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Comment by yewenjie | Hacker News Reader

I am not aware of the VR space, but reading this article seems like this is truly a giant leap from all existing hardwares?

Edit: Maybe I commented too early.

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This definitely is a huge leap in hardware resolution wise. Maybe even image quality wise since a lot of that depends on the lens optics. There's things like field of view, edge to edge clarity, god-rays etc that can have a big impact on the experience and are based on the lenses themselves.

The VR space really depends on the content made for the space. Right now you've got two major "marketplaces". One being the Oculus store by Meta and the other being Steam. Other lesser known headsets have their own marketplaces too but the content is filled with crappy demos and just mobile phone quality games.

A big factor in the content quality is the ability for headsets to run standalone or not. Meta seems to be really pushing the standalone aspect where many of their marketplace games need to run on the standalone headset. Being a mobile chip, the performance isn't at all AAA quality. Not only that but a lot of content still is just crappy mobile phone-esque games and VR demos.

Steam on the other hand has many VR games and they're all running on your computer and the video signal is being sent to the headset so it acts as just a display. This gives developers more "power" to work with when creating games and many games on steam VR are really good because of that.

Now the question for this new Apple headset is, can it hook up wired or wireless to my computer (PC please due to game library) and just act as a dumb but beautiful display? If not, can it do that on a mac? If not, what content CAN I consume? Can games be played?

No. Its the Airpods Max of VR headsets.

It's not a VR headset, it's closer to Hololens

Its a VR headset with external cameras, so that it can be used primarily for AR.

But with the headset on, you are definitely looking at a screen. not looking through the headset.

That's interesting, we're sure that's the case? Their marketing pictures make it seem like a semi-transparent front screen with cameras around the periphery.

> Floating 2D apps can be placed to float around your "real world" space, which remains visible through the semi-transparent display.

Which would make it distinct from most of the VR headsets currently on the market, and rather in the category of AR headsets.

Yeah, theres an additional lenticular screen on the outside thats designed to make it look semitransparent.

I'm very curious what the hardware is. driving full VR displays, plus additional screens on the outside.

The closest competing AR headset is probably Metas Quest Pro? which also had external cameras and could attempt to show the real world. but I suspect apple's will have way better cameras. I haven't seen too many hardware specs yet but i'm very curious

I dont think display is transparent, the eyes are an outward facing video of wearers eyes.

it is an external 3D display that displays your face (you need to "scan" it) according to what you are doing

It definitely is. The capabilities of the headset, control via hands, and form factor are all big advances. The need for a battery in your pocket is a step backwards as standalone headsets don't require that, but it's the price to pay for all of the computing power.

For $3499.

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