I wonder if Apple has considered taking an approach to getting games on the platform similar to their strategy for getting AppleTV+ originals. Seems like a good way to harbor more developers and growing their gaming catalog.

We’re still in the early day of use cases for this thing, but paying $3500 for a very fancy / convenient monitor doesn’t seem like such a silly investment if you look at what the potentially of that actually is.

I’m obviously going to be biased for my own industry when I think of the most immediate applications, but I’m really curious what new interaction patterns can be created when working with creative tools. (A comparable example from mobile interfaces were things like shake to undo, overscrolling the top to trigger a refresh, pinch gestures, etc.)

Can definitely see Apple Vision Pro normalizing VR (as it previously had with other products). Went to see what the interest was like at my local store– huge crowds, and trying to schedule a demo showed that next available date as “unavailable”.

l used a SIM card push pin to "unlock" the cable connected to the Apple Vision Pro battery pack. It popped right out. pic.twitter.com/tShScpMlvr

— Ray Wong (@raywongy) January 31, 2024

This would be a pretty solid redesign of the Magic Mouse if they add the multi-touch and optical sensor to this thing.

The first full reviews of the Vision Pro are coming out, and gotta say the use case for a go-anywhere-monitor-that-can-also-put-up-a-privacy-screen-but-also-doesn’t-require-you-to-bring-along-other-peripherals is pretty compelling.

One thing I’ve noticed from watching some of the review videos is how everyone’s gestures are very deliberate and precise right now. It reminds me of the early days of the iPhone, where everyone had to learn a new way of typing: with their thumbs.

EDIT: Got around to watching The Verge’s review. That’s some serious production value.

The new old hotness

Was reading “The ’80s Are Back, Baby” via Eye on Design, and gotta say: I love that this aesthetic is coming back.

I noticed Apple Maps has been inaccurately directed me on a longer route home due to a one-way street misidentification. Discovered the error while driving, reported it, and it was recently fixed, saving 5 minutes every time I head that way.

It does make me wonder about how widespread errors are in Apple Maps data. I wonder if there would be a benefit in supporting user contributions to address such issues efficiently. Maybe some sort of opt-in feature for Maps capturing detailed data to enhance routing and updates?

I’ve been talking about the idea of AI taking the role of a personal assistant in people’s lives with friends and coworkers since the boom of AI in recent months. This looks like the first practical application I’ve seen of that idea, have a watch if you haven’t already:

Edit:
Okay, so what’s so cool about this idea? Let’s break it down:

• I agree with moving away from the app model
  • If anything, I see apps as just their core function, everything else is extraneous
  • I’d actually be happier if every app was just a series of APIs I can plug into
• This is the first application I’ve seen of an OS that moves to simply a command:reponse function
• The camera looking at what you’re looking at fits directly into my future vision of phones: phone as a translation layer.

via Ryan Jones on Twitter:

IAC just sold 17 apps to Bending Spoons.

• $100M deal
• All 330 employees fired
• Robokiller and PDF Hero appear to be the biggest

Sneak peak at the playbook: ultra scammy tactics, no new features, sell user data, more ads, and other lovely things.

And so the Bending Spoons cancer continues to spread.