The focus on maps and gemini is hilarious. The first is literally the anti-use case, it's used when you're on the move, not when you're sitting still with a headset strapped to your face. The latter is one of the few computer use cases that doesn't benefit at all from having a headset strapped to your face.

I want to see things that benefit from the headset. Sell me photogrammetry to build a 3d model of my home that I can redecorate. Sell me "work" tasks where I'm multitasking between multiple windows. Sell the entertainment value. Sell the remote 3d collaboration angle. Sell the games involving exercise angle. Sell the isolated environment on a flight. Sell using a computer comfortably lying down. Sell reclaiming office space. Literally anything but the two apps that are better suited for a phone.

As a former AVP owner, this seems much more suitable for what I personally tend to use these devices for, with the headstrap appearing far closer to my personal comfort preference (halo straps) and a lower weight due to reduced power and no superfluous outer display along lighter materials. I get that Apple included these as apparently they have/had the vision of establishing the AVP as a device which users may keep on when talking with others, but like with the Watch, I'd hope having seen how people use the device makes them change direction.

As there is still no support for MacOS apps like XCode on the AVP M5 and gaming is hardly viable currently without controllers, the performance advantage of the M5/M2 over the XR2 Gen2 isn't really a factor for me. Doesn't matter what the face computer can theoretically do if for many tasks I need to connect to my MBP anyways. As a display replacement, the Galaxy looks far more appealing because of this, though I'll wait for independent reviews on wireless latency, eye tracking, stability of AR "widgets" in space, etc. Also am interested, will Meta port their games (Beatsaber, mainly) to Android XR or will they continue trying to establish themselves as the platform owners. Remember a lot of talk about Meta Horizon being used by partners like Lenovo and Asus, has yet to materialize and have a hard time seeing these going for Meta over Google now that XR has arrived.

Also wish Samsung had distributed at least part of the battery into the back of their head strap. Prefer the Meta Pro style over external batteries any day, though get the size limitations. A small backup battery for hot swapping and added weight distribution would have been a decent compromise though in my eyes.

From https://www.samsung.com/us/xr/galaxy-xr/galaxy-xr/ :

"4K Micro-OLED display with 4,032 PPI and 109°(H) and 100°(V) Fields of View"

Wow. Did not expect higher ppi that Apple Vision Pro.

Buried in the article is the primary relevant bit that gives the product hope of success beyond other comparable products in my mind: WebXR.

Many incredible things are developed with a product once it hits market saturation, but it has to make it that far. The VCR saw its initial success for a reason, and these companies have danced around the elephant in the room under the guise of intentional vendor lock-in to apps stores for best functionality.

Good to see.

Discussion (183 points, 217 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45671871 [this shouldn't have made the SCP]

Another headset that will get forgotten on a drawer in a couple of years.

Since I first saw one in 1994, the only thing good for VR headset is games, and there is not enough of them to be worth the money.

Only AR has a future, for VR give me the holodeck, not tiny screens almost injected into my eyes.

EDIT: added not as per reply comment