Apple’s New Virtual Keyboard: Bold, Floating, and… a Whole Lot of Empty Space?
Mark Gurman’s Take
Bill
Gurman from Bloomberg just dropped a bomb on X: the upcoming virtual keyboard for Apple’s Vision Pro headset is basically a “complete write‑off.” That’s a pretty blunt way to say “no thanks.”
What Apple Showcased at WWDC 2023
During Apple’s biggest annual event, the tech giant revealed a floating keyboard that lets you type right inside a mixed‑reality world. Here’s the low‑down on what they claimed it could do:
- Keys that feel real – The buttons are raised above the platter so you get that familiar “click” feeling.
- Sound tricks – The keyboard uses spatial sound effects to compensate for the lack of physical touch. Think of it as playing a piano with ghostly octaves.
- Cozy your eyes – The UI flattens the touchpad, so it doesn’t look like a floating beach ball in the middle of your workspace.
Is It Worth the Hype?
Gurman’s phrasing above suggests Apple’s attempt might fall short of what users actually need. Without a real tactile feel, typing could feel like “typing on a pillow” – a bit dream‑like but not very efficient.
What We Expect Next
Apple will have to zazzle it up – maybe haptic feedback or advanced AI typing suggestions – to prove the virtual keyboard is anything more than a nice aesthetic touch.
In a nutshell: Apple made a futuristic keyboard that looks cool in a VR environment, but the biggest critics (especially people who love that click‑click sound of a physical keyboard) might still be waiting in the wings.
Apple’s Vision Pro: The “Virtual Keyboard” Riddle
Mark Gurman Drops the Truth Bomb
“It’s a complete write‑off,” Gurman grinned, “you’ll have to poke each key bit by bit. No in‑air typing wizardry. Folks will crave a Bluetooth keyboard.”
He meant it like a seasoned coder: it’s all “just a finger tap” – back to the shaky, post‑able‑letter days. No hovering or magic mist typing.
What the Avatar’s “Keyboard” Is Really Like
- In the first slice, you literally tap each key one after another with a single finger.
- No phantom keyboard‑keys hovering in a rainbow mist.
- Characters pop up, you feel a little pinch or a gentle eye‑close – it’s basically “look, click, type.”
- In‑the‑air typing? Think why?—nope.
Will the Device Do It All? (Spoiler: Not Yet)
Vision Pro’s in‑world board will keep adding features, but you’re probably biting your lip waiting for a real gadget next time. 1.0? Just a bead of a screen‑share.
Pre‑Order Word
Apple’s latest VR hat starts boots at $3,499. The queue opens on Jan. 19 in the US—all set to dive into the future—one finger‑tap at a time!
Mark Gurman hit the fan with the words:
“I want a Bluetooth keyboard.”
And, you’ll need one too, soon.
