Apple will let the Vision Pro ‘see' for you
Apple previewed new Vision Pro accessibility features today that could turn the headset into a proxy for eyesight when they launch in visionOS later this year. The update uses the headset's main camera to magnify what a user sees or to enable live, machine-learning-powered descriptions of surroundings.
The new magnification feature works on virtual objects as well as real-world ones. An example from Apple's announcement shows a first-person view as a Vision Pro wearer goes from reading a zoomed-in view of a real-world recipe book to the Reminders app, also blown up to be easier to read. It's a compelling use for the Vision Pro, freeing up a hand for anyone who might've done the same thing with comparable smartphone features.
Also as part of the update, Apple's VoiceOver accessibility feature will 'describe surroundings, find objects, read documents, and more' in visionOS.
The company will release an API to give approved developers access to the Vision Pro's camera for accessibility apps. That could be used for things like 'live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps like Be My Eyes, giving users more ways to understand their surroundings hands-free.' It may not seem like much now, given the Vision Pro's reportedly meager sales, but the features could be useful in rumored future Apple wearables, like camera-equipped AirPods or even new Apple-branded, Meta Ray-Ban-like smart glasses.
Finally, Apple says it's adding a new protocol in visionOS, iOS, and iPadOS that supports brain-computer interfaces (BCI) using its Switch Control accessibility feature, which provides for alternate input methods such as controlling aspects of your phone using things like head movements captured by your iPhone's camera.
A Wall Street Journal report today explains that Apple worked on this new BCI standard with Synchron, a brain implant company that lets users select icons on a screen by thinking about them. The report notes that Synchon's tech doesn't enable things like mouse movement, which Elon Musk's Neuralink has accomplished.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What the Trump-Musk Feud Means for SpaceX and NASA
The U.S. government relies on SpaceX to support NASA and other agencies, and the company has received more $20 billion in federal contracts for it. As Musk and Trump threaten to cut ties, here's what that would mean for the U.S.'s space ambitions.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Tesla share price could skyrocket next week!
The Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) share price is quite frankly hard to keep track of. One moment its down near $220, the next it's pushing towards $400. However, next week could be a big week for the company. The stock's valuation hinges not on electric vehicles (EVs), but its potential leadership in the autonomous driving space. As such, Tesla's upcoming robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas, set for 12 June, has reignited debate over the company's sky-high valuation and the potential for dramatic share price swings in the coming week. The move marks Tesla's long-awaited entry into the autonomous ride-hailing market. With rivals like Waymo, Zoox, and Avride already operating in the city's tech-friendly environment, Tesla may be in danger of falling behind. At the heart of any discussion about Tesla — or any stock — is valuation. Tesla's current and forward multiples remain among the highest in the consumer discretionary sector. The company's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 180.4 times, nearly 1,000% above the sector median of 16.4 times, and even higher than its own five-year average of 115.1 times. The forward price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio is 8.6. That's more than four times the sector median — and remember some of these other companies will pay a dividend. This tells us that even with projected earnings growth, the stock is expensive by growth investing standards. Meanwhile the price-to-sales (P/S) and enterprise value-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) ratios tell a similar story. Tesla's forward P/S is 11.31 (sector median is 0.87), while its forward EV-to-EBITDA is 76.58 (sector median: 9.73). These metrics indicate Tesla is valued not just as a carmaker, but as a tech company with enormous anticipated future profits. The market's optimism, or overoptimism, is rooted in the robotaxi story. Tesla aims to dominate in the sector by quickly scaling its robotaxi operations globally. In theory, it's a high-margin business with strong recurring revenues. This would fundamentally alter the company's earnings profile. However, this optimism is highly speculative and contingent on overcoming significant technical, regulatory, and competitive hurdles. And that's why it's so important that Tesla impresses with its launch next week. There's also the Optimus robot. This is Tesla's humanoid robot, which like the robotaxi venture, is built around developments in artificial intelligence (AI). Optimus could also be game changing. Despite the possibilities, Tesla's valuation leaves little margin for error. And this risk is compounded by the competitive landscape in Austin. Waymo, especially, already established a presence, and its technology relies on different approaches — such as lidar and radar — compared to Tesla's camera-based system. And while Elon Musk touts Tesla's approach as more scalable and cost-effective, the company has a history of missing self-imposed deadlines on autonomy, which could test investor patience if the rollout stumbles. Personally, I want to see Tesla do well. I want companies to succeed and push the boundaries of technology. However, I believe Tesla's execution risk is considerable and the valuation hard to justify. That's why I'm watching from the sidelines. The post The Tesla share price could skyrocket next week! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool James Fox has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Tesla. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
Digital Trends
14 minutes ago
- Digital Trends
iOS 26 will go back to the basics with four upgrades that you'll love
In just two days from now, Apple will take the stage at WWDC 2025 and showcase the big yearly upgrades for its entire software portfolio. I am quite excited about the platform-wide design update and a few functional changes to iPadOS, especially the one targeting a more macOS-like makeover for the iPad's software. Of course, analysts will be keenly watching for Apple's next moves with AI, but it seems some of the most dramatic features have been pushed into the next year. Apple can afford some of those delays, as long as the company serves enough meaningful updates to its user base. Apple won't exactly be running dry on AI, though. Recommended Videos The chatter about the company opening its small language models to developers has stirred quite some excitement in the community of app builders, and some caution, too. Ahead of the event, however, Bloomberg has shed some light on what we can expect from the company's announcement package next week, and it seems iOS 26 will hog the limelight this time around with a focus on the core in-house experiences. Here's a quick rundown of those rumored tweaks and why they matter to an average iPhone user: Phone I recently wrote about how Google and Android have taken a crucial lead over Apple and iPhones when it comes to user safety and security at a fundamental parameter — calling. Thanks to AI, Google has steadily added scam detection and anti-phishing tools within the pre-installed Phone app on Android phones. The likes of Samsung and OnePlus have also pushed AI within their respective dialer apps that use AI for call transcription, translation, and summarization. On Pixels, you get perks like call screening, Hold for Me, Call Notes, and Live Captions. At WWDC 2025, Apple might finally begin its catch-up journey. As per Bloomberg, the default Phone app pre-installed on iPhones is getting a few long-overdue feature updates. 'Apple is introducing a new view that combines favorite contacts, recent calls and voicemails into a single, scrollable window,' says the report. AI will also find a place within the app. Apple is reportedly adding live translation for phone calls. This is a feature that is already available on OnePlus and Samsung phones, so Apple isn't really doing something revolutionary, but the feature is still a savior. I am hoping that Apple does a better job making the translation process seamless, natural-sounding, and, if possible, reduces the latency. Camera There is a perception that I get to hear and see almost on a weekly basis. 'iPhones are just better for clicking pictures and taking videos.' It's not a misplaced notion, but not without its own nuances. Phones like the Oppo Find X8 Ultra, Google Pixel 9 Pro, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra offer their own set of superior benefits and features. But there is one area where Apple clearly needs some work, and that's making the camera app a little more interactive and user-friendly. Over the years, Apple has added a whole bunch of advanced features such as LOG video capture and 120fps Dolby Vision. However, a healthy bunch of granular controls are hidden in the Settings app. While switching between two apps is a hassle in itself, the lack of a proper Pro mode and the inability to customize the camera feature UI — something you can do on Android phones — is a crucial miss. In iOS 26, Apple could finally address that glaring hole. As per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the iPhone's default Camera app is eyeing a revamp that focuses on simplicity. Separately, Jon Prosser, who's had a mixed track record with Apple leaks, claims that the using a system of expanding-collapsing boxes, Apple will consolidate the Photo and Video controls at the bottom of the screen. Using these boxes, users will be able to access the core tools available for each capture mode, alongside crucial adjustments such as exposure value. I am hoping that Apple finally offers a mode where more pro-level controls are available, somewhat like the excellent Kino app. Messages The situation with Apple's Messages app is not too different from the Phone app. Despite commanding a loyal user base worth millions of users, Apple hasn't given it many meaningful upgrades over the years. Android, on the other hand, has made steady progress with advanced AI-driven features in tow. At WWDC 2025, Apple is expected to announce a few upgrades headed to Messages. Users will finally be able to start polls in the app, a feature that has been available in competing communication apps for years. The company will also allow users to set custom backgrounds for their chats, following in the footsteps of Instagram DMs and WhatsApp. 'The backgrounds will sync between devices, including those of other users, meaning that you and the people you are chatting with have the same look,' says the Bloomberg report. On the more practical side of things, live translation is coming to the Messages app. This is a massive leap, especially for multilingual users. For a huge chunk of iPhone buyers in non-Western markets, chat apps are home to texts in English and multiple local languages. I deal with messages sent in at least three languages on a daily basis. With live translation coming into the picture, it would be extremely convenient to view the translated version without the hassle of switching back and forth across a translation app. I hope Apple also adds a voice translation facility to the whole stack, instead of focusing just on texts. Shortcuts The Shortcuts app on the iPhone is a powerful tool for setting up automations and routines. There's a whole community of ardent fans out there who build innovative shortcuts and share them publicly as iCloud links. But for an average iPhone user, creating these shortcuts is not an easy task due to the complicated workflow. Apple is expected to introduce an upgraded version of the Shortcuts app that will leverage AI models. 'The new version will let consumers create those actions using Apple Intelligence models,' says a Bloomberg report. I am not entirely sure, but if there's a text-to-shortcut approach involved, it would make the whole exercise a lot easier for users. Imagine telling Siri something like, 'Create a shortcut that automatically converts selected images into a PDF and sends it as an email.' Apple is expected to open its in-house AI models to developers for integrating within their apps, which could ultimately help users easily create cross-app shortcuts, as well. I am quite excited for this overhaul, and hope Apple creates something like the 'apps' system Google offers on Android phones, which allows Gemini to handle tasks across apps using natural language commands.
