[PB PM]

Totally different gaming audience as well, Apple gets casual gamers, serious gamers are on those consoles or PC.

[Frank777]

Originally Posted by chucker Hard to catch up in terms of video game library.

True, but the intro of the Glasses would seem to imply that there's a big recoding effort coming for the video game world.

Apple has taken its time with Arcade and AppleTV. It's not unlikely that they've got some good coding tools for the ATV developed and ready to drop with the Glasses intro. Gaming developers might be the target of the next WWDC.

[drewprops]

I know that smartphone cameras can capture dark rooms, but can they preview the scenes with the same clarity?

If so, could VR goggles also be used as night vision aids? If not real time previews, could they act as an intervelometer and display a continuous stream of previews, simulating a low frame rate display? I just sense this could be an unimagined benefit of smart glasses.


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[dglow]

Originally Posted by drewprops I know that smartphone cameras can capture dark rooms, but can they preview the scenes with the same clarity? If so, could VR goggles also be used as night vision aids? If not real time previews, could they act as an intervelometer and display a continuous stream of previews, simulating a low frame rate display? I just sense this could be an unimagined benefit of smart glasses. ...

Yes, and as general vision aids too. It's a fair bet that the Glasses will empower vision-impaired individuals even more than accessibility features on the iPhone already have.

[drewprops]

Bloomberg has reported that Apple has demonstrated their new VR mixed reality headsets to their top 100 executives ahead of their annual retreat, indicating that the device will be unveiled to the public in June (WWDC) and that it is expected to follow the long slow road to success by developing the market space, like the Apple Watch. They say it will retail at $3,000.

End of update.


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[turtle]

You know, I will likely watch the demo and presentation and think it is cool. Maybe even try to justify why I should put $3000 in it. In the end, I won't buy it for a long time to come if ever. Kinda like the Mac Pro I tried to convince myself to buy long ago. I've had a handful of minis since then.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by drewprops it is expected to follow the long slow road to success by developing the market space, like the Apple Watch.

Ultimately, the Apple Watch became little more than a premium fitness tracker. Which seems to be enough of a market segment to sustain it.

You can get a $40 "kinda sucks but does the job" fitness tracker, or a $250, $400, $800 Apple Watch. Plus bands at $50 and up.

I'm not sure we'll see the same for Apple Reality Pro™. You can get the $400 Meta Quest 2, the $1,000 Meta Quest Pro, or the… $3,000 Apple Reality Pro? Relatively speaking, that's similar, but in absolute terms, that's a lot of money.

Plus, the utility… a lot of people stand to benefit from a smartwatch (even if it's just for placebo effect-ish reasons). How many do from VR goggles?

[turtle]

I think the thing that always ends up putting Apple on top (even with the premium) is the "just works" factor. Everything being tightly integrated and working together is huge for them. It is why my family wants to stay with Apple's products. I see holes and failings, but they don't see them like I do.
Oh, and "privacy" being huge too. No way I'm giving Zuck and crew anything of my data willingly, let alone pay to provide him more of my data. Apple at least is better about my data, though not angelic.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by turtle I see holes and failings, but they don't see them like I do.

Yeah, I think that plays quite a role. I… have my occasional misgivings with my Apple devices, and do feel software quality needs to improve. But the masses don't actually seem to feel that way; they're fairly satisfied.

Originally Posted by turtle Oh, and "privacy" being huge too. No way I'm giving Zuck and crew anything of my data willingly, let alone pay to provide him more of my data. Apple at least is better about my data, though not angelic.

Indeed. They have a strong hand there especially in contrast to Meta.

[Frank777]

Originally Posted by turtle Oh, and "privacy" being huge too.

I think the CCP has deeply compromised Apple's values. Apple makes almost nothing anymore with a hard switch to turn off mics and cameras.

One would think having one Apple Watch option without a mic would be an easy thing. Instead, they are going the other way entirely.

[dglow]

Originally Posted by Frank777 I think the CCP has deeply compromised Apple's values. Apple makes almost nothing anymore with a hard switch to turn off mics and cameras.[/url]

What value of “almost nothing anymore” omits Apple’s entire notebook lineup?

[Frank777]

Originally Posted by dglow What value of “almost nothing anymore” omits Apple’s entire notebook lineup?

Okay it's true the notebook line has the needed safeguards. But that laudable security is somewhat undercut by the fact that in my home office my MB Air sits right next to my iMac, AirPods, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

End result: Security likely deeply compromised, by business or government actor, at some point.

[drewprops]

A person at the office was taking their Oculus to show their dad after work and got me to try it out. I was very impressed with the rudimentary immersion of the mini-golf game and could see how, with investment, that market could soar. Don't you doubt for a moment that Sony, Microsoft, and Intellivision aren't paying attention to this future market.


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[Frank777]

Originally Posted by drewprops Don't you doubt for a moment that Sony, Microsoft, and Intellivision aren't paying attention to this future market. ...

I tend to be really skeptical about these things, so take my words with a grain of salt.
I was skeptical about the prospects for the iPad (and still am. ). But do we know this is a large future market?

You can walk through the Middle East on YouTube, and people still pay $5K to jump on a plane for a week.

I can see making zoom meetings and online classes marginally better. And online gamers going for something more extreme.

But for $3,000? Will this really be a mainstream product?

[PB PM]

Not likely to be mainstream, but VR hasn’t really grabbed the masses even with the the semi budget offerings out there. It needs to be under $500 to go mainstream, and that’s a long way off.

[turtle]

To be fair though, personal computers took a very long time (compared to today's standards) to become essential, let alone common/mainstream. While many don't operate with a "computer" anymore, it is their phone or tablet now.

I can see VR/AR of some sort becoming more common once it isn't a beastly thing on your head. Much like early PCs were so beastly and now far from it.

[kscherer]

I can see spoiled western brats becoming so addicted to VR that they need to be hooked up to life support in order to survive.

Seems like nothing could be better for the neckbeards than equal doses of VR WoW and porn.

[turtle]

Like Wall-E.

[dglow]

Will be shocked if it’s actually $3K. It’ll be expensive, but not that high. Apple are seeding the leakers and rumor sites with specific narratives (“slow at first” “like the v1 watch” “$3K”) in an effort to set expectations the headset will readily meet or exceed.

A $3K pricetag? Over-promise then under-deliver.

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by turtle Like Wall-E.

Yep!

[psmith2.0]

Remember, leading up to the iPad, all the speculated/rumored pricing? Everyone flipped (in a good way) when it turned out to be $499. That part of the rollout presentation/keynote seemed to get the biggest applause/reaction of all. It came in at half of whatever was braced for/expecting.

Scrub to the 1:05 mark.

If that holds true, then $1,499 is probably the price of this new thingie. Nobody's going spend $3,000 on something that isn't a full-blown Mac. And if that's what it's introduced at, then just sit and chill for 3-4 months, when Apple will whack that down to something a little easier to swallow.

[Brad]

I'll buck the trend and say $3000 is low-balling it. With all the Apple taxes included, I'm expecting to see a $4000 model.

[drewprops]

Originally Posted by turtle To be fair though, personal computers took a very long time (compared to today's standards) to become essential, let alone common/mainstream. While many don't operate with a "computer" anymore, it is their phone or tablet now. I can see VR/AR of some sort becoming more common once it isn't a beastly thing on your head. Much like early PCs were so beastly and now far from it.

I am cleaning out dad's basement and was marveling today at the power of the thin leather-clad rectangle of light in my hand, held against the decaying business machines from the 1970s and the gummer of an iMac sitting on the workbench.

Wonders never cease.

I want in on this pricing action!!

$2,499!!!

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[camilasaunder89]

It's 2023 and Apple is still planning to launch two AR/VR headsets. Cheaper versions of these will be launched in 2024 or 2025. They will also have exterior cameras and sensors for better functionality.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by psmith2.0 Remember, leading up to the iPad, all the speculated/rumored pricing? Everyone flipped (in a good way) when it turned out to be $499. That part of the rollout presentation/keynote seemed to get the biggest applause/reaction of all. It came in at half of whatever was braced for/expecting. Scrub to the 1:05 mark. If that holds true, then $1,499 is probably the price of this new thingie. Nobody's going spend $3,000 on something that isn't a full-blown Mac. And if that's what it's introduced at, then just sit and chill for 3-4 months, when Apple will whack that down to something a little easier to swallow.

See, but when Steve introduced the iPad at $499, there was no comparable product. Windows convertible laptops existed, but were a lot more money and also kind of garbage. Android tablets didn't exist yet, I think. (I think the Xoom launched about a year later?)

With VR headsets, Oculus, Vive, PlayStation VR, and others are already around. And they all cost… less.

[709]

Originally Posted by drewprops I want in on this pricing action!! $2,499!!! ...

I'd like to bid one dollar, Bob.


That is, I think this thing is coming in much lower than y'all are estimating. $999-$1299 is my guess.

[drewprops]

Okay, does whoever wins get something from the rest of us? How does this work??


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[dglow]

$1599 - $1899

Winner gets a date with the bot.

[PB PM]

$999.99 for the headset, requires AirPod/AirPod Pro (or equivalent Beats) headphones for audio, plus $150 for the special cable to connect it to your device, then $199 for the stand to put it on.

[drewprops]

Originally Posted by PB PM ...then $199 for the stand to put it on.

And $79 for the storage sack for the stand.

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