The $3,499 Vision Pro Headset, iOS 17, and Everything Else Apple Just Announced at WWDC

Apple kicked off its WWDC 2023 keynote on Monday. And, as expected, it announced its new headset, the Vision Pro--the company's first major new product in a decade.

Prior rumors speculated a price range of $3,000 for the Vision Pro headset, but the actual price of $3,499 exceeded expectations. Furthermore, Apple's decision to delay the device's release until early next year means it will miss the crucial holiday season.

During the device's debut at the Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized that the Vision Pro is a unique Apple product designed for immersive experiences, remarking, "It's the first Apple product you look through, and not at." While the headset offers control through the user's eyes, voice, and hands, industry experts advise potential buyers to carefully consider its features.

The Vision Pro will, according to Apple, "deliver phenomenal compute performance." It is built on the M2 chip and the R1 chip. The R1 chip is used to process input from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones, it also eliminates lag to avoid latency. Apple says it can update images at eight times faster than the blink of an eye. The headset "runs virtually silent", according to Apple.

This nifty features projects the correct perspective of your eyes to the people looking at you. EyeSight also includes a visual indicator that makes it clear to others when a user is capturing a spatial photo or video.

Alongside the remarkable Vision Pro headset and its hefty price tag, Apple provided a glimpse of upcoming software enhancements and new Mac computers, adding to the event's anticipation.

WWDC typically highlights software enhancements for the iPhone.

This year's update, iOS 17, will introduce innovative features such as enhanced contact information sharing, journaling capabilities, and improved functionality while the iPhone is locked.

With the arrival of iOS 17 in the upcoming fall, Apple users can create contact "posters" that display in full screen when calling others. They'll be able to see live transcriptions of voice mails so they can determine whether to pick up calls they initially ignored.

Apple is making the MacBook Air bigger with a new 15-inch model that features the company's M2 chip. This version will start at $1,299 and become officially available next week, though preorders begin today. The device gets 18 hours of battery life, is 11.5-millimeters thin and weighs just over 3 pounds.

Apple had set out to infuse its personal-computer lineup with custom chips, and the company rounded that out Monday with new Mac Pro and Mac Studio devices that feature Apple Silicon processing. The Mac Studio will start at $1,999, and the Mac Pro will begin at $6,999.

Apple will refresh its iPad software as well, with a new custom lock screen, widget enhancements, machine-learning tools that help with PDF editing and better annotation functions for PDFs. Plus, users will be able to at last set multiple timers.

Apple plans to upgrade its Mac operating system as well with a new version that will be called Sonoma. A key feature of this update is a redesign of the widgets function, giving users the ability to place widgets on their home screens and see these automatically fade when necessary so they don't become distracting.

The new Sonoma operating system will add various tools for web presentations, including a feature that lets people appear as overlays on top of their presentation content and new reaction animations that can show balloons and confetti in response to meeting content.

Within Safari, family members will be more easily able to share passwords. The company will also let people create separate profiles for home, work, and school use of a Mac.

With the upcoming release of WatchOS 10, the latest operating system for Apple Watch, users can enjoy their preferred watch faces while gaining access to useful widgets by simply twisting the digital crown. These widgets provide information such as weather updates, timers, and upcoming events. Apple is also focusing on enhancing the Apple Watch's functionality for cyclists, offering advanced tracking features. Notably, users can pair their iPhone and view cycling data directly on the phone's lock screen, catering to individuals who dock their phones on their bikes while wearing the watch.

Furthermore, Apple Watch owners will receive a new hiking app that provides elevation data and topographical information, enhancing the experience for outdoor enthusiasts.