Meta Anticipating Apple Vision Pro Launch - AR/VR Could Become Mainstream

[T0@st]

Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality headset is due to launch on February 2—many rival companies in the AR/VR market space will be taking notes once the slickly designed device (with a $3499 starting price) reaches customers. The Wall Street Journal claims that the executive team at Meta is hopeful that Apple's headset carves out a larger space within a niche segment. The latter's "more experimental" products sometimes have surprising reach, although it may take a second (i.e cheaper) iteration of the Vision Pro to reach a mainstream audience. Meta is reported to have invested around $50 billion into its Quest hardware and software development push—industry experts reckon that this product line generates only ~1% of the social media giant's total revenue.

Insider sources suggest that CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his leadership team are keen to see their big money "gamble" finally pay off—Apple's next release could boost global interest in mixed reality headsets. The Wall Street Journal states that Meta staffers "see the Quest and its software ecosystem emerging as a primary alternative to Apple in the space, filling the role played by Google's Android in smartphones." They hope that the Quest's relatively reasonable cost-of-entry will look a lot more attractive when compared to the premium Vision Pro. The report also shines a light on Meta's alleged push to focus more on mixed reality applications, since taking "inspiration" from Apple's WWDC23 presentation: "In addition, some developers are simplifying their apps and favor Apple's design that allows wearers to use their eyes and fingers to control or manipulate what they see. Meta's Quest primarily relies on the use of controllers for games or applications, although it can work with finger gestures."



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[Guwapo77]

I believe it could be as well in about 10-15 years. Its only a matter of time, but I don't believe it will take on this bulky form when it truly becomes mainstream.

 

[Philaphlous]

Apple is dreaming if they think $3500 is mainstream... you can buy a decent car circa 2010 for that price...

 

[theouto]

Apple is dreaming if they think $3500 is mainstream... you can buy a decent car circa 2010 for that price...

Luckily for you, they don't think that! They are using the pro marketing term, so it is meant to be for prosumers or enthusiasts, after all it is still relatively new technology (being done to a high standard of quality).
But apple designs things for the mainstream only, sure.

 

[rv8000]

$3500 and this is somehow gonna lead to VR becoming mainstream? Try like $200 and 15 years from now. Weird article, or title.

 

[RandomWan]

"Meta Anticipating Apple Vision Pro Launch - AR/VR Could Become Mainstream"

Not at that price point or in that form factor. AR won't become mainstream without something the size of somewhat bulky sports glasses or smaller.

VR could become more mainstream if they bring down the cost of entry for the equipment. The current generation of most everyone's offerings don't offer enough advances to warrant the increased price point they come in at. I picked up an Oculus Rift CV1 with two controllers and two light houses brand new for $350 while it was still in its lifecycle. The current generation of equipment comes in at around 4 times as much while not offering a much different experience. Yes the visuals are improved signficantly, but the overall experience outside that is not much different. The tracking enhancements aren't really noticeable and they all still come with a tethered headset at that price.

VR has potential to move beyond niche, but the developers are going to have to either eat some of the costs on the units to push for more widespread adoption or find some way to reduce the costs and normalize dropping the cables. The Meta Quest seems to be the only option that is trying to push them towards more mainstream, though that requires you to have a Meta account (anything further tying you to that company is a downside in my opinion).

 

[theouto]

Sometimes it's not the product, but the idea that may spark interest, which might divert consumers to the cheaper, more accessible options. Guess who has that market cornered already .
Hardware wise anyways, VR has a shocking lack of software, and an even bigger lack of high quality software (no doubt harmed by meta and their exclusivity deals that are borderline monopolistic, but I am a pcvr user(despite what my choice headset may say), I am biased), so we suffer from an even smaller catalogue.
Standalone was a mistake

 

[Assimilator]

Could.

Won't.

Same thing was said about 3 years ago and it didn't happen then - zero reason it's going to happen now. Of course there will be a good number of Apple idiots who buy this because they're idiots, but that doesn't make it mainstream, just stupid.

 

[trsttte]

Of course there will be a good number of Apple idiots who buy this because they're idiots, but that doesn't make it mainstream, just stupid.

It has zero apps outside of first party Apple apps designed for it. Even within Apple apps, only about a dozen were modified for a VR environment. Netflix among other already came out and said they wouldn't build an app for it because it's too niche of a device - and given Apple's hostility towards developers no one will be rushing to help Apple built another marketplace only Apple will profit from.

This product seems pretty much doomed in my opinion

 

[Vayra86]

Apple is dreaming if they think $3500 is mainstream... you can buy a decent car circa 2010 for that price...

A decent car that probably isn't even allowed in half the big cities in the Western world by now due to emission score, sure

Still, you're not wrong.

AR and VR is going nowhere anytime soon. Meta is just throwing shit at a wall here.

Sometimes it's not the product, but the idea that may spark interest, which might divert consumers to the cheaper, more accessible options. Guess who has that market cornered already .
Hardware wise anyways, VR has a shocking lack of software, and an even bigger lack of high quality software (no doubt harmed by meta and their exclusivity deals that are borderline monopolistic, but I am a pcvr user(despite what my choice headset may say), I am biased), so we suffer from an even smaller catalogue.
Standalone was a mistake

It is telling when you know even porn can't carry VR.

Its dead, and it won't be reanimated anytime soon.