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This thing reminds me of the Segway.

1. Seems quite cool in the demo but dorky in the real world.

2. Solves a problem no one really has.

3. Costs 10x more than most people are willing to spend.

4. Actual use case: Mall cops and tourists.

5. Some rich fanboy will buy out the entire inventory, use it outdoors, and fall off a cliff.



If augmented reality can provide me with step-by-step guidance on diagnosing and fixing a car leak, replacing a diverter valve on a faucet, installing roof-customized solar panels, and various other DIY tasks, while also showing me the necessary tools, then I would be inclined to purchase this product. I'm growing weary of watching YouTube videos for car repairs and struggling to align the locations of bolts or parts with my own vehicle.

The concept of augmented reality also appeals to me when it comes to recipes. I've been considering investing in a Thermomix device, which costs around $1500, because I appreciate the convenience of their on-screen guided instructions rather than attempting to figure out the correct temperature, cooking time, slice size. If augmented reality can guide me through cooking two or three dishes simultaneously, that would be a very convenient time saver. For example, while the onions are sautéing for 5 mins, the software knows that I have enough time to prepare a 2nd dish like chopping romaine leaves for a salad. I’d end my subscription to Soylent pretty quick for something like that.


You bring up some good points. Mainly that teaching you to work on your car, your house, or cook is highly specific to your particular environment. Maybe that's an example of the missing killer app for XR.

OTOH these also sound like things a remote teacher could help you with if they could talk to you in an earpiece provided they could immerse themselves in your environment. So the remote teacher would be wearing the AR headset. But now maybe you'd need a robot avatar in your kitchen.

Just brainstorming here but these might be business opportunities.


Indeed, I have personally tried CozyMeals, which appears to be the prominent online platform for remote cooking instruction that you mentioned. They provide virtual live cooking classes as well as private 1-on-1 sessions. According to a reviewer's feedback on the live cooking class, it is advisable to have all the ingredients prepped, measured, and ready before the class begins, as the instructor progresses swiftly through each preparation step. While it is possible to ask questions, the overall concept remains similar: you observe them, but they are not observing you, which falls short of the guided instructions I previously mentioned. Opting for their private 1-on-1 cooking class, which costs approximately $300, allows you to simply watch as they handle all the prep work and cooking.


This sounds nice on paper but it's far easier to just read the recipe rather than fumble around with a headset while your hands are dirty.


So, #3, you're saying this should be $349?

How would this, which has the hardware of two iPhones in it and stands in for a 100" screen and Dolby Atmos surround system, cost less than an iPhone Pro Max?

It was obvious as soon as they listed the cameras involved, the M2 chip, and the micro-OLED screens (plural), this was going to cost 2x a single top of line iPhone plus headset, so $3000+.


GP didn't say how much it should cost, just how much most people are willing to spend. Right now this is just a portable, private screen (maybe a really nice one, but without any killer XR app, that's all it is) . There are few people who have a use for that to make it worth spending $3.5k on. If an app comes out that enables something people want to do, but you can't do with a laptop, then it may start to become worth it.


> Right now this is just a portable, private screen

That "just" is doing a lot of work there except I think it's WFH and on a Netflix binge.


If you can afford to pay $2800 more so people can't see what you are doing on your iPad, you are probably in the minority. It's really cool, but really expensive. I see this as like the Macintosh Portable.

Also, there's a good chance that devices like this have a strong future. Just like you could argue that a Macbook is a descendant of the Macintosh Portable, the fact that lots of people own macbooks doesn't mean the Macintosh Portable was a success.


Except I had the Apple //c with the LCD panel and a handle. So you're right, we'd argue. :-)

https://www.buymobiles.net/blog/content/images/2020/05/Apple...

Image from this article, which is a great reminder of what it means to take risks:

https://www.buymobiles.net/blog/apple-products-you-probably-...




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