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Skika

macrumors 68030
Mar 11, 2009
2,999
1,246
Even Apple's fabulous A# chip efficiency really is no longer relevant because it's gotten to the point where even mediocre chips are powerful enough for everything now.

Dude, VR is extremely power hungry but somehow thats irrelevant. LOL!
 

Matthew.H

macrumors 6502a
Sep 16, 2015
770
953
Norwich, UK
I don't see the appeal of VR tbh. I saw the price of the Playstation one the other day. It's going to cost £369 which is more than the PS4 cost at launch. I can understand that the purpose is to increase immersion but it seems rather expensive when it's basically a screen that you strap to your face.
 
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NT1440

macrumors G5
May 18, 2008
14,631
20,852
So, if I am reading this correctly, the fate and future of all mankind rests on Apple getting this right... VR... in the iPhone 7
Yawn, let me know how it turns out
But you're rocking your 3D TV, which clearly everyone has nowadays, based on how hard it was pushed as the next game changer right?:p

VR will be incredibly useful in industry for very specific things. Mainstream is going to be gaming...which is to say it's not going to be mainstream.
 

nooaah

macrumors 68000
Sep 3, 2009
1,600
165
Philadelphia, PA
My Note 5 looked like crap in the VR, too. We're a long ways away from phones being able to show the clarity of an Oculus or Vive. My phone was practically melting running the VR demo apps - and they were nothing that would entice me to have any longterm uses. Once they have live sports in VR regularly (live events in general) and the personal cams become affordable, this will be bigger. Right now it's just sort of a novelty. Oculus and Vive on the other hand are just revolutionary.

And back to the OP, but the time Apple gets into VR, I don't think we'll be plugging phones into goggles. Or the phone would attach to the goggles, but the goggles would have a screen and the phone would provide the horsepower. Makes much more sense given Samsung will have to release different versions of the Gear at some point as their phone designs change. It'd be far more ideal to drop $400 on goggles with a great display and low latency then be able to keep them through several generations of hardware with no aging other than maybe the design (aesthetics).
 

5105973

Cancelled
Sep 11, 2014
12,132
19,733
:eek:Why on earth would I want to strap my iPhone to my face? Good gracious what fresh hell are you Millenials cooking up now? :confused:

Don't worry, I know what VR is and I'm all for it, but if I want to experience it, wouldn't it be optimal to get a dedicated setup whose sole purpose is to provide immersive VR? (And hopefully a headset that is comfortable to wear) Why push up the specs of an iPhone--and cost--just to produce a device that delivers a comparably subpar VR experience than a dedicated device would.

Get off my lawn. grumble grumble. ;)
 

Jimmy James

macrumors 603
Oct 26, 2008
5,488
4,067
Magicland
So if implementing F.lux means they can't think for themselves; doesn't that mean that following suit with higher res displays means the same thing?

The only way to stand out is to lower resolution! 800x600. 4:3 is the future!
 

JayIsAwesome

macrumors 68000
Sep 8, 2013
1,505
1,490
Texas
I just hope Apple atleast increases the resolution for the regular iPhone 7. 750p in 2016? LOL. But whatev, I'm getting the better spec'd Plus anyway.

And I honestly don't see Apple supporting VR for a long time, if at all. Hell Apple isn't even supporting 4K yet
 

Armen

macrumors 604
Apr 30, 2013
7,405
2,274
Los Angeles
It's not that apple NEEDS to it's that it represents where they are competitively.

Competitively against who?

- Samsung is giving away their Gear VR for free with a purchase of a phone.
- Oculus, Sony VR and the others are still not in anyone's hands and they aren't cheap either.
- I have yet to see someone use Google Cardboard.

If you think it's awkward for people to sit in front of each other at a restaurant and glare into their smart phones wait until this happens (I seriously hope not)
zuckerberg-vr-mwc.jpg
 

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,161
3,720
Boston, MA
I tried the samsung VR at a kiosk the other day because I heard people raving. I am not generally picky with pixels but I was watching what I guess was a 3D basketball game (idk it was whatever is set to play when you pick it up and put it on) and it felt like I was watching it on and old tube tv, albeit 3d. What am I missing? This was the least impresive new piece of tech I think I have picked up in a decade.
 

ApfelKuchen

macrumors 601
Aug 28, 2012
4,334
3,011
Between the coasts
iPhone is really behind in display specs. This never used to be a problem since publications and 2D graphics still look good on 1080p, but now we have VR. It's a whole new game. 1080p does not cut it with VR. Not when your eyes are an inch away from the display.

This is why I believe that the iPhone 7 might represent the true end of the SJ era if they don't have their act together for the iPhone 7. Even if they match the specs of of other displays they are just playing catch up. The addition of the Flux feature in 9.3 is a good example of how they can no longer think for themselves.

They really need to maximize GPU/Metal tech and release the iPhone 7 with the best display in the market.
Yet another "This is what matters to me, so it must matter to everyone, especially the ghost of Steve Jobs" post.

VR is still way down on the adoption curve. Apple will do what they usually do with early-on-the-curve stuff - they hold back until they can wow people with a polished execution. "Oh, that's why VR is cool!!"

How much impact would upgrades to either GPU or Metal have on your average web-browsing, YouTube-viewing, text-messaging, FaceBook-scrolling, phone-calling iPhone user? "Oh, wow! Clash of Clans is so much snappier!"

Apple may well improve its perceivable display quality. It's not about specs - only geeks read spec sheets and plenty of geeks don't even know what those specs mean - it's about what people can see. So, things like deeper blacks, lower reflection/higher contrast, over-saturated colors... things that may be obvious no matter what people view on the device. At 12"-18" from their eyes, not at one inch.

There's still precious little content available above 1080p, and VR...fuggedaboudit! Most people are not going to be demoing that stuff before they buy, any more than they plug in their headphones and evaluate the audio.

As always, Apple will strive to deliver a compelling package of features - perhaps a few will be best-of-class, others will be quite good. One or two may be totally unexpected. At least one will be, "This will make my day-to-day usage better." The overall effect will be, "I want this iPhone, even if I didn't get everything on my wish list."
 

Qbnkelt

macrumors 65816
Oct 15, 2015
1,058
994
Mid-Atlantic
It's not that apple NEEDS to it's that it represents where they are competitively.

Before you could debate that issue with minute differences in screen sizes or 1GB vs 2GB RAM, but those days are gone. Even Apple's fabulous A# chip efficiency really is no longer relevant because it's gotten to the point where even mediocre chips are powerful enough for everything now.

Many of you don't care about VR but you should because it's value for your money. And if you're into AAPL you definitely should care. AR and VR is what everything will be within 730 days. There are already VR app stores for mobile devices including Apple devices. VR is pretty much already a standard gauge of current hardware capability. Good VR headsets can be had for $100. Samsung Gear is very vey good. If your device can't do VR with zero pixelation then your device is already legacy.

The iP7 display ends to be at least what Sammy has now. Their camera is also miles ahead. If Apple didn't care they wouldn't be releasing a double cyclops camera. So they should also care about VR capability.

You will remember this thread in 2017.
[doublepost=1459998377][/doublepost] Sorry, you're very wrong.
I don't buy what I don't need.
When I bought my SUV I got the LX AWD. I didn't get the EX-L. Why? Because I don't want a sun roof and I don't need back seat DVD player but I do need to be able to do light off road driving.

So.....I don't care what others feel I should get. I'm not hung up on specs. I don't game. I've got enough in my life that I don't need to take on a virtual one.

PLEASE don't let Apple get into some VR thing. Give me what I need, enhance my OS, enhance my hardware, but as one who's very happy with what Apple gives me, don't mess it up by turning it into a 12 year old's gaming rig. There are stand alone gaming rigs out there. Keep my iPhone as my management centre for my life, my communication centre for my loved ones, and my media centre for when I travel or when I've got that ear worm and MUST hear Uptown Funk seven times in a row.

Edit......to note.....I have the SGS7 Edge. I have not bought nor will I buy a VR headgear.
 
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cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,154
Be cool to see an accessory for the iPhone but I think Apple is going to wait to see how the market reacts to VR on a mobile device.

It should be kept in mind that a top specd Mac Pro isn't up to snuff for a quality VR experience.

http://9to5mac.com/2016/03/03/oculus-rift-mac-support/

So a mobile device leaves a lot to be desired.

Regardless Apple will go to where the money is and if people start hoping ship for VR capable devices then they will come up with something even if it is a 3rd party device with 1st party support (another accessory in the Apple Store).

I can say with a lot of confidence we won't see any breakthroughs in the VR world with the iPhone 7 though.
 

geoff5093

macrumors 68020
Sep 16, 2014
2,251
2,564
Dover, NH
:eek:Why on earth would I want to strap my iPhone to my face? Good gracious what fresh hell are you Millenials cooking up now? :confused:

Don't worry, I know what VR is and I'm all for it, but if I want to experience it, wouldn't it be optimal to get a dedicated setup whose sole purpose is to provide immersive VR? (And hopefully a headset that is comfortable to wear) Why push up the specs of an iPhone--and cost--just to produce a device that delivers a comparably subpar VR experience than a dedicated device would.

Get off my lawn. grumble grumble. ;)
For the same reason smartphones have decent cameras. I mean by your logic, why invest in smartphone camera tech when someone can just buy a high end camera if they want to take good photos? The reason for phones being used for VR is because it reduces the cost significantly using the hardware you already buy, and always have with you. Have you seen the HTC Vive? That's a true VR experience, but it requires a dedicated computer to be wired up to. Not really something you can bring with you.
 
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Qbnkelt

macrumors 65816
Oct 15, 2015
1,058
994
Mid-Atlantic
For the same reason smartphones have decent cameras. I mean by your logic, why invest in smartphone camera tech when someone can just buy a high end camera if they want to take good photos? The reason for phones being used for VR is because it reduces the cost significantly using the hardware you already buy, and always have with you. Have you seen the HTC Vive? That's a true VR experience, but it requires a dedicated computer to be wired up to. Not really something you can bring with you.
So why put a substandard experience on a phone?
 
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5105973

Cancelled
Sep 11, 2014
12,132
19,733
For the same reason smartphones have decent cameras. I mean by your logic, why invest in smartphone camera tech when someone can just buy a high end camera if they want to take good photos? The reason for phones being used for VR is because it reduces the cost significantly using the hardware you already buy, and always have with you. Have you seen the HTC Vive? That's a true VR experience, but it requires a dedicated computer to be wired up to. Not really something you can bring with you.
Camera tech was long in the process of being miniaturized for a very good portable experience in point and shoots. Consequently there was and is little sacrifice of function, battery life, heat expenditure and ergonomics involved in integrating a camera into an iPhone.

Camera integration with the cell phone is also a natural partnership that plays well with the prime usage of a cell phone/internet device: communication. Pictures and video tell a story and as such are a part of communication and integrate with the social media experience that the iPhone so naturally facilitates.

VR may over time evolve to have crucial integration with interpersonal communication. But at the moment it's more of an isolating activity. It pulls you out of your environment in a way that snapping and sharing pics of yourself and your friends at a party does not.

I am not saying leave off VR capabilities indefinitely. But don't declare IPhone's future a dead one for not rushing headlong into it now.

Now is not the time. The technology can't take it. And trying to force the issue will only detract from what the iPhone excels at now and what the masses need it to do now.

VR tech is new to consumers and takes powerful hardware to do well. I've been reading reviews on what the experience is like with a Samsung phone and it well, pretty much sucks and it overheats the phone. Some visionary individuals nevertheless are enthusiastic and I applaud them for it. But it will be a hard sell for quite some time to the rest of us.

I know that to many, an iPhone isn't just about communication but also entertainment and gaming. The technology is already there for an enjoyable video and music and ebook consumption experience. So there is relatively little conflict between media consumption and communication.

However, now and in the foreseeable future, gaming capability has to take a backseat to the main purpose of communication. Where the requirements of a gaming device conflict with the requirements of a communications device, the gaming is going to be compromised for the communication aspects. An iPhone and Samsung phone are at heart communications devices first.

VR has not been sold to the masses yet. Now is not the time to sell the masses on the concept with a subpar implementation on a cellphone. Let the concept take root first. Let battery technology advance. Let heat issues continue to be resolved. Nobody with any sense is going to strap a hot slab of metal to their face to get the equivalent of a 1970's game of Pong with all the same sucktastic graphics.
 

Qbnkelt

macrumors 65816
Oct 15, 2015
1,058
994
Mid-Atlantic
One point to add. The camera is not analogous with VR in one last point. While cameras are often used in a working environment (I've got a friend who uses his to send pictures of a particular set up back to HQ so orders can be placed for equipment that can be delivered on the day instead of having to wait) any use of VR in a working environment would require additional specialised equipment.
 

geoff5093

macrumors 68020
Sep 16, 2014
2,251
2,564
Dover, NH
So why put a substandard experience on a phone?
Why put a substandard camera experience on a phone compared to dedicated cameras? The same reason some people would want a lesser version of VR using their phone, because it's what they already spent a lot of money on and they always have with them.

VR may over time evolve to have crucial integration with interpersonal communication. But at the moment it's more of an isolating activity.
So were the first cameras on phones. They were horrible, and had very specific use cases such as after an accident to get someones license plate, they were never used to enjoy looking at photos like you do today.

This is clearly the beginning of VR, and has limited uses as cameras on phones did back in the early days. Knowing this is how history advances, why would you be against progress? Without people starting these ideas and pushing VR forward, it won't progress nearly as fast as it will if the general public gets to experience it somewhat using their phone and a cheap headset.

Lots of people said the same thing about Smartwatches, up until Apple created one and now most people love it. The same will be true for VR. If Apple actually invested in having a VR experience with their new iPhone, you can bet lots of people here will love it.
 
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