. 3. Support for multiple monitors (Image credit: Apple) Apples promotional videos promised the Vision Pro would bring about a productivity revolution, allowing you to set up multiple virtual monitors all around you for maximum workflow optimization. That can be done, but it turns out there is a serious catch to be aware of. Yes, you can set up a plethora of apps all around your field of view. But if you specifically want to extend your Mac and beam up a multiple monitor setup in virtual space, youre going to be disappointed. Thats because your MacBook will only work with one virtual display, while desktop Macs dont seem to support Vision Pro screens at all. The former issue isnt really Apples fault wireless connections simply dont have the bandwidth to pipe multiple streams of 4K footage into your virtual environment but theres no hint yet why you cant hook up your iMac or Mac mini. Heres hoping thats changed soon. 4. Third-party batteries (Image credit: Apple) The Vision Pros standalone battery has got tongues wagging it looks a little odd, after all, and Apple has been at pains to tactfully hide it in press images. There have been hopes that youll be able to swap it out with a third-party alternative to get more than just a couple of hours out of it, but those hopes were recently dashed, meaning youre stuck with what Apple gives you. Thats because a recent post on X (formerly Twitter) revealed that while you can detach the battery from its cable, the batterys cable uses a new, proprietary connector that looks like a fattened-up version of Lightning. In other words, its unlikely any third-party batteries will work with this cable unless Apple licenses the tech. Whats more, even if youve got two Apple-made batteries, you cant simply hot-swap them and pick up where you left off. As soon as you remove the battery, the Vision Pro shuts down because it has no built-in reserve battery. That means you wont be able to have long, uninterrupted sessions with the headset without being plugged into the mains although with its hefty weight , perhaps you wont want to do that anyway. 5. YouTube, Netflix and Spotify apps (Image credit: Apple) Before the Vision Pro launched, there were worrying reports that it seriously lacked third-party apps specifically designed for the headset. Those fears were allayed when Apple announced there were actually over 600 bespoke apps available for the Vision Pro, but there have still been some notable omissions, among them YouTube, Netflix and Spotify . At least one developer has plugged the YouTube-shaped gap , and it looks like some apps are being cautious given the uncertainties over the size of the Vision Pros target audience. If the headset sells well, these missing apps could find their way onto Apples new platform. But for now, theyre notably missing from the Vision Pros App Store. You might also like Apple Vision Pro review roundup: here's what everyone thinks of the Apple headset Vision Pro 8 reasons to buy Apple's next-gen mixed-reality headset and some reasons to skip it Two days with Vision Pro: Apple's almost convinced me to part with $3,500 by transforming everything I do ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/5-big-features-that-the-apple-vision-pro-i s-strangely-missing --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .