Report: Apple Executives Cautious of Mixed-Reality Headset Amid Compromises

[Mousse]

I know people with multiple personality disorder that are less conflicted than all these leaks.

View attachment 2203561

Meus (rhymes with Zeus) and Moose agrees. Mousse and Meuce(rhymes with deuce) disagree with this. Muce(rhymes with Bruce) is undecided.😐

Apple reportedly hopes that users will eventually wear a head-mounted AR device continuously all day,

All day? It better have perfect pupillary distance adjustment. I don't want to end up looking like this in a few years.

 

[frogslapper]

Sounds like a home run for Apple.

 

[orbital~debris]

Apple reportedly hopes that users will eventually wear a head-mounted AR device continuously all day

This is the bit that makes me uncomfortable. Sure, previous generations would balk at the idea of sitting in front of a display all day long, or interacting with a computer in your hand all day long, so this is probably analogous to that…

But I can't help but feel that this might – just might – be a contributor to the moment humanity commits to the path of being separated from the objective reality we've inhabited since the start of civilisation.

 

[vertsix]

I'm excited about it being a MOBILE monitor because the vast majority of time I'm working on a MOBILE monitor (aka laptop) I'm NOT showing anyone else my work. In fact, in applications like airplane rides, etc, I'd rather the people sitting around me NOT see the monitor at all.

When I need to show others what is on the screen, there are regular monitors or projectors for that. But the vast amount of time I'm doing work on a laptop, I'd prefer my eyes are the only eyes that see that screen.

Not to mention people are more conscious about screen time and are doing more to be in the moment in-person instead. Not sure how this is going to work. AR glasses or the headset just seems like the ultimate intrusion.

 

[Ethosik]

I'm excited about it being a MOBILE monitor because the vast majority of time I'm working on a MOBILE monitor (aka laptop) I'm NOT showing anyone else my work. In fact, in applications like airplane rides, etc, I'd rather the people sitting around me NOT see the monitor at all.

When I need to show others what is on the screen, there are regular monitors or projectors for that. But the vast amount of time I'm doing work on a laptop, I'd prefer my eyes are the only eyes that see that screen. This alt kind of laptop would actually insure that... a very tangible benefit.

That’s the minority. And especially for Apple with their entire stance on remote work. This inherently isolated the wearer so they are contradicting even themselves.

 

[Stevenyo]

I could see the potential for a HUD-like UI.

But with awkward battery packs and headgear I can't see people wearing this for extended periods of time, certainly not all day.

Yep. But how do we get the UI and apps developed before the all day glasses with a slightly heavy frame is ready? We release something, let software development start, and iterate on the hardware. It was 15 years from the Newton and voice only bricks for cell phones to the iPhone, and you couldn’t get to the finish line without starting somewhere.

 

[contacos]

Doesn’t make much sense to me if the C-Level didn’t / doesn’t really believe in it, who even continued to push for it let alone fund it

 

[klasma]

Here is the original report without paywall, well worth reading in full: https://archive.is/EqNVo

 

[steve09090]

It's called Rumors. We don't actually know anything.

• Ask one contact at Apple how many of <product> will sell and they are the half full guy: "up to about 10 Million units."
• Ask the half-empty contact: "lucky if we get 500K"
• As the full glass guy: "bigger than iPhone"
• As the empty glass guy: Ringo isn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.

All are Apple guys and all are offering guesses. All can be quoted in rumor stores. And all may prove to be right or wrong or something in between. That rumors!

Most people here prefer to denigrate Apple even though their basis is made up views on a rumour website.

Why let facts get in the way of a an accurate narrative.

 

[Ethosik]

This is the bit that makes me uncomfortable. Sure, previous generations would balk at the idea of sitting in front of a display all day long, or interacting with a computer in your hand all day long, so this is probably analogous to that…

But I can't help but feel that this might – just might – be a contributor to the moment humanity commits to the path of being separated from the objective reality we've inhabited since the start of civilisation.

Other devices were better since it did not have a major intrusive physical component. Watch? I look at it a few times a day. Phone? Barely look at it while I work.

But every one of these I can take my focus away instantly if a co worker needs something. Or I am speaking to my wife.

This headset is just severely isolating the wearer. And I don’t like where society and businesses are going with this. Full on Ready Player One it seems is the vision. No more in person time.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

With Silicon Valley having already yeeted VR out the window in favor of AI, I'm not holding my breath on this going far.

Yeah, because Google didn’t announce that they’re working on mixed reality devices just last week… Oh, wait, they did.

Meta… a whole line of them.
Sony, Microsoft them too.
And of course, Apple, and once they enter the game that opens the floodgates for everyone else who hasn’t yet.
AI on the other hand is already facing tons of legal scrutiny, who knows in what ways it might be affected in the future.

 

[Mr_Ed]

I'm excited about it being a MOBILE monitor because the vast majority of time I'm working on a MOBILE monitor (aka laptop) I'm NOT showing anyone else my work. In fact, in applications like airplane rides, etc, I'd rather the people sitting around me NOT see the monitor at all.

When I need to show others what is on the screen, there are regular monitors or projectors for that. But the vast amount of time I'm doing work on a laptop, I'd prefer my eyes are the only eyes that see that screen. This alt kind of laptop would actually insure that... a very tangible benefit.

I can almost see your concern if your job puts you in an airplane several hours a day every workday, and if so, how many of you are there to justify that niche market?

Anyway . . . $17 privacy screen

 

[vertsix]

Cook's "relative noninvolvement" has sometimes been seen as indecision and caused frustration among staff, leading to delays and concerns about obtaining resources.

And this is why Tim Cook is no Steve Jobs.

 

[klasma]

Why is everyone so thrilled about this being a monitor? Does nobody show other people what they are working on? Who wants to wear a goofy device while they work? Just get a normal monitor and be better off.

This is such a strange thing to be excited about.

Moreover, the resolution isn't high enough to display a usable hi-res monitor in 3D without significant visual artifacts.

 

[NY Guitarist]

I'm still not hearing any ideas for real-world applications that excite me enough to be interested in this.

 

[xxray]

How do the CEO and heads of hardware and software have “relative uninvolvement” in the riskiest Apple product launch in a decade? This sounds like BS.

 

[gleepskip]

I'm still not hearing any ideas for real-world applications that excite me enough to be interested in this.

I hope it goes the way of the iPod Hifi.

 

[epox999]

Despite Cook's unwavering view that the device should focus on unobtrusive augmented reality, he was reportedly not deeply engaged in its design and chose to only participate in demonstrations. Cook's "relative noninvolvement" has sometimes been seen as indecision and caused frustration among staff, leading to delays and concerns about obtaining resources.

Having a major new product / market segment device where the CEO is reportedly not interested or involved doesn't give me much confidence in this potential product.

This isn't a laptop CPU refresh, you would expect an all hands on deck effort for a new game changing product.

Guess we will all wait and see what comes out of this, if anything

 

[rpmurray]

I wonder who Apple will make the scapegoat once this flops? I know it won't be the higher ups who are pushing to release this before it is half baked.

 

[Mr_Ed]

Most people here prefer to denigrate Apple even though their basis is made up views on a rumour website.

Why let facts get in the way of a an accurate narrative.

Lol! Yeah, cause those here falling all over themselves praising Apple about how awesome this new product will be are not basing that on a rumor website, and they have an accurate narrative.

 

[steve09090]

I don't understand why they felt so compelled to release what is seemingly to be a beta product with the success of the company so far. I would've continued testing and development and removed the compromises, release when its a pair of glasses instead.

So when Samsung release a beta product called the Flip or Fold, it was seen as amazing. When Apple release a beta Product, it’s a fail? Hypocrisy from the glass half empty crowds here on MR. Apple is a tech company, and people treat them like they should be hitting 100%.

 

[stocklen]

This is the strangest vapourware product ever.

We are all talking about it being real. Talking about it being released in WWDC 2023. Talking about its price and specs and appearance.

It doesnt exist. Yet.


Given that all the rumours are indeed just rumours... we have no idea.

If even half of them are correct, and this launches before its ready - then V1 is NOT going to sell - it will be obvious to the consumer that its going to be bettered later.

It's very niche anyway. Its not a mass market device - im sure Apple know that.

if the rumour about a belt worn battery are true then again its going to be a big fail.


I can see this going the way of the iPod Speaker.....

 

[Wildkraut]

Porn is the last thing AR would be good for. It’s not some neural implant that makes you feel things. seriously, what about AR do people think will make porn better? I’m genuinely asking, because I can’t imagine anything. it can’t replicate the feelings of sex or the presence of partners, just display porn for you, which existing display technology does perfectly well.

Dunno, I never had one for that long.
It might come with a real doll in the box?! 🤣

 

[steve09090]

Lol! Yeah, cause those here falling all over themselves praising Apple about how awesome this new product will be are not basing that on a rumor website, and they have an accurate narrative.

I think it has potential. I don’t know if it’s any good, because… ya know… it isn’t released yet!

Too many people crying over Steve Jobs versus Tim Cook, the head of the biggest tech company on earth. Tall Poppy Syndrome.

 

[fourthtunz]

“Apple reportedly hopes that users will eventually wear the device continuously all day…”

Who the hell watches pr0n continuously all day? I see no other reason why anyone would wear Apple glasses.

My pizza delivery guy pretty sure he’d wear them all day😝