Today we are looking at Apple’s Vision Pro. We will look at its positive and negative points and see if it represents the future of home media viewing.

What is it?

Apple Vision Pro is described as a VR/AR headset. It works by feeding video of the world through cameras on the front of the headset to internal displays. In this feed of the real world, users can then interact with applications in a way that makes them appear to have a presence in physical space. Essentially, allowing applications to be mapped into the real world.

Changing Home Viewing? 

So what possibilities does Apple Vision Pro have for watching media at home? Well, the introduction video outlines how users can create huge display windows, or use virtual reality cinema rooms to watch media in whatever space is available. And with technology that allows for more detailed picture quality, and impactful sound that allows users to have a more cinematic home experience. Its portability also helps to make cinematic experiences more accessible for people who cannot get to the cinema. 

Additionally, the device has voice control and eye sensors. Which can allow some disabled users quicker access to media.

With the availability of features that enable a more immersive experience, for example, inbuilt compatibility with 3D films with already added depth that makes the experience more noticeable and the capability to experience 360-degree photography and VR, Vision Pro can help to foreground immersive experiences more in the minds of viewers and filmmakers.

Or A Gimmick?

However several flaws will hinder the Vision Pro from becoming the go-to for home media viewing. The obvious first point is that the $3499 price needed to access it is absurd. Especially as it only enables one person to experience it. This won’t be a problem for people living on their own, but for people who want to watch something as a group, Vision Pro offers nothing. Unless you watch through online devices together. Which is a lot to go through to watch something together in the same room.

Additionally, there are accessibility faults as well. For example, if you need glasses Vision Pro is only really vision-friendly if you buy prescription lenses separately. Which again racks up the price point for users. There is also the problem that wearing something mildly heavy on your head for long periods will cause discomfort. If you are sat up the Vision will weigh down on your neck. If you are reclined the pressure of the strap and headset can still be uncomfortable, which is not fun if you like to watch films for long stretches. To say nothing of the discomfort that can come from staring closely at a screen for an extended period.

The Vision Pro also has a relatively short battery life (around 2.5 hours). This means that it doesn’t cater to binge watchers unless it’s plugged into mains power. Additionally, users’ comfort can be impacted by cables restricting movement or by not having a plug socket within 1.5 metres of a comfortable space.

Also, there is no way to connect external sources on your headset through a HDMI cable. Meaning, if something is unavailable to stream then you might be unable to access it on Apple Vision Pro. Thereby artificially limiting what Vision Pro users can use the device to watch.

Conclusion

Overall, the Vision Pro has great potential to bring cinematic and immersive experiences to home users. Its accessibility features for disabled users make it a valuable media-accessible resource. However, it still has some accessibility blind spots. It also runs into many inherent issues that make it unsuitable for communal media-hungry consumers, with its current pricing also a huge entry barrier. It looks like it’s still going to be a while before reality headsets take over home entertainment.

Also Read: The Technology Inspired By Star Trek

The post Can Apple Vision Pro Change How We Watch Movies? appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Paris 9/19

An ordinary holiday video about life in romantic Paris? No, not when acclaimed director Rian Johnson is behind the camera. His Paris 9/19 transport you right to the heart of the French capital. Discover the old streets, the wonderful monuments and have a delicious dinner at a charming French restaurant. All you need to do is watching this short film.

Daughter

Thanks to the celebrated director Theodore Melfi and Daughter, we can re-live the Chinese New Year celebrations. His short film follows a devoted mother with her adorable daughter living a difficult life. Life isn’t easy as the mother is a single mom who’s trying to make ends meet as a taxi driver but still, they have each other and that’s what matters for them. That family has always been important becomes clear during the flashbacks showing us the mom when she was a young girl. How she grew up with her mother, what was expected from a woman during that time and how life in China was. We see Chinese New Year celebrations through the eyes of three generations of Chinese women.

Their stories are coming spectacularly to life thanks to cinematographer Lawrence Sher who brought us Joker last year. The three leading ladies on-screen each put on an emotional and captivating performance that feels very relatable.

Holding

It could have been a short film that could have been included in our ‘COVID-19 in movies’ list as Holding is about a woman living in LA during the current terrible times. She comes out of the house to do grocery shopping, which is in her case, going to her garden. During the movie, we hear that she’s not alone during this lockdown as a male voice is coming from somewhere in the house. While we don’t see the man, we certainly know how he feels: Locked up, angry, and agitated. As if the real-life feeling isn’t complete yet, we also see a video call between the leading woman and a person close to her. One she loves dressing up for… That surprise as well as ‘who’s the man shouting from across the house’ element is being highlighted wonderfully by the use of zoom-ins and tense music.

The Movie Star

Do you want to be next Meryl Streep or Leonardo DiCaprio? Then the audition room is the perfect place to start according to director Blake Calhoun. In his The Movie Star, a security guard has an unexpected encounter with a female wanna-be movie star. It will certainly be a meeting he will never forget. Not only because the actress refuses to leave the set unless the guard helps her with her audition but also because of what follows next. There’s an immense theatrical element to this movie, especially because of the lady leading portrayed captivatingly by Susana Gibb. The cinematography might be a little bit too flashy or too over-the-top but that’s part of the acting world, isn’t it?

Cold Wave

Surfing the waves can be joyful, especially during this sunny weather. However, mastering the surfing board isn’t something everyone can do. That becomes clear from watching Cold Wave by Matt Allen. The short movie, that was filmed over two days at the Mountain Wave in Kananaskis in Alberta, shows us that surfing is clearly not for everybody. For those who can tame the board, surfing is the most liberating sport that exists. That delightfulness is perfectly captured in a lively and entertaining way.

If you can’t get enough of the stunning movies shot via iPhone, then catch the iPhone Cinema on Vimeo.

Also Read: COVID-19 In Movies: Five Films About The Virus That Shook The Earth

The post Five Stunning Short Films You Wouldn’t Believe Were Shot On An iPhone 11 appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.