logo
I saw ‘home of the future' at Apple HQ where redecorating takes seconds and costs NOTHING – and it's just months away

I saw ‘home of the future' at Apple HQ where redecorating takes seconds and costs NOTHING – and it's just months away

The Irish Sun5 days ago
WHAT if you could redecorate your home instantly? And without paying a penny?
Well, it's not sci-fi – it's just months away. This is the hi-tech
future
that Apple showed me at its California HQ just last month.
Advertisement
10
Later this year, you'll be able to add virtual decorations to your real home
Credit: Apple
10
You can even peer through this window into a vast digital panorama – as if you were looking out through real glass
Credit: Apple
10
The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach has been using the Vision Pro headset to explore the virtual world
Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun
Back in 2024, Apple launched the
So if you want to sit back and watch Ted Lasso on a massive
The world isn't blocked out: you'll still see your kids playing with Lego on the floor, or your cat demanding its third breakfast.
Now the company is preparing to roll out a major update that not only upgrades the headset…but your home too.
Advertisement
Read more on Apple
A VISION OF THE FUTURE
Right now, most of the apps that you use on a Vision Pro headset float in the air in front of you. Spooky.
It's neat if you're on an airplane, as you can block out your surroundings and find a bit of peace in economy.
But in the real world, you don't normally have important stuff just hovering mid-air. You wouldn't typically stick your telly in the middle of the room, or covering a window. It gets in the way.
In the
Advertisement
Most read in Phones & Gadgets
You could chuck a virtual clock up on the wall (and save
money
on having a real one).
Or you could drop the
Weather
app just by the front door, so you know whether you need to grab a coat.
EXCLUSIVE Apple's Tim Cook shares exactly how he uses Vision Pro headset every day as millions finally get chance to buy
Ditch picture frames and slap the Photos app on the wall for a
nice
carousel of your favourite snaps.
Or even add Reminders right
next
to the fridge, so you've always got your shopping list in plain sight.
Advertisement
There's even a very cool (and optional) effect that insets the widget into the wall. So it feels as if it's built directly into your home.
You can even add beautiful images that sit behind the wall, and then you can lean left and right, or forwards and backwards, to almost peer into a magical world that lives beyond your room.
10
The Apple Vision Pro headset is a "spatial computer"
Credit: Apple
Of course there's nothing behind there. Except maybe dust and spiders.
Advertisement
But it allows for something that wouldn't physically be possible with a normal wall. No amount of money can buy this in the real world. This is redecorating like never before.
'When it's inset into the wall, it has to just be perfectly aligned with the wall to have that feel satisfying,' said Jeff Norris, senior director at Apple's Vision products group, speaking to me at Apple Park.
'You have to understand the surfaces in the room.'
EYE TRY
I tried this
Advertisement
It looked like these widgets were right there, as embedded in the wall as a door or window frame.
And as I moved around the room, they'd stay stuck in place. I couldn't trick it, no matter which way I turned or walked.
This isn't very easy to achieve, Apple tells me.
10
You can easily customise the widgets that you're adding to your wall
Credit: Apple
Advertisement
10
It works using the Apple Vision Pro smart goggles
Credit: Apple
'It needs to remember the room,' Jeff explained.
And it needs to do that even if the lighting conditions change significantly. Or if things get moved around in the room a little bit.
'We have to be able to do that, and do that for many different rooms.
Advertisement
'Meaning that feature you saw, it'll work for your
home office
and your office at work.
'It will remember both of those rooms, and remember what you put in both of those places.
'So that moment you walk into your office at home, we have just a fraction of a second to say: 'Okay, what room are we in? Let's remember everything that was in that room, exactly where it was. And while we're at it, let's never lose track of where we are in that space'.'
They're not just stiff images either.
Advertisement
You can walk right up to them and interact with them. Change a photo or tick off a reminder.
10
Change the colour of a visionOS 26 widget to suit your room
Credit: Apple
And if you don't like one clock style, you can swap it out for something else.
'It's amazing that you can have a digital object like a widget that feels like it's right there in the room with you,' Steve Sinclair, who is in charge of Apple Vision Pro marketing, told me.
Advertisement
'Even though your brain knows it's not, it feels like it is. And you can interact with it as if it's there.'
Right now, the only way to view these virtual redecorations is to don the Vision Pro headset.
VISIONOS 26 – WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
Here are some bonus features coming in visionOS 26:
Look to Scroll
Redesigned Control Centre
Ability to unlock iPhone while wearing Apple Vision Pro
Relaying calls from iPhone
Folders on Home View
Improved quality for Personas
Picture Credit: Apple
And that means only you're seeing them. No one else.
SHRINKING BIG
But you can imagine a future where maybe the Vision Pro has shrunk to the size of glasses, and everyone in your house has a pair.
Advertisement
Apple rival Meta has shown off this kind of futuristic gadget – albeit only as a prototype – in the form of the
The Apple Vision Pro serves up immensely greater visual quality. But it's a big headset and, ultimately,
Sadly Apple hasn't confirmed any plans for smaller or cheaper 'spatial computing' headsets. And glasses-style mixed-reality specs that don't cost mega-money are years away.
10
You can inset widgets into the wall for a very cool effect
Credit: Apple
Advertisement
But this is a glimpse at the future of what
homes
might become.
You can imagine one day being able to change the colour of your wallpaper or sofa in an instant – and add a nice rug, if you'd like.
But for now, Apple is only adding the ability to add widgets to the walls. Still, it's a step in that direction.
It's not a huge stretch to imagine a future where we all don specs that aren't much bigger than regular glasses.
Advertisement
This would give us all access to a digital world that lives all around us – rather than being squeezed into our eyes through the tiny window of a smartphone screen.
And swiping a new photo onto your wall is a lot easier than hanging a frame. I'm rubbish at DIY, so this can't come soon enough.
10
Apps usually float in front of you on the Vision Pro, but widgets can be attached to your wall
Credit: Apple
10
The Vision Pro headset lets you see virtual objects as if they were in your real physical space
Credit: Apple
Advertisement
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The six little-known Sky TV remote ‘codewords' to skip annoying ads, entertain your kids & unlock 5-star films instantly
The six little-known Sky TV remote ‘codewords' to skip annoying ads, entertain your kids & unlock 5-star films instantly

The Irish Sun

time6 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

The six little-known Sky TV remote ‘codewords' to skip annoying ads, entertain your kids & unlock 5-star films instantly

TELLY fans can instantly upgrade their Sky-watching experience just by learning a few handy remote tricks. You can easily skip past ads, track down endless entertainment for your kids, and unlock the very best movies in a matter of seconds. 4 See that big microphone button in the middle of the Sky remote? It's not just for decoration – it's a shortcut to supercharging your TV Credit: Sean Keach It all works using the voice controls on Sky TV remotes. Most modern But it can grant you dozens of different shortcuts – and I've picked out six of the best. If you get into the habit of using these special codewords and phrases, you'll save loads of time. Read more on Sky TV SKY TV VOICE TRICK #1 – SKIP ADS First up is the ability to Now this won't work if you're watching live telly – but it's genius if you're viewing pre-recorded content. If you manually fast-forward through an ad break, it's pretty slow. But with the voice remote, you can just say: "Fast-forward three minutes." Most read in Phones & Gadgets It'll whisk you right past the ads and back to your beloved telly. SKY TV VOICE TRICK #2 – TOP FLICKS You may have already known that you can search for movies with your voice by saying its name or asking for a genre. Sky customers can claim delicious freebies in new giveaway scheme But that might serve up some rubbish flicks that aren't worth your time. So instead, try asking for "movies rated five stars". That'll pull up a list of top-rated movies for your perusal, and hopefully ensure that you have a solid movie night. An alternative is to ask for "movies rated one star" if you want a bit of a laugh. 4 Finding great movies doesn't have to be a chore Credit: Sky SKY TV VOICE TRICK #3 – FAST APPS Sometimes you're watching telly on a live channel or app and then want to view something else. Scrolling through menus and between apps can be a real faff. It's actually much quicker to just voice-request the name of the app. All you need to do is say "open Netflix" and it'll pop right up. You'll be shocked at how much time this can save you – but it's one of those tricks that you need to get into the habit of using, so you can really reap the rewards. SKY TV VOICE TRICK #4 – QUICK TELLY One of the biggest problems with watching TV in the modern age is the amount of choice you have. It can feel impossible to actually pick something because there's just endless telly out there. One solution to this is Sky's recommendation feature. 4 You can ask "What should I watch?" to find some top telly quickly Credit: Sky Just hit the microphone button and ask: "What should I watch?" This will feed you telly that you actually want to see based on your viewing habits. And it even works across Sky as well as third-party apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. SKY TV VOICE TRICK #5 – WORDS OFF Sometimes subtitles find themselves mysteriously activated and you can't work out why – or how to switch them off quickly. ANOTHER SKY TRICK TO TRY Earlier this week, we revealed a clever Sky trick... You can unlock loads of Just load up your Sky TV, go to the apps menu, and look for Games by It's packed with top games including retro titles like Pac-Man, Breakout, and Tetris. There are kids games too, and quizzes that you can play together as a family. You don't need a special controller. Instead you simply play using your Sky TV remote. The only catch? You'll have to sit through ads – but you won't pay a penny to play. Picture Credit: The Sun / Sky / Tetris And other times, you might want them on but can't remember how to bring them up. Rather than faffing around with settings, just use your voice. You can just ask for Sky to "turn subtitles on" or "turn subtitles off" and it'll happen in an instant. SKY TV VOICE TRICK #6 – FUN FOR KIDS It's summertime, which means many parents will be at home trying to entertain their children. 4 Sky Kids is packed with great child-friendly content Credit: Sky And Sky's telly service is jam-packed with kid-friendly content. If you want to find it all very quickly, simply say "Open Kids section". This will take you straight to a treasure trove of child-friendly telly that Sky has curated.

The Spanish party town with 87p shots that's ‘better than Benidorm' & BEGGING Brits to return after anti-tourist demos
The Spanish party town with 87p shots that's ‘better than Benidorm' & BEGGING Brits to return after anti-tourist demos

The Irish Sun

time36 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

The Spanish party town with 87p shots that's ‘better than Benidorm' & BEGGING Brits to return after anti-tourist demos

IT'S midnight and Boozers Fest Bar is packed to the rafters with a host of 18 to twentysomethings, all jostling to play a wild new drinking game. This Dutch-run party bar charges £17.50 to take part in 'Snappy', where ten shots are placed around a crocodile toy for punters to down if its mouth shuts when they press its teeth. 18 One party bar charges £17.50 to take part in 'Snappy', where ten shots are placed around a crocodile toy for punters to down if its mouth shuts when they press its teeth Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Teens point to a drinks sign showing unbelievably cheap booze outside a bar in Lloret de Mar Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 With its 100-plus bars and clubs, Lloret de Mar was once branded the 'party capital of Spain' Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Four youngsters on a night out in Lloret de Mar Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Pub owners and party organisers here are pleading with high-spending Brits to return Credit: Darren Fletcher As they drink, the crowd whoops and hollers and the room, no doubt, starts to spin. Kim, 21, falls foul of the snap, and tells me: 'It's like being a kid again, but with an extra hit. 'We love it here — fun and alcohol, what more could you want?' So far, so typical of a Spanish holiday for British youngsters, many on their first sunshine break without mum and dad cramping their style. But while this bar is bursting, the same cannot be said for other venues in the Spanish resort town of With 100-plus bars and clubs, it was once branded the country's 'party capital' but now many of the venues sit partially empty or closed — an unwelcome result of the nationwide As a result, the pub owners and party organisers here are pleading with high-spending Brits to return. Currently, the town is besieged by Dutch and German tours of under age teens, who barely spend any money and demand that prices stay low or they won't come. Drinks prices on this section of the Locals are now yearning for its early-Noughties heyday when it was a Club 18-30 destination for Brits. Anti-tourist protesters blast holidaymakers with water guns & block hotels Local shop owner Mohan, 45, told The Sun: 'Without tourists there would be nothing here in Lloret de Mar. "We love English tourists here because they spend the most. 'Yes, some get a bit drunk and loud, but that's not the end of the world. 'The protests in 'We want tourists to know they are welcome. I've lived in Lloret since 1999 and everyone here wants more Brits — Without tourists there would be nothing here in Lloret de Mar. We love English tourists here because they spend the most Mohan, Local shop owner Last year 18.4million of us headed to Spain, ­contributing £20billion to the country's economy, according to the Spanish Ministry of Tourism. But over-tourism has been blamed for inflating Lloret is not immune to the housing concerns of places such as Ibiza and Tenerife, but instead of Officials have responded by cracking down on unlicensed accommodation, which last week saw cops raid 23 illegal tourist flats and slap the owners with fines of up to £20,000. Restaurant Pinocchio owner Claudio La Face, 37, explained: 'Unlicensed holiday flats are a problem because people are concerned about renting to locals as if there is a problem, such as not paying rent, there is little they can do. "On top of that, many prefer to rent to tourists because they can make a lot of money, despite the risk of big fines.' 'Better than Benidorm' 18 Young tourists in I Heart Lloret de Mar shirts head for a night out in the party town Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Protesters hold up signs in Barcelona in June claiming tourism is killing the city Credit: Getty 18 British teens Lucy and Gemma, both 18, are loving the nightlife in Lloret Credit: Darren Fletcher Italian Claudio, who has lived in Lloret for 12 years, said he struggles to understand the anti- tourist protests happening in other parts of Spain. 'It has affected our numbers here, especially this year,' he said. 'But we need tourists in Lloret, we love them. Most of Spain needs tourists too, so protesting against them doesn't help anyone. "Tourists should come to Lloret for the good weather, the beautiful beaches, and amazing food options. Plus there are lots of cultural ­places around here to visit, such as One of the biggest draws to the town is its party district, home to one of the world's best clubs, Tropics. The main strip, Avenue Just Marles Vilarrodona, is full of venues that can hold thousands of revellers, and the winding side streets boast a seemingly unending array of cocktail bars offering outrageous drinking games. Don't Let The Duck Out sees players put on a swim cap and snorkelling goggles to try to grab a bottle of alcohol from a large water bowl. Essentially it's boozy apple bobbing. British teens Lucy and Gemma, both 18, are loving the nightlife in Lloret. Lucy said: 'My sister recommended it, and it's crazy here. We have no regrets booking it. It's fun.' Other Brits out on the lash include Dan Clark and Ollie Bott, both 20, from Stoke, who booked the resort after spotting it on the Jet2 website. For a random find, we've got no regrets. We're on night one, and it's already shaping up to be better than Zante. A lot of bars are giving us drinks for half price because we're British, which is cool Ollie Bott They've flown out with six mates, who they have managed to lose by the time they bump into The Sun. Ollie said: 'For a random find, we've got no regrets. We're on night one, and it's already shaping up to be better than Zante. A lot of bars are giving us drinks for half price because we're British, which is cool.' Newlyweds Rachel, 37, and Phillip, 41, from Leeds, are here for their honeymoon. 'It wasn't quite what we expected for our honeymoon, but we love how lively it is,' courier Phillip said. 'I'd certainly come back here with the lads, or let my sons have their first drinking holiday here as it feels really safe. There's nice food and the booze is cheap. 'Plus everyone here has been really friendly compared to other holidays we've been on.' Couple Paul Willmot and Janette Machin, both 57, from Bridlington, Yorks, reckon it could even start to rival Brit favourite Benidorm. Janette said: 'It's been really great so far. It has potential and reminds me of Beni and Sunny Beach before they got super-popular. We didn't let the 18 Newlyweds Rachel, 37, and Phillip, 41, from Leeds, admitted the resort wasn't quite what they were expecting Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Dan Clark and Ollie Bott, both 20, from Stoke, booked the resort after spotting it on the Jet2 website Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Crowds of youngsters head to the party strip while a bus promotes the popular Tropics nightclub Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 One of the resort's beaches is near empty with locals fear is due to Spanish protests deterring tourists Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Local businessman Igor Peyman is keen to see more British holidaymakers pitch up in Lloret Credit: Darren Fletcher Standing in doorways and draped over pavements are revellers debating which bar to move to next. Some are being shepherded by tour operators. 'A little rowdy' Back on the main street are Disco Londoner and Touch Down Sports bar, both owned by Marcus Faraji. He told The Sun: 'Ninety per cent of the industry here is based around tourism, even if it's not directly. 'More needs to be done to educate locals that their livelihoods and comforts come from tourists being welcome here. This is getting lost because many people are so worried about the housing issues. 'The drinking tourism we get upsets some, and they complain that people don't come here to visit cultural places, but the truth is we don't have the infrastructure for that. "Many of the tourists that come here are in groups organised by tour operators, who take up bulk bookings at hotels. English people are my favourite tourists because they spend so much. They can be a bit difficult, like fighting each other, but they come with a budget to spend and will spend it all Igor Peyman 'It means we have to keep drinks cheap, because if we raise our ­prices they threaten to not come. 'But some of the people they bring are as young as 16, so we won't serve them anyway, and they don't have a lot of money to spend, which harms the economy. 'English people don't travel in the same way. We would like more of them because they spend a huge amount on both ­restaurants and on alcohol.' Bars caught serving booze to someone under age risk a fine of £2,600 for each case — and the drinker can be handed a £850 fine. Local businessman Igor Peyman, 54, is also keen to see more British holidaymakers pitch up in Lloret. He said: 'English people are my favourite tourists because they spend so much. 'They can be a bit difficult, like fighting each other, but they come with a budget to spend and will spend it all. There is so much for people to enjoy here so we hope they aren't put off by the protests in other parts of Spain.' 'Spanish Blackpool' But not everyone is a fan of ­Lloret. Holidaymaker Amanda, from Stratford-upon-Avon, She added: 'You do have to look for the nicer places to go as the centre is very young and aimed at a younger crowd.' Her pal Michele agreed, but added: 'Everyone has been really friendly, and you don't get hassled to go to restaurants or shops. Parts of the town are quite dated and need investment.' We want people who won't pee or poo in the street. We have plenty of public restrooms and bars where ­people can use the toilets Tattoo shop worker Jose Tattoo shop worker Jose, 30, is keen for Lloret to only ­welcome tourists who will be respectful. He said: 'We want people who won't pee or poo in the street. We have plenty of public restrooms and bars where ­people can use the toilets. 'Tourists who want to have fun but appreciate we live here are always welcome, even if they're a little rowdy. 'Lloret is a poor town, and most of us have to earn our living for the year in the space of six weeks. "We love tourists and we always want them to come here.' 18 One less impressed visitor dubbed the town Spain's Blackpool Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Budget boozers sell cocktails and shots for 1 euro Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Josh, 30, and Saffron, 27, from Hull enjoyed the cheap drinks at the bars Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Sun reporter Thea Jacobs takes part in one of the outrageous drinking games Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Thea samples the local cocktails Credit: Darren Fletcher What is overtourism? Overtourism is where a destination experiences a volume of tourists that exceeds its manageable capacity. The term is often used to describe the negative consequences of mass tourism, which includes overcrowding and environmental issues. As a result, popular destinations have become less enjoyable for both visitors and locals. Local communities, in particular, bear the brunt, facing rising costs and a depletion of resources. In response, national and local governments have started to implement measures to reduce overtourism. These include: Safeguarding historical and heritage sites Promoting off-peak travel Tourism caps and regulations Promoting lesser-known destinations

Prince Harry needs people to forget he made fortune out of slamming his family… but Angola trip didn't work, expert says
Prince Harry needs people to forget he made fortune out of slamming his family… but Angola trip didn't work, expert says

The Irish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Prince Harry needs people to forget he made fortune out of slamming his family… but Angola trip didn't work, expert says

AFTER a secret peace summit was held between Prince Harry and King Charles' aides, royal fans hoped their icy relationship would thaw. But it appears there will be Prince Harry in an awkward spot. 5 Prince Harry will have to do more if he wants in with the royal family again according to public votes Credit: Getty 5 Back to happier times between the family in 2014 Credit: Getty 5 Royal expert Robert Jobson says his recent Angola trip didn't help win over the public or royal family Credit: Reuters 5 He says Prince Harry has said too much to get forgiveness Credit: AP Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, royal expert Robert Jobson said Prince Harry will have to make people forget that he sold out his family if he wants a comeback. It comes after The Sun's Royal show asked viewers if they wanted to see the two reconcile, and a staggering 73% said no. Robert said: "I think it's too late. Too much has gone under the bridge, in my opinion . Too much water." Sky News royal editor READ MORE ON PRINCE HARRY She added: "The biggest issue for Harry and Meghan, is that an awful lot has been said. "The whole family kind of went under the bus, really, in the documentaries and in Spare. And there are lots of things that they cannot erase in terms of what's been said." Robert also revealed that the Duke of Sussex 's recent trip to Angola, where Princess Diana went, also did nothing to sway the public on letting him back into the royal family. Prince Harry recently followed in his mum's footsteps Halo , who help clear them, something he also did in 2019. Most read in Royals The royal expert said: "But the reality was that was a big deal then. "It wasn't a big deal this time around. So he's not got the same draw that he had. He must know that. When you've trashed your family and monetised it." Meghan & Harry's war with the royals will NEVER end - they'll drag it on as long as they have breath in his body 5 Monetising over the family feud will be hard to come back from Credit: AP Robert went on to say that Diana's authorised biography, Her True Story, was different as she didn't monetise from it, while Harry did with his book Spare. "She didn't monetise it for herself. He made a fortune out of it," he explained. "He's asking for forgiveness. Well, you know, I think that his father probably will in the long term. I think he probably will. I just don't see William and Camilla doing it." Earlier this month, Meredith Maines, Meghan and Harry's chief of staff in California , and Liam Maguire, the head of their UK PR operation, recently met Charles's communication secretary Tobyn Andreae at the Royal Over-Seas League which sits just three minutes from Clarence House. The secret peace summit sparked rumours a reconciliation is in the works, but Prince William's team was notably absent. The Duke revealed in "life is precious" and "I would like to get my father and brother back". It comes after Harry opened up a number of wounds when he spoke to US talk show host Meghan The Prince would also publish his bombshell book Spare in 2023 after moving to California which stirred up further controversies. He reportedly hasn't seen Charles in years with his last direct communication with brother William coming in 2022. The feuding brothers reportedly didn't even speak to each other despite standing 'virtually back to back' among mourners at their uncle's memorial service last year. Inside Prince William and Prince Harry's 'feud' TENSIONS have been running high in the royal family since Prince Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California with Meghan Markle. Their last reported interaction was during the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, but conversations were said to be brief. ​ The feuding brothers reportedly did not speak to each other despite standing 'virtually back to back' among mourners at their uncle's memorial service last year. Growing up, Wills and Harry shared many of the same friends who were part of their close, tight-knit circle. But their relationship took a sour turn after Harry lobbed In the book, he claimed William had The Sussexes had also targeted Princess Kate, when Meghan claimed the royal made her cry. The bitter feud was ignited when the Sussexes told Oprah, in their It was later claimed the royals were Princess Kate and King Charles, after Harry and Meghan's former pal During the infamous Oprah interview, the duchess also made stinging comments about the Firm and how they Prince William and Harry's bond then worsened after the Sussexes made a number of accusations against the Royal Family in their 2022 Netflix docuseries. The duke has given subsequent interviews, such as his most BBC chat in May 2025, that have only propelled bad blood.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store