(The following is a press release; its contents were not editorially vetted by The Desk.)
Sinclair’s NewsOn, a leading provider of live and on-demand local news content and Mindgrub, a prominent digital innovation agency, today announced a landmark collaboration. Together, they are pioneering the future of spatial computing in news media consumption by launching an Apple Vision Pro app for NewsOn. This marks Sinclair’s first foray into spatial computing specifically for local news delivery, blending digital content with physical surroundings.
Leveraging Apple’s cutting-edge Vision Pro technology, NewsOn and Mindgrub are transforming the way audiences watch and interact with local news with Sinclair’s first spatial computing app built natively for Vision Pro devices.
The NewsOn app for Vision Pro introduces a unique “Newsroom immersion” feature, leveraging spatial aspects of the Vision Pro for displaying interactive news maps and a complete immersive environment.
NewsOn’s Vision Pro app features partnerships with over 280 local TV stations in TV markets covering more than 90% of U.S. households and provides access to on-demand newscasts and short form story clips from local TV stations nationwide.
Powered by RealityKit and SwiftUI, NewsOn’s Vision Pro app also offers photorealistic 3D renderings and intuitive user experiences.
“We’re always looking to embrace new outlets and ways of presenting local TV news and we’re excited to work with the team at Mindgrub to explore the possibilities of augmented reality in our new Vision Pro app. This is much more than just a repurposed mobile app. We’ve developed a native visionOS user experience and are excited to see how news audiences engage with this new form factor,” said Ron Stitt, VP and General Manager, NewsOn.
“The possibilities with Apple Vision Pro are limitless, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront of exploring its potential. This collaboration with NewsOn really highlights our commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of digital media,” said Mindgrub Founder & CEO Todd Marks.
Lauren Herda, Interactive Art Director at Mindgrub, highlights the app’s geospatial features, noting: “One of the major benefits of this app is that if something big is happening, you can find the station on our interactive map, and easily go directly to where news is happening,” said Lauren Herda, Interactive Art Director at Mindgrub, highlighting the app’s geospatial features.
By combining Mindgrub’s transformative technology solutions with NewsOn’s extensive network of local news providers, this collaboration sets a new benchmark for immersive, accessible, and engaging news consumption in the era of spatial computing.