Comment by pjmlp
13 hours ago
What I don't get about Apple is when everyone else was giving up on yet another VR attempt, moving into AI, they decide AI isn't worth it, and it was the right time for a me too VR headset.
So no VR, given the price and lack of developer support, and late arrival into AI.
I think of it like a technology checkpoint. Make sure you got as far as everyone else when they gave up, so when the next innovation in that space comes along you can start back up on even footing.
You want to have your own pathway to production that dodges competitors’ patents, is somewhat defensible itself, maybe a brand, etc.
It is the same pattern, late on VR, late on AI. Those two tech have a pricing problem. I would guess that Apple is working to create the conditions to make these tech cheap enough to sell it to everyone.
For everyone that can afford Apple, that is.
They do have the mobile phone market duopoly advantage though, far from the 90's mistakes that almost closed shop.
> it was the right time for a me too VR headset.
I think it was more that the experience was pretty much there. Hardware takes a loooong time to mature, even more if its a new style or package. I'm assuming that they were prototyping this in 2015-18.
Also, Apple knows that AR glasses, if done right, and not turned into a cesspool of perverts (ie google glasses) will be a massive platform. However its going to take at least another 5 years to get something usable. So if its possible, I expect apple to come out with something just after Meta either gives up or has a string of failures.