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Google Begins AR Headset Development to Compete With Apple and Meta
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Before I'm worrying about rampant invasions of (video recording) privacy (though certainly seemingly plausible), I have to be able to imagine lots of potential privacy invaders running around in public in these goggles. I have a pretty big imagination but I'm finding it hard to picture. Sure, the diehard fans would buy and wear ANYTHING Apple would offer, but the masses... "forecast cloudy, try again later."
Once tech is head attachments over eyes, I keep visualizing Star Trek Borg...
...which then makes me wonder how much longer until we can get the Apple/Google/Meta fanciest can opener device to replace our hand?
And then there's the social aspect: will goggles attract S.O.s or repel them? Or maybe goggles AR/VR delivers a virtual S.O.?
I can see the video game aspect because that already exists (but that's pretty much something done in a single location). I can imagine virtual screens to basically have screens on which to work available anywhere one happens to be (though I question whether this can really work and not lead to eye strain/headaches). If a desktop screen could be virtualized, then a laptop could lose the top and become a mobile desktop with any size screen created virtually by these goggles. But still, that seems to be a stationary use instead of an out and about use (leave these in the office instead of having them with you like you might have your phone with you).
Seeing potential furniture purchases in my own room seems interesting (but very niche- consumers are not buying a room of furniture often). A courtside simulation without having to lay out the (full) cost of courtside seats and actually going to wherever that court is seems pretty appealing. Watch a movie on a virtual gigantic screen during the flight. Etc. But again, these are more stationary uses. Conceptually, this can be Star Trek Holodeck implemented in an on-you instead of around-you way.
As this gets into being something worn much of the time- just generally out in public... like we might wear a shirt- I start having trouble. Heads up display of map? OK I can visualize that... but again, slipping them on while using that and then getting out of them as soon as I get to the destination.
Even the "glued to the phone" crowd tuck the "essential" phone into their pocket a good amount of the time. Is this tuck-able? Is it flipped up onto our heads like sunglasses when not in use? Are we carrying this around in some kind of bag like we might carry headphones or an iPad? Is this fun to carry around? Do we get some social lift by being seen in these?
Can the masses be moved to embrace head-gear? And if so, what about that privacy intrusion if these are everywhere. Resistance is futile?
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Totally agree. I’ll add that Arcade, TV+, and Fitness+ are all posed to have early applications for the Glasses. While none may be the true “killer” app for the device - they lay an important groundwork that both trailblazes and gives a sense of long-term commitment to 3rd party devs, giving them the confidence to dive all in on making that app that truly unlocks the true potential of the hardware.
Risking tons of time and money to develop on a Google or FB platform? Apple surely has a huge advantage here.
Well this seems to be the new hotness in Silicon Valley- it makes sense that Google is at least looking into it. But Apple will have a huge advantage over everybody else because they actually know how to make hardware.
I just don't understand why the entire tech industry is suddenly all in on the "meta-verse". It feels like the entire industry pivoted in lock-step overnight within the past few months. I know companies have been playing around with AR/VR headsets for years now but this feels different.
I would think it is due to the pandemic and far more people now being used to working remotely, so they finally see some potential buy-in for the “future” they envisioned. Maybe it will catch on, but considering that I find VR headsets fairly intrusive, but had no problem pulling on 3d glasses to watch 3d on my TV while most people seemed to loathe the idea, I’m trying to imagine exactly what design a AR/VR headset would have to have to appeal to the masses.
I can't be the only one who couldn't really care less about AR, VR, Metaverse, 3D Movies etc etc. Companies think a large % of consumers actually want this stuff? Kinda sad how much money they are all spending on this too.
i like the idea of AR/VR but Google Facebook and Apple will have more control over our lives. it's bad enough carrying a smartphone with social media apps on it in our pocket. now they want their device/platform strapped to your face. the ads will be fun too...enjoy the sky while you still can.
Multiple companies are now trying to launch AR/VR device. Competition is good.
So the glass is so cheap (I guess) because everything is powered by the cloud. Got it. Can’t imagine a world where you lose vision because your internet bill isn’t being paid in time.
Yeah, but heavy pollution either caused by those companies or led by those companies means blue skies are going to be a luxury. Everyone will live within their own dreams and wishes forever, until death.
Yeah I am not a fan of this AR/VR bs.
Actually, they are copying. Now that Apple jumps into the game, the market must be hot and ready so here comes Google and Samsung...
Apple could make a toilet and Google and Samsung would follow up with their version.
But Google has actually developed and released VR headsets in the past. Supposedly they even had a Quest-like headset ready to go before Oculus but got sidetracked by AR and never shipped it. Apple is the only company in this discussion who hasn’t shipped a device in this category but somehow you think they’re the one that’s being copied?
I didn’t realize they had already mastered time travel then. Copying Apple’s 2022 moves as early as 2013 is a pretty impressive feat in itself.
I remember when Apple was the only (not, really) company that didn't have a "smartphone," in an industry dominated by Motorola, Ericsson, and Nokia (MEN in the industry). With lesser companies like Siemens, Samsung, Sony, etc. All having mechanical keyboards, and rather staid features.
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Google Glass is a separate product that died. Apple jumping into the market means Google is rebooting to snatch up the leftover market share....
I’m not talking about Google Glass. Google Cardboard was released in 2014 (so it’s safe to say they were likely thinking VR it at least a year earlier). This evolved into Daydream, which in turn evolved into their unreleased Quest competitor.
At this point Apple’s headset is still just a rumour and may turn into nothing. They’re the only one of the big consumer tech companies who has nothing in the way of a headset for anyone to copy. But apparently the whole industry just revolves around them?
Every product you mentioned from Google is dead or was dead on arrival. Fun Fact, the first Android/Google Phone was going to copy Palm until they saw what Apple was doing and they scrape that and guess what? Copied! They will do it again when Apple drops their product. Clutch your Google pom poms tight!
Not at all related to my point but okay.
I'm pretty sure the first Android device was based on a Blackberry, not a Palm device, although both Apple and Google have certainly raided Palm OS for features and ideas over the years.
No Google pom poms here, just facts and objectivity. You should try them sometime, they're great. I'm sure you could find a way to twist literally anything into somehow being a copy of an Apple product, though, so it may be a little too late for you.