美国国家公共电台 NPR--Apple unveils its virtual reality headset. It will cost you more than $3,000

Apple unveils its virtual reality headset. It will cost you more than $3,000

Transcript¹

Apple launched a new virtual reality, or VR, headset. It was its first major new product launch in a decade.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Apple has introduced its first new product in a decade. The company calls it a mixed reality headset. And it's a little more expensive than an iPhone, about $3,500. NPR tech correspondent Dara Kerr followed the launch. And we should note Apple is a financial contributor to NPR.

DARA KERR, BYLINE³: CEO Tim Cook couldn't contain his excitement at the end of Apple's big annual event for its developers.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

TIM COOK: It's already been a big day. But we do have one more thing.

KERR: That one more thing is called Vision Pro². It's a virtual and augmented⁴ reality headset and looks a bit like oversized ski goggles⁵. When you wear it, you can overlay a digital world on top of a real one so you can shop, read news articles or FaceTime with friends. You control it with your eyes, hands and voice. Throughout the presentation, Cook showed videos of people wearing and using the headset and described what it does.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

COOK: With Vision Pro, you're no longer limited by a display. Your surroundings become an infinite canvas.

KERR: VR and AR headsets have been around for years. Google Glass came out more than a decade ago. Facebook has introduced several versions of its Oculus in recent years. But these products never really took off, so a lot is at stake for Apple, which is known as a juggernaut for making products people like to use. Still, the device covers half of your face, says Bob O'Donnell. He's the president of TECHnalysis Research and was at the event on Monday.

BOB O'DONNELL: And you can't help but think that's a little bit isolating⁶ and awkward.

KERR: Then there's the external battery pack you have to carry around.

O'DONNELL: So you got a wire coming from your head to this battery pack, you know, about the size of a deck of cards, it looks like. And it only lasts two hours.

KERR: And there's also the price. I asked O'Donnell the crowd's reaction when they heard it was $3,500.

O'DONNELL: A lot of kind of heavy sighs and ahs.

KERR: Apple seems to be trying to lure⁷ younger audiences by partnering with heavy hitters like Disney. The headset won't be available until next year. And the price tag means it's not going for the masses. LA Times tech columnist⁸ Brian Merchant joked about it on Twitter, saying, for $3,500, I will personally come to your house and move your couch closer to the TV.

Dara Kerr, NPR News.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 Augmented   

adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• 'scientists won't be replaced," he claims, "but they will be augmented." 他宣称：“科学家不会被取代；相反，他们会被拓展。” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• The impact of the report was augmented by its timing. 由于发表的时间选得好，这篇报导的影响更大了。

5 goggles   

n.护目镜

参考例句：

• Skiers wear goggles to protect their eyes from the sun.滑雪者都戴上护目镜使眼睛不受阳光伤害。
• My swimming goggles keep steaming up so I can't see.我的护目镜一直有水雾，所以我看不见。

6 isolating   

adj.孤立的，绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析

参考例句：

• Colour filters are not very effective in isolating narrow spectral bands. 一些滤色片不能很有效地分离狭窄的光谱带。 来自辞典例句
• This became known as the streak method for isolating bacteria. 这个方法以后就称为分离细菌的划线法。 来自辞典例句

7 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

8 columnist   

n.专栏作家

参考例句：

• The host was interviewing a local columnist.节目主持人正在同一位当地的专栏作家交谈。
• She's a columnist for USA Today.她是《今日美国报》的专栏作家。