Could the BIG boys all compete soon now Apple has entered the arena?

[Piggie]

Given what happened with the not too distant history of the current mobile phone.
Now that Apple has revealed it's first development/experimental model to come out next year, as everyone has seen their vision.
Do you feel that Google, Microsoft, Perhaps even Amazon (though I doubt that very much) would feel they want to be part of this possible future also, and consider competing?
Could we in effect have another iOS, Android, Windows set of Virtual Headsets like we have/had Smartphones?

Naturally if Apple brings out their VERY tied into Apple headset, then it would make MASSIVE sense for Microsoft who are way out in the lead when it comes to computers in the office around the globe should have their version which ties into windows well.

Likewise, Google with Android the dominant smartphone platform around the world could have theirs also.

It would make a lot of sense as you won't get the vast majority of Windows and Android users to switch to a headset which is heavily locked into the Apple ecosystem.

IMHO this would all be an excellent outcome as 3 Giants (Well 4 actually as Meta has a good market share and affordable products) can all work towards products to raise this entire platform up for the benefit all all users.

 

[russell_314]

I'm sure they've looked into it but any serious attempt is going to require billions of dollars for R&D. in the current economy, do you think any of those companies want to spend that much?

Also, you have to consider the customer base and if they will buy it. Say for example Google came out with something it would have to be considerably cheaper. Would you spend $3500 on a Google headset knowing how quickly they decide oh we don't want to support this anymore. You might have it for six months, and then it becomes useless. If it's for maybe $1000 and it might sell because that's an easier pill to swallow. If it's dead in six months, then well whatever

 

[Piggie]

I'm sure they've looked into it but any serious attempt is going to require billions of dollars for R&D. in the current economy, do you think any of those companies want to spend that much?

Also, you have to consider the customer base and if they will buy it. Say for example Google came out with something it would have to be considerably cheaper. Would you spend $3500 on a Google headset knowing how quickly they decide oh we don't want to support this anymore. You might have it for six months, and then it becomes useless. If it's for maybe $1000 and it might sell because that's an easier pill to swallow. If it's dead in six months, then well whatever

Yes, I agree it's a risk.
Even for Apple this is a risk once they realise that most normal people simply don't want to strap a device to the front of your face, amazing as it may be. But we shall see this over the new few years.
The gaming community WILL wear these things for the immersion experience, but as for others? we shall see.

I mention this as these other companies remember how they missed out on the Smartphone. Well Msoft did.
They admit they missed out, and a mistake they won't want to make again.

I suppose I see Msoft as one of the Gaming Giants we have today, so a Xbox/Windows Headset could seem a logical product, likewise one that links to your Windows computer which most people have.

And of Course Google. The only real competitor to Apple in the mobile space, it would feel odd for them simply not to bother creating a "Pixel Vision" version.

Google are already working on one:

Project Iris is an AR headset Google aims to ship in 2024

The latter is said to be working on an augmented reality headset codenamed Project Iris. Should all go according to plan, it'll ship sometime in 2024, say...

www.techspot.com

As for Microsoft.... Well after killing HoloLens which was picked up in some specialist industries, I wonder how long before they consider starting again. As said before, the last thing they want it to dismiss it, and miss out like they did with the smartphone.

 

[russell_314]

Yes, I agree it's a risk.
Even for Apple this is a risk once they realise that most normal people simply don't want to strap a device to the front of your face, amazing as it may be. But we shall see this over the new few years.
The gaming community WILL wear these things for the immersion experience, but as for others? we shall see.

I mention this as these other companies remember how they missed out on the Smartphone. Well Msoft did.
They admit they missed out, and a mistake they won't want to make again.

I suppose I see Msoft as one of the Gaming Giants we have today, so a Xbox/Windows Headset could seem a logical product, likewise one that links to your Windows computer which most people have.

And of Course Google. The only real competitor to Apple in the mobile space, it would feel odd for them simply not to bother creating a "Pixel Vision" version.

Google are already working on one:

Project Iris is an AR headset Google aims to ship in 2024

The latter is said to be working on an augmented reality headset codenamed Project Iris. Should all go according to plan, it'll ship sometime in 2024, say...

www.techspot.com

As for Microsoft.... Well after killing HoloLens which was picked up in some specialist industries, I wonder how long before they consider starting again. As said before, the last thing they want it to dismiss it, and miss out like they did with the smartphone.

I don't think companies want to take big risks in bad economic times. What ends up happening is they do a half baked approach to something. Sometimes it works but other times it doesn't. I think this is much bigger than just gaming VR. Apple is trying to make what they call spatial computing where you can do all of your tasks in AR.


I think Apple just has the crazy amount of money to do this R&D. Apple knows that the smart phones days are numbered so they are trying to get on the next big thing. They don't want to end up like blackberry, the company they kind of pushed out of business.

 

[matrix07]

The future of computer will go 2 ways. One is 3D (spatial) computing like this VP (which should include desktop 3D computer in the future). Another will be concierge AI (and robots).

Google, Microsoft and Amazon seems invested in the latter right now while Microsoft also has a hand in 3D computer as well so if anything I think Microsoft will jump on VP bandwagon copying Apple - definitely.

 

[nfl46]

At this point, they know that won't be able to compete with Apple in the high-end market, so they will target the less than $500 crowd.

 

[Piggie]

At this point, they know that won't be able to compete with Apple in the high-end market, so they will target the less than $500 crowd.

The nice thing Apple has done is to set a crazy price.
Of course, we really need to see what they downgraded public model is going to sell for and what parts of those model they are going to scrap to get the price way down.
What's nice is that with Apple setting this price so hi, other brands now know they can add higher quality parts into their devices and still undercut Apple with a fair margin.

 

[NT1440]

At this point, they know that won't be able to compete with Apple in the high-end market, so they will target the less than $500 crowd.

The HoloLens is in the same price range as the Vision Pro, and it’s the direct competitor (many people here think Quest is the direct comparison, it is no).

 

[bkkcanuck8]

I don't think companies want to take big risks in bad economic times. What ends up happening is they do a half baked approach to something. Sometimes it works but other times it doesn't. I think this is much bigger than just gaming VR. Apple is trying to make what they call spatial computing where you can do all of your tasks in AR.


I think Apple just has the crazy amount of money to do this R&D. Apple knows that the smart phones days are numbered so they are trying to get on the next big thing. They don't want to end up like blackberry, the company they kind of pushed out of business.

Companies that are run well and are well capitalized with reasonable cash on hand... will want not want to cut back R&D much / if at all... but they might take the opportunity to reevaluate if something is off the rails or just a bad investment of R&D dollars... R&D is a long term play, not short term investment. You want to have a war chest of things that are almost ready for when the economy starts chugging along again. Everything else is fair game.