Re: Apple Acquires Metaio, Targeting Augmented Reality
I think it makes sense for Apple to get a foothold in this space. Like with wearables and other IoT-focused tech, it's hard to say exactly how large the market will grow. However, I think Hololens and Oculus have been generating more buzz than people were expecting... this may signal that consumers are ready, and may have spurred Apple to action. Speaking of Oculus, recreational applications (re: games) seem to be one of the crowd-pleasers of AR/VR/etc. I wonder if Apple has plans for that, or more productivity focused stuff. The main problem with AR glasses so far, to me, has been the price, considering they, like watch-esque wearables require a connection to an already-expensive smartphone.
While I don't expect Apple to give much heed to price, that hasn't exactly been a problem for them when it comes to the Apple Watch - people consider it worth the price for that Apple style, and they could do the same for AR glasses - and, more competition is always a good thing. The sudden shutdown of Metaio might leave a lousy taste in some customer's mouths, though; I wonder if that was the best way to go. No e-mail support? I suppose the rest of the year is plenty of time to grab something or make a backup, but after that, what? their products are gone for good? oh well - I suppose we'll little note nor long remember Metaio in the big picture. Let's see what comes next.
User Rank: Ninja
6/9/2015 | 9:11:03 AM