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Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

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Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#81

Post by p1esk »

randomifcpfan wrote: post #56
iamleppert wrote: post #35

HoloLens is (soon to be was) a great AR device. Certainly useable and competent but it suffered from the same issue over and over: once the gee wiz demo was over, outside of a few very niche uses, people went back to using their laptops and smartphones. Because it’s easier to just pull out your smartphone, get whatever you need done, then put it back in your pocket. This rapid and random access is why people love sma…

As I understand it, Apple is expected to only introduce a VR headset this year, like the new Sony VR headset or the high end Oculus. Apple’s AR headset is still many years away.

The article is about “mixed reality” headset, whatever that is.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#82

Post by dehrmann »

Overtonwindow wrote: post #7
smoldesu wrote: post #4

> With that in mind, executives are striking a realistic tone within the company. This isn’t going to be a hit product right out of the gate. But it could follow a similar trajectory as the Apple Watch. Their confidence is blinding.

Can you elaborate? I have not found a use for a VR headset or the Apple Watch, beyond as a toy, or fashion accessory. Even then, it's been so long since I've worn a watch that wearing a watch is awkward. Yet apparently Apple sells a lot of them, and it is the smart watch with the highest number of global sales.

You have a point. I have an Apple watch. The stats are mildly interesting and not all that actionable. I don't think I'd buy a new one.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#83

Post by dagmx »

paxys wrote: post #34
voisin wrote: post #28

Initial product will be weak, just like the original iPhone (no App Store, slow, poor battery life, etc) and Apple Watch (no development, no health tracking, small screen, poor battery life). The thing about Apple is not to judge based on v.1 but to watch the iteration. They are the most persistent company in the world. Compare to Google which seems to have ADHD. Apple will iterate and iterate and in 5 years we’ll al…

Where was this persistent iteration and overnight success with Homepod, Airpower, butterfly keyboards, touchbar, force touch, MobileMe, Ping? Apple has had its share of failures like any other company, and kills products like any other company. There is plenty of precedence for their AR headset to just fizzle out.

HomePod

Getting more successful with the Mini. The OG Homepod was a very V1 product like the person you replied to was saying

https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/06/06/homepod-mini-was-...

AirPower: never released

Butterfly keyboards/Touch Bar/force touch: all features. The person you’re replying to is talking about product lines. You might as well list cd/devs drives and FireWire as well because things come and go.

MobileMe: The majority of MobileMe features still exist under iCloud so I’m not sure what you’re getting at there.

Ping: this was always just a feature for iTunes and not much more. It wasn’t a product in and of itself.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#84

Post by p1esk »

etempleton wrote: post #77
junofan wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bet your manager’s manager’s manager will get one. Then your manager’s manager. Then your manager. If you sit on Zoom calls all day it sounds amazing.

What part of having something strapped to your face all day while on Zoom calls sounds amazing? As someone who spends all day on zoom calls this is the last thing I want.

Not having to sit sounds pretty amazing. Assuming it can match my monitor quality. I think of a headset as headphones for your eyes.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#85

Post by nr2x »

paxys wrote: post #27

Apple has come a long way from the time when not even the engineering team working on a product would know what it really was until Steve Jobs unveiled it on stage. Now everything gets leaked like at every other company. Did Apple even have a hundred executives in 2008?

I don’t think it’s really accurate to call anything coming from Gurman/Bloomberg a “leak”. I think leadership just use him to signal to Wall Street what their road map is. This is intentional.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#86

Post by JKCalhoun »

smoldesu wrote: post #80
JKCalhoun wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and suddenly they'll have a real market to compete in With ads. Good luck, Meta.

FWIW, this is exactly the sort of 400 IQ chess play Mark Zuckerberg has been playing for the past half-decade, and the one this website has kicked the piss out of him for time immemorial. So which is it? Is VR a dehumanizing medium with no redeeming qualities, or is it a horizon of content and potential yet to be unlocked? It feels like HN's opinion on it changes every 15 minutes. Personally, I think VR is a bust. Th…

I think VR is a bust as well.

I assumed however that Zuck would need to see a return on his investment — which hitherto has been in the form of advertising. If we entertain the idea that VR has legs and Apple's is ad-free then I already see a clear winner.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#87

Post by dagorenouf »

The reason the Apple Watch took a few years to get traction is that:

- Apple initially positioned it as a fashion accessory, which few people cared about

- the public wanted it to be like a smartphone on your wrist, and were let down by the limited features

Then Apple realized the value was in the health features. They started positioning it properly and people bought it more. All at the same time the tech improvements made the watch more capable and started becoming even more useful. But at the core, it’s the health focus + typical Apple ease of use and quality that made it take off.

I can see the same trajectory happen with VR:

- Apple starts positioning it as a metaverse / HoloLens type headset, which few people care about

- People assume it’s an « iMac in VR » type device and get disappointed that it isn’t.

But over time, Apple realizes that the number one value is in gaming, and gradually shifts focus and positioning. It attracts more and more people while at the same time the tech improves. Then eventually the tech allows for a headset that can fit in a smaller for factor and truly helps people beyond gaming. As an enhancement to day to day tasks with light enough glasses for example.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#88

Post by nr2x »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #47
voisin wrote: post #28

Initial product will be weak, just like the original iPhone (no App Store, slow, poor battery life, etc) and Apple Watch (no development, no health tracking, small screen, poor battery life). The thing about Apple is not to judge based on v.1 but to watch the iteration. They are the most persistent company in the world. Compare to Google which seems to have ADHD. Apple will iterate and iterate and in 5 years we’ll al…

Yeah but $3K.

During a recession with mass layoffs of wealthy tech types who’d otherwise have the cash and curiosity to buy.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#89

Post by spike021 »

paxys wrote: post #34
voisin wrote: post #28

Initial product will be weak, just like the original iPhone (no App Store, slow, poor battery life, etc) and Apple Watch (no development, no health tracking, small screen, poor battery life). The thing about Apple is not to judge based on v.1 but to watch the iteration. They are the most persistent company in the world. Compare to Google which seems to have ADHD. Apple will iterate and iterate and in 5 years we’ll al…

Where was this persistent iteration and overnight success with Homepod, Airpower, butterfly keyboards, touchbar, force touch, MobileMe, Ping? Apple has had its share of failures like any other company, and kills products like any other company. There is plenty of precedence for their AR headset to just fizzle out.

Interestingly enough to me, all the things you mentioned are "accessories". Not full-fledged products (arguably Ping was right around when social media like MySpace/Facebook really were going full-steam so I think Apple was just trying it out).

The first-class products have all been launched like the parent comment said, along with iterations that build upon them.

So to me it seems Apple is still putting some level of priority on its main products and just less so on accessories.

Re: Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory

#90

Post by etempleton »

p1esk wrote: post #84
etempleton wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What part of having something strapped to your face all day while on Zoom calls sounds amazing? As someone who spends all day on zoom calls this is the last thing I want.

Not having to sit sounds pretty amazing. Assuming it can match my monitor quality. I think of a headset as headphones for your eyes.

What do you look like to other people on the Zoom call? What are they seeing? If it is your avatar that is going to be a no go for most executives. They want to see your real face.
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