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Apple Scales Back Vision Pro Production Amid Slow Sales, Gmail Leak Suggests New Privacy-Focused Email Alias Feature in Development, Microsoft Acknowledges False End-of-Service Alerts for Windows 11 Users
Welcome to Hashtag Trending. I’m your host, Jim Love. Let’s get into it.
Apple is quietly reducing production of its Vision Pro headset, perhaps signaling a tactical retreat in its ambitious push into augmented reality (AR). Despite CEO Tim Cook’s optimistic framing of the device as a product for early adopters, low sales and user feedback have raised questions about the $3,500 device’s market potential.
Luxshare, the Chinese manufacturer assembling the Vision Pro, has reportedly halved its production rates from 2,000 to 1,000 units daily, with potential plans to wind down by the end of November.
Industry analysts estimate Apple sold approximately 370,000 Vision Pro headsets in the first three quarters of 2024. Comparatively, Meta sold nearly 9 million of its more affordable Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets during the same period. And the new Rayban and other glasses that are hitting the market are selling out as soon as they are available but at price points in the sub 400 dollar range.
But it’s not just price.
While some enthusiasts praise the Vision Pro’s innovative potential, users have reported significant drawbacks:
Complaints of discomfort and screen lag have been common, with some saying the device feels bulky and buggy for a first-generation product.
Dissatisfied customers have cited limited features as well as high price as reasons for returning the headset.
The company appears to be adjusting its AR/VR strategy:
Apple is reportedly focusing on a lower-cost version of the Vision Pro with fewer features, expected to launch before the end of 2025.
Development of a high-end Vision Pro 2 has been paused, suggesting tempered expectations for the premium AR/VR market.
But Cook remains steadfast, likening the Vision Pro’s trajectory to the early days of the iPod and iPhone. “Over time, everything gets better,” he said, emphasizing the product’s role in building a broader ecosystem for app developers. However, reduced supplier forecasts for both the current and budget versions point to Apple’s recalibration of its long-term ambitions.
The Vision Pro represents a bold step into spatial computing, but for now, Apple seems to be reassessing its approach in a competitive AR/VR market dominated by cheaper alternatives like Meta’s Quest or the new VR glasses from Rayban and others.
Gmail Leak Suggests New Privacy-Focused Email Alias Feature in Development
Google appears to be developing a new feature for Gmail users called Shielded Email, designed to enhance privacy by offering disposable email aliases, similar to Apple’s “Hide My Email” function. The discovery, made through a coding teardown of Google Play Services by Android Authority, suggests that users could create random email addresses to shield their personal information when subscribing to services or filling out online forms.
Shielded Email could allow Gmail users to generate single-use or disposable email addresses, helping to protect their primary address from spam, scams, or data breaches.
The feature appears to be integrated into Google’s Autofill settings, though it is not yet functional. This system would forward messages sent to the alias email to the user’s primary inbox while keeping their real address private.
This type of system, already in use by Apple can
– Protects personal email addresses when signing up for online services.
– Reduces exposure to spam or targeted phishing attempts.
– Aligns with privacy-centric trends already seen in Apple’s iCloud ecosystem.
The update comes amid ongoing user confusion over Gmail’s **dotted address policy**, which treats johnsmith@gmail.com and john.smith@gmail.com as the same account. Google regularly reminds users that dots in Gmail addresses are IGNORED, and variations of a Gmail address still route emails to the same inbox, a quirk that has led to unintended email deliveries and misunderstandings.
Separately, Google is rolling out a new feature for Google Messages users, adding clarity to group conversations by displaying the “Sending as” profile name and picture before a message is sent. This aims to reduce confusion and enhance recognition in group chats, especially when multiple accounts are used.
As online privacy concerns grow, tools like Shielded Email offer users more control over their digital footprint. Combined with features like profile-sharing controls in Google Messages, Google is taking small but meaningful steps to improve user security and privacy across its platforms.
For Gmail users, watch for these new features as they are rolled out.
Microsoft Acknowledges False End-of-Service Alerts for Windows 11 Users
Millions of Windows 11 users have been left puzzled after installing the latest Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 which incorrectly warned that their operating system had reached the end of support. Microsoft has since confirmed this is a reporting bug, not an actual end-of-support scenario.
Users of Windows 11 23H2, whose support officially extends to November 2025 for home users and November 2026 for enterprise users, received unexpected messages claiming their version had reached end-of-service.
Microsoft has also updated messaging on its support pages, indicating that feature updates may now be installed automatically if a user’s current version of Windows is near or past its end-of-service date. This raises questions about whether Windows 10 users might eventually face a forced upgrade to Windows 11.
With several zero-days patched in the November updates, staying current is critical. False alerts like these risk distracting users from legitimate security updates.
Microsoft advises users to ignore the erroneous alerts and check back on their Windows Update settings later. Users can rest assured their version of Windows 11 remains supported.
While Microsoft’s swift acknowledgment of the issue is reassuring, it’s yet another of a series that underscores the need for robust testing processes to prevent such missteps.
Maybe they need to have a few more employees in their testing area? Something to think about next time layoff season is upon us?
And that’s our show for today.
Thanks to our sponsor, CDW and KJ Burke’s CDW Canada Tech Talks. Check it out if you get the chance. You can find it like us on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
Reach me at editorial@technewsday.ca
I’m your host Jim Love, have a marvelous xxx.
