Apple vision pro just brilliantly destroyed meta’s entire hardware business… and possibly even its own

Yanko Design ^ | 6.5.2023 | Sarang Sheth

[Soul of the South]

“Whatever happened to Microsoft’s HoloLense which was at least a decade ahead of this and Meta?”

I don’t know. The history of technology adaptation is often determined by marketing and product development. Apple usually has superior marketing. It seems to define itself more as a consumer products company than a technology company. Some of its messaging and advertising has been pure genius.

Microsoft is clearly a technology company and likely views business oriented products as more important than consumer products.

Meta, is a social media platform so it is consumer oriented. However its expertise is in providing a platform for consumer communication, not as a producer of hardware for consumers.

I thought Apple’s launch presentation was brilliant in that it demonstrated the integration of its vision product with its other products — highlighting the integrated Apple ecosystem. Microsoft has an ecosystem of products but does a poor job of integrating it in the mind of the consumer. I’m not aware of Meta’s messaging, I just don’t follow the tech industry as closely as I once did.

An integrated system of products is a more powerful consumer proposition than one off products. Ultimately the success of a product may be due more to how it is marketed than purely technological superiority. Remember Betamax versus VHS in video recording? Sony’s exclusive Betamax delivered superior video quality. VHS was sold by a number of manufacturers and was advertised as providing longer recording time. VHS ultimately obliterated Betamax. Superior technology lost to what consumers apparently wanted — acceptable video quality and long recording time.

[PIF]

The guy just did not connect the dots - the headset works with other devices - it does not replace them. That was the point of the integrated system between devices. It needs the other devices to function in many environments, and will never replace high-end Macs (or PCs).

[Chickensoup]

You are correct. It is an addon.

[libh8er]

it does not replace them

It does replace them, unless you also want to hold on to your existing devices. It's powered by an M2 processor which also powers the latest Macbooks and iPad Pro's so it can run all applications natively inside the headset.

[libh8er]

See #64

[PIF]

Watch it again - they go out of their way to point out the need for the other devices. AAPL is not that stupid.

[libh8er]

“Creating our first spatial computer required invention across nearly every facet of the system,” said Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Technology Development Group. “Through a tight integration of hardware and software, we designed a standalone spatial computer in a compact wearable form factor that is the most advanced personal electronics device ever.”

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/06/introducing-apple-vision-pro/

[PIF]

Keyword: spatial <— a category of device. Not a replacement for other devices.

[Woodman]

Here is my take on it. I’ve worked in tech for over 3 decades. I have been blessed in my positions to see and use many technologies before they have become mainstream.

The iPhone was an amalgamation of many different technologies into a single device. I could have come from any of Apple’s competitors at the time but they were all busy dominating their niche and didn’t see the need. Steve Jobs put together the Cell Phone, MP3 Player, PDA, and the Digital Camera and marketed as the invention of all time. It became popular, cool, and ubiquitous before anyone else could catch up. It also didn’t hurt that it had a focus on quality but none of the tech was particularly ground breaking.

Now to recent history. Heads Up Displays, Pupil Tracking cursors have been around for ages and are in fact the heart of the Abrams Tank targeting system. VR Headsets have been around for quite some time and VR S/W has been continuously getting more sophisticated and realistic. AR (Augmented Reality) has been around for quite some time. Google Glass failed. Microsoft HoloLens is in it’s 3rd Generation.

Now along comes Apple with Mixed Reality. MR a combination of VR/AR, Digital Camera Tech, Phone Tech, etc. Nothing there is revolutionary. The question is does it have a market.

For me personally I don’t have a desire or need for that kind of a device. I would not mind seeing more practical applications for AR. Something that looks like and functions like a pair of glasses (not goggles projecting my eyes) that could augment my day to day life. For eample facial recognition that projected into my AR Names, Relationship Details and other pertinent information about the person I am interacting with. Instant referential lockups when I needed information. 3D Schematics of something I trying to service overlaid on the device I’m working on. Quick news flashes and weather alerts, GPS Maps that track with my movement, etc.

So in the long run, we will see where the market is. Is it a solo world all you own with an interface to the outside world, or is it the real world with on demand information, assistance and or augmentation. I’m betting on AR since that is my preference to use.