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Apple’s new headset meets reality

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Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#41

Post by ghaff »

haunter wrote: post #36
AndrewKemendo wrote: post #13

I don't think there is a consumer market for head mounted AR anymore - if there ever really was. That makes me sad having been in AR since 2010 - and knowing what we could do with it if done right. I just don't think society currently has an appetite for a $3000 product that gives the wearer visual superpowers (that is the promise after all) and is an impossible to ignore distinction between classes. I honestly think…

>I just don't think society currently has an appetite for a $3000 product that ... is an impossible to ignore distinction between classes What do you mean by that? Just curious because I feel the same about EVs, when I see one I think that's a richer than average person. So I don't see how an AR headset would be a problem. It really depends how does it look like though.

I assume that it means you'll have people walking around wearing glasses that basically plug them transparently into all sorts of information. However, we've had an uneven rollout of mobile technology for the last 25+ years and that factor hasn't slowed anything down. If (and I agree it's a significant if over the next x years) AR is a genuinely useful mainstream technology people will adopt it even if others don't like it.

Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#42

Post by surprisetalk »

taeric wrote: post #28
surprisetalk wrote: post #18

I recently wrote a long piece about why I think Apple will win the AR/VR wars. They might have a rocky start, but they still have a lot of advantages. 1. AR will devour smartphones. 2. Apple is the only company that can quickly overcome consumer AR/VR design challenges. 3. Apple has positioned itself to distribute the best AR/VR content. 4. Apple will cement its early lead with a new blue-bubble effect. --- [1] https…

Why do we think AR will devour smartphones? I just don't see it. I say this as someone that loves Gran Turismo on PS5. I could see an argument for it growing along side smartphones. But even then, this feels like fantasy. VR only "works" for driving simulation because... you are sitting there. Any dreams of it making Zelda more immersive will have to grasp with the fact that, you know, you can't actually win a fight…

I totally agree.

"Growing" is probably a better word than "devour".

In a companion essay, I try to make the argument that AR peripherals are likely.

My best guess is that a smartphone-like peripherals will be shipped alongside the flagship AR/VR headsets. I guess the AR headsets might be viewed as the "peripheral" in the beginning, but I think eventually the AR headset will be the main focus, and the thing you hold in your hand will feel more like a keyboard/mouse.

[1] https://taylor.town/ar-peripherals

Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#43

Post by philip1209 »

"Execs distance themselves" - Good, that means the company can still push through risky projects without getting caught up in bureaucracy.

"Selling at-cost" - Also good, because they need to get the device into the hands of developers to seed the ecosystem before it becomes more mainstream.

Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#44

Post by [deleted] »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #13

I don't think there is a consumer market for head mounted AR anymore - if there ever really was. That makes me sad having been in AR since 2010 - and knowing what we could do with it if done right. I just don't think society currently has an appetite for a $3000 product that gives the wearer visual superpowers (that is the promise after all) and is an impossible to ignore distinction between classes. I honestly think…

[deleted]

Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#45

Post by tikkun »

Here's one view for the device - FaceTime++

If it's a gamechanger for remote working, then I'll buy them for my company and have my remote employees use them

If it's a gamechanger for communicating with family overseas, then I might see if I can convince one of my relatives to get one (though the price will be harder to justify for personal use - but not impossible if it's a gamechanger)

Both of those are contingent on how good it is. If it's something where I do a shared presence FaceTime call using it, and I feel like I can't go back to not having it, then I'll buy them and I expect it'll be a huge success. If I/people try it and it's not much of an improvement over regular FaceTime, then it won't be a big success.

Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#46

Post by ajmurmann »

haunter wrote: post #36
AndrewKemendo wrote: post #13

I don't think there is a consumer market for head mounted AR anymore - if there ever really was. That makes me sad having been in AR since 2010 - and knowing what we could do with it if done right. I just don't think society currently has an appetite for a $3000 product that gives the wearer visual superpowers (that is the promise after all) and is an impossible to ignore distinction between classes. I honestly think…

>I just don't think society currently has an appetite for a $3000 product that ... is an impossible to ignore distinction between classes What do you mean by that? Just curious because I feel the same about EVs, when I see one I think that's a richer than average person. So I don't see how an AR headset would be a problem. It really depends how does it look like though.

People aren't in their EV while sitting in a restaurant, talking to you at a party or standing in a checkout line. It's literally in their face while talking to you.

That said, usually people tend to seek out status symbols. People obviously wear Gucci sunglasses in their faces because they are Gucci and expensive. However, I also wonder if this case would be different because of the growing anti-tech resentment and the wearer now being associated with issues liked gentrification, disliked mega corps etc.

Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#48

Post by ajmurmann »

tikkun wrote: post #45

Here's one view for the device - FaceTime++ If it's a gamechanger for remote working, then I'll buy them for my company and have my remote employees use them If it's a gamechanger for communicating with family overseas, then I might see if I can convince one of my relatives to get one (though the price will be harder to justify for personal use - but not impossible if it's a gamechanger) Both of those are contingent…

I like the idea of the shared presence, but don't see how that doesn't come at the cost of losing the actual video off the person you are talking to. I want to see my family in higher fidelity, not their Mii version or have them look like Zuckerberg in the Meta demos.

Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#49

Post by ksec »

>Apple selling it at cost; considered taking a loss

That is the same PR tactics as AirPod. Gruber taking about AirPod was selling at a loss. Insane value coming from Apple.

Most people who comment on these sort of things have absolutely zero idea about supply chain or manufacturing, let alone BOMs.

But of course, people will fall for it. ( Thinking Apple selling it at cost or loss )

Re: Apple’s new headset meets reality

#50

Post by EnragedParrot »

vehemenz wrote: post #33
woah wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems pretty simple. If you could have UI overlayed on the world around you, it would be huge, and would change how people use computers, like the smartphone did. The current stumbling block is that the tech sucks and the headsets are enormous. If someone got it into a lightweight pair of glasses or contact lenses, the use case is obvious, and it would be a big of a shift as the smartphone. Denying this is like being…

> If you could have UI overlayed on the world around you, it would be huge, and would change how people use computers, like the smartphone did. Is this really a game-changer? Technology adoption is all about tradeoffs. We already have location-based services and applications that are granular enough for most purposes. AR applications add sensory awareness and localized interaction at the cost of distraction and intru…

It's absolutely a game-changer. Imagine having driving or walking directions laid out on the street in front of you. Imagine using AI to help you identify things like engine parts in your car, plants, birds, other people (never forget a name again). Looking at a package and scanning the barcode to get price comparisons. Recipe directions on the counter in front of you, even labeling the next ingredient and how much of it to measure. Walk into a museum and see highlighted details of every painting or information about a particular element in a sculpture. First aid details right in front of you, keeping both hands free to offer assistance in a roadside accident. Live AR-driven instructions for changing a tire or locating an oilpan plug.

Currently any time you need information you have to pull yourself away from your present moment to dive into your phone. AR will make it so the information you need is just integrated into the world around you.

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