Holographic Video Calls

[RockRock8]

Another spatial FaceTime interview. Once again, bump up to high quality and turn to landscape. This is what real journalism looks like, not clickbait garbage.

These videos are worth watching, even if only a minute to see how well holographic video calling works! Between this, Apple immersive video, and spatial photos and videos, Apple has produced a really cool product you should check out

 

[Roller]

Another spatial FaceTime interview. Once again, bump up to high quality and turn to landscape. This is what real journalism looks like, not clickbait garbage.

These videos are worth watching, even if only a minute to see how well holographic video calling works! Between this, Apple immersive video, and spatial photos and videos, Apple has produced a really cool product you should check out

I've participated in Zoom meetings using my Persona, but never a FaceTime call where the other person and I are both using our AVPs, so I can't comment based on personal experience. But looking at this and other videos, I find the disembodied hands weird and off-putting. I hope Apple can develop a Persona that includes arms and hands for a more realistic experience.

 

[RockRock8]

I've participated in Zoom meetings using my Persona, but never a FaceTime call where the other person and I are both using our AVPs, so I can't comment based on personal experience. But looking at this and other videos, I find the disembodied hands weird and off-putting. I hope Apple can develop a Persona that includes arms and hands for a more realistic experience.

I can't say I share that opinion, quite the opposite: I genuinely often forget I'm not watching something real (i.e., like a video of a person, rather than it being a hologram) simply because I'm so engrossed in just watching them speak. I'm not sure how to describe it

That said, I can understand your sentiment. The only things I'd say are this:

1) This has never been done before. Before Persona, there was never a genuine digital representation of someone like this aside from photos and videos. They are doing actual groundbreaking work here no one else has, so:

2) Apple is aware of that. They said the first generation focused primarily on the face, because that's where people tend to look. They rapidly improved on that with the second and third generations. I think they're picking and choosing what to focus on early on. Look how far they've come so fast! It's exciting and hopeful

3) Given 1 and 2, I have high hopes they will continue making improvements and address stuff you mentioned

Most importantly, I'd love to hear your opinion once you get to use it with another spatial persona user! I've continually read reviewers say something similar to you, but then they use it and they say that fades away, and it genuinely feels like you're there with them. So please tell us once you use it!

One reviewer said:

This week, I did my first group FaceTime call on Apple Vision Pro in a long time. The fact is, I don’t know many other people (or really anyone) who also have a Vision Pro. I was amazed at how much better the experience is now than it was early on. The rate at which Personas went from “good enough” to truly amazing is staggering.

A few days later, I had meetings on WebEx and Zoom. That 2D experience felt, well, lifeless in comparison. Sure, I was seeing people’s “real” faces rather than their digital Personas, but the lack of interactivity and spatial awareness in the conversation made it feel significantly less personable and engaging.