4 ms·

Early smartphones weren't good enough at browsing the web, and also the web wasn't good enough at being browsable on early smart phones. I wonder if we need a

• mlajtos 3y ago
  It wasn't about phones being good for browsing the web. It was (and still is) about having the web in your pocket wherever you are.
  • deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
• danpalmer 3y ago
  > Just get the resolution and refresh rate high enough, and it's already a revolution. Isn't that a solution looking for a problem still? With smartphones the problem wasn't surfing the web – you're right that mobile devices and the mobile web grew up together. The problem was needing information when not at a desktop computer, or wanting more information quicker than you'd get through a phone call, or just wanting human interaction (even if it was online). The killer apps for mobile were things like finding your way around (maps, transport times, traffic), social networking (without logging on to a desktop chat room or actually meeting someone), and photos (without carrying around another device). So far the only "killer app" for VR/AR – something we literally could not do before VR/AR, is immersive gaming. I know non-VR games can be immersive in their own way but VR is clearly a step up. The problem I believe is accessibility – we don't have the physical space, or cheap and good enough devices, or enough content that people find what they like, and that's just one somewhat niche use-case (gaming isn't niche, but gaming aiming for immersiveness is).