Apple Denies Camera Access To Third-Party Apps On Vision Pro Headset
The Vision Pro headset from Apple will adhere to its standard privacy policies. It is improbable that the company will permit third-party applications to access the built-in cameras on the headset due to privacy issues.
This isn’t the first time Apple has blocked access to a device’s features. Both iPhone and iPad users have been limited by such restrictions for years, and Vision Pro is likely to follow suit.
With Apple restricting third-party apps from using the headset’s camera, how do premium video features work on Vision Pro? According to an Apple engineer, the company supplies these apps with a Persona, or digital avatar, of the person wearing the headphones. This feature works for apps like Zoom for video meetings with Vision Pro headsets running on the new visionOS platform.
Access to Apple’s camera is limited to the point the app needs to function. For example, if you’re on a Zoom call, the headset will show a black screen for the rear camera. The company relies heavily on artificial intelligence technology to ensure that these limitations do not hinder the performance of these applications.
Apple hopes its premium device doesn’t feel under-engineered because so many apps can’t use the headset’s capabilities. The Vision Pro isn’t the only headset to have blocked access to the camera, with Meta and HTC also taking similar steps. But Apple’s device costs $3,500, making it critical that all features work as advertised and without glitches.
