The WSJ’s Report About Apple’s Headset, What’s Behind Apple Headset Skepticism?
Hello everyone. With WWDC kicking off in less than three weeks, today's update will go over some of the hoopla surrounding Apple's upcoming mixed reality headset. We begin with Neil’s thoughts on the WSJ’s recent report about the Apple headset. The discussion then turns to the skepticism surrounding the device and what may be driving such feelings. Let's jump right in.
The WSJ’s Report About Apple’s Headset
In an article headlined "Apple Is Breaking Its Own Rules With a New Headset," here are the WSJ's Aaron Tilley and Yang Jie:
“Apple in the coming weeks is expected to unveil what is perhaps the most experimental, unconventional product in its history: a so-called mixed-reality headset that resembles a pair of ski goggles and comes with a battery pack, people familiar with the matter say.
Apple’s launch plans break many of its traditions and rules about new products that have become the industry gold standard. Unlike other Apple products, the device is debuting in a still-experimental mode. Apple predicts slower adoption for the headset compared with the Apple Watch or the iPhone, both of which quickly became consumer must-haves. Taking seven years in development before hitting the market, it will be one of the most complex consumer products any company has ever sold.
The Apple headset will combine both augmented and virtual reality into a single device—a term the industry calls mixed reality. Users wearing the headset, for instance game players, will be able to experience their virtual worlds through the screen in the goggles, but also be able to simultaneously see the physical world around them thanks to outward facing cameras, said people familiar with the project.
Company engineers and executives have spent months preparing presentations with a demo version of the device for Apple’s upcoming annual software conference in June. But it isn’t expected to be delivered for most users until the fall at the earliest, people familiar with the supply chain said. Some Apple employees and suppliers have questioned whether the rollout could be delayed given the challenges with integrating the headset with new software, its production and the broader market, people familiar with the product’s development said. Apple could still make changes to its timeline.”
If there were still questions as to whether or not a headset reveal at WWDC was a go, this article should settle any remaining doubts. However, instead of publishing that one item across a few paragraphs, the WSJ decided to turn it into something of an exposé on how the upcoming headset somehow required Apple to break its own rules.
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