Apple has officially “jumped the shark” with the $3,499 “Vision Pro” headset, based on a former company executive widely thought to be the “father of the iPod.”
Tony Fadell, a 54-year-old executive who played a key role in the development of Apple’s now-discontinued music player, said he doubted the expensive gadget would gain wide acceptance.
“Apple Vision Pro is a technological Tour de Force – it’s impressive [hardware]Fadell wrote on Twitter. “But with consumer apps and $3,500 marketing with a 2-hour battery life, Apple really “jumped the shark.”
Later, Fadell responded to a tweet from supply chain consultant Jeff Lutz, who argued that Apple has “more work to do on power consumption,” and outlined the possibility of the company selling a bigger battery pack as a separate accessory for the Vision Pro.
“His [sic] has nothing to do with the 2-hour battery life,” added Fadell. “The apps and marketing offer are terrible, even in the event that they had a battery lifetime of 24 hours… It isn’t a painkiller. Platforms don’t develop into useful products. Useful products develop into platforms…”
The Vision Pro received mixed reactions after its unveiling at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. While Wall Street analysts largely praised Apple for the product, the exorbitant price, bulky design, and lack of a so-called “killer app” at launch caused some surprise on social media.
Some tech experts expressed surprise that Apple CEO Tim Cook didn’t use and even wear the Vision Pro headset at launch.
Elsewhere, videos recorded during the live show showed viewers groaning loudly when Apple revealed the price of the Vision Pro – and said it would not be available to the public until early 2024.
![Tony Fadell](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012306376.jpg?w=1024)
![Tim's cooking](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012238508-1.jpg?w=1024)
Cook described the Vision Pro as “the first Apple product you take a look at, not take a look at”, and suggested that it was an innovation on par with the original iPhone or Mac.
The phrase “jumped the shark” refers to the concept that the company or creative entity resorted to shock to lure the audience.
The phrase was originally associated with the sitcom “Joyful Days”, where there once was a scene where the fundamental character Fonzie, played by Henry Winkler, literally jumped over a shark on water skis.
![Vision Pro](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012248829.jpg?w=1024)
Fadell joined Apple in 2001 and have become senior vice chairman of the iPod division before leaving in 2008.
He can also be the founder and former CEO of Nest Labs, a “smart home” company that was later acquired by Google.
Apple discontinued the iPod product line last yr after twenty years.