Apple's mixed reality headset ” is selling well, but is embroiled in new mysteries that are proving difficult to unravel.
As first reported by MacRumors, some customers have discovered a mysterious crack appearing vertically in the center of the front screen of their Vision Pro headset. This report comes from a small number of users and is mostly being talked about on Reddit, which may make it an unreliable source of information. That said, Engadget reports that the same rift has appeared in the reviews department. Those affected said they had not mishandled the device and had not experienced any drops or bumps that would have cracked the laminated glass screen. Therefore, it is not yet clear what the exact cause of the problem is or whether it actually affects Vision Pro's performance.
WIRED contacted Apple to ask about the cracked Apple Vision Pro front screen and its cause, but the company did not respond.
Apple chose to make its first headset out of premium materials like aluminum and glass, which resulted in devices that were heavier and less durable. As an example of how to withstand stress, take a look at this video of YouTuber Jerry Rigs Everthing completely destroying his Apple Vision Pro headset. (Spoiler alert: It's not good to set it on fire.)
Here's some other consumer tech news:
Apple announces new app
This week, Apple announced a dedicated app for sports enthusiasts. It's called–wait for it–Apple Sports. The app is free on iOS and gives iPhone users access to real-time sports scores. It can be used to track scores and statistics for some professional and collegiate leagues, including Major League Soccer, NBA, NCAA Basketball, Premier League Soccer, and NHL Hockey. Notably missing are other sports giants like MLB, NFL, NCAAF, NWSL, and WNBA, but Apple says those leagues will be coming to the app soon for next season.
This app allows users to filter and customize the scoreboard to display their favorite teams. It also aims to encourage users to watch games on her Apple TV by adding a “Watch on Apple TV” button to the app. iPhone apps are free, but streaming games usually requires a subscription.
Apply PC games directly to your forehead
In other VR news, Sony says it's testing its latest VR headset to make it compatible with PC gaming. Sony's PS VR2 was released a year ago, and while it's a fun and powerful device, it received some criticism for requiring a tethered connection to the PS5 console. Currently, Sony is considering the idea of allowing the player to utilize the headset for gameplay on his PC as well.
The announcement was embedded within a few paragraphs of updates about new games coming to Sony's console platform. The company did not provide details about which PC games it is testing on PS VR2 or when such features might be available.
Still, this is a welcome cross-platform move for Sony that could bring it one step closer to ending the console wars. It's probably not the company's immediate goal, but it's not the gaming company's first move in terms of interoperability. Last week, the Xbox team announced that some previously exclusive console games would soon be available on other platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
What is Dune 2 Night?
Swiss luxury watchmaker Hamilton has unveiled two new watches inspired by director Denis Villeneuve's new work. dunes Sequel. As you might imagine, it looks like it came straight from Arrakis. (it is dunes ) The exterior is a sturdy matte black, with bright blue numerals and clock hands reminiscent of Fremen eye color. (They are dunes ) The triangular shape of the case is an evolution of Hamilton's Ventura model, first introduced in the 1950s.
The Ventura XXL Bright is priced at $1,810 and is limited to a total of 3,000 units. The Ventura Edge Dune Watch is priced at $2,553 and is limited to a total of 2,000 pieces. Dune: Part 2 We will open next Friday, March 1st.
technical troubles
It's a tough time to be in the tech industry for many workers, especially those caught up in the wave of layoffs so far this year. Within weeks, tens of thousands of technology workers lost their jobs. Companies of all sizes have recently cut jobs, including Google, Amazon, Discord, and Instacart. It's a big change for an industry that has grown by luring employees with lavish campuses and charitable benefits. Faced with a glut of job seekers today, companies have become very particular about the people they hire. It's harder than ever to land a tech job, and both sides at the interview table are getting creative with how they approach the other person. (Yes, it's probably all using AI.)
This latest episode of WIRED gadget lab The podcast delves into the plight of tech workers and how precarious it has become to get and keep a job.
