The metaverse is 'off limits' on Apple's VR headset, claims report
Apple's VR and AR headset isn't intended for long periods of usage, with the company reportedly diverting away from the so-called "metaverse" vision in favor of shorter experiences.
Mixed reality headsets have been touted as the next big thing in computing, handling everything from games and entertainment to work and education. However, while some tech companies are leaning towards enabling users to spend a long time in their headsets, Apple is allegedly going in the opposite direction.
According to sources of Mark Gurman's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple has thought about the metaverse, but seeks to avoid it. "I've been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to - like they can in Meta Platforms/Facebook's vision of the future - is off limits from Apple," writes Gurman.
Rather than using the headset as an "all-day device," Apple instead intends for it to be used for smaller "bursts."
Current speculation has Apple preparing for the launch of its first headset by the end of 2022, but in very limited quantities. It is believed to have a curved visor with AirPods Max-style padding, as well as bands similar to the design of Apple Watch sport bands.
It is also thought to use lightweight materials, have an M1-level processing system onboard for high-end applications and development, and use a secondary processor to handle sesnsor tracking. Those sensors could include a LiDAR system to track the user's hands without a controller, though controllers could still be used for more precise control.
Price rumors for the device run between $1,000 and $3,000.
Read on AppleInsider
Mixed reality headsets have been touted as the next big thing in computing, handling everything from games and entertainment to work and education. However, while some tech companies are leaning towards enabling users to spend a long time in their headsets, Apple is allegedly going in the opposite direction.
According to sources of Mark Gurman's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple has thought about the metaverse, but seeks to avoid it. "I've been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to - like they can in Meta Platforms/Facebook's vision of the future - is off limits from Apple," writes Gurman.
Rather than using the headset as an "all-day device," Apple instead intends for it to be used for smaller "bursts."
Current speculation has Apple preparing for the launch of its first headset by the end of 2022, but in very limited quantities. It is believed to have a curved visor with AirPods Max-style padding, as well as bands similar to the design of Apple Watch sport bands.
It is also thought to use lightweight materials, have an M1-level processing system onboard for high-end applications and development, and use a secondary processor to handle sesnsor tracking. Those sensors could include a LiDAR system to track the user's hands without a controller, though controllers could still be used for more precise control.
Price rumors for the device run between $1,000 and $3,000.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Just like Apple doesn't have a 'social network' but does (through Messages and FaceTime) have a network through which people have positive social interactions with friends and family, I suspect Apple will not participate in the 'metaverse' but will have AR/VR devices that provide entertainment and help people to be more productive.
I'm still skeptical of the $3k price tag, though. It's not impossible, but it's been a very long time since Apple tried to enter a new product category with something priced that high. Adjusted for inflation, the original iPod would cost about $628 today; the original iPhone $670; the original iPad $637.
You have to go back to 'old apple' to find higher priced new entrants. The original Newton MessagePad would cost about $1700 today; the original Macintosh about $6700.
I can believe that the AR/VR thing might cost more than the iPod / iPhone / iPad, but I bet the starting price still comes in under $1000.
The argument that a higher price is due to the product being aimed at 'developers' also seems inconsistent with past experience. Apple has sold limited volume machines aimed at 'developers', but we have recent experience with what that looks like:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Transition_Kit
This feels a lot like the car. Like Apple does not have a 100% dialed-in, all-in strategy. Few people are going to spend $1-$3K for a "burst" of whatever the fuck
VR is too disorienting to do this all the time.
The metaverse type experiences that people are immersed in today are like Minecraft, Fortnite, GTA Online, World of Warcraft, Second Life. Someone tested Fortnite in VR, this is probably the most compelling use case for wearing headsets for such a long period of time and kids already spend this much time in them outside of VR:
There's a video here showing some gaming and social stuff in Meta's experiences, most of this looks pretty horrifying, especially with the kid screaming at 2:15:
It's clear to see from these videos why it would have to be short experiences at a time using a VR headset, most people can't wear them that long because you're only looking at the display's artificial light source. A mixed reality experience would be much more comfortable for long periods.
Watching a movie would be an example of a short-term experience too. I could see people buying a product for an enhanced movie experience but not at over $1k.
This whole product description sounds off with the Airpods Max padding, Watch-style bands (this wouldn't be a fashion wearable), $1k-3k price. It's like one of those car mockups with the iPhone antenna bands, trying to piece together parts of Apple's other products into a new one. Especially when Apple has said a number of times that they don't see much value in VR. If they have front cameras, they can do passthrough so you'd see the real environment like on an iPad AR app and it offers the ability to have the processing on the device but if they were doing this, I'd expect the form factor to be closer to ski goggles than current VR hardware, a bit more compact than the mockup:
I expect Apple to make an AR wearable that allows VR-like experiences and nothing else and the tech is here to do this in 2022. They've been working on these products for over 6 years already. It says here it took just 2004-2007 to do the iPhone from concept to launch:
https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/13/15782200/one-device-secret-history-iphone-brian-merchant-book-excerpt
They have thousands of world-class engineers working round the clock. There's no way they are just going to come up with an overpriced derivative nerd helmet. I think the only thing they make will be something Tim Cook would be happy wearing to work all day at a mass market price point. It's something they can sell as an accessory with the iPhone 14 and require an iPhone 12/13/14. That way it's a $20/month premium with a new handset instead of a $499 purchase.
that’s what apple excels at. the human factor of the equation.
this event will be the best apple event in years, and probably, one of the best of all time.
The Metaverse does not yet exist. Indeed it hasn’t even been clearly defined beyond generalities and marketing hand waving.
I actually hope Apple keeps any AR/VR headset as a 100% closed system without any third party access. That way we won't have to hear about any of this crap that every computing product sold needs to be 100% open to other vendors selling their wares on it.
:sad: