from the words-are-but-wind dept

  • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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    3 days ago

    What is the point in developing something so expensive that nobody buys it?

    Like sure it’s got some really cool tech in it but since literally no one has made any apps for it what’s the point.

    • Mbourgon everywhere@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Some reasons.

      1. Apple needs new products - even something like this gives headlines, reminds people about the cool product, so maybe they choose a different one. Even if it doesn’t make money it keeps Apple as “new and innovative” and helps recruitment.
      2. Gets it out there for developers to try out, come up with use cases and killer apps.
      3. People (prosumers) come up with uses that Apple and Devs may not have thought of.
      4. Allows people from #4 to bring them to work - after all, that’s how Apple got big in the first place… People bringing their Apple ][ & visicalc, since their IT wasn’t responsive enough or people hated working on mainframes. It wouldn’t surprise me if one of the doctors brought it in himself thinking it might be useful.
      5. Allows Apple to come up with justification for the R&D money for the GUI, UX, hand gestures, etc that they’re going to need later. Gotta keep shareholders happy.
      • Milk_Sheikh@lemm.ee
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        3 days ago
        1. Patent pool

        The AR market is not just entertainment, Microsoft has been failing to build a viable AR helmet for soldiers for years now, after the latest-and-greatest fight jets got them.

        Professional use too - think of how much simpler and safer ‘realistic’ training could be for deep sea commercial divers or oil rig workers. Live schematic overlays for aircraft technicians at work/in training.

        Those are a few of the applications where an absurdly high unit cost/license fee would be gladly swallowed instead by governments or business.