i wouldn’t normally be concerned since any company releasing a VR product with this price tag is obviously going to fail… but it’s apple and somehow through exquisite branding and sleek design they have managed to create something that resonated with “tech reviewers” and rich folk who can afford it.

what’s really concerning is that it’s not marketed as a new VR headset, it’s marketed by apple and these “tech reviewers” as the new iphone, something you take with you everywhere and do your daily tasks in, consume content in etc…

and it’s dystopian. imagine you are watching youtube on this thing and when an ad shows up, you can’t look away, even if you try to they can track your eye movement and just move the window, you can’t mute it, you certainly cannot install adblock on it, you are forced to watch the ad until it satisfies apple or you just give up and take out the headset.

this is why i think all these tech giants (google meta apple etc) were/are interested in the “metaverse”. it holds both your vision and your hearing hostage, you cannot do anything else when using it but to just use the thing. a 100% efficiency attention machine, completely blocking you from the outside world.

i’m not concerned about this iteration as much as people are not hyped about this iteration. just like how people are hyped about the next apple vision, i’m more worried about the next iterations with somewhat lower price tag and better software availability. i hope it flops and i know it probably won’t achieve any sort of mainstream adoption even if it’s deemed a success because it probably can’t get less bulky and look less dorky, but the possibility is still worrying. what are your thoughts?

  • ferralcat@monyet.cc
    267·
    11 months ago

    because it probably can’t get less bulky and look less dorky,

    Airpods are probably one of the ugliest pieces of tech ove seen in the last decade and yet somehow it doesn’t seem to matter. Never overestimate apple’s customer base.

    • TheRealKuni@lemmy.worldEnglish
      132·
      11 months ago

      I don’t think they’re any uglier than other wireless earbuds. I think it’s kinda cute that they stuck with the iPod earbud look without the wires.

      Not that I have AirPods. I’m a Jabra man myself.

    • Seasoned_Greetings@lemm.ee
      81·
      11 months ago

      They’re pretty much the only company on the planet that can push the “because your friends have one” aspect in their marketing and succeed. Apple users think they’re all part of this exclusive club and really don’t care that they’re straight up being robbed by the cost.