537: Worse Than All of Our Toilets

Headset Speculation

Speculation is rife about Apple's rumored headset, with expectations high for its unveiling. John Siracusa notes that Apple has invited XR media outlets to their keynote, suggesting a significant announcement is imminent 1. The operating system, rumored to be called Reality OS, has been spotted in Apple's open-source code, further fueling anticipation 1. Marco Arment adds that Apple needs a major reveal to distract from their lack of AI announcements, making the headset's introduction even more crucial 2.

Can you imagine if they didn't have the headset this year, how angry the press would be after an entire keynote where they don't mention AI once?

--- John Siracusa

Price predictions for the headset vary, with Casey Liss expressing skepticism about its value, especially if it costs around $3,000 3. However, rumors suggest Apple might sell it at cost, potentially lowering the price to around $1,600 3.

   

Gaming Focus

Gaming is expected to play a pivotal role in Apple's headset strategy. John Siracusa speculates that Apple will showcase famous game developers and titles to highlight the headset's gaming capabilities 4. He emphasizes the need for Apple to consistently support game development, similar to their approach with Apple TV+ 4. Marco Arment shares his excitement about the rumored advanced features like hand and eye tracking, which could set Apple's headset apart from existing products 5.

It sounds like what Apple is going to release here, or at least unveil here, is not just a small step above what we've seen, but a big step above what we've seen.

--- Marco Arment

Despite the excitement, there are concerns about the headset's comfort and usability, with Arment noting that current VR experiences can be uncomfortable and not compelling enough 5.