Apparently you have no memory that Apple has produced its own fair share of failures. There were articles here about how the HomePod had the same market share as companies in the S&P and then they were gone. But, Cook is making noises that he wants to leave. But before he does, he needs a product he can call his own and they could spend to make sure that this is it. This whole idea has never made sense unless it was for gaming or health and no doubt many on this forum will run out a buy a Gen1 headset. Always a bad idea BTW unless you never open it and sell it 20 years from now at auction.
Great post.
Tim definitely wants a “Tim was here” product. And he’s been intimating that he won’t be around too much longer. I think he said less than 10 years 3 years ago.
I think he will get it. But I don’t think it will be this headset. Personally, I think it will be the car. The industry is being lame and trying to shut Apple down from selling it as a service to all makers, so they’ll have to make their own vehicle lineup.
The watch was a success I’d say. It’s pretty great, so thst goes on Tim’s list. And hopefully he will see an Apple vehicle lineup realized before he’s gone. But the headset? It’s VR+ headset that you wear not only on your head, but your entire upper body with cord and power pack. ‘Nuff said.
Maybe Cook can get it turned into glasses/sunglasses. THAT would be something.
Consider me highly dubious that any VR based on a headset, even one built into sunglasses will be more than a niche product anytime remotely soon.
Maybe Apple will crack the form factor that at least makes it into a mildly successful niche, but this just isn't going to be a runaway success, because you can't get a runaway success in a market that most people won't actually buy into. Maybe it will be more successful than 3D TVs (I do wish I had a 3D TV to watch A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, but I can't think of much else I would watch on one).
Maybe it will (finally!) get Apple seriously into supporting their platforms for top-notch gaming, but if so, the Apple TV and Macs will probably benefit more from that than the market for VR headsets.
Price is THE decider on whether this headset will be a success. This author - and others who’ve made the same point that Apple has had supposed failures many times before turn into successes - doesn’t seem to realize this. When has Apple *ever* introduced a completely new product category at an initial price point of $3k? Maybe the original Apple 2 (adjusted for inflation) - but nothing since then. Sure, there are several niche “pro” products in THS range and beyond, but nothing with hoped for mass market appeal. And Apple clearly wants this to eventually become the next iPhone. And I think the AR glasses originally promised for this timeframe had/has this potential - but not some dorky headset costing as much as a used car.
The decider will be the hardware and software integration, and the quality of the programs designed to use the capabilities of the device, if Apple has those things nailed down, then the device will succeed, however no matter what price Apple sets, it will be too much and the complaining will go on and on because many people will want it, but will not be able to afford it.
Even to this day, there are still many financial analysts who think Apple should drop their prices on all products to pick up more marketshare, which, if you know anything about Apple, you know that isn’t their way of doing business.
Yeah, well, remember when all the analysts said that Apple is Doomed™ if they don't release a netbook?
The MacBook Air filled that hole. So in a sense, they did release a netbook.
A lower cost thin and light was what the netbook rage was about. MacBook Air did that-Apple style.
Price is THE decider on whether this headset will be a success. This author - and others who’ve made the same point that Apple has had supposed failures many times before turn into successes - doesn’t seem to realize this. When has Apple *ever* introduced a completely new product category at an initial price point of $3k? Maybe the original Apple 2 (adjusted for inflation) - but nothing since then. Sure, there are several niche “pro” products in THS range and beyond, but nothing with hoped for mass market appeal. And Apple clearly wants this to eventually become the next iPhone. And I think the AR glasses originally promised for this timeframe had/has this potential - but not some dorky headset costing as much as a used car.
The decider will be the hardware and software integration, and the quality of the programs designed to use the capabilities of the device, if Apple has those things nailed down, then the device will succeed, however no matter what price Apple sets, it will be too much and the complaining will go on and on because many people will want it, but will not be able to afford it.
Even to this day, there are still many financial analysts who think Apple should drop their prices on all products to pick up more marketshare, which, if you know anything about Apple, you know that isn’t their way of doing business.
Yeah, well, remember when all the analysts said that Apple is Doomed™ if they don't release a netbook?
IMO, the lack of a true netbook was a huge miss. As was the original iMac with only USB1. As was, ironically, the delay in getting USB2 onto Macs. As was not buying Netflix. As was not opening up firewire. As was fiasco on 5G/QC...
Let's not forget the whole concept of NetBoot and where that could have gone for business and education.
The question should not be if Apple was doomed because of those 'errors' but how much more they could have achieved by following through with some moves.
Remind me how many netbook makers there are today?
Price is THE decider on whether this headset will be a success. This author - and others who’ve made the same point that Apple has had supposed failures many times before turn into successes - doesn’t seem to realize this. When has Apple *ever* introduced a completely new product category at an initial price point of $3k? Maybe the original Apple 2 (adjusted for inflation) - but nothing since then. Sure, there are several niche “pro” products in THS range and beyond, but nothing with hoped for mass market appeal. And Apple clearly wants this to eventually become the next iPhone. And I think the AR glasses originally promised for this timeframe had/has this potential - but not some dorky headset costing as much as a used car.
The decider will be the hardware and software integration, and the quality of the programs designed to use the capabilities of the device, if Apple has those things nailed down, then the device will succeed, however no matter what price Apple sets, it will be too much and the complaining will go on and on because many people will want it, but will not be able to afford it.
Even to this day, there are still many financial analysts who think Apple should drop their prices on all products to pick up more marketshare, which, if you know anything about Apple, you know that isn’t their way of doing business.
Yeah, well, remember when all the analysts said that Apple is Doomed™ if they don't release a netbook?
I'll bet the number who said that is in the single digits, if it's even above 0. "All the analysts" my butt.
I'll bet you are too young to even know what a netbook is, or too old to remember.
Price is THE decider on whether this headset will be a success. This author - and others who’ve made the same point that Apple has had supposed failures many times before turn into successes - doesn’t seem to realize this. When has Apple *ever* introduced a completely new product category at an initial price point of $3k? Maybe the original Apple 2 (adjusted for inflation) - but nothing since then. Sure, there are several niche “pro” products in THS range and beyond, but nothing with hoped for mass market appeal. And Apple clearly wants this to eventually become the next iPhone. And I think the AR glasses originally promised for this timeframe had/has this potential - but not some dorky headset costing as much as a used car.
The decider will be the hardware and software integration, and the quality of the programs designed to use the capabilities of the device, if Apple has those things nailed down, then the device will succeed, however no matter what price Apple sets, it will be too much and the complaining will go on and on because many people will want it, but will not be able to afford it.
Even to this day, there are still many financial analysts who think Apple should drop their prices on all products to pick up more marketshare, which, if you know anything about Apple, you know that isn’t their way of doing business.
Yeah, well, remember when all the analysts said that Apple is Doomed™ if they don't release a netbook?
I'll bet the number who said that is in the single digits, if it's even above 0. "All the analysts" my butt.
I'll bet you are too young to even know what a netbook is, or too old to remember.
Maybe the rumoured $3000 includes an Apple Chair that can move you about like a robot vacuum cleaner so you don’t end up walking into things (and you thought Apple was working on an Apple Car! Ha!). It allows for a stinking huge battery, and the Killer App is ChairPlay!
If someone isn’t interested in the concept of VR or AR, that is fine. But anyone who gives their opinion on a product based on the design, features, or price of a product before those details are even known is an absolute moron.
The internet has allowed morons to share their moronic thoughts with others. The ones that listen turn into morons themselves. This is the real pandemic — welcome to the internet: home of the moron flu.
Price is THE decider on whether this headset will be a success. This author - and others who’ve made the same point that Apple has had supposed failures many times before turn into successes - doesn’t seem to realize this. When has Apple *ever* introduced a completely new product category at an initial price point of $3k? Maybe the original Apple 2 (adjusted for inflation) - but nothing since then. Sure, there are several niche “pro” products in THS range and beyond, but nothing with hoped for mass market appeal. And Apple clearly wants this to eventually become the next iPhone. And I think the AR glasses originally promised for this timeframe had/has this potential - but not some dorky headset costing as much as a used car.
The decider will be the hardware and software integration, and the quality of the programs designed to use the capabilities of the device, if Apple has those things nailed down, then the device will succeed, however no matter what price Apple sets, it will be too much and the complaining will go on and on because many people will want it, but will not be able to afford it.
Even to this day, there are still many financial analysts who think Apple should drop their prices on all products to pick up more marketshare, which, if you know anything about Apple, you know that isn’t their way of doing business.
Yeah, well, remember when all the analysts said that Apple is Doomed™ if they don't release a netbook?
IMO, the lack of a true netbook was a huge miss. As was the original iMac with only USB1. As was, ironically, the delay in getting USB2 onto Macs. As was not buying Netflix. As was not opening up firewire. As was fiasco on 5G/QC...
Let's not forget the whole concept of NetBoot and where that could have gone for business and education.
The question should not be if Apple was doomed because of those 'errors' but how much more they could have achieved by following through with some moves.
Remind me how many netbook makers there are today?
Doomed like the iPhone is. We know as genius Steve Balmer said it’s too costly, will never sell much. Fortunately Microsoft released the Microsoft Kin and Microsoft’s phones took over the world. As did their tablets. Oh wait...
Whether this AR/VR headset is doomed depends on the app creators. If the Apps are dynamic and a unique experience then the headset shall live on perhaps in a different form similar to Google Glass In any case the real impact of the headset won’t be felt for years to come if it survives. Hopefully the App creAtors can bring the dynamic experience of the headset to life
I'm seeing a pattern with every single new Apple release. Apple releases something, the same people put it down as crap, overpriced, doesn't work, doesn't do anything something else already does, etc, etc and it will fail (or its already failed). They give it a month or two, maybe six, continue to push how much of a failure it is. About a year goes by, Apple keeps improving the product with software updates and it starts to sell and push others out of the market. Two, three years down the road, some of the major players are now struggling if not out of existence. A new Apple product is announced in the mean time and the cycle starts all over again for that product.
Maybe I'm just failing to see the point, but this is a cycle that I've experienced a few times:
-iPod
-Certain Macs (Depends on the category/audience)
-iPhone
-iPad
-iCloud
-Apple Watch
-HomePod
I'm sure I'm missing some.
Some are just too impatient and give Apple no more than 6 months before they start calling something a failure.
I think there's a strategy with these products. People at Apple don't just sit in an office and say, we need to make a speaker. They have an idea of yes, we could make a speaker. Then I think they start planning from there and its not just planning of 6 months out...its planning of sometimes several years out. It takes time to get a product to market from design, production, to sale. It also takes time to get the strategy out...it can be years before its complete. Just look at iPhone! People just didn't sit in an office and say where gonna make a phone!
Price is THE decider on whether this headset will be a success. This author - and others who’ve made the same point that Apple has had supposed failures many times before turn into successes - doesn’t seem to realize this. When has Apple *ever* introduced a completely new product category at an initial price point of $3k? Maybe the original Apple 2 (adjusted for inflation) - but nothing since then. Sure, there are several niche “pro” products in THS range and beyond, but nothing with hoped for mass market appeal. And Apple clearly wants this to eventually become the next iPhone. And I think the AR glasses originally promised for this timeframe had/has this potential - but not some dorky headset costing as much as a used car.
The decider will be the hardware and software integration, and the quality of the programs designed to use the capabilities of the device, if Apple has those things nailed down, then the device will succeed, however no matter what price Apple sets, it will be too much and the complaining will go on and on because many people will want it, but will not be able to afford it.
Even to this day, there are still many financial analysts who think Apple should drop their prices on all products to pick up more marketshare, which, if you know anything about Apple, you know that isn’t their way of doing business.
Yeah, well, remember when all the analysts said that Apple is Doomed™ if they don't release a netbook?
The MacBook Air filled that hole. So in a sense, they did release a netbook.
A lower cost thin and light was what the netbook rage was about. MacBook Air did that-Apple style.
The MacBook Air is not a netbook
Never said it was.
But it fills that space. A thin snd light that doesn’t skimp where netbooks do. But around the same size and weight. So an actual dumbed down netbook was not needed. Netbooks were the rage for a very short period of time. Apple took that mold and ticked all the pros minus the cons (except the really crappy screen the original Air came with).
Price is THE decider on whether this headset will be a success. This author - and others who’ve made the same point that Apple has had supposed failures many times before turn into successes - doesn’t seem to realize this. When has Apple *ever* introduced a completely new product category at an initial price point of $3k? Maybe the original Apple 2 (adjusted for inflation) - but nothing since then. Sure, there are several niche “pro” products in THS range and beyond, but nothing with hoped for mass market appeal. And Apple clearly wants this to eventually become the next iPhone. And I think the AR glasses originally promised for this timeframe had/has this potential - but not some dorky headset costing as much as a used car.
The decider will be the hardware and software integration, and the quality of the programs designed to use the capabilities of the device, if Apple has those things nailed down, then the device will succeed, however no matter what price Apple sets, it will be too much and the complaining will go on and on because many people will want it, but will not be able to afford it.
Even to this day, there are still many financial analysts who think Apple should drop their prices on all products to pick up more marketshare, which, if you know anything about Apple, you know that isn’t their way of doing business.
Yeah, well, remember when all the analysts said that Apple is Doomed™ if they don't release a netbook?
The MacBook Air filled that hole. So in a sense, they did release a netbook.
A lower cost thin and light was what the netbook rage was about. MacBook Air did that-Apple style.
No, Apple answer to a netbook was the iPad. Netbooks about completely disappeared in just about 2 years after the iPad (and other copycat tablets) came to market in 2010. Apple just thought different and got rid of the physical keyboard. iPads even competed with netbooks in price. At the time, iPads only disadvantage was that they didn't run on any version of MS Windows. Which in the end, turned out to be an advantage. Bet there are way more 1st and 2nd generation iPads still in use to day, than netbooks. I'm still using two them. One of them daily.
Yes, absolutely doomed. It's so sad. No doubt the VR headset will be relegated to the trash bin of history alongside the many other widely predicted failures for Apple: the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad, the Watch. It's just one useless product after another that nobody buys.
You missed to include Apple TV, Apple Car ...
And MacBook Air, Apple Silicon, the App Store, that music service they paid $3 billion for, all drains on the company’s bottom line. /s 😝
First of all, people are only saying "$3,000" because it's easy to say, when in reality, the price, if indeed that high, would actually be $2,999. The trickery of sales and marketing departments always wins.
Next, I don't wear an Apple Watch because I don't like gizmos on my wrist in general. The band always pulls hairs and I dislike the feel of sweat under the device. Many people aren't like me as, however, evidenced by the fact so many wear watches. But wearing something on your FACE that's bigger and heavier than a pair of glasses is an altogether different matter. Ignoring the price point entirely, how long could you have such a thing on your face, even if it is considered to be "the most comfortable" (and awesome looking thing) in the world? Comfort matters, and the average consumer isn't an idiot when it comes to that. Practicality is yet another consideration.
I know that sounds a bit negative, but I don't want the device to fail. I hope it can surmount the obstacles. I am an AAPL shareholder who really wants Apple and AAPL to succeed. But the economic climate is bad right now, and we can see that in Mac sales. Inflation has hit many people hard, and higher interest rates could trigger a recession. California state has the biggest economy in the USA, yet is plagued by homelessness, power outages, impossibly expensive rent, and a political power structure that has largely been in the death grip of one political party since the mid-1970's. People think about these things before reaching for their wallet. (Well, unless the thing they want to buy is some sort of drug.)
If a large number of people don't have the disposable income required to buy something they technically don't need, a new device that suddenly appears in such a market will find it an uphill battle. Sure, it is Apple we're talking about, and that brand opens wallets faster than most others. But again, this is something you must wear in on your FACE! Maybe in the long run the Apple headset can win people over, but that means pouring a heck of a lot of money into the thing over many years of time in hopes of keeping the dream alive. Perhaps Apple will do that though because (a) they have the liquid assets to accomplish it, and (b) they have no other ground-breaking new concept product on their plate.
Rather than simply continue the product status quo, Apple needs "something new" to wow people again. The success of iPhone cannot last forever. They're in some way betting their future on the headset. I hope it works out for them, and I hope I can find a PRACTICAL use for it in my life. But I can tell you this, while I'm a huge Apple fan, I'm not a gamer. And if the price point is $2,999, it would have to be insanely great to pry open my wallet.
Price is THE decider on whether this headset will be a success. This author - and others who’ve made the same point that Apple has had supposed failures many times before turn into successes - doesn’t seem to realize this. When has Apple *ever* introduced a completely new product category at an initial price point of $3k? Maybe the original Apple 2 (adjusted for inflation) - but nothing since then. Sure, there are several niche “pro” products in THS range and beyond, but nothing with hoped for mass market appeal. And Apple clearly wants this to eventually become the next iPhone. And I think the AR glasses originally promised for this timeframe had/has this potential - but not some dorky headset costing as much as a used car.
The decider will be the hardware and software integration, and the quality of the programs designed to use the capabilities of the device, if Apple has those things nailed down, then the device will succeed, however no matter what price Apple sets, it will be too much and the complaining will go on and on because many people will want it, but will not be able to afford it.
Even to this day, there are still many financial analysts who think Apple should drop their prices on all products to pick up more marketshare, which, if you know anything about Apple, you know that isn’t their way of doing business.
Yeah, well, remember when all the analysts said that Apple is Doomed™ if they don't release a netbook?
IMO, the lack of a true netbook was a huge miss. As was the original iMac with only USB1. As was, ironically, the delay in getting USB2 onto Macs. As was not buying Netflix. As was not opening up firewire. As was fiasco on 5G/QC...
Let's not forget the whole concept of NetBoot and where that could have gone for business and education.
The question should not be if Apple was doomed because of those 'errors' but how much more they could have achieved by following through with some moves.
I’d say the jury is out on not buying Netflix. We won’t know if Apple made the right decision until Apple has spent on Apple TV+ as much as they would have had to pay to buy Netflix.
Certainly buying Beats and associated music service has been shown to be a big success for Apple. At $3 billon the jump start they got was worth it, plus just the Beats hardware has far more than paid back their investment by now.
If someone isn’t interested in the concept of VR or AR, that is fine. But anyone who gives their opinion on a product based on the design, features, or price of a product before those details are even known is an absolute moron.
The internet has allowed morons to share their moronic thoughts with others. The ones that listen turn into morons themselves. This is the real pandemic — welcome to the internet: home of the moron flu.
“The Internet allows the reader to engage the author for control of the writing space.”
I forget the author of this quote, but it highlights the double-edge sword aspect of modern technology.
If someone isn’t interested in the concept of VR or AR, that is fine. But anyone who gives their opinion on a product based on the design, features, or price of a product before those details are even known is an absolute moron.
The internet has allowed morons to share their moronic thoughts with others. The ones that listen turn into morons themselves. This is the real pandemic — welcome to the internet: home of the moron flu.
Comments
Maybe Apple will crack the form factor that at least makes it into a mildly successful niche, but this just isn't going to be a runaway success, because you can't get a runaway success in a market that most people won't actually buy into. Maybe it will be more successful than 3D TVs (I do wish I had a 3D TV to watch A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, but I can't think of much else I would watch on one).
Maybe it will (finally!) get Apple seriously into supporting their platforms for top-notch gaming, but if so, the Apple TV and Macs will probably benefit more from that than the market for VR headsets.
Remind me how many netbook makers there are today?
I'll bet you are too young to even know what a netbook is, or too old to remember.
Even 'phones' will lose relevance at some point.
It's completely irrelevant to the discussion.
In any case the real impact of the headset won’t be felt for years to come if it survives. Hopefully the App creAtors can bring the dynamic experience of the headset to life
I'm seeing a pattern with every single new Apple release. Apple releases something, the same people put it down as crap, overpriced, doesn't work, doesn't do anything something else already does, etc, etc and it will fail (or its already failed). They give it a month or two, maybe six, continue to push how much of a failure it is. About a year goes by, Apple keeps improving the product with software updates and it starts to sell and push others out of the market. Two, three years down the road, some of the major players are now struggling if not out of existence. A new Apple product is announced in the mean time and the cycle starts all over again for that product.
Maybe I'm just failing to see the point, but this is a cycle that I've experienced a few times:
I'm sure I'm missing some.
Some are just too impatient and give Apple no more than 6 months before they start calling something a failure.
I think there's a strategy with these products. People at Apple don't just sit in an office and say, we need to make a speaker. They have an idea of yes, we could make a speaker. Then I think they start planning from there and its not just planning of 6 months out...its planning of sometimes several years out. It takes time to get a product to market from design, production, to sale. It also takes time to get the strategy out...it can be years before its complete. Just look at iPhone! People just didn't sit in an office and say where gonna make a phone!
Next, I don't wear an Apple Watch because I don't like gizmos on my wrist in general. The band always pulls hairs and I dislike the feel of sweat under the device. Many people aren't like me as, however, evidenced by the fact so many wear watches. But wearing something on your FACE that's bigger and heavier than a pair of glasses is an altogether different matter. Ignoring the price point entirely, how long could you have such a thing on your face, even if it is considered to be "the most comfortable" (and awesome looking thing) in the world? Comfort matters, and the average consumer isn't an idiot when it comes to that. Practicality is yet another consideration.
I know that sounds a bit negative, but I don't want the device to fail. I hope it can surmount the obstacles. I am an AAPL shareholder who really wants Apple and AAPL to succeed. But the economic climate is bad right now, and we can see that in Mac sales. Inflation has hit many people hard, and higher interest rates could trigger a recession. California state has the biggest economy in the USA, yet is plagued by homelessness, power outages, impossibly expensive rent, and a political power structure that has largely been in the death grip of one political party since the mid-1970's. People think about these things before reaching for their wallet. (Well, unless the thing they want to buy is some sort of drug.)
If a large number of people don't have the disposable income required to buy something they technically don't need, a new device that suddenly appears in such a market will find it an uphill battle. Sure, it is Apple we're talking about, and that brand opens wallets faster than most others. But again, this is something you must wear in on your FACE! Maybe in the long run the Apple headset can win people over, but that means pouring a heck of a lot of money into the thing over many years of time in hopes of keeping the dream alive. Perhaps Apple will do that though because (a) they have the liquid assets to accomplish it, and (b) they have no other ground-breaking new concept product on their plate.
Rather than simply continue the product status quo, Apple needs "something new" to wow people again. The success of iPhone cannot last forever. They're in some way betting their future on the headset. I hope it works out for them, and I hope I can find a PRACTICAL use for it in my life. But I can tell you this, while I'm a huge Apple fan, I'm not a gamer. And if the price point is $2,999, it would have to be insanely great to pry open my wallet.
Certainly buying Beats and associated music service has been shown to be a big success for Apple. At $3 billon the jump start they got was worth it, plus just the Beats hardware has far more than paid back their investment by now.
“The Internet allows the reader to engage the author for control of the writing space.”
I forget the author of this quote, but it highlights the double-edge sword aspect of modern technology.