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The Apple Vision Pro was named Popular Science's 2024 Innovation of the Year, beating out some original competitors like transparent TVs and artificial intelligence-created cheese. Although the Vision Pro faces some challenges – including its high price and lukewarm acceptance among developers – it's clear that Apple has created something extraordinary that will likely influence future products.
Photo credit: Apple
A new standard
Mixed reality headsets are not new, but the Vision Pro has great potential, writes Popular Science. The publication praises the device highly, describing the experience as “something new, important and, frankly, pretty amazing.” This is a strong endorsement in a market where it has been difficult to convince users of the practical value of AR.
Unlike many other AR devices, the Vision Pro offers a seamless fusion of physical and digital worlds, with an emphasis on user experience. Whether immersive gaming, collaborative work environments or just watching a movie, the Vision Pro is designed to redefine the way we interact with technology.
Um, it's not too nice. There are hurdles: The headset is expensive, and even Apple admits that it is not yet a mass-market product. Developers are figuring out how to make the most of the features, and consumers are waiting for a cheaper price. But as Popular Science points out, the Vision Pro's sheer potential is enough to earn the device a spot at the top of the “50 Biggest Innovations of 2024.”
More innovations
While the Vision Pro grabs the spotlight, Popular Science also highlights other products, including:
- LG Signature OLED T: A transparent TV that can hide its “contrast screen” so that only the illuminated pixels appear on a mostly clear screen. The device is certainly an eye-catcher, but its practical use remains limited.
- AI creates vegan cheese: The Californian company Climax Foods uses AI to imitate the properties of dairy cheese and produce plant-based versions such as blue cheese, brie and feta. If you've ever wondered which would win in a competition between AR/VR headsets and cheese, now you know.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips: The new chips are not divided into performance and efficiency cores, but still promise a long battery life without serious performance losses.
