The Why of Apple XR Headset

man standing on lawn tennis court
Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

Janko Rottegers, a former colleague, writes a newsletter focused on the cord-cutting phenomenon. In the latest edition of the newsletter, Lowpass Janko argues that Apple’s new mixed reality glasses, rumored to be announced next week, will disappoint. And that’s okay because it’s “worth remembering that many of Apple’s best-selling products initially started out slow.”

I agree with his reasoning, but I go further in history. The rumored headset’s arrival is less Apple Watch or iPhone. Instead, it is more akin to the iPod. Just as iPod wasn’t the first nor the last, it arrived at the right time to jump-start the mainstreaming of the anywhere, anytime convenience of “digital music.” Apple’s headset could do the same for a different kind of digital content, as I point out in the latest issue of my twice-a-month newsletter (sign-up if you haven’t already

I explain why this device should exist and what will be its true killer app, which continues to elude other entrants in the “mixed reality” business. The article continues here.

Continue reading “The Why of Apple XR Headset”

Virtual Unreality

Virtual Reality sometimes feels like the boy who cried wolf. Doesn’t it feel like we have been talking about VR and its amazing potential forever? The $2 billion acquisition of Oculus by Facebook made the world take VR even more seriously. And I admit, I have not been immune from the hype. I’ve tried all the headsets. In most cases, I wore my eyeglasses, and the whole experience made me, well, unsteady. But I like new technologies — even the ones that make me literally throw up — and I remain enthusiastic about it. Continue reading “Virtual Unreality”

What I am reading today

How tech became the enemy — then (dot com) and now. [Ellen Huet] Our routers, ourselves. [Paul Ford] Facebook, Ego and Oculus Rift. [Michael Mace] Why Facebook’s acquisition of Oculus still seems unfair. [David Banks] New Jersey wants the 45 Mbps Verizon Promised 20 years ago. [Karl Bode] Why Alibaba could be way more valuable … Continue reading What I am reading today