The announcement that YouTube will no longer allow Christian Selig to publish Juno for Vision Pro is disappointing but not surprising. I remember when companies that made content for the internet wanted everyone to have the best possible experience. Things today feel quite the opposite. Not only is YouTube not willing to make an app for Vision Pro, but they apparently don’t want a good one to exist.
When it comes to protecting my Vision Pro, the apt word for my approach is anal retentive. The thing is amazing, but also very delicate with expensive screens and the most cutting-edge tech Apple has to offer. So I am careful when moving it, I keep a little cover over the monitors when not in use, and I keep it in a secure bag.
The question I faced was, “What bag?” The Apple bag didn’t appeal to me. It seemed overpriced and oversized. I wanted something of equal quality but smaller. That’s what led me to the Waterfield Shield Case, a product that promises not only to safeguard your Vision Pro but to do so with style, durability, and a thoughtful design that makes it an ideal companion for anyone on the go.
Waterfield Designs, a company that does both design and production in San Francisco, is known for its thoughtful design and craftsmanship. I first bought a Waterfield bag at Macworld nearly two decades ago. I’ve since given that bag away but it is still in daily use and looks only better with the years on its leather.
Their Vision Pro case is no different, with ballistic nylon or waxed canvas variants, the materials feel premium and substantial. The ballistic nylon variant has that high-tech, no-nonsense vibe, while the waxed canvas option offers a more classic, timeless look that I prefer.
The Shield Case design is compact enough to fit into larger bags or be carried on its own, yet it’s spacious enough to hold the Vision Pro and its essential accessories. The exterior is designed to withstand the rigors of travel, with water-resistant materials and tough enough to handle the occasional bump or scrape.
The case features a semi-rigid shell that offers excellent protection without being overly bulky. It strikes a balance between being lightweight enough to carry around all day and sturdy enough to give you peace of mind that your Vision Pro is well-protected. The leather accents are probably not necessary, but they seem appropriate for this amazing Vision Pro.
As with all Waterfield products, the zippers and pockets are well-designed and executed. The main compartment has plush padding to cradle your Vision Pro, ensuring it stays scratch-free and secure. One of the standout features is the smart organization inside the case. There’s a dedicated slot for the Vision Pro itself, along with pockets for the charger, cables, and other small accessories. These pockets are strategically placed to prevent items from shifting around during transport, which is a thoughtful touch that frequent travelers will appreciate. There’s even a zippered pocket for storing more delicate items, like a cleaning cloth or extra lenses.
The interior is lined with soft material that feels gentle against the Vision Pro’s delicate components, yet durable enough to handle the wear and tear of regular use. The attention to detail is evident in the way the interior compartments are sized and positioned; there’s a place for everything, and everything has its place.
If you are on the road, this thing is sized for travel. It comes with a removable shoulder strap, allowing you to sling it over your shoulder or carry it by hand using the sturdy top handle. Whether you’re heading to the office, traveling across the country, or simply moving between rooms in your home, the Shield Case is ready to go wherever you go.
One of the things I appreciate most about the Shield Case is how it seamlessly integrates into my workflow. The case’s design makes it easy to pack and unpack my Vision Pro, and the organized interior means I’m not wasting time rummaging around for cables or accessories. Everything has its place, and that level of organization is something I really value, especially when I take my Vision Pro on the go.
I’ve been using the Shield Case for four months and there are no signs of wear. The zippers are as smooth as the day I got it, and the materials still look and feel as premium as ever. If you’re looking for a case worthy of your Vision Pro, check this one out.
At a recent MacSparky Labs event, the topic of Vision Pro came up. Several members are now getting access to the device as Apple expands the release to more countries.
Some Vision Pro owners regularly use the hardware, particularly those who travel and want to use that big screen and entertainment device in a hotel. For other folks, the bloom is off the rose, and they’re not exactly sure what to do with their Vision Pro.
I am in the middle.
My best-case productivity usage continues to be writing. I’m writing this post sitting in my Vision Pro in my usual spot at Yosemite with a keyboard in my lap. I do that often. It feels like a context change and makes my work easier. I do two to four writing sessions a week.
Other transactional productivity tasks, like email, calendar, and task management, never stuck with me. Maybe I should try to do it exclusively for a month to see if I could build some new workflows, but for now, at least, there’s too much friction.
Unsurprisingly, this is the most successful implementation of Vision Pro. I’m pretty careful about video consumption, but when I do decide to watch something, I want to give it my entire attention — none of this silly fiddle-with-iPad-while-watching-TV for me. So, Vision Pro is perfect for what I’ll call mindful consumption. I’m out of town this week, but I recently finally bought The Boy and the Heron. I can’t wait to watch it in Vision Pro when I return home.
That said, Apple needs to turn the Vision Pro content machine up to 11. They should produce a lot more immersive content and make deals with artists and sports teams.
I’m also a fan of several art gallery-style apps. There is a huge difference in looking at art in Vision Pro versus any other screen.
I’m hardly a serious gamer, but Bombaroom continues to make me giggle as I lay waste to a digital castle across the room.
Putting Vision Pro in context, this is the early days. I wish Apple were more aggressive with the software stack and content. If I add all of these uses up, do they stack up to the significant cost of the Vision Pro for me? I think so, but it isn’t an obvious calculus. Moreover, I want to watch this technology and see what Apple does with it. That is an additional benefit for me, but not for all.
I frequently use environments in Vision Pro, which is one of the device’s best features. They can give you a context shift that is only possible with Vision Pro. I wish there were more of them.
Related to this, the Disney+ application got a nice addition with a new immersive environment in Iceland which was created by National Geographic, one of the Disney companies. It looks fantastic inside Vision Pro and again raises the question of why these environments are all bottled up inside individual applications. Apple needs to release more system-wide environments. I expect these app-based environments are similar enough to system-wide environments that we could have some donation-based system where I could use Disney’s Iceland outside the Disney+ application.
Of course, this would require some work on Apple’s part and agreement on the part of the app developers, but why wouldn’t they? If there is a technical limitation preventing this, my advice to Apple is to solve it. If there is a pride limitation on allowing third-party applications to donate environments, I advise Apple to get over it.
I know for a fact Apple has at least one middle-aged user who would love nothing better than to work in Apple Notes while sitting in the driver’s seat of his virtual Landspeeder. Why not bring him a little joy?
Mark Gurman reports that Apple is looking at some interesting ideas for a more affordable visionOS headset, including tethering the device to an iPhone or a Mac. Tethering to an iPhone doesn’t seem much different from being connected to a battery, as it currently does. Tethering to a Mac, however, feels like an entirely different kettle of fish.
Photo by Mylo Kaye
If Apple is rethinking its Vision strategy, my two cents would be to make the currently shipping hardware more attractive:
There is a lot of blue sky left for Vision and visionOS, but a more compelling software and content story needs to come first.
We’ve had some nice Vision Pro content announcements over the last few weeks. There is a new adventure experience, Parkour in Paris. I watched it and realized halfway through that I must be developing a fear of heights because many shots terrified me. We also got Demeo, a role-playing game that now works on Vision Pro, and that has several interesting twists. At some point in the next few days, Disney will release the Vision Pro version of What if…, an ongoing Marvel series that looks at alternative timelines and ideas. The Vision Pro version is supposed to be both immersive and interactive.
I’m calling all this out because it is simultaneously promising and overdue on the Vision Pro. I expected more frequent releases like this when the hardware became available, and there hasn’t been enough of it. People talk about Vision Pro as if it’s a dud, and I don’t see it this way. I regularly watch videos on it and write on it. And yet…
There has been a dearth of content taking advantage of what makes the Vision Pro special. There are many great clips in the demonstration. I expected more like that to show up sooner on the device. I think a regular diet of content like this (along with more immersive sports and concerts) would help generate excitement for the platform and satisfaction for existing owners. One of the primary reasons to buy the Vision Pro is for content, so more exclusive content that takes advantage of the hardware would be welcome. What’s unclear is how invested Apple is in paying for that kind of content. I’m not sure if WWDC is the place for such an announcement, but a public declaration from Apple and promises of regular releases of future content Vision Pro would be welcome.
This is the third part of my series on early notes from the Vision Pro. This one is focused on media consumption—earlier entries covered the hardware and interface and productivity.
Yesterday, I wrote my notes about the Vision Pro hardware and its interface. Here are my notes on productivity:
Now that I’ve logged some serious hours in the Vision Pro, I thought I’d share some thoughts about it. This post focuses on the hardware and interface:
We had a meetup in the MacSparky Labs a few days ago about how we’re doing with the Vision Pro, where we answered questions and discussed whether or not we’re keeping these new gizmos. It was a lot of fun and quite informative, with members sharing their experiences and workflows. …
This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?