Steve Troughton-Smith

Once again, Microsoft gets forgotten while everybody is comparing Apple Vision Pro to Meta Quest. In reality, Hololens is the only product in the world even in the same ballpark of what Apple is doing. It also starts at $3,500. It also brings Microsoft's existing app and content ecosystem into augmented reality, and tries to make it work in a spatial environment with eye and hand tracking. MS bet on passthrough display tech, where Apple brute-forced AR with cameras and silicon prowess

#WWDC23

Jun 9, 2023 at 3:01pmIvory for Mac
Show threadJack Regan Jun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith I think the reason HoloLens isn't in the conversation is that it's aimed at enterprise
Show threadPhilippJun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith I’m finally getting excited about VR/AR. I Wonder how many years it’ll take until it’ll just be a regular pair of glasses. 10? 20?
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithJun 9, 2023
@eierund I would be optimistic and say 5
Show threadPhilippJun 9, 2023

@stroughtonsmith wow! I would absolutely LOVE that so I’m gonna choose to be optimistic as well. ;)

Until then I’ll just buy this 1st gen monstrosity just cause I’m excited about it. Yolo.

Show threadPhilippFeb 3, 2024
@stroughtonsmith do you still stand by this after all we’ve seen now? I honestly think we are way further out.
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithFeb 3, 2024
@eierund I don't think we’re further out. I think the axes along which Vision Pro struggles are not relevant to a device without displays or passthrough cameras. Get the OS to run on a Watch SoC, miniaturize the sensors into a glasses frame, and solve for eyeball laser projector
Show threadPhilippFeb 3, 2024
@stroughtonsmith I love your optimism and hope you’re right. Let’s touch base again in 5 years :)
Show threadInternet Hedgehog 🦔Jun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith i think about this tweet constantly
Show threadAlbert Kinng Jun 9, 2023
@Ezhik @stroughtonsmith What it means?
Show threadAlbert Kinng Jun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith Be honest… would you trust Microsoft to merge all your data and apps inside their spatial computer glasses? I still have a mixed UI running on my Windows 11 machine and every two days it crashes when I disconnect from the servers. Then, back in my house I have one Mac Mini from 2011 running Panther (Server edition) that has never failed! NEVER. Windows looks beautiful now, but it’s just that. Internally need a lot of work.
Show threadBynkiiJun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith @flargh it makes me bonkers, as if manf. and related industries aren’t spending money on high-end AR *today*
Show threadPelle WessmanJun 9, 2023

@stroughtonsmith Both #GoogleGlasses and #Hololens were AR-first devices and I think #GoogleGlasses are almost even more forgotten now.

I think I prefer the Google Glass concept for an AR future to the Vision Pro concept. The less obstructed the face is the better.

Show threadsxgJun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith I was one of the early HoloLens developers invited to create apps for the platform in 2014–2015. We ultimately created HoloAnatomy, but the FOV and screen contrast/spatial resolution were always disappointing. HoloLens was true AR, but I think the Vision Pro is doing it right by being VR first and simulating AR elements through external cameras and screens. Putting the real world on a high quality Vision Pro screen seems to be way better than doing the pass-through and overlays on the HoloLens.
Show threadGalenFaidleyJun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith Another interesting comparison is Varjo. They were the team at Nokia that were working on video see through HMDs. As the story goes, when Microsoft bought Nokia they let the team keep the IP because it did not mesh with what MS had in mind for holo lens and Varjo was born. Their XR3 head set is the closest on the market to the technology (but not platform since it PC theatherd) of the Vision Pro. https://varjo.com
The world's most advanced virtual and mixed reality devices.

Varjo makes the most advanced augmented, virtual and mixed reality headsets for professionals. Welcome to the immersive workplace.

Varjo.com
Show threadmingistech Jun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith It’s atrocious field of view is the most disappointing limitation of Hololense. You have this stamp sized area where AR can live and turning your head causes clipping of the images ruining the experience.
Show threaddonkeyJun 9, 2023
@mingistech @stroughtonsmith This is what has amazed me about the vision pro demos - same price but none of the limitations of the HoloLens postage stamp.
Show threadFrostyJun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith I’ll be honest, I didn’t realise Hololens was still a thing. I also didn’t realise it was something you could just buy, I thought it was more of a research project. 🤷🏻‍♂️
Show threadAndrei TorresJun 9, 2023

@stroughtonsmith Completely agree. Also, the UI toolkit that the Microsoft devs created (MRTK) was very nice to use in other VR platforms (like the Quest). Unfortunately Microsoft laid off pretty much the whole mixed reality division last January, so the Hololens is presumed dead :(

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/microsoft-has-laid-off-entire-teams-behind-virtual-mixed-reality-and-hololens

Microsoft has laid off entire teams behind Virtual, Mixed Reality, and HoloLens

HoloLens, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality are all but dead at Microsoft.

Windows Central
Show threadMeltedLiquidJun 9, 2023

@stroughtonsmith Tale as old as time though, apple waits and waits, making their products as sleek and consumable as possible.

Honestly don't blame them, because it works like a charm every time.

Show threadOwenJun 9, 2023
@stroughtonsmith Agreed. HoloLens could have been a contender but Microsoft had no Vision (pun intended) 😎
Show threadMike CaneJun 11, 2023
@stroughtonsmith Great! So this means iPad Nano Duo is next!