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> It’s also interesting that Apple doesn’t show this being used outdoors at all, despite that apparently perfect pass-through. One Apple video clip ends with so

> It’s also interesting that Apple doesn’t show this being used outdoors at all, despite that apparently perfect pass-through. One Apple video clip ends with someone putting it down to go outside... Because that would be inviting ridicule. It's still way too large and bulky and, let's face it, comical to be used outside. Maybe in an office... Maybe. Clearly it's not intended for outdoor use.

dmix 3y ago
It's basically like an TV/monitor combination. You don't bring monitors outdoors but they are still extremely useful at home for specific stuff. The high-end passthrough is still very important for home use even without tacky "dolphins coming through your walls" usecases. Anyone who has used VR for extended periods of time with headphones and tried to have a drink/look at their phone knows how frustrating that is to take the whole rig off or try to peak down. The fact VR people were excited you could read your Apple watch without taking off your headset says a lot about the current state of using VR for extended periods w/o quality passthrough.
- bbor 3y ago
  I mean… it’s an AR device, or at least it’s trying to be, as covered in the article. Do you have a different take? I think calling this “passthrough” is a little dismissive, but perhaps I’m just biased towards previous usages of the term which were for meant for the usecases you mention, not extended continuous use
- Tagbert 3y ago
  Why would you take it off to have a drink? What is wrong with peeking down? Both seem quite doable in the VP.
  - dmix 3y ago
    It's a pain in the ass when you're playing a game in the middle of the room (like when I boxed every day for a month on it) then have to awkwardly walk across the room to the endtable to pick up a glass while pretending I'm a kid cheating during a blindfold game, peaking down. Also when I boxed I would use this face cover for sweat which also blocked light really well so I basically had to take it off: https://www.amazon.ca/SAYAFAN-Adjustable-Breathable-Oculus-Workouts/dp/B09V15YP8X/ https://www.amazon.ca/SAYAFAN-Adjustable-Breathable-Oculus-W...
Gigachad 3y ago
It seems like it's aiming to be a laptop replacement. Wearing it outside would probably be the equivalent of walking down the street holding a laptop in front of you.
- bbor 3y ago
  I think people are vastly underestimating how cool it will look. Will people mock you? Some people, surely. Will it look futuristic af to others? I’d say yes. And it’s AR, so the laptop comparison doesn’t work on that level too. Superimposed directions, reviews, tourist annotations, and goofy shit like FaceTiming your holographic family or playing geolocation games seem like reason enough for a small minority of users to happily take them out onto the streets. Kinda moot for most Americans anyway, who don’t have walkable streets to take them out on. It just occurred to me that we’ll have to litigate whether this is acceptable to wear while driving… damn screw the rest of my comment, now I’m super curious how that is gonna turn out
  - ryanbrunner 3y ago
    The question of whether it's cool or unbearably dorky really has way less to do with any objective quality about it and more to do with uptake. If Apple mostly establishes themselves in the existing VR market (i.e. mostly a niche gaming device, with very scant general purpose use by an extremely small group of nerdy folks) it will be unbearably dorky regardless of how it looks objectively. If it's somewhat popular, even if (maybe even especially if) it's only popular among well-off people, then it will be considered cool.
    - bbor 3y ago
      Good points! Though I have to wonder... does "dorky" even really exist anymore in (my PoV) American culture? Maybe it does and I just don't run into people who think like that since graduating high school. I'd personally describe the failure case, culture wise, as closer to "creepy" or "dystopian" or "out of touch/rich". I haven't looked into their materials too much, but hopefully it's super obvious if one of the many cameras on this thing is recording. Deep down I have a strong need to think Google Glass served some purpose, did some good, was not just a shudder in the cosmos to bring false hope to the few... I still want to believe.
cableshaft 3y ago
Well also at least in the Quest 2's case, because taking it outside can damage the lenses. From their site: "Don't store or leave your headset anywhere where it can be exposed to sunlight. The lenses inside your headset can be permanently damaged from less than a minute of exposure to direct sunlight even if it's indoors."[1] Some people take them outside at dusk so they can get the benefit of a larger arena outdoors, but they do so against Meta's recommendations. The Vision Pro may have the same or similar limitation. [1]: https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/headsets-and-accessories/product-care-and-best-practices/avoiding-sunlight-damage/ https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/headsets-and-access...
K2L8M11N2 3y ago
Being able to work sitting in a deck chair in your back yard without having to worry about screen glare seems like a compelling use case.

dmix 3y ago

It's basically like an TV/monitor combination. You don't bring monitors outdoors but they are still extremely useful at home for specific stuff. The high-end passthrough is still very important for home use even without tacky "dolphins coming through your walls" usecases. Anyone who has used VR for extended periods of time with headphones and tried to have a drink/look at their phone knows how frustrating that is to take the whole rig off or try to peak down. The fact VR people were excited you could read your Apple watch without taking off your headset says a lot about the current state of using VR for extended periods w/o quality passthrough.

bbor 3y ago
I mean… it’s an AR device, or at least it’s trying to be, as covered in the article. Do you have a different take? I think calling this “passthrough” is a little dismissive, but perhaps I’m just biased towards previous usages of the term which were for meant for the usecases you mention, not extended continuous use
Tagbert 3y ago
Why would you take it off to have a drink? What is wrong with peeking down? Both seem quite doable in the VP.
- dmix 3y ago
  It's a pain in the ass when you're playing a game in the middle of the room (like when I boxed every day for a month on it) then have to awkwardly walk across the room to the endtable to pick up a glass while pretending I'm a kid cheating during a blindfold game, peaking down. Also when I boxed I would use this face cover for sweat which also blocked light really well so I basically had to take it off: https://www.amazon.ca/SAYAFAN-Adjustable-Breathable-Oculus-Workouts/dp/B09V15YP8X/ https://www.amazon.ca/SAYAFAN-Adjustable-Breathable-Oculus-W...

Gigachad 3y ago

It seems like it's aiming to be a laptop replacement. Wearing it outside would probably be the equivalent of walking down the street holding a laptop in front of you.

bbor 3y ago
I think people are vastly underestimating how cool it will look. Will people mock you? Some people, surely. Will it look futuristic af to others? I’d say yes. And it’s AR, so the laptop comparison doesn’t work on that level too. Superimposed directions, reviews, tourist annotations, and goofy shit like FaceTiming your holographic family or playing geolocation games seem like reason enough for a small minority of users to happily take them out onto the streets. Kinda moot for most Americans anyway, who don’t have walkable streets to take them out on. It just occurred to me that we’ll have to litigate whether this is acceptable to wear while driving… damn screw the rest of my comment, now I’m super curious how that is gonna turn out
- ryanbrunner 3y ago
  The question of whether it's cool or unbearably dorky really has way less to do with any objective quality about it and more to do with uptake. If Apple mostly establishes themselves in the existing VR market (i.e. mostly a niche gaming device, with very scant general purpose use by an extremely small group of nerdy folks) it will be unbearably dorky regardless of how it looks objectively. If it's somewhat popular, even if (maybe even especially if) it's only popular among well-off people, then it will be considered cool.
  - bbor 3y ago
    Good points! Though I have to wonder... does "dorky" even really exist anymore in (my PoV) American culture? Maybe it does and I just don't run into people who think like that since graduating high school. I'd personally describe the failure case, culture wise, as closer to "creepy" or "dystopian" or "out of touch/rich". I haven't looked into their materials too much, but hopefully it's super obvious if one of the many cameras on this thing is recording. Deep down I have a strong need to think Google Glass served some purpose, did some good, was not just a shudder in the cosmos to bring false hope to the few... I still want to believe.

cableshaft 3y ago

Well also at least in the Quest 2's case, because taking it outside can damage the lenses. From their site: "Don't store or leave your headset anywhere where it can be exposed to sunlight. The lenses inside your headset can be permanently damaged from less than a minute of exposure to direct sunlight even if it's indoors."[1] Some people take them outside at dusk so they can get the benefit of a larger arena outdoors, but they do so against Meta's recommendations. The Vision Pro may have the same or similar limitation. [1]: https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/headsets-and-accessories/product-care-and-best-practices/avoiding-sunlight-damage/ https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/headsets-and-access...

K2L8M11N2 3y ago

Being able to work sitting in a deck chair in your back yard without having to worry about screen glare seems like a compelling use case.