From Gurman’s Power On column, mailed Sunday to Bloomberg Technology subscribers:
Q: Do you think Apple retail stores will still unionize despite the company’s pushback?
A: I think unionization will absolutely happen, but likely on a store-by-store basis. I’d imagine that this situation will follow the Starbucks or Amazon approach. A few stores will unionize over time, but we won’t see a large-scale Apple retail union across the entire country.
Q: Do you think Apple’s first mixed-reality headset will be a market success?
A: I personally don’t think Apple’s first headset will be a blockbuster if the price is $2,000 to $3,000. As costs come down over time, however, I think it will become a hot seller. Regardless, Apple knows the real money and potential success is in the AR-only glasses. The company won’t be able to get to those without the mixed-reality headset debuting first. So I don’t think Apple is looking at this headset launch as anything more than an investment in its future.
My take: The smart goggles Gurman says Apple has go through to get to smart glasses are like bicycle training wheels for the mind. Hard to see a clear path to success.
Given the weight and performance needs for headsets, it makes sense for Apple to wait until they can use that process. When and if, no one will be able to match what Apple delivers.
And I’ve yet to imagine any combination of existing concepts, when stripped to their core are actual demanding of my time, money, and efforts to play and ultimately believe I can’t be without. Way too many trade-offs at the moment.
The closest I’ve seen is HoloLens bidirectional communication / sharing and commenting in 3D. But even then, the use case is narrow, and requires playing in a business environment dominated by MSFT.
Whatever Apple releases, it’s too soon.
(Or if APPLE builds it they will come!)
A flop is worse than not shipping.