3 ms·

I have to side with Ive here. Apple is not a gaming company, and that's the only consumer motive I could see for a bulky headset that's tethered to a base stati

by _bxg1 6y ago

I have to side with Ive here. Apple is not a gaming company, and that's the only consumer motive I could see for a bulky headset that's tethered to a base station. Any other use would be pure novelty. Plus, the already-small market is being well-served by traditional VR headsets. But a new wearable - a lifestyle product, slim and stylish enough to go anywhere and slide into a pocket if need be - is right up Apple's alley. On top of that, there's the incredibly obvious solution of pairing it to the user's iPhone for heavy-lifting, making use of those absurdly powerful mobile chips and gaining a new source of ecosystem synergy (or lock-in, depending on your perspective) in the process. It's shocking to me that someone holding such high regard in Apple could be so out of touch.

twoodfin 6y ago
Indeed. I'm surprised they're even trying the "stationary" product rather than just working directly towards a glasses version of the Watch. Gurman's sources are good enough that I imagine he has the narrative right, but this sounds a little bit like the iPad / iPhone evolution in retrospect: As I understand the history, the iPad was actually under development first, but it became obvious that the better initial market to target with the technology was smartphones. It wouldn't shock me if they belatedly have the same revelation again. Maybe they have sold themselves on a kind of "meet in the middle" strategy, where major YoY improvements in AR-enhanced smartphones build a market for mobile-focused apps, while the HUD technology is ramped up and refined in an environment where you don't worry so much about power and portability. But again, if I were Apple, I'd stick to mobile and wait until they are ready to leapfrog everyone else rather than try to build a market with awkward enthusiast tech.

3 ms·

I have to side with Ive here. Apple is not a gaming company, and that's the only consumer motive I could see for a bulky headset that's tethered to a base stati

by _bxg1 6y ago

twoodfin 6y ago
Indeed. I'm surprised they're even trying the "stationary" product rather than just working directly towards a glasses version of the Watch. Gurman's sources are good enough that I imagine he has the narrative right, but this sounds a little bit like the iPad / iPhone evolution in retrospect: As I understand the history, the iPad was actually under development first, but it became obvious that the better initial market to target with the technology was smartphones. It wouldn't shock me if they belatedly have the same revelation again. Maybe they have sold themselves on a kind of "meet in the middle" strategy, where major YoY improvements in AR-enhanced smartphones build a market for mobile-focused apps, while the HUD technology is ramped up and refined in an environment where you don't worry so much about power and portability. But again, if I were Apple, I'd stick to mobile and wait until they are ready to leapfrog everyone else rather than try to build a market with awkward enthusiast tech.