Podcast Summary
The Verge's 10-year anniversary event, 'On the Verge', includes a Vergecast episode, interviews, panels, art installations, DJs, and an open bar.: The Verge is hosting a 2-day event in NYC for its 10-year anniversary with a Vergecast episode, interviews, panels on NFTs and the metaverse, art installations, DJs, and an open bar.
The Verge is hosting an event called "On the Verge" on October 22nd and 23rd in New York City to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. The event will feature a Vergecast episode with Joanna Stern and David Pierce, interviews with notable figures, panels on NFTs and the metaverse, DJs, art installations, and an open bar. The Verge team aims to create a party for long-time readers and not just a conference for CEOs and celebrities. Tickets are available for purchase at VoxMediaEvents.com slash on the verge using the code $99.99. Additionally, there are upcoming tech events from Apple, Google, and Samsung.
HTC's new VR headset, Vive Flow, stands out for its lightweight design and resemblance to sunglasses: HTC's new VR headset, Vive Flow, is a lightweight, sunglasses-like device priced at $500, with long battery life, but lacks motion controls and is only compatible with Android phones, intended for still activities like meditation and 360-degree videos, its unique design and features raise questions about its justification for high price tag.
HTC has released a new VR headset called the Vive Flow, which stands out for its lightweight design and resemblance to sunglasses. Priced at $500, it lacks motion controls and instead relies on hand tracking and a connected Android phone for control. The headset is intended for still VR activities like meditation and watching 360-degree videos. Despite its unique design and long battery life, it remains to be seen if the Vive Flow justifies its high price tag and why consumers should choose it over other VR options, especially since it is currently only compatible with Android phones.
HTC's Vive Flow: Convenient Design Choices for Some, Challenges for Others: HTC's new Vive Flow VR headset, targeting older users and those with mobility issues, faces challenges with its phone-as-controller design and potential fit issues, impacting user experience.
HTC's new VR headset, the Vive Flow, uses a phone as a controller due to convenience, but this design choice may not be ideal for older users or those with mobility issues, who are the primary audience HTC is targeting. The headset, which runs a custom version of Android, has a lightweight design but may not be as adaptable to different head sizes, causing it to slip down the nose and obstruct the view. The device's motion control system, which relies on the phone's sensors, may not be the most effective or comfortable control method for the intended user base. HTC's attempt to change the form factor of VR headsets into glasses is a hit or miss, and the product still has some adjustments to make before it can effectively compete with market leaders like the Oculus Quest 2.
Unique design of Vive Flow headset leaves much to be desired: Despite its potential, the Vive Flow headset falls short in terms of comfort and ease of use, with frustrating design choices outweighing its positives.
The Vive Flow headset, despite its unique design and improvements over older VR experiences, falls short in terms of comfort and ease of use. The swappable gaskets and lightweight design are positives, but the lack of adjustable straps and balance issues detract from the overall experience. The headset feels like an early prototype rather than a polished product. Despite its potential, it's unclear who the target audience is and what sets it apart from previous VR offerings. The Vive Flow has potential, but it needs significant improvements to be a compelling recommendation for consumers. The headset's design, while unique, may be a source of amusement in the future, but for now, it leaves much to be desired in terms of comfort and functionality. The lack of breakthrough technical advancements and the presence of frustrating design choices make it a hard sell. While there are positives, they are outweighed by the negatives, leaving the Vive Flow feeling like an interesting experiment rather than a must-have device.
Facebook's AR device: A consumer-focused step towards the metaverse: The consumer AR/VR market is growing, but perceptions of these devices need to expand beyond gaming to include fitness and other use cases, as demonstrated by Facebook's new AR product and the potential of VR devices with hand controllers and full-body experiences.
The consumer market for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) products is still in its infancy, with only a few consumer-oriented devices available despite the growing buzz around the metaverse. The first consumer-focused AR device that stands out is Facebook's product, which offers interesting ideas and a more accessible form factor compared to previous AR headsets. However, it lacks motion controllers, limiting its potential for certain applications, such as fitness. This raises the question of why VR devices with hand controllers and full-body experiences are often perceived as being only for hardcore gamers, when in reality, a broader audience, including fitness enthusiasts, is interested in these devices. The market's perception of VR and AR needs to evolve, recognizing the importance of devices that cater to various use cases and price points.
Facebook's new VR headset: Functional and utilitarian design: Facebook unveils a new VR headset with a functional design, focusing on a 100-degree field of view and 1.6 K per eye resolution, while Magic Leap showcases an AR headset with a large field of view and $500M in new funding.
The VR market is currently seeing a convergence in design, with companies focusing on creating utilitarian headsets rather than trying to make them look cool. Facebook, for instance, has shown off a prototype of their upcoming VR headset, which looks similar to what is rumored to be Apple's AR headset. The headset, which is said to have a 100-degree field of view and a 1.6 K per eye resolution, is expected to ship in November. Although the resolution is not groundbreaking, it's still functional. Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and CTO, Andrew Bosworth, have been seen wearing prototypes of the headset, but it's unclear whether these prototypes will turn into a consumer product or just a teaser. The VR market has been around for several years, but the designs have not diverged much, with most headsets resembling a shoebox on your face. Another notable development is Magic Leap, a company that has raised a significant amount of money to create an AR headset. They have recently demonstrated their Magic Leap 2, which claims to have the largest AR field of view. Despite the company's past struggles, they have managed to secure another half a billion dollars in funding. Overall, the VR and AR markets are seeing some exciting developments, with companies focusing on creating functional and utilitarian devices.
AR headsets face challenges with display technology: Despite advancements, AR headsets struggle with full immersion due to LCD displays, processing power, battery life, operating systems, application layers, control methods, and social acceptance. Innovative approaches like retinal displays and hand tracking offer partial solutions, but reliable control methods and addressing underlying challenges remain key.
The development of AR headsets faces numerous challenges, with the display technology being a significant hurdle. Current AR headsets, including those using waveguides, still rely on LCD displays, which hinder the full immersion experience. The processing power, battery life, operating system, application layer, control method, and social acceptance are also issues that need to be addressed. While there have been innovative approaches like the Avagon's retinal display and HoloLens' hand tracking, they have limitations. For instance, hand tracking is largely reliable but not perfect, while rings with motion tracking and buttons offer a more reliable control method. Magically's abandoned brain-hacking idea was an ambitious goal, but the current focus is on enabling AR technology with waveguides. The future of AR headsets remains uncertain, as companies continue to grapple with these challenges to create a truly immersive and user-friendly experience.
AR's display challenge and Magic Leap's focus: Magic Leap invests heavily in AR display technology, addressing a major challenge in AR development, while enterprise AR like Microsoft's HoloLens shows progress, but consumer AR raises privacy concerns.
The development of Augmented Reality (AR) technology is a complex process with numerous challenges, primarily starting with the display problem. Magic Leap, a company aiming to create consumer and enterprise AR, has received significant investment, focusing mainly on the display issue. However, AR is divided into consumer and enterprise applications, with the latter showing more progress. Microsoft's HoloLens is an example of enterprise AR. The potential for AR to create divergent, fractured realities, especially when combined with companies like Facebook, raises concerns about privacy and the potential for intrusive technology. While some may find the idea of constantly wearing AR glasses appealing, others express concerns about privacy and the potential for social isolation. Ultimately, the success of AR technology depends on overcoming these challenges and ensuring that it enhances our lives rather than creating new problems.
The power of connection in driving innovation: Bringing together people, ideas, and technologies fosters innovation. Connectivity within an ecosystem can significantly enhance user experience.
Connection is a crucial element in driving innovation. This was highlighted during the discussion about the Apple AR headset and the story of innovation told in five words. Deloitte, a sponsor of the show, emphasizes the importance of bringing together people, ideas, and technologies to achieve innovation. In the context of technology, such as the Series 7 watch, while the watch itself may have improvements, the overall ecosystem and connectivity can impact the user experience. The speaker expressed frustration with the limitations of the Apple Watch ecosystem, despite the watch being great. The art beats in lyrics documentary also underscores the importance of connection, showcasing how the founders and artists have come together to create a cultural phenomenon.
Apple Watch Series 7: Is the upgrade worth it?: Though the Apple Watch Series 7 has a larger screen and USB-C charger, the lack of major new features and minimal battery life improvement may not make it worth an upgrade for those with Series 4 or later models.
While the new Apple Watch Series 7 offers some improvements like a larger screen and USB-C charger, the lack of significant new features and only marginal battery life improvement may not justify an upgrade for those who already have a Series 4 or later model. The speaker shared his personal experience of feeling underwhelmed by the size increase and expressed disappointment over Apple's decision not to prioritize battery life. The longer USB-C charger is a minor convenience, but the overall upgrade may not be worth the investment for some users. The speaker also shared an anecdote about a user still using a Series 0 watch, which raises the question of when upgrading becomes necessary.
New Apple Watch design hints at faster charging and longer plugs: Apple's new watch design may indicate faster charging and longer plugs, but reception has been disappointing due to lack of major redesign and new features. Health sensors are improving but not yet medical-grade, and Apple faces challenges in turning data into healthcare solutions. Unclear direction for watch and health division.
Apple's new watch design, which includes a longer USB-C charger, may indicate a shift towards faster charging and potentially longer, more powerful USB-C plugs in the future. However, the reception to the new watch has been disappointing due to expectations of a major redesign and the lack of significant new features. The watch's health sensors, while improving, are not yet at the level of medical devices and Apple may be facing challenges in turning the data generated by the watch into actionable healthcare solutions. Additionally, Apple seems to be struggling with a clear direction for the watch and its health division, with reports suggesting a lack of focus and unclear goals.
Predictions for the new MacBook Pro: Expected features include fan, SD card slot, and Apple Silicon chips. Thunderbolt ports on one side may be cheaper due to no need for a booster.
Apple's upcoming MacBook Pro event is generating a lot of excitement, with many predictions about new features such as the removal of the touch bar, addition of an SD card slot, and the use of Apple Silicon chips. The MacBook Pro is expected to have a fan for cooling, but the M1 series chips might not require a high-wattage power supply. An interesting tidbit is that Thunderbolt or USB-C ports on one side of a Mac are cheaper because they don't require a booster to transfer data at high speeds between sides. Overall, the event is highly anticipated, with many hoping for a seamless purchasing experience, possibly even through a simple Apple Pay button.
Apple's recent Mac releases underdeliver, touch bar a failure: Apple's latest MacBook Pro models faced criticism for lacking innovation, with the touch bar being a notable disappointment due to limited developer support
Apple's recent Mac releases, such as the MacBook Pro with the touch bar, haven't brought significant new ideas to the table. Instead, they've been criticized for underdelivering, like the touch bar which had potential but lacked developer support and was ultimately considered a failure. Apple's approach to competing with Intel's rivals, AMD and NVIDIA, remains to be seen. The Macs with M1 chips are currently available, but it's uncertain if Apple will replace the 13-inch MacBook Pro with a 14-inch version, and whether they'll abandon AMD GPUs in favor of their own technology. The Mac ecosystem continues to evolve, but the success of Apple's new strategies remains to be seen.
Improving Mac's GPU and battery life: Apple is enhancing Mac's GPU capabilities and battery life for upcoming models, possibly delaying the ARM-based Mac Pro to next year.
Apple is focusing on improving the Mac's GPU capabilities and battery life for their upcoming models, while potentially punting the ARM-based Mac Pro to next year. The MacBooks are expected to maintain the same form factor, and there's a bet about when Apple will finally make a touchscreen Mac. The M1 chips have already shown impressive battery life, surpassing that of many laptops in the 14 and 16 inch range. Apple's obstinacy to touchscreens and refusal to allow setting multiple timers on the iPhone are also topics of discussion. The upcoming Mac event's main goal is to deliver the same level of improvement as the M1 Air, and there are still rumors about new AirPods.
Apple and Google set to reveal new products: Apple's event may bring a new iPad Pro with an M2 chip and potentially new AirPods, while Google's event is expected to reveal the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro with a magic eraser feature for photo editing.
Apple and Google are set to release new products in the coming week, with Apple's event on Monday and Google's on Tuesday. Apple's event is anticipated to bring a new iPad Pro, possibly with an M2 chip, and potentially new AirPods with a potential redesign. Google's event, on the other hand, is expected to reveal the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, with rumors of a magic eraser feature for photo editing. The excitement lies in the confirmation of these products, their features, and pricing. While Apple's event may bring some surprises, Google's is largely expected to follow the usual format of revealing specifications and release dates. Overall, the tech community is eagerly anticipating these events and the new products they'll bring.
Google's flagship phone push and carrier deals: Google's success in the flagship phone market depends on securing carrier deals and promotions, similar to Apple. Rumors suggest a Pixel Pass bundle, but the real test will be inked partnerships.
Google's upcoming Pixel 6 and 6 Pro launch event is generating a lot of buzz, with rumors of a Pixel Pass bundle and Google's first serious push into the flagship phone market. However, the success of this move hinges on Google's ability to secure carrier deals and promotions, similar to what Apple has been able to do. The question is, have they made the necessary backroom deals to make this happen? Additionally, Google may have an opportunity to capitalize on Samsung's struggles with the chip shortage by securing a different chip supplier. The launch event itself may not reveal all the answers, but the marketing strategy and carrier partnerships will be crucial indicators of Google's seriousness in challenging Samsung in the flagship phone market.
Google's Pixel event: Can it regain camera dominance?: Google faces pressure to improve Pixel's camera technology, as competitors have caught up, focusing on video and technical aspects. Rumors suggest new features like a charging dock and a new Clips version.
Google's upcoming Pixel phone launch event is under scrutiny, with many questioning if the company can regain its class-leading status in camera technology. The Pixel was once known for its innovative HDR implementation, but competitors like Apple and Samsung have since caught up. Google needs to prove that its new Pixel models have a competitive camera to offer, as that may be the only reason for consumers to choose it over other brands. The focus on camera quality has shifted towards video and technical aspects, and Google's astrophotography feature did not receive widespread excitement. Rumors suggest that Google may release a new charging dock or a new version of their standalone baby camera, Clips. Samsung's upcoming Unpacked Part 2 event is expected to reveal customizable colors for their new flip phones.
Innovative tech products tailored to individuals: Samsung creates personalized phones for BTS members, VanMoof introduces high-speed e-bikes, showcasing the trend of personalized, high-speed tech designed to enhance lives, while raising questions about safety, regulations, and infrastructure adaptations.
Technology and companies are striving to reflect the individuality and multifaceted nature of users through innovative products. Samsung, for instance, is releasing unique tech products tailored to individuals, such as personalized phones for BTS members. VanMoof, on the other hand, is pushing the boundaries of transportation with their high-speed, pedal-assist e-bikes, aiming to change urban infrastructure to accommodate such modes of transport. These examples showcase the growing trend of personalized, high-speed technology designed to enhance users' lives. However, as these innovations continue to push boundaries, questions around safety, regulations, and infrastructure adaptations arise.
New affordable electric vehicle, Mila Kunis event, Jeep CEO on Decoder, The Vergecast specials, Art Beets and Lyrics documentary: An electric vehicle under $3,500 goes 0-40 mph, Mila Kunis attends event, Jeep CEO on Decoder, The Vergecast focuses on nerdy topics, Art Beats and Lyrics documentary on Hulu explores Atlanta's impact on artists
There's an electric vehicle that can go from 0 to 40 miles per hour at a surprisingly affordable price of $3,500. This vehicle, which is not identified by name, is faster than expected and has a community of modifiers who can increase its speed. Next week, The Verge will be hosting an event where Mila Kunis is expected to attend and pay for a bet she lost. The CEO of Jeep, Christian Meunier, will also be featured on the Decoder podcast next week. Additionally, The Vergecast will be releasing special episodes focusing on specific, nerdy topics. A documentary called Art Beets and Lyrics, produced by Vox and Jack Daniels, is now streaming on Hulu. The event features interviews with the founders and curator of Art Beats and Lyrics, exploring their roles and the impact of Atlanta on their lives. The documentary follows the artists as they prepare for the 20th anniversary tour of Art Beets and Lyrics. Jack Daniels and Tennessee Honey are registered trademarks. Please drink responsibly.
