🕶️ Reflecting on Meta’s Past Failures

Good morning!

After last week's big announcement from Meta, the waters have calmed a bit. As we wait for their next move, let's look at a past case where Meta failed to penetrate the. As Henry Ford said: “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”

Today’s Topics:

• 📉 Reflecting on Meta’s Failures: The Oculus Go

• 🚀 Rokid’s New Smartglasses Embrace Spatial Computing

Reading time: 3min

📉 Reflecting on Meta’s Failures: The Oculus Go

If you are old enough to remember, back in 2018 Meta made a huge bet by releasing the Oculus Go, a very affordable VR headset 🕶️, in an attempt to get the mass audience on board with Virtual Reality.

Unfortunately, the effort was too far-reaching. In an interview with Road to VR, Meta's former Head of VR, Hugo Barra, reflects on the Oculus Go's failure and its implications for Apple's Vision Pro, highlighting the challenges of sustaining consumer interest in VR technology that is solely geared towards media consumption 🎥👓.

The Details:

• Launched in 2018, Oculus Go aimed to revolutionize how users consumed media like TV and movies in VR 📺. Despite initial excitement and strong partnerships with Netflix and YouTube, the device saw low user retention 📉.

• The Oculus Go experience revealed critical obstacles including discomfort, the hassle of starting up the device, and the isolating nature of solo media consumption, all of which could also affect Vision Pro 🚫.

• Oculus Go’s shortcomings quickly led to the development of Oculus Quest, which addressed many of Go's limitations by offering room-scale tracking and motion controllers 🎮📍.

• While Vision Pro boasts superior display technology for immersive experiences, it faces similar challenges as Oculus Go, indicating that high-end media consumption may not yet be a "daily driver" for VR users 🕶️🚶‍♂️.

Our Thoughts: Vision Pro’s entry into the market comes at a time when expectations for VR are significantly higher, and its success will likely hinge on overcoming the same hurdles that stunted Oculus Go 🚀. If Vision Pro can integrate more compelling, daily-use applications beyond media viewing, it could avoid the fate of its predecessors and help define the future of mixed reality.

🚀 Rokid’s New Smartglasses Embrace Spatial Computing

Rokid unveils its new AR Lite suite, pairing the Rokid Max 2 glasses 🕶️ with the Rokid Station 2 host unit, promising a transformative spatial computing experience with unprecedented ergonomics and user interaction.

The Details:

• The Rokid Max 2 glasses, weighing just 75 grams, bring the comfort and look of traditional eyewear to high-tech AR, making them suitable for extended wear 💪.

• Powered by the Snapdragon Platform, the Rokid Station 2 enhances graphics and AI capabilities, housed in a sleek aluminum alloy frame with a robust 5000mAh battery for long-lasting performance 🔋.

• Eliminating physical buttons, the system introduces intuitive touch controls for a seamless interface, pushing the boundaries of how users interact with digital content.

• Includes Intelligent Interpupillary Distance Adjustment, Non-Destructive Diopter Adjustment, and features like Multi Screen Mode and Motion Mode to cater to various user needs, from casual viewing to complex professional tasks 🧠.

Strategic Collaborations: Rokid bolsters its AR ecosystem through partnerships with major enterprises like Hainan Airlines, Loong Air, and Alibaba Cloud, expanding the practical applications of its smart glasses 🛫.

Our Thoughts: Rokid’s AR Lite suite is setting a new standard in the XR industry by marrying cutting-edge technology with practical, user-friendly design. As Rokid continues to innovate and expand its reach through strategic collaborations, it positions itself as a serious contender in the growing market for smart glasses, pushing the boundaries of what spatial computing can achieve 🚀.

In Other XR News

• ‘Canva of AR’ Start-up receives $2 million Pre-Seed Funding.

• Besides some Passthrough Improvements, the new Quest update takes a lot of inspiration from some Vision Pro Features.

• There is a lot to love about the Zoom Apple Vision Pro app.