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Apple have a reputation for releasing excellent ground breaking products. People might disagree with me there, but it is what is expected of Apple. When they re

Apple have a reputation for releasing excellent ground breaking products. People might disagree with me there, but it is what is expected of Apple. When they release a new product line people expect it to be top notch or completely different. Having said that, I don't think they have had done that in some time. I really struggle to see Apple are going to do it with mixed reality headsets. I just don't think it's time. Additionally, a lot of these products are better when others have them too. I can't see many people wearing them, which might reduce how great they are.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
testfrequency 4y ago
Agree. While Apple has had some hits in recent time (AirPods), they’ve failed to innovate in a new/emerging category for some time now. It will be polished, but that doesn’t == successful or revolutionary
- squiffsquiff 4y ago
  Parents said "ground breaking" which is fair. 'Innovative' though? Apple are fantastic at making success out of a polished second entry to the market, e.g. the iPhone wasn't the first mobile phone, nor the first touchscreen personal device; the iPod wasn't the first personal digital music player, etc. I don't really see a first device in the 'mixed reality headset' space- I wouldn't count Oculus or Google glass
  - humanizersequel 4y ago
    I'd count Oculus. If they delivered an Oculus type experience in a smaller form factor (think ski goggles) with the expected level of software polish from Apple — that would be a huge hit.
    - rchaud 4y ago
      Where's the media going to come from? Apple Arcade?
      - djhn 4y ago
        The Pornography Hub is happy to oblige
      - humanizersequel 4y ago
        Pornography is the obvious answer, but presumably it would at first be Apple providing an initial suite of quality apps (that you can trust will be improved upon) as usual, perhaps with more "demo" type things, along with a good SDK that would drive third-party adoption. This is a pretty standard playbook for them.
- NoPicklez 4y ago
  The other aspect is perhaps for its success they need to get it in as many peoples hands a possible at the start. In the current economy, with people who likely already have a smartphone and smartwatch, I'm not sure if people will be buying smart headsets due to cost of living struggles etc.
  - legostormtroopr 4y ago
    > I'm not sure if people will be buying smart headsets due to cost of living struggles etc. Apple, especially with the iPhone, has positioned itself as a "luxury" technology brand and benefits from exclusivity. I would see the launch of a consumer-friendly well-designed VR/AR headset from Apple with a premium price tag as a boost for them. What better way to say how well you are doing in the economy than by wearing Apple glasses.
    - NoPicklez 4y ago
      Absolutely and Apple have always been that way. But with all things, there is a limit. This headset might not be a flagship device but perhaps akin to the AppleTV. I think the whole "Show how well you are doing in the economy" device isn't really what is going to make it popular. You also say "especially with the iPhone" the iPhone hasn't been the most expensive smart phone for quite a long time. Samsung and Apple are neck and neck when it comes to the price of a flagship mobile phone. Despite Apple's marketing.
    - rchaud 4y ago
      > What better way to say how well you are doing in the economy than by wearing Apple glasses. I really don't think it's going to have that effect. iPhones still carry status thanks to the cumulative impact of 15 years of relentless marketing. But they're also extremely personal items that are on you all the time. Glasses are not going to be like that.
  - MichaelZuo 4y ago
    Apple has never released a product that required getting "it in as many peoples hands a possible at the start." They always target higher margins if they can.
- hpen 4y ago
  I agree with this and it is besides the point but what companies have been innovative lately?
flangola7 4y ago
People might wear them if it gives them an advantage over those who don't. Imagine pairing it with something like rewind.ai - you could be in argument with someone and have floating text suggestions of what to say, utilizing the total cumulative data of all interaction between the two of you. The other person might try to mock you for using your AI sunglasses, but they wouldn't be able to deny the fact that this is 4th time this year you've had to be late to work because they were too drunk to take the kids to school, nor would they be able to counter the optimally-persuasive arguments it would generate. Leaving out AI integrations, APIs could be available for social media "see through my eyes" sessions by internet personalities. Overlay instructions for how to assemble a product or change a car tire. To help friends find each other in a crowded venue. It could be integrated with networked road and on-vehicle cameras to allow a driver to see around a blind urban corner, or to highlight pedestrians. It could brighten, magnify, and highlight items of importance for those with diminished eyesight. The more sensors integrated the more possibilities. Soldiers could have an infrared vision overlay and virtual laser beam pointing from their rifle barrel. The applications are there. But it will take an org who can make it polished and accessible. Apple used to be that, I don't know if they still are.
- gattilorenz 4y ago
  > Imagine pairing it with something like rewind.ai - you could be in argument with someone and have floating text suggestions of what to say, utilizing the total cumulative data of all interaction between the two of you. The other person might try to mock you for using your AI sunglasses, but they wouldn't be able to deny the fact that this is 4th time this year you've had to be late to work because they were too drunk to take the kids to school, nor would they be able to counter the optimally-persuasive arguments it would generate. I hope you’re sarcastic. I don’t think we need tech to decrease the quality of real-life human interactions.
  - flangola7 4y ago
    I don't make any claims that it is good idea. Only that it would be an appealing product for many reasons to many different kinds of people.
etempleton 4y ago
I am with you, but if they pull it off it will be something. I am just not sure what it could be that could pull it off. Perhaps it is very good mixed reality in normal looking glasses. Apple does have very low power chips available to them. I am just concerned there is no one there that will say, “this is dumb, real people won’t use it.” Even if it is interesting. Even if it works well. If it goes on your face you can’t look like a dork using it or only dorks will buy it. And I have to imagine Apple wants to sell to more than a hundred thousand or so tech weirdos and that is it. Then there is the question of what does it do? The Apple Watch is great for fitness. What is the mixed reality headset good for? Why do I need this thing? How does it improve me life?
- GeekyBear 4y ago
  This headset has been positioned as a high end device for developers and early adopters. I'd say it's in the same space as Microsoft's $3,000 HoloLens hardware, just with more modern hardware constraints and hopefully getting rid of the 30 degree field of view limitation that the first version of HoloLens hardware had. Apple has said that the intention is to follow up with a cheaper consumer version in the form factor of a pair of thick sunglasses, but so far that project keeps getting prototyped and canceled.
rchaud 4y ago
Groundbreaking? That hasn't been true in a long time. Apple now just tries to make money by tying its hardware to boring services like App Store ads, iCloud and Apple Music subscriptions. What was Apple's last new product? Apple Watch - which after a decade is still nothing more than a dumb client for the iPhone. "Mixed Reality" sounds like more of the same; a way for Apple to create an ecosystem where there's no Chrome or Google maps to compete against.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

testfrequency 4y ago

Agree. While Apple has had some hits in recent time (AirPods), they’ve failed to innovate in a new/emerging category for some time now. It will be polished, but that doesn’t == successful or revolutionary

squiffsquiff 4y ago
Parents said "ground breaking" which is fair. 'Innovative' though? Apple are fantastic at making success out of a polished second entry to the market, e.g. the iPhone wasn't the first mobile phone, nor the first touchscreen personal device; the iPod wasn't the first personal digital music player, etc. I don't really see a first device in the 'mixed reality headset' space- I wouldn't count Oculus or Google glass
- humanizersequel 4y ago
  I'd count Oculus. If they delivered an Oculus type experience in a smaller form factor (think ski goggles) with the expected level of software polish from Apple — that would be a huge hit.
  - rchaud 4y ago
    Where's the media going to come from? Apple Arcade?
    - djhn 4y ago
      The Pornography Hub is happy to oblige
    - humanizersequel 4y ago
      Pornography is the obvious answer, but presumably it would at first be Apple providing an initial suite of quality apps (that you can trust will be improved upon) as usual, perhaps with more "demo" type things, along with a good SDK that would drive third-party adoption. This is a pretty standard playbook for them.
NoPicklez 4y ago
The other aspect is perhaps for its success they need to get it in as many peoples hands a possible at the start. In the current economy, with people who likely already have a smartphone and smartwatch, I'm not sure if people will be buying smart headsets due to cost of living struggles etc.
- legostormtroopr 4y ago
  > I'm not sure if people will be buying smart headsets due to cost of living struggles etc. Apple, especially with the iPhone, has positioned itself as a "luxury" technology brand and benefits from exclusivity. I would see the launch of a consumer-friendly well-designed VR/AR headset from Apple with a premium price tag as a boost for them. What better way to say how well you are doing in the economy than by wearing Apple glasses.
  - NoPicklez 4y ago
    Absolutely and Apple have always been that way. But with all things, there is a limit. This headset might not be a flagship device but perhaps akin to the AppleTV. I think the whole "Show how well you are doing in the economy" device isn't really what is going to make it popular. You also say "especially with the iPhone" the iPhone hasn't been the most expensive smart phone for quite a long time. Samsung and Apple are neck and neck when it comes to the price of a flagship mobile phone. Despite Apple's marketing.
  - rchaud 4y ago
    > What better way to say how well you are doing in the economy than by wearing Apple glasses. I really don't think it's going to have that effect. iPhones still carry status thanks to the cumulative impact of 15 years of relentless marketing. But they're also extremely personal items that are on you all the time. Glasses are not going to be like that.
- MichaelZuo 4y ago
  Apple has never released a product that required getting "it in as many peoples hands a possible at the start." They always target higher margins if they can.
hpen 4y ago
I agree with this and it is besides the point but what companies have been innovative lately?

flangola7 4y ago

People might wear them if it gives them an advantage over those who don't. Imagine pairing it with something like rewind.ai - you could be in argument with someone and have floating text suggestions of what to say, utilizing the total cumulative data of all interaction between the two of you. The other person might try to mock you for using your AI sunglasses, but they wouldn't be able to deny the fact that this is 4th time this year you've had to be late to work because they were too drunk to take the kids to school, nor would they be able to counter the optimally-persuasive arguments it would generate. Leaving out AI integrations, APIs could be available for social media "see through my eyes" sessions by internet personalities. Overlay instructions for how to assemble a product or change a car tire. To help friends find each other in a crowded venue. It could be integrated with networked road and on-vehicle cameras to allow a driver to see around a blind urban corner, or to highlight pedestrians. It could brighten, magnify, and highlight items of importance for those with diminished eyesight. The more sensors integrated the more possibilities. Soldiers could have an infrared vision overlay and virtual laser beam pointing from their rifle barrel. The applications are there. But it will take an org who can make it polished and accessible. Apple used to be that, I don't know if they still are.

gattilorenz 4y ago
> Imagine pairing it with something like rewind.ai - you could be in argument with someone and have floating text suggestions of what to say, utilizing the total cumulative data of all interaction between the two of you. The other person might try to mock you for using your AI sunglasses, but they wouldn't be able to deny the fact that this is 4th time this year you've had to be late to work because they were too drunk to take the kids to school, nor would they be able to counter the optimally-persuasive arguments it would generate. I hope you’re sarcastic. I don’t think we need tech to decrease the quality of real-life human interactions.
- flangola7 4y ago
  I don't make any claims that it is good idea. Only that it would be an appealing product for many reasons to many different kinds of people.

etempleton 4y ago

I am with you, but if they pull it off it will be something. I am just not sure what it could be that could pull it off. Perhaps it is very good mixed reality in normal looking glasses. Apple does have very low power chips available to them. I am just concerned there is no one there that will say, “this is dumb, real people won’t use it.” Even if it is interesting. Even if it works well. If it goes on your face you can’t look like a dork using it or only dorks will buy it. And I have to imagine Apple wants to sell to more than a hundred thousand or so tech weirdos and that is it. Then there is the question of what does it do? The Apple Watch is great for fitness. What is the mixed reality headset good for? Why do I need this thing? How does it improve me life?

GeekyBear 4y ago
This headset has been positioned as a high end device for developers and early adopters. I'd say it's in the same space as Microsoft's $3,000 HoloLens hardware, just with more modern hardware constraints and hopefully getting rid of the 30 degree field of view limitation that the first version of HoloLens hardware had. Apple has said that the intention is to follow up with a cheaper consumer version in the form factor of a pair of thick sunglasses, but so far that project keeps getting prototyped and canceled.

rchaud 4y ago

Groundbreaking? That hasn't been true in a long time. Apple now just tries to make money by tying its hardware to boring services like App Store ads, iCloud and Apple Music subscriptions. What was Apple's last new product? Apple Watch - which after a decade is still nothing more than a dumb client for the iPhone. "Mixed Reality" sounds like more of the same; a way for Apple to create an ecosystem where there's no Chrome or Google maps to compete against.