Will the Microsoft Hololens even make it to market?
Skeeve Stevens
? Futurist | A.I | Weaponisation of Technology | Cyber* | Security-Tech | Risk/Threats re Tech | Robotics | IoT | Media SME | Advisory/Consulting | Professional Speaker | Polymath
When I first saw the Hololens by Microsoft I was blown away. It was the first decent Augmented Reality headset, and the videos they released gave inspiration to a lot of ideas that could be done with it.
I was able to play with one recently that a friend developer had. It was - OK - as I realised the field of vision was a lot less than you see in the videos, but it still had its uses.
I said to people it was the only thing that would save Microsoft from oblivion. It would change how we would do - everything.
The device isn't due to be released till towards the end of 2017, early 2018.
Stupidly for Microsoft, they charge US$3000 for the development kit. The Dev kits for the Oculus Rift was only $USD300.
Then everything changed one day. I saw a demonstration of the Magic Leap. It made the Hololens look like an Atari 2600 compared to an XBox One. It's graphics are stunning, beautiful, and has partners that any company would wish to be along side, like Lucas Arts and Weta. The example videos shown to us, take what the Hololens was showing us, and up it to a level that I fear will make the Hololens very much redundant and leads me to wonder if it will even make it to market given how amazing and beautiful the Magic Leap experience is.
Microsoft has been scrambling the last 12 months since Magic Leap first appeared on the market. They are running around signing up as many partners as possible to gain some momentum and get people to invest and commit in the Hololens before the Magic Leap hits the market - which will probably be 6-12 months before the Hololens would be able to... and the Magic Leap is already 10 times better quality.
Sorry, Not Sorry Microsoft :)
IIoT | Machine Learning | AR | Industrial Automation
8 年What most of us who work in the industry have suspected all along. Not happy about this, rather disappointed actually - https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/8/13894000/magic-leap-ar-microsoft-hololens-way-behind
Google Trusted 360 Master Photographer
8 年The Holelens has already hit the market - you can buy Enterprise editions right now. I assume you mean a consumer release, in which case it won't happen until FOV approves. 30 degrees is fine for work, but it's terrible for entertainment and the public would crucify it.
ANZ Advisory and Sales Consultant: Data, Analytics, GenAi, Applications, Modern Workplace
8 年This type of technology is inevitable, it is here but will need time for companies to develop and invest in practical uses for it and extensive end user training. For consumers it has to be easy to use, plain and simple. Once integrated fully into cortana/Siri type voice apps with AI assistance it will be a very cool tool indeed...think Tony Stark ??
The Speaker who Teleports Audiences into The Future | The Singapore Futurist | Coach Harry
8 年Microsoft Hololens will definitely make the market, but like the Google Glass, it will face stiff resistance because of its long-term and even immediate high-disruption propensity. It probably will not be as successful as it should be in the beginning or as soon as Microsoft would like it to be. The marketing experience of Google for Glass, is a case it needs to take heed from. Harish "The Singapore Futurist" Shah