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Vision Pro = first Macintosh

Vision Pro = first Macintosh

Why Apple's AR headset is like the original Mac.

Leander Kahney
March 25, 2024

After a flurry of publicity, the buzz surrounding Apple’s Vision Pro headset has dimmed considerably.

Apart from the odd social media post, you don’t see or hear that much about it. Is it a bust?

It’s too early to tell, but it’s useful to look back at the original Mac, and that machine’s initial reception, to put things in perspective. The first Mac faced a lot of the same criticisms as the Vision Pro, but look how things eventually turned out. Plus, Apple’s about to launch the headset in China, one of the company’s biggest markets.

Also in today’s newsletter:

The upcoming iOS 18 update may bring a big change to iPhone’s Home Screen.
A new macOS patch fixes a bug with USB hubs.
We give the Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank a rare full five stars in our hands-on review. (And it’s on sale, today only!)
This setup illustrates that even a base-level Mac Studio is a beast.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Vision Pro vs. Macintosh: A historical perspective

A look back at the original Macintosh puts the Vision Pro AR headset in perspective, and helps reveal what it means for Apple's future.

iOS 18 could introduce more customizable iPhone Home Screen

Apple might ease a major iPhone Home Screen customization limitation in iOS 18 by letting you place app icons anywhere.

EU is skeptical that Apple’s new App Store rules comply with DMA

The European Commission opens a non-compliance investigation into whether Apple is fully following the rules of the Digital Markets Act.

^{A message from the}^{Cult of Mac Deals team}

Own the air with this 2-pack of easy-to-fly camera drones

Get two camera drones for the price of one. Grab the Ninja Dragon Phantom K Pro and Blade X Pro now for just $149.99 (regularly $369.99).

macOS patch fixes vexing bugs with USB hubs and more

Mac users should install macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a patch that removes a bug with USB hubs as well as other problems.

'Presto,' your new iPhone comes out of thebox with fresh software

Apple's new Presto iOS updates mean new iPhone buyers won't need to worry about refreshing software immediately.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Get Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac, just $29.97

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Teams Classic.

Tim Cook confirms Vision Pro’s China launch later this year

Apple's $3,500 mixed-reality headset will debut in China in 2024.

Good news for AirPods, bad news for Apple [The CultCast]

Even rumors of "the biggest AirPods launch to date" can't cheer us up after the DOJ files its antitrust case against Apple.

Baseus laptop power bank proves that thin is in [Review] [ON SALE] ★★★★★

Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank is loaded with great features, but is slim enough to go easily into bags designed for MacBook.

‘Manhunt’ crime drama finds a big audience on Apple TV+

Many viewers are tuning in to the true-crime drama about the frantic search for Lincoln's assassin.

Today in Apple history: Apple exec bets his wine cellar on Newton

On March 25, 1993, Apple exec Gaston Bastiaens wagered that the Newton MessagePad would ship before summer ended. The prize? His wine cellar!

Badass Mac Studio drives dual Studio Displays [Setups]

In some ways, an M2 Ultra Mac Studio driving dual Studio Displays is an ideal computer setup -- even with base specs.

Tweetz o’ the day

Happy Holi to all who celebrate! Thank you @joshuakarthikr for sharing this beautiful #ShotOniPhone photo that captures the colorful festival.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook)
5:46 AM • Mar 25, 2024

It's actually bad luck to say MacBook inside an office. You have to call it 'The Scottish Laptop'
— Nathalie Kernot (@nolliepops)
3:55 PM • Apr 12, 2022

All I want for iOS 18 is a way to limit my Photos app on device storage like this Music app setting. Oh and I’ll take a better Siri of course but I couldn’t care less about rearranging Home Screen icons.
— Steve Moser (@SteveMoser)
12:21 PM • Mar 25, 2024

After several months of using Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5:
— the most reliable smart speaker that I ever used
— supports all music services
— has hardware buttons for playlists or radio
— excellent sound with character
— works over wi-fi, BT and wire and switches automatically
— Dmitry Novikov (@novikoff)
2:37 PM • Mar 23, 2024

One more thing ...

❝

When our tools don’t work, we tend to blame ourselves, for being too stupid or not reading the manual or having too-fat fingers.… When our tools are broken, we feel broken. And when somebody fixes one, we feel a tiny bit more whole.

— Steve Jobs, 2011.

Today’s poll

Is Vision Pro a bust or the platform of the future?

Results from last Friday’s poll: How old is your iPad?

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