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Concerning the complaints about the speaker system: it's compatible with Bluetooth earphones.
I assumed it was compatible, but then using earphones takes away one of the only reasons to have this form factor vs say a smartwatch. The only other reason left is the hands free camera, which I think is problematic from a social standpoint, regardless of the active camera light.
 
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Seriously? This is what they came up with after all that fuss?
It's basically an Apple Watch that you don't put on your wirst but inconveniently on your jacket (and let's be honest, it will always be on the jacket that is at home; and also looks ugly) and with the super inconvenience of not having an screen.

What problems is that product supposed to solve?
Let's face it, people don't use their phones so often because they have to, but because they want to. It's fun to scroll through apps that give you dopamine kicks and it's nice to stare at a nice, bright screen and consume content. The form factor of a smartphone has become the standard because it's easy and convenient to reply to emails/texts in private, to listen to music on your headphones etc.. Imagine the mess of a subway full of people, all talking to this crappy AI.
Also, it is never fully replacing your phone but they charge you $700 and $24 a month AND you have to get a new phone number?! Jesus Christ, I know they are in San Francisco, but what the hell are they smoking?

It's also funny how their USP is basically a product that's not their own (Chat GPT).
Honesty, I would rather get a Google Phone that this thing...

This got to be the most DOA I've ever seen.

P.S. Have you seen their product announcement video?
This is the most boring announcement video ever. Dude, I mean come one, if you're not excited about your own product, why would anyone else be? He literally ask the device to make him sound more excited in the. You can't make that stuff up.....
 
Don’t forget. The Apple Watch launched with no clear direction. It took a few cycles to narrow the focus.
Yeah, people have short memories. The AW was PANNED when it came out. Failed device, who would wear that when we have a phone, etc... Same thing with the AirPods, "no one wants to look like a dork with those white things in their ears all the time". I'm not saying this device from Humane will be successful, but I think people are too quick to dismiss new things in an effort to have a hot take.
 
Yeah, people have short memories. The AW was PANNED when it came out. Failed device, who would wear that when we have a phone, etc... Same thing with the AirPods, "no one wants to look like a dork with those white things in their ears all the time". I'm not saying this device from Humane will be successful, but I think people are too quick to dismiss new things in an effort to have a hot take.
Two key differences are that Apple Watch and AirPods are: 1) made by Apple and 2) accessoires to iPhone. Recipe for succes right there.

We're now talking about a new standalone product produced by an unknown company that does not seem to offer anything over an iPhone which it aims to replace. It actually ditches the single most important element to most people, the screen that shows Netflix and TikTok. They got quite the road ahead to turn this money pit into a profitable company. Not having direction from the start would be a disaster in itself.
 
...We're now talking about a new standalone product produced by an unknown company that does not seem to offer anything over an iPhone which it aims to replace. It actually ditches the single most important element to most people, the screen that shows Netflix and TikTok...
Humane is hoping to wean us away from the debilitating turn our culture has taken toward adictive social networks and app centric devices. Maybe they see themselves as the methadone to our society's heroin. Only thing is, addicts don't chose methadone.
 
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A question for all those who have watched many years worth of Star Trek the next Generation.

All during the years of watching all the crew tap their com badge and speak to each other, the computer, ask questions etc.
Have you thought how silly they all were, and they should all have been holding and looking at a Smartphone instead?

I never thought that.

They do use devices/tablets/scanners with screens for certain purposes, but not for typical communications and getting things done.

Thinking about this, are we being a bit harsh in rubbishing this new device as a concept, and saying phones are better?
Perhaps its just that we are so used to looking at a screen, the concept of a worn device with AI etc is just not what we are used to, but may be a different way of moving in the future?
 
P.S. Have you seen their product announcement video?
This is the most boring announcement video ever. Dude, I mean come one, if you're not excited about your own product, why would anyone else be? He literally ask the device to make him sound more excited in the. You can't make that stuff up.....
He was a part of the original iPhone development team, of course he is trying to replicate Johny Ive's thoughtful slow paced voice. It just comes around too fake and practiced, unlike Ive who did sound authentic yet still over the top.
 
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Humane is hoping to wean us away from the debilitating turn our culture has taken toward adictive social networks and app centric devices. Maybe they see themselves as the methadone to our society's heroin. Only thing is, addicts don't chose methadone.
And I find that the Apple Watch already does enough to help wean me off from screens. Only the important notifications come through to it, and it lets me do stuff like add expenses to my budget app without opening my phone. The rest is self control, which I personally need more of.

Honestly, we just need for people to put their phones in their pockets when they’re walking down the street. That alone would make the world a much better place and would help reduce smartphone addiction (exercising that level of restraint would probably lead to more restraint). Don’t walk and screen at the same time, avoid distracted walking, that sort of thing. Your social media will still be there when you sit down.
 
surprised by all the negative comments. I think it's an interesting idea. seems like a lot of R&D went into it. The laser hand interaction is pretty innovative. but the touch and audible response makes it unusable for personal interactions in public. I wonder if they're vying to get bought up for the tech by the likes of Apple, or if they wanna iterate further. interesting product nonetheless.
 
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Received an email. Ordering is starting tomorrow. Hats off to the company for being creative. If Apple had created this, people would be singing Apple's praises. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot if it only works on the T-Mobile network. I have Verizon and do not desire to start a T-Mobile account just to have this.
 
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I think they will sell as many as they’re able to make - one day (though I don’t know when) ‘ambient computing’ will replace all our little screens.

Hats off to them for making a start; I put this in the same premium minimal category as Punkt or the Light Phone.
 
A brief note--Humane was co-founded and is run by a woman and a man: Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri. Both are ex-Apple.

@jclo

Definitely aware, but for brevity's sake I mentioned the founder that I thought readers might already be aware of. He's well-known because of his work on the iPhone interface, his time on the design team, his association with Jony Ive, and his 20-year tenure at Apple. As co-founder of Humane, I don't think Bethany Bongiorno is any less important, but in terms of interest for people who are here to read about Apple-related news, I didn't think she'd be as recognizable because she had a less public-facing role and spent less time at Apple.
 
Definitely aware, but for brevity's sake I mentioned the founder that I thought readers might already be aware of. He's well-known because of his work on the iPhone interface, his time on the design team, his association with Jony Ive, and his 20-year tenure at Apple. As co-founder of Humane, I don't think Bethany Bongiorno is any less important, but in terms of interest for people who are here to read about Apple-related news, I didn't think she'd be as recognizable because she had a less public-facing role and spent less time at Apple.

Thanks for your reply and explanation!
 
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This is no different than tablets replacing interfaces on car radios. Making stuff that nobody asked for and being shocked that folks hate it. I want big ol' buttons on my car, not a touch screen while driving 75mph down the highway. I can do a business card for much cheaper and a phone works better than a stupid $700 name tag. Sure star trek is cool and all but I'm not paying more than $50 for something like this. These executives need to ask what folks would be willing to pay before making products folks can't afford (see Apple Vision "Pro").
 
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This is no different than tablets replacing interfaces on car radios. Making stuff that nobody asked for and being shocked that folks hate it. I want big ol' buttons on my car, not a touch screen while driving 75mph down the highway. I can do a business card for much cheaper and a phone works better than a stupid $700 name tag. Sure star trek is cool and all but I'm not paying more than $50 for something like this. These executives need to ask what folks would be willing to pay before making products folks can't afford (see Apple Vision "Pro").
Arthur C Clarke said that for some things, you just want a mechanical button with a satisfying "Click".
 
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It's a cool concept, but people don't want a device for a single feature. These AI capabilities make more sense in a smartphone or smartwatch. A multipurpose device. AI is interesting, but I don’t want a device specifically for that, let alone one that costs as much as my phone with a subscription price. Especially as its feature set is already outdated. As @somantyx said, no one asked for this.
 
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