Hello Tech Enthusiasts! Ready for a rollercoaster ride through the latest in tech town? This week, we're zooming in on some headline-grabbers: Apple's Vision Pro is making waves, albeit amidst a sea of app absences, while Samsung's Galaxy S24 series is turning heads with its sleek design and irresistible pre-order deals. It's a tale of two tech titans, each unveiling their latest gadgets with a flair only they can muster. So, fasten your seatbelts and let's embark on this high-tech journey together!

I Used Apple Vision Pro. Here Are My Thoughts.

Apple's latest foray into virtual reality, the Apple Vision Pro, showcases groundbreaking features and sets new benchmarks in the VR world. Here's a detailed look:

Effortless Setup: The setup process mirrors Apple’s signature simplicity. Just wear the Vision Pro, hold the digital crown, and you’re greeted with a familiar "Hello" in your field of view, similar to setting up a new iPhone or Mac. It takes you through a quick calibration, and you’re ready to rock.

Hand Tracking and Eye Control: After a quick hand scanning, your hands become visible inside the Vision Pro, adding to the immersive experience. Eye tracking functions as a cursor, offering intuitive navigation and interaction within the VR environment. Even cooler? If you wear an Apple Watch, you can see that perfectly in Vision Pro as well.

High Fidelity Visuals: The Vision Pro offers unmatched visual fidelity. The 23 million pixels in the displays result in you getting better-than-4K delivered to each eye. Room-scale photography allows for detailed exploration of images. The device excels in displaying 24MP and 48MP photos with incredible clarity, surpassing the experience in other VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3.

Immersive Panoramic Views: Panorama photos gain a new dimension in the Vision Pro. Users can immerse themselves in 360-degree panoramic scenes, experiencing photos as if they were inside them. This can be done on other headsets, but the seamlessness you experience it with on Vision Pro is most impressive, especially coupled with the high resolution displays that I mentioned above.

Spatial Photos and Videos: 3D images and videos come to life, with elements seemingly extending out of the frame. The Vision Pro captures and displays spatial content with striking depth and realism. These can be recorded on the Vision Pro itself in what seems to be a square aspect ratio, as well as on an iPhone 15 Pro in the more traditional 16×9.

Interaction Innovations: The "Look to Dictate" feature in Safari enables users to navigate and input commands through eye movement and voice, enhancing ease of use. There is also a virtual keyboard in Vision Pro as well, but Look to Dictate is lightning fast.

Entertainment Revolutionized: Apple boasts a vast library of 3D movies for the Vision Pro. Users can experience cinematic 3D like never before, with customizable screen sizes and HDR support. I watched a clip from Super Mario Bros in 3D (it looked great,) along with a trailer for Star Wars: A Lost Hope while sitting on Tatooine. Very cool.

Ecosystem Integration: Apple Vision Pro seamlessly integrates with other Apple devices, such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max (for capturing spatial videos) and the Apple Watch (which you can use while wearing Vision Pro.) You can also share the live feed of what you are seeing in Vision Pro to an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV in 720p resolution.

Privacy and Interaction: The Vision Pro balances privacy and interaction through its unique 'eyesight' feature, which projects the user’s eye expressions to those around them, ensuring social connectivity even while immersed in VR. I was able to observe this for the firs time, and it works as expected. It was trippy to finally see, but it does give you the feeling of connecting with someone using Vision Pro.

Pre-Order Details and Accessories: Pre-orders started on January 19th, with prices starting at $3,499 for 256GB. 512GB is available for $3,699, and you can get 1TB for $3,899 (this was my choice when I pre-ordered.) Additional accessories like prescription and reading lenses are available, along with extra battery packs, and a carrying case.

Apple Vision Pro is set to redefine the VR landscape with its advanced features and seamless integration, making it a highly anticipated release.

Video: My Apple Vision Pro Complete Walkthrough

Apple Vision Pro’s Tense Standoff with Major Apps…

Apple's Vision Pro launch unveils a complex web of corporate dynamics, notably with the absence of key entertainment apps. Here’s a deeper dive:

Spotify's Standoff: Spotify's decision not to develop a Vision Pro app isn't shocking, given its longstanding friction with Apple. This move seems more strategic than technical, reflecting ongoing tensions.

YouTube's Surprising Absence: Unlike Spotify, YouTube's non-participation is unexpected, marking a stark contrast from its once-integral role in iOS devices. This shift underscores the evolving Google-Apple relationship, deviating significantly from their pre-Android collaboration.

Netflix’s Strategic Omission: Insider info suggests the Netflix iPad app worked well on Vision Pro, but its absence hints at a decision driven by strategic, possibly spiteful reasons. Despite entertainment being a key facet of Vision Pro, Netflix and YouTube's absence is notable.

Apple’s Responsibility: The lack of these major apps is a significant setback for Apple. It reflects on the company's current leadership, underscoring a need for strategic negotiations by Tim Cook with heads of companies like Netflix and Google.

The Reciprocity of Corporate Rivalries: These corporate decisions are two-way streets. The refusal of these apps to be part of Vision Pro's launch could lead to future scenarios where Apple might deny them entry if the platform succeeds, citing their initial reluctance.

The Bigger Picture: While Safari access might mitigate the impact, the absence of these apps is a significant blow to Apple. It highlights the ongoing battle for control and influence in the tech industry, with potential antitrust implications.

Apple's Vision Pro faces a challenging launch with these significant omissions, spotlighting the complexities and strategic moves in the tech industry.

Samsung Galaxy S24: A Step Into AI Futurism

Samsung is redefining smartphone intelligence with its Galaxy S24, a device brimming with AI features that seem straight out of a sci-fi flick. Let's delve into the game-changers:

Circle to Search: Say goodbye to typing searches. Just circle an item in a photo or on a webpage with your finger or the S24 Ultra's S Pen, and Google's database instantly provides all the information you need.

Instant Slow-Mo: Ever wanted to slow down a video moment? The Galaxy S24's AI interpolates extra frames for super smooth slow-motion, controlled entirely by you.

Live Translation: Breaking language barriers has never been easier. Make calls in your language, and let the S24 translate in real-time for the person on the other line. Booking reservations or car rides in foreign languages? No problem.

Note Assist: Transform copied text into neatly formatted notes with headers and bullet points. Need summaries or translations? The AI’s got you covered.

Generative Edit: Photography enthusiasts, rejoice! Remove, adjust, or add elements to your photos. The AI fills in the gaps, keeping it all looking natural.

Edit Suggestions: Like a professional photo editor, the AI suggests enhancements to your pictures, from removing reflections to softening shadows.

Transcript Assist: Transcribe and summarize audio recordings like lectures or meetings with ease, thanks to AI. Then, integrate them seamlessly into Samsung Notes.

Chat Assist: Messaging just got smarter. Adjust the tone of your texts from casual to professional, even adding emojis or translating languages.

Good News for S23 Users: Samsung is bringing these AI features to Galaxy S23 devices in the first half of 2024, so you don't miss out on the AI revolution.

Stay tuned for a full review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and grab your own with a special discount link, below.

Video: Samsung Galaxy S24 AI Features in Action

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series: Pre-Order Deals Galore

Samsung's latest Galaxy S24 lineup is here, and it's raining pre-order deals! Let’s check out what's on offer for the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra:

Storage Upgrades and Amazon Gift Cards: Samsung's giving a free storage upgrade across the board. Plus, Amazon's adding sweetness with digital gift cards: a $50 card for the $800 Galaxy S24, a $150 card for the $1,000 S24+, and a $200 card for the $1,300 S24 Ultra.

Trade-In Discounts: Ready to part with your old device? Significant savings await: up to $750 off on the S24+ and S24 Ultra, and up to $600 off on the standard S24 at Best Buy.

Additional Perks at Samsung and Best Buy: Best Buy tosses in extra gift cards, while Samsung offers additional credits for other purchases on its online store.

Release Date and Reviews: All three models hit the shelves on January 31. While our full reviews are pending, you can check out our hands-on previews for a sneak peek.

For Samsung enthusiasts, these pre-order deals are a great way to upgrade without breaking the bank.

Rabbit R1: AI Interaction Powered by Perplexity

The Rabbit R1, a standout at CES, has finally announced its AI backbone: Perplexity, a rising San Francisco startup backed by NVIDIA and Jeff Bezos. Here’s the scoop:

Perplexity: The AI Powerhouse: Perplexity is set to revolutionize the R1’s interaction capabilities. Its edge? Offering real-time, up-to-date search results without a subscription, challenging even Google in the AI arena.

Exclusive Perplexity Pro Offer: First 100,000 R1 buyers will enjoy a complimentary year of Perplexity Pro, usually priced at $200. This premium service includes file upload support, a generous daily quota for complex queries, and access to various AI models, enhancing the R1's versatility.

Rabbit R1’s Features: Crafted by Teenage Engineering, the R1 boasts a 2.88-inch touchscreen, scroll wheel, dual mics, speaker, rotational camera, and a Push-to-Talk button. It’s not just about looks; the R1’s Large Action Model (LAM) skillfully handles tasks like booking rides, recipe suggestions, object identification, and more.

Real-Time Search with Perplexity: The R1's standout feature is its reliance on Perplexity's search engine for real-time fact-checking and information retrieval, ensuring users get the most current data.

Availability and Pricing: The Rabbit R1 is open for pre-orders and is expected to ship between March and April. Priced at $199, it’s a compact powerhouse of AI interaction.

With Perplexity's prowess and Teenage Engineering’s design, the Rabbit R1 is shaping up to be a must-have for tech enthusiasts.

And that's a wrap! We hope you enjoyed this whirlwind tour of the latest and greatest in the tech world. From the high-stakes drama of the Vision Pro launch to the dazzling debut of the Galaxy S24, it's clear that the tech universe never ceases to amaze. Remember, technology is more than just gadgets and gizmos; it's about the stories, the people, and the ideas that drive innovation forward. Until next time, keep your tech passion burning bright and stay tuned for more thrilling updates from the digital cosmos!