I think the analysis in this thread is correct, Apple wants to remove the “loophole” that was originally the only way to get apps on the device.
[1] https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/blog/privacy-nightmare-on-...
So to me, it contributes because it is another data point that the leadership has compromised its ability to consistently make forward thinking decisions.
Vision Pro patent from 2007 when Steve Jobs was still CEO:
Exhibit A: Google's patent on a "sticky car" that is covered with adhesive, to stick to pedestrians when you hit them https://patents.google.com/patent/US9340178B1/en
It's just a pair of sky googles with 2 displays in front of the eyes, connected to an Airpod for watching media. It's not so much Vision Pro as it is Nintendo Virtual Boy. Actually the virtual boy was more advanced since it let you play games.
That kind of stereo display headset for watching videos inputs from external sources has existed since the 70's, long before Apple's patent 2007. How did they even get a patent for it? Another proof the patent system is broken since it seems they'll let you patent anything.
Where are you seeing this "increasing trend"?
Also, how should a tech company that makes money from selling gadgets react to this purported trend? Start selling chairs?
"Human contact is becoming a luxury good." https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/23/sunday-review/human-conta...
>Also, how should a tech company that makes money from selling gadgets react to this purported trend?
That's like asking what cigarette companies were supposed to do when we found out cigarettes cause cancer.
While that seems fair, the problem is that the strongest form of software innovation I have seen is where developers can freely plug in.
afaik you cant even order AVP without an iPhone.
Lightning instead of usb.
Firewire instead of usb.
Getting rid of all non-usbc ports.
Touch bar without physical escape.
Ctrl in the wrong place on the keyboard.
Every mbp looking the same with their attrocious glowing branding on the lid.
One-button mouse.
No audio jack.
The walled garden.
Charging a fee for the dev tools.
Yeah, these are all subjective - it's all crap I hate.
But my point is: is anything that anyone dislikes actually out of character for Apple? Or is it business as usual? Maybe Samsung will also create a useless headset and directly assault the open web too, making Apple still the 'industry leader'.
- Apple did Firewire at a time when it was the leading interface for professional video stuff. As Apple marketed their computers to video professionals back then, it made a lot of sense. Also, USB 2.0 wasn't on the market yet or hardly had any adoption, and FW was pretty much the only modern high-speed serial interface. At the time, FW was also a much more capable (if more complex) interface than USB. After USB 2.0 got more adoption, FW 800 was released with almost twice the bandwidth of USB 2.0.
- Forcing USB C adoption upon the industry was a good thing, just like getting rid of floppy disks, serial and parallel ports, and Flash (the latter one being debatable as the beginner-friendly authoring system still leaves a big gap that hasn't been filled since). The transition period was admittedly very painful with all the adapters. But now pretty much all devices charge via USB C, just how neat is that? I know that Apple didn't give up Lightning for USB C in iPhones voluntarily, so they needed a bit of help by the EU in their own mission here :)
- They reversed on the touch bar, thus admitting their mistake. It was indeed horrible, though.
- The glowing Apple on the lid hasn't been there any more for a decade or so
- Dev tools aka Xcode are free, the fee you're probably referring to is for getting stuff into the App Store
In the end, you're correct - haters gonna hate, Apple will be Apple, people will buy their stuff anyway.
Apple is still doing fine. I'm at least going to wait a few years before making claims about the Vision Pro being a failure.