I tried the Apple Vision Pro as a Developer - VS Code in VR!

Summary

In this video, the developer explores the Apple Vision Pro's usability for daily tasks such as coding in VS Code and designing in Figma. They discuss the intuitive user interface, the convenience of eye-tracking and finger gestures, and the flexibility of the virtual workspace. However, they also encounter minor technical difficulties and question the practicality of the device for intensive tasks like programming and design work. The video concludes with the developer appreciating the Vision Pro's potential but acknowledging its limitations and high cost for everyday use.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Apple Vision Pro offers a clear user interface with familiar Apple menu navigation and eye-tracking hover effects.
• 🔍 The device supports multi-tasking with the ability to resize and position windows for an immersive workspace.
• 🖥️ The Vision Pro can be used as a secondary monitor for a laptop, both at home and on the go, even without being on the same Wi-Fi network.
• 🛠️ The build quality is praised as futuristic, but there are concerns over the proprietary connector and the battery pack's design.
• 👀 The device features a magnetic grip that can be easily dislodged, which may cause issues with handling the expensive device.
• 🎥 The user can enjoy a virtual environment for focused work or entertainment, with the ability to dim or block out the real world.
• 💻 The Vision Pro can replicate the experience of using a large monitor or multiple monitors, but with some blurriness and focus issues.
• 👁️ The device's eye-tracking feature allows for hands-free navigation and selection, but may require adjustment for precise tasks.
• 🔄 The user can switch between different virtual environments and workspaces with ease, promoting flexibility in work setups.
• 👓 Despite the high price tag, the Vision Pro may not offer a significant advantage over traditional monitors for tasks like coding and design.
• 🤔 The script raises questions about the practicality of using the Vision Pro for everyday work, suggesting it might be more of a novelty or occasional-use device.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The video aims to demonstrate the day-to-day usability of the Apple Vision Pro for tasks such as programming in VS Code, designing in Figma, and general user interface navigation.

How does the user interface of the Vision Pro work?

The user interface of the Vision Pro is clear and uses eye-tracking for hover effects, with selection possible through finger tapping. It has a familiar menu similar to Apple products.

What are the advantages of using the Vision Pro for browsing and window management?

The Vision Pro allows users to bring screens closer, scroll with fingers or eye-tracking gestures, and resize windows by dragging corners or using eye tracking, creating a flexible and immersive browsing experience.

What issues did the reviewer encounter with the physical design of the Vision Pro?

The reviewer found the proprietary connector difficult to use, the cable often got in the way, and the magnetic grip was prone to coming off, which could potentially lead to dropping the device.

How does the Vision Pro handle virtual environments and window positioning?

The Vision Pro allows users to position windows in a 3D space around them, though it was noted that windows sometimes go out of focus and require careful positioning.

What was the reviewer's experience using the Vision Pro for coding?

The reviewer found it difficult to focus on code within the VR environment, making it less practical than using a physical monitor, despite the ability to have additional screens and a flexible workspace.

How does the Vision Pro function as a second monitor with a laptop?

The Vision Pro can connect to a laptop and display the desktop in a virtual space, providing a larger, customizable workspace that can be used in various environments.

What challenges did the reviewer face when using the Vision Pro for design work?

The reviewer experienced blurriness and a 'halo' effect around the screen, making it less effective for detailed design work compared to using a traditional monitor.

What was the reviewer's opinion on the portability and social acceptance of using the Vision Pro in public?

While the reviewer enjoyed the portability of the Vision Pro, they noted that it might be perceived as strange by others, although most people ignored it or pretended not to notice.

How does the Vision Pro compare to other VR devices in terms of resolution and usability for work?

The reviewer found the Vision Pro to have a slightly higher resolution than the Meta Quest but found programming on it difficult due to focus issues and preferred using a monitor for work.

What was the reviewer's conclusion on the practicality of using the Vision Pro for daily work?

The reviewer concluded that while the Vision Pro has potential for a flexible and customizable workspace, it was not as practical for daily work as a traditional monitor due to focus issues and the potential for headaches from prolonged use.

Outlines

00:00

😎 Apple Vision Pro: A Developer's Day-to-Day Experience

The script details a developer's exploration of the Apple Vision Pro, focusing on its usability for daily tasks such as programming in VS Code, designing in Figma, and general navigation. The user interface is praised for its clarity and familiarity, with eye-tracking and finger taps facilitating navigation. Despite some technical issues like the cumbersome cable and battery, the portability and flexibility of the device are highlighted, allowing for use in various environments. The script also touches on the immersive experience provided by the device, such as the ability to create a virtual workspace or escape to a tranquil scene.

05:02

🤖 Flexibility and Challenges of the Apple Vision Pro in a Work Environment

This paragraph delves into the practicality of using the Apple Vision Pro as a secondary monitor and its compatibility with both Apple and Windows devices. The user tests the Vision Pro's ability to connect to a laptop, resize and position screens in virtual space, and replicate the experience of working on a physical display. While the flexibility to craft personalized work environments is noted, the script also points out the challenges of using VR for coding and design tasks, such as the difficulty in maintaining focus and the blurriness of the screen when not perfectly aligned with the user's gaze.

10:03

🛠 A Developer's In-Depth Test of the Apple Vision Pro for Design and Programming

The developer conducts an in-depth test of the Apple Vision Pro for design and programming tasks, comparing the experience to using traditional monitors. The script discusses the use of the Vision Pro with a Windows machine via the Duet app and the replication of a desktop screen in VR. The developer finds the text on the Vision Pro difficult to focus on and the experience less practical than using a monitor, despite the novelty of the VR environment. The potential benefits of the Vision Pro, such as the ability to open multiple monitors and customize the workspace, are acknowledged, but the developer concludes that the device might not be suitable for daily use due to its complexity and the discomfort it can cause.

Keywords

💡Vision Pro

Vision Pro is a hypothetical advanced VR device being tested in the video. It represents the core technology that the video's narrative revolves around. The device is used to perform various tasks, such as programming, browsing, and designing, and it is evaluated for its usability and convenience in a day-to-day setting. For instance, the script mentions using the Vision Pro for programming inside of Visual Studio Code and creating designs in Figma.

💡User Interface

The user interface is the point of interaction between the user and the Vision Pro device. It is described as clear and intuitive, utilizing eye-tracking technology for navigation and selection, which is reminiscent of Apple's design philosophy. The script illustrates this with the ease of selecting elements on the screen by looking at them and using finger taps for interaction.

💡Eye Tracking

Eye tracking is a technology that allows the Vision Pro to detect where the user is looking, enabling a hands-free interaction method. It is integral to the device's operation, as seen when the user selects items or navigates through the interface by merely looking at them. The script describes how this feature is used for tasks such as scrolling through a window or resizing it.

💡Safari

Safari is a web browser that the user of the Vision Pro interacts with during the video. It is used to demonstrate the device's capabilities in a familiar application context. The script mentions how the user can manipulate and resize the Safari window using both finger gestures and eye tracking.

💡Virtual Space

Virtual space in the context of the video refers to the simulated environment created by the Vision Pro, where the user can place and interact with digital objects, such as windows and screens. The script describes arranging these virtual screens around the user's environment and using them for various tasks, like watching videos or coding.

💡Magnetic Grip

The magnetic grip is a feature of the Vision Pro that allows the user to physically grab and move the device. However, the script points out that it is easy to disengage accidentally, which could lead to dropping the expensive device, highlighting a potential design flaw.

💡Figma

Figma is a design tool used in the video to showcase the Vision Pro's capabilities for design work. The user mentions creating and editing designs within Figma, indicating how the VR device can be used for more than just browsing or coding, extending its utility to creative tasks.

💡Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality is the technology that powers the Vision Pro, providing an immersive, computer-generated environment that the user can interact with. The script discusses the potential of VR for work and leisure, comparing the Vision Pro's VR experience to other devices like the Meta Quest.

💡Resolution

Resolution refers to the clarity and sharpness of the images displayed on the Vision Pro. The script mentions that while the device has a high resolution, it may not always be practical for tasks that require fine detail, such as coding or design work, where text and elements can appear blurry.

💡Duet Display

Duet Display is an app mentioned in the script that enables the Vision Pro to act as a second monitor for a Windows computer. This demonstrates the device's flexibility and compatibility with different systems, allowing users to extend their desktop environment into the VR space.

💡Headset

The headset is the physical device worn by the user in the video, which in this context is the Vision Pro. It is the primary means through which the user experiences and interacts with the virtual environment. The script discusses comfort, build quality, and some issues with the headset's design, such as the proprietary connector and the strap.

Highlights

User interface is very clear with eye-tracking for hover effects and finger taps for selection.

Menu design is familiar, similar to Apple products, offering an intuitive user experience.

Ability to adjust window distance and close windows with simple gestures.

Safari browser allows for screen resizing and finger or eye-tracking gestures for scrolling.

Vision Pro's cable and battery can be cumbersome, causing potential handling issues.

Portable design enables use in various environments, enhancing flexibility.

Virtual keyboard appears for input, with options to tap, reposition, or select letters by looking.

Windows can be dragged into floating new windows, creating a dynamic environment.

Some windows may go out of focus or fade, requiring careful positioning.

Vision Pro can block out the environment and transport users to a selected virtual scene.

Windows stay in place when moving, allowing for flexible screen positioning.

Vision Pro can be used as a second monitor with a laptop, even on different Wi-Fi networks.

Resolution when using as a second monitor may not be as good as the actual screen.

Vision Pro's virtual space is highly flexible, allowing for personalized workspace setups.

Mouse and keyboard inputs from a laptop are recognized in the virtual space.

Vision Pro's strap design is visually appealing but functionally inadequate, prompting a swap to an alternative.

Magnetic grip is prone to coming off, posing a risk for the expensive device.

Vision Pro's cover functions like a sleeping mask, providing protection for travel.

Using Vision Pro for coding inside Visual Studio Code is not as practical as using a physical monitor.

Vision Pro's VR environment can be used with a web browser for coding, though typing remains a challenge.

Vision Pro allows for multitasking with additional screens and background apps.

Using Vision Pro for an extended period may cause discomfort, such as headaches.

Vision Pro's ability to create additional monitors and custom workspaces is a significant benefit.

Vision Pro can be used with Windows machines through apps like Duet, providing a desktop replica on the VR device.

Designing in Figma within Vision Pro is less effective than using a physical monitor due to text clarity issues.

Vision Pro's high price point may not justify its use for everyday tasks when compared to traditional monitors.

Transcripts

as a developer I wanted to see what the

Vision Pro is like for day-to-day work

so things I'll try in this video are

things like programming inside of vs

code creating designs inside of figma

and just testing the Vision Pro

generally the user interface is very

clear anything I look at uses eye

tracking to have a hover effect and then

I can select it tapping with my fingers

having used Apple products the menu is

very familiar and I felt right at home

selecting the bar at the bottom let me

bring Windows closer or further away and

selecting the circle closed the window

next I headed to Safari I had this

window here of YouTube which I was

browsing through what's cool is that I

can bring the screen closer together and

I can use my fingers to actually scroll

or I can use the eye tracking with my

fingers to gesture as well I can resize

the window by grabbing the bottom right

corner and pulling it out or using ey

tracking to do the same then I can place

it up against my wall so it looks like a

super massive screen unfortunately the

short cable and massive battery that

comes alongside the Apple Vision Pro

always got in my way and I almost

dropped it due to this magnetic grip

which is kind of easy to come off

however while these are minor technical

difficulties what I did enjoy is the

fact that I can use this anywhere I want

this means I can sit back relax and

learn some CSS from one of my favorite

people Kyle from webdev simplified

whenever I click on any inputs like the

search here at the very top of the

screen I also get this popup keyboard I

can use my fingers to tap reposition it

or just select the letters by looking at

them I can then search up videos and

drag the tabs into new windows that are

floating all around my environment now

this is pretty cool this is one of the

things that I thought was very

interesting but one of the things you'll

notice is that some of the windows

sometimes go out of focus as well as

they go a little bit faded so you do

need to position them carefully around

your environment as well here I was

looking up free code camp and I decided

that rather than having the windows very

far away from me I would bring them

closer almost like a laptop screen well

one with three screens which would be

amazing but doesn't exist in real life

and being able to just browse through it

in this fashion I can also block out my

environment there's a little swipe at

the top of the headset and when I turn

this everything goes a little bit darker

and Fades into a scene of my selection

in this case I've selected this nice

lake with a forest back set and this

allows me to almost escape the reality

I'm in and enter a brand new one that's

definitely something I would like to try

out on an airplane most of the windows

also stay in place here I've positioned

one close to where my TV normally is if

I was to stand out and exit this room

I'll see that it stays in this position

I can also resize the screens and take

them with me all I have to do is look at

this Bottom bar and tap to hold it as I

do the screen comes with me I can select

to place it next to my coffee machine

and create a coffee while continuing to

watch the program here on asynchronous

programming I also don't recommend

wearing the Vision Pro 24/7 while it's

not that easy to eat while wearing them

the main reason is the strap so let me

get into the actual build quality Apple

have done a fantastic job at making this

feel like a piece of technology out of

the future yet despite all that there

are a few problems that I was

encountering I already mentioned the

battery pack but what I didn't mention

is this proprietary connector here which

you connect on this side it's not that

easy to get in and then it's always got

this cable sticking out and then there's

this strap at the back of the Vision Pro

this strap visually looks so good the

material is soft to the touch and this

style lets me tighten or loosen it at

any point but functionally it doesn't do

the job it should so I actually swapped

to the alternative strap removing the

straps was very easy you just pull this

little orange tag and they come off

instantly then the alternative strap

comes with this band that goes above

your head as well as that back of the

head and this provided so much better

support for me when I was wearing it I

think I've already mentioned but this

magnetic grip kept coming off whenever I

went to grab it it also feels like it's

in a spot where it's easy to just simply

fall off which filled me with Terror

whenever I went to pick up this $6,000

device Apple also provides this cover

for the Vision Pro and this cover kind

of sits on top of the glass which I was

worried might break if I throw in my

backpack however this this fits in

snuggly and it's almost like a little

sleeping mask and works perfectly if I

do need to travel with it the next thing

I wanted to try was actually using it

with my laptop I heard that it can work

almost like a second monitor where you

see the monitor in Virtual space and I

thought this would be a very cool thing

to test out for day-to-day working as

soon as I open up my laptop I get this

little connect button above it which I

can select and it opens up a screen of

my desktop in Virtual space it also

darkens my current screen so no one else

can see what I'm working on I did this

at home where both my laptop and The

Vision Pro were on the same Wi-Fi

however later when I was at a cafe it

worked just the same even though both

devices weren't on the same Wi-Fi next I

tested resizing the actual screen

placing it on top of my laptop I thought

this was pretty cool because it meant

that I was almost working on my laptop

though the resolution wasn't as good as

looking at the actual screen itself so

in that case I probably wouldn't

recommend VR if this is how you're going

to use it just use your laptop normally

then I move the virtual space on top of

my Apple Studio display I know I'm a

little bit silly but this was just

something I had to try after playing

around with its position and its size I

was able to replicate it and for me it

looked almost exactly the same as if I

had the display on itself though I don't

think this was the intended use case for

The Vision Pro still it gives you an

idea of just how flexible this virtual

space is you can really craft your own

scenes however you wish and in this case

this is what I I was wishing to do but I

assume people would prefer larger

monitors I can actually resize this

screen placing it on top and making it a

lot bigger I heard there's an Apple OS

update that'll actually make it curved

and even wider if that's what people

prefer as someone working inside of

Visual Studio code though this is

probably just enough I wouldn't want a

larger screen otherwise I really

wouldn't be able to see everything

without constantly turning my head

another thing I could do is open up

additional apps side by side with my

desktop itself so this means I could

have a YouTube running on a screen on

the right hand side while I have my

coding environment at the very Forefront

for some all these additional screens

and things playing in the background

might be distracting but if for example

you're watching a coding tutorial and

you're trying to follow along it could

be useful I also discovered that the

mouse and keyboard from my laptop

actually carried across to the virtual

space it's another example of Apple

adding in some smarts which just work

another thing I liked was that I could

move these spaces to wherever I wanted

so for example if I simply wanted to

change desks I can move this screen

across to my other desk and start

working on there instead and while I

would have to also move my laptop so

that I can actually use the mouse and

keyboard it does allow me to do some

very interesting things meaning I'm

never locked into exactly where I'm

sitting and this incentivizes me to move

a little bit more because otherwise I

might be sitting in the same spot for

hours on end however if you're someone

looking to code Direct ly inside of the

Vision Pro I didn't find any VSS code

that is a native app you can download

and use however if that's something you

really want to do you can always use

GitHub and use it through the web

browser through code spaces where you

get a vs code instance running in the

browser though I'm not sure exactly how

you would type unless you've also

brought a keyboard along with you which

in that case I would say it's just

easier to bring your laptop but who

knows maybe if you're reviewing code you

want to do it with your own hands quite

literally for the Apple Vision Pro I

thought one of the advantages of having

a VR device is that you can wear it

anywhere so I tried a few different

settings I enjoyed being able to lie

down but another thing I tried was

heading over to a cafe and just

pretending I'm a completely normal

person who just happens to need some

additional visual aids for the most part

A lot of people didn't look at me as

funny as I thought they would and they

just pretended that I'm probably just

some weirdo and I don't know how to work

in society but that's okay because I am

a little bit like that so I opened up my

laptop and tried what it is like inside

of the Vision Pro just out and about

during a regular day I was able to

connect to my laptop immediately and I

didn't even set up my Personal Hotspot

yet but I did check to make sure that I

could run the personal hotspot as well

as this virtual screen at the same time

and I could I also think that it is kind

of smart that Apple made my eyes

actually appear at the front of the

screen so that people can see if I'm

looking at them this makes it so though

that if I am interacting with people it

doesn't look like I'm completely zoned

out and I can actually see what they're

doing however I still don't think this

will stop people from thinking inside

their head that you're kind of strange

there was another feature I really liked

about the Vision Pro there's a dial at

the very top of the device that lets you

swap into a virtual environment of your

own choosing it was brilliant I really

enjoyed being able to escape the mundane

surroundings I was in and being able to

focus 100% on the window and work I was

doing but it makes makes me think well

wouldn't it just be easier to head to an

office or work from home if that's my

goal either way it's a very neat trick

with the Vision Pro it also lets you Dim

your environment which is what I'm doing

here where you're not completely passing

it through to the virtual space but just

halfway more or less the Apple Vision

Pro is also meant to be the best VR

device better than the meta quest which

I've owned for the last year and I

haven't particularly used that much and

while the Apple Vision Pro might have a

slightly higher resolution I found them

very similar and in terms of work

actually programming on this device is

kind of difficult because when I'm

looking at actual code on a screen it's

kind of hard to see what I'm focused on

sometimes I like to view the whole

screen and everything isn't in Focus

usually only the thing I'm looking at in

terms of design when I'm trying to move

different elements around I can't use

the hand tracking in the end I need to

use a mouse and a keyboard and so I

might as well just be using a monitor

I've only really had a shallow test of

using it for Pro programming and design

so today I thought I would actually give

it a proper test by using it for most of

the day to do the kind of task that I

normally do when it comes to creating

websites and designing them firstly to

test out designing a website I decided

to continue using my laptop as I found

this the easiest way to interact with

the Vision Pro especially when I was

working I use it as a main large screen

that just hovers in front of my desk I'm

building out this 3D website for an

upcoming tutorial on my other channel

community and you can see here that I'm

using it just like you would normally a

screen which makes for the question is

it really worth having a Vision Pro for

$6,000 when it's just replicating what a

computer screen normally does personally

I find the ability to move my face

closer to a screen and see all the

pixels actually beneficial over using a

Vision Pro which makes everything a

little bit blurry if you're not focusing

it in just the perfect way all these

examples so far have been using Apple

but what if you have a Windows machine I

downloaded an app called Duet which

allows you to connect to your computer

through Wi-Fi and I was able to get it

up and running on the Vision Pro

natively which is great so instead of

opening up my laptop screen I now have a

replica of my desktop screen it's even

running the same resolution though I do

have a giant black bar here at the

bottom I resized the screen so it' be

super wide similar to the Asus monitor

I'm currently running it was so similar

in fact that when I overlaid it on top

it almost look like the exact same

monitor I think this is kind of

hilarious and similar to the Apple

display that I replicated earlier and I

really like doing this for some reason

though this means that I can now move

about this screen and position it

wherever I wish which I decided to do in

front of my desk kind of similar to how

I normally have my monitor anyway I

headed into figma to see what that was

like as well as editing a couple of the

designs and as I mentioned earlier it

was in fact easier to use a monitor than

this screen while here on camera it does

look like it's doing a pretty good job

for your eyes looking at the actual

pixels themselves they do kind of end up

a little bit blurry and there's a bit of

a Halo happening if the screen is too

bright as well as for programming

normally the way I code is to have

Visual Studio code on the left hand side

with a project I'm working on often in

reactjs but sometimes it's also plain

HTML CSS and JavaScript then I have my

figma reference file on the right hand

side I often try to replicate a lot of

The Styling and components from the

figma file in my code here in reactjs

components while doing so in VR on the

Vision Pro was very familiar to how I

would normally do it on my monitor I did

have a few issues firstly the text was

hard to focus on as I mentioned earlier

anything in focus is only what you're

looking at exactly I tried to bring the

monitor a little closer to myself in

order to see the text a little bit

clearer but that didn't work as well as

I wish it did though it looked looked

really cool it wasn't as practical as I

wanted it to be the other thing I tried

was increasing the font size of vs code

but if I'm going to do that I might as

well just have a monitor additionally

after working like this for about a

period of an hour I did also have a

headache which might be just because I'm

not used to VR but it's something I took

note of especially if I was considering

to use this every day for actual work I

think the potential is there being able

to open up additional monitors and set

up your workspace however you wish is

probably the most beneficial part of

having a Vision Pro but at the same time

it does get crowded personally I've

always liked the Moto less is more and

for me this was just a bit overwhelming

when I tried to get it to all work

together I can't really see what I would

use this for and yet it's still a lot of

fun I'll tell you that so it's a very

expensive Gadget that I love showing off

to other people giving a tech demo to

but realistically I don't think I'd be

using this every day or every week but

maybe once a month