For starters we're in the middle of a huge financial crisis, so releasing yet another VR set, a 3500 USD one at that, is hilarious. To further hammer in how terrible the timing of this is, we are also amid so many tech bro shit schemes failing. Cryptocurrency, NFTs, you name it. The Metaverse was a laughingstock, Twitter is imploding from Elons idiot decisions, Teslas are literally crashing and burning and all major tech companies have been on the News at some point for fucking with people's personal data and other con jobs. AI is scaring people as much as it is entertaining them. Confidence in emergent technology is at an all-time low. It doesn't help that the promo poster features the most dead-eyed soulless-looking person staring through it at you. People are sick of it. VR headsets were already niche, who cares if it has AR or whatever tacked on? Sure, some rich yuppies will buy it to impress their friends, but they buy anything the market tells them is the next big thing and are a small minority (again, more poor people than ever at the moment)
TLDR this is going to be Google Glass again but this time even more of a flop because now people are poorer and more skeptical of big tech than ever.
This is Apple. They wait for other brands to make the initial fuck-ups, use their sycophantic fans and high-salary Bullshit Job people as early adopters, and in 5 years these headsets will be available with a cellular modem available for a 3-year lease at every Verizon
Yeah I think the first iteration will probably flop at that price point, but once they find a way to get it in the hands of less luxury consumers it will probably take off.
I think it's pretty stupid as-is. The idea of sitting on the couch and watching a movie through a headset that just puts a TV where my TV already is sounds incredibly weird, as does filming a moment between family and friends while wearing it. There are some cool gimmicks for sure, but most of what it does can be accomplished with a $200 phone or computer.
Is there a future for AR? Probably. I just don't think this price and functionality is going to lead to mainstream adoption.
People buy tvs for 3k though :shrug-outta-hecks:
Not most people.
You don't need to buy another TV for every person watching though. Even just for 2 it'd be 7k and forget about having guests over.
Guests? :very-smart:
Yeah, maybe not
It’s the home cinema experience, but lonelier but everyone is watching something different