TELLY ME ABOUT IT
Surprise new Channel 4 app launches with ‘groundbreaking UK-first’ perk your TV and phone don’t have
It uses a posh new gadget that The Sun has already tried out
CHANNEL 4 has launched a brand new TV app with a viewing experience you won't get on a television or smartphone.
It's a virtual reality app for the posh Apple Vision Pro headset – and it promises a "ground-breaking cinema-style full-screen viewing experience" like no other.
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Channel 4 says it's the first UK broadcaster to launch a dedicated app for the Vision Pro headset.
It means you can beam a giant virtual screen onto your living room wall and watch Channel 4 content in super-size.
Better still, other people in the room could be watching regular telly on the actual TV at the same time.
Channel 4 says it's kicking things off with a Taskmater environment that lets you watch the show as if you were on the set.
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That means you can fade out your living room and immerse yourself in the show like you were actually in the studio.
Of course, you'll need an Apple Vision Pro to try it – and that'll cost you £3,499.
But if you've got one and you're a Channel 4 fan, you're in for a treat.
The app is totally free to download and promises to let you watch Channel 4 "like never before".
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"The new Channel 4 Apple Vision Pro app builds on our heritage of viewer innovation," said Channel 4 tech boss Grace Boswood.
"Be that the first broadcaster in the world to offer a TV-based on-demand service, or the first PSB to launch an HD channel in the UK.
EXCLUSIVE Apple’s Tim Cook shares exactly how he uses Vision Pro headset every day as millions finally get chance to buy
Apple Vision Pro tech specs – the geeky stats
The hardware details you're looking for...
Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
Display: Micro OLED 3D display system (23 million pixels)
Refresh Rates: 90Hz / 96Hz / 100Hz
Processor: 8-core M2 CPU (with 10-core GPU) + R1 coprocessor
Camera:
- Stereoscopic 3D main camera system
- Spatial photo and video capture
- 18 mm, ƒ/2.00 aperture
- 6.5 stereo megapixels
Sensors:
- Two high‑resolution main cameras
- Six world‑facing tracking cameras
- Four eye‑tracking cameras
- TrueDepth camera
- LiDAR Scanner
- Four inertial measurement units (IMUs)
- Flicker sensor
- Ambient light sensor
Audio:
- Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking
- Personalized Spatial Audio and audio ray tracing
- Six‑mic array with directional beamforming
- Supports H2‑to‑H2 ultra‑low‑latency connection to AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C)
Battery: Up to 2 hours of general use / 2.5 hours of video watching
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.3
Input:
- Hands
- Eyes
- Voice
Supported Input Accessories:
- Keyboards
- Trackpads
- Game controllers
Weight: 600 to 650 grams (21.2 to 22.9 ounces)
"The app also enables us to create even more viewer delight in one of our most-cherished shows, Taskmaster, moving it from the TV to the physical world.
"As we transition to become a public service streamer, we’re constantly exploring new ways to entertain viewers and engage advertisers through technology which creates remarkable experiences."
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
The Apple Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset, although it's being sold as a "spatial computer".
Apple's big idea is that you don the fancy headgear and can see apps floating around you.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
Here's what's inside your Apple Vision Pro box...
Apple Vision Pro headset (with Light Seal, Light Seal Cushion, and Solo Knit Band)
Headset cover
Dual Loop Band
Light Seal Cushion
Battery
Polishing Cloth
30W USB-C Power Adapter
USB-C Charge Cable (1.5m)
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You can either interact with them on top of the real world, or spin a dial and enjoy those apps in a virtual space instead.
It was announced in June 2023, and then went on sale in the US in February this year.
And it finally launched in the UK in July 2024 – when Apple chief Tim Cook spoke exclusively to The Sun about the headset's launch in Britain.
Tim revealed how the headset would provide stunning entertainment experiences – and could even make users "tear up" because trying the headset was so moving.
Apple Vision Pro pricing – how much does it cost?
Here's what you'll pay...
In the United Kingdom:
Apple Vision Pro 256GB / 512GB / 1TB – £3,499 / £3,699 / £3,899
Zeiss Optical Inserts (optional) Readers / Prescription – £99 / £149
AppleCare+ protection – £499
In the United States:
Apple Vision Pro 256GB / 512GB / 1TB – $3,499 / $3,699 / $3,899
Zeiss Optical Inserts (optional) Readers / Prescription – $99 / $149
AppleCare+ protection – $499
The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach tried out the headset – read our Apple Vision Pro review – and said it was "better than being at the cinema".
The review concluded: "Wearing the Apple Vision Pro feels like you're trying a gadget that won't exist for another 10 years.
"But it does exist, and it's extremely cool – if you have have the requisite dosh."
The problem for Apple and its fans is that the headset costs a mammoth £3,499 in the UK (and $3,499 in the US), which prices out most buyers.
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But rumours suggest that Apple may be working on a cheaper model behind closed doors – although there's no official confirmation of that.
For now, you'll need to fork out for a headset – or try one for free at an Apple Store.
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