Following the tech wearable’s release in the mainland last month, domestic media giants are rolling out their own exclusive apps. But are China’s consumers ready?
Almost a month on from Apple’s Vision Pro official China release, Douyin is the latest media behemoth to launch an exclusive experience for the headset. On July 11, the short video platform – aka China’s version of TikTok – announced via its WeChat page the release of Douyin VR Live. The feature enables users to experience panoramic livestreaming and gift 3D effects to creators while viewing content.
The Vision Pro made its foray into the mainland on June 28 with a starting price point of 29,999 RMB (approx $4,128), compared to a $3,500 retail price in the US (some 18% higher). The gadget is now also available in Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore.
Some domestic retailers anticipated the arrival of the Vision Pro ahead of its official rollout. Alibaba’s Taobao platform, for example, unveiled a beta version of its e-commerce application designed exclusively for the wearable in April. On June 27, the shopping titan updated its app, which now lets users test drive cars and redecorate rooms from the comfort of their homes.
“[The] Vision Pro is becoming the new playground for both media companies and brands,” Dr. Helen Papagiannis, an immersive technologies expert, tells Jing Daily. “It’s no surprise that media giants like Douyin and TikTok are launching apps.”
Kuaishou, another popular video-based social media channel in China, has also established its own virtual experience for the headset. Released on July 1, the product supports simultaneous video browsing, personal profile viewing, and comment panel activation. In immersive mode, the app can display up to nine videos arranged in a circular layout, allowing users to browse and filter videos of interest by waving their hands left or right. Continue to read the full article here
