Apple Inc.’s AAPL pioneering mixed reality headset, Vision Pro, debuts with a suite of Microsoft Corporation’s MSFT apps on Feb. 2, accentuating its focus on productivity.
Featured Apps: The Vision Pro will launch with a spectrum of Microsoft 365 apps, including Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Loop, according to Engadget. These won’t merely be replicas but tailored for the headset.
For example, PowerPoint will present a custom immersive environment for practicing presentations, while Excel will enable swift document transfers using the headset’s pinch and drag provision.
Microsoft Word will incorporate a focus mode to block distractions, and Teams will leverage the headset’s persona feature for digital avatars during work meetings.
Furthermore, Vision Pro users can tap into Microsoft’s AI-powered Copilot service, offering natural language instructions for tasks like drafting, summarizing documents, and creating PowerPoint presentations.
Impact: The integration of Microsoft 365 apps in the Vision Pro is perfectly aligned with Apple’s vision of the device as a productivity tool. It positions the Vision Pro as a potential substitute for traditional work devices, especially for heavy users of Microsoft’s productivity suite.
Nevertheless, the Vision Pro faces challenges in terms of app ecosystem. Notably, Netflix Inc. NFLX, Alphabet Inc.’s GOOG GOOGL YouTube and Spotify Inc. SPOT have opted not to launch their apps on the Vision Pro, potentially limiting its appeal to users seeking entertainment and content consumption on these platforms.
Conversely, Zoom Video Communications Inc. ZM has introduced a new application for the Vision Pro, aimed at enhancing hybrid collaboration. The app is slated for release on Feb. 2, aligning with the headset’s launch.
Image via Shutterstock
