• kava@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    It’s sort of like how YouTube ran at a loss for a long time. The idea is to get ingrained in the market and make up the money later.

    Right now Meta has the best VR / AR that is easily accessible. If some new idea or technology catapults VR into a more popular position, then Meta is in a prime position to take advantage.

    Will that happen? I don’t know, but Meta seems to think so.

    • LEDZeppelin@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Meta is the only reason I’m staying away from their AR/VR headsets. If it was any other company, I would have jumped in by now.

    • Gigan@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I don’t think the technology is there yet. As long as people need to wear big bulky goggles and headsets it’s not going to take off. Make something that’s about as cumbersome as sunglasses and less than $1000 and there might be mass adoption.

      • SebKra@feddit.de
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        8 months ago

        March 2023 they sold 20M Quests. Half as many as PS5. That counts as “taken off” in my book.

        • Gigan@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Wow, I’m shocked it’s that high. I’ve never heard of someone using one.

          • kava@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            Everyone in my family has one. We play ping pong. It’s cool, you feel like you’re in the room with someone even when they are many miles away.

            Having said that, I believe most of the users are minors. Whenever I log into a multilayer game, there are children taking.

            Besides ping pong, there’s Best Saber and 3d jigsaw puzzles. Outside of that, I haven’t really had much fun outside of occasional shooting / archery.

            It sucks that it’s owned by Facebook of course. I deleted my Facebook over 10 years ago now. I had to set it up with my girlfriend’s Facebook account.

            • Gigan@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              Everyone in my family has one. We play ping pong.

              This reads like a joke. 50 years of technological development and people are just playing hi-tech pong.

        • n3m37h@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          Daily active users are a much better indicator of success.

          Halo infinite had a peak player count if 272,000. Now it sees DAU of only 3,000

        • fartsparkles@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          It depends what the tie ratio / attach rate is for the device and whether owners maintain usage of the device or whether it’s a novelty that wears off over time and the device gathers dust.

      • RaoulDook@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        VR is already great today, and lots of us are enjoying it. I know several people with VR systems.

      • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
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        8 months ago

        I agree that the tech isn’t there, but unless we figure out some new physics it’s going to be impossible to put enough battery, computing power, and cooling capacity in something the size of sunglasses. So the tech for VR like we really want is at least 20 years away, if not more.

          • unconfirmedsourcesDOTgov@lemmy.sdf.org
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            8 months ago

            This requires an Apple iPhone XR or newer, as the face scan utilizes the TrueDepth sensor.

            Am I wrong in my reading that this hardware product is only available for people who already own and use an iPhone XR or newer? It seemed neat until I got to that bit…

            • Dasus@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              I don’t own one nor do I know anyone who does, but as far as I’ve understood it from casual Googling the product, you just have to find one to use it to submit a scan of your face so they can mold the thing properly. So it’s more like you have to lend an iPhone for 5 minutes from someone/somewhere, which while being annoying, hardly seems like an obstacle to me when considering those.

              Idk why they don’t have an app for Android based phones (fuck iPhones) but it’s a small-ish company which is making them and I imagine there are things about software development I’m unaware of so I couldn’t say “they should just have the app in Google Play store as well” as if it were that simple with 3D-scanning.

              • unconfirmedsourcesDOTgov@lemmy.sdf.org
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                8 months ago

                You’re right, it’s not an insurmountable obstacle, I think I was just feeling petulant about seeing another product with a sign next to it saying basically, “you must be this invested in the Apple ecosystem to ride”.

                Let’s be real though, it’s already a better option than what Apple is offering for $3500, so I’m sure they will get some traction before being bought out.

                Lastly, because you underscored the point I was making, fuck iPhones.

      • Dasus@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I’m waiting for more Bigscreen Beyond class weight headsets. 127 grams.

        But it’s tethered and the headset itself is ~1000, and you need the stations and controllers as well.

    • empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      8 months ago

      See also: Meta’s recent opening of their vr headset OS to other hardware manufacturers.
      They don’t give a shit about profit at this stage as long as they control it and can use it to suppress the development of any kind of competitors.

    • makyo@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      There are a lot of problems keeping VR from going big and I think Meta’s strategy of cornering the market is one of them. They think if they get all the exclusives they’ll be the next iPhone but I think instead they’re fragmenting an already tiny market which really needs a bunch of impressive experiences (and there still aren’t a ton right now, even after years of VR development). I feel like the reverse would win them more users - they should win on hardware AND software but make their software available for any VR headset to use. Because right now they need to help create a market for VR because there really isn’t one worth cornering yet.

      • madasi@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        8 months ago

        They just announced that they opened up the OS for other manufacturers to use. I know Asus/ROG is supposed to have a headset in the works using the OS.

        • n3m37h@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          So they want to be the Microcrap of the VR world?

          Nah I’m good, let me know when we get a Linux of the VR world

            • n3m37h@sh.itjust.works
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              8 months ago

              Its probably great but when you need to set up a specific room, it makes it inaccessible for most people

              • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                ??? You don’t need a specific room. Quest doesn’t need any beacons or wires.

                I don’t like Facebook, never had a Facebook account and refused to buy their VR until they removed the Facebook account requirement 2 years ago.

                But the hardware is excellent for the price. Facebook is selling the hardware at a loss and making it up in software sales. So you are hurting Facebook by buying their hardware and using it with Steam.

                • n3m37h@sh.itjust.works
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                  8 months ago

                  Sorry, was referring to Valve Index. Did not realize you can use SteamVR on on the Quest

            • n3m37h@sh.itjust.works
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              8 months ago

              That is not what I was referring to. Meta loves to invade our privacy like Microcrap

              Sadly SteamVR needs a large open space to work effectively which makes it inaccessible to the vast majority.

              • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                SteamVR is a software store. It has nothing to do with whether the hardware needs beacons in the room or wires.

                You can play SteamVR racing sims at your desk. If it’s a standing game, you push a button and then draw virtual borders on the floor wherever you are to define the play space.

          • k_tx@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            That would be Valve‘s Deckard, I suppose. Would be nice if that would materialize at some point soon.

            But even a „windows equivalent“ HorizonOS would be an improvement in the standalone headset space if that meant I could choose between HMD vendors and carry over all my software.

      • ColonelPanic@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        The index is better overall and I love mine, but I can’t help but feel jealous that someone can just grab their quest, put it on and get into VR immediately. I have to cart my PC downstairs, turn the base stations on, find the index and wire it all up, troubleshoot why Windows has decided to mess up the drivers and now nothing works, and maybe half an hour later finally get into a game or completely give up and try again another time.

        The quest gains a lot in portability and ease of setup, and that does result in a lot of other features being sacrificed but to most people the downsides don’t matter as much.

  • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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    8 months ago

    I’m surprised they made 440m. However, investing in r+d is not unusual. This amount is not a huge investment for them based in overall revenue.

    • AdamEatsAss@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      If you report a loss you don’t pay taxes. Or something like that I’m not an accountant.

    • flerp@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      Yeah. Come back in 10-15 years when half the world is using it or a successive product and people will be posting articles like these laughing at them like they do with the ones saying the internet or cell phones will never catch on and surprisingly no one will open up and admit they were the ones denying it would come. Meta has the money, they don’t care how much they spend, as long as they can get in and corner the market early they will make it back many times over in the years to come… assuming climate change or nukes don’t make it impossible of course.

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    8 months ago

    So what? R&D expenses aren’t supposed to turn an immediate profit. Developing a new technology can take years before it’s earning money, and some never do. I’m all aboard the “hate meta” train, but that’s nothing.

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    8 months ago

    As others have said, the implication in this article’s title is silly… Surely an r&d phase start easily explains this

    What I’m curious about is how you spend that much money in such little time? Was that money actually spent or just committed?

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        8 months ago

        indeed… you’d expect big bucks on the D part… new factory, going for mass production, etc… and even then, you can only build so fast

  • Gigan@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I can’t believe I’m saying this, but these companies need to pay more taxes. Losing $3.9 billion dollars on a stupid vanity project because they have nothing else to spend it on is ridiculous. Higher taxes would at least force them to be more efficient.

    • Heresy_generator@kbin.social
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      8 months ago

      You’re not really talking about higher taxes, you’re talking about reworking the corporate tax system. As things stand now higher taxes would encourage more of this sort of behavior, not less.

      Corporations only pay taxes on profits, so money spent on business activities, re-invested back into the company, paid to employees, etc. is not taxed. In this system, taxes are kind of a penalty paid for taking money out of the business; the higher taxes are the less incentivized profit-taking is.

      If your company made $100 million in profits at a 20% tax rate you get to take home $80 million as opposed to re-investing $100 million back in the company and not paying any taxes, so the incentive to re-invest isn’t very high. But if your company made $100 million in profits at a 40% tax rate now you can only take home $60 million as opposed to re-investing $100 million, which becomes a much better value proposition on re-investment.

      • SupahRevs@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Whether VR works for Meta or not, they have invested in technology and built careers for employees. This is why we should have corporate taxes. I’d rather see corporations keep employees and advance technology instead of giving dividends to the wealthiest people in the world. While the product might not work out, I bet there are many people who worked on it that will take those skills to new projects.

      • Neuromancer@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Many people have no clue how taxes work, but darn it, they wanted them raised. It just encourages other behaviors, such as offshoring money, as many companies do. We really need a complete write of the tax code to encourage paying workers well, creating jobs, etc and less focus on avoiding paying the taxes. I don’t care if a company makes billions in profit if their workers are all paid well, treated well, etc. We will make it up with them having money to spend in the economy.

        I am still not convinced VR is a worthy technology outside of a few niche uses. I went to the verge when that was open and that was pretty cool. At home is nothing like that.

    • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      Investment is good. Public policy is usually designed to encourage it that’s why investment has good tax avoidance that is exactly what the government wants.

  • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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    8 months ago

    You reckon Apple made money on it’s VR division either?

    Almost nobody is making big money on VR, because nobody wants to work together to make it into a widely compatible common standard. If you could have one headset that worked on all platforms, for a reasonable price, you’d get a lot more take up, and nicer headsets costing more would make more sense.

      • Corhen@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Meta is valued at 1.12 Trillion, which, sure, is only ~1/2 of Apples 2.6 Trillion… but Meta could invest in VR for the next 20 years without feeling the pain.

        I do love my Q2 and Q3, and hope they keep pushing VR forward, which is the main (maybe only) reason i was happy to see apple join the competition.

      • ultranaut@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Take a look at Meta revenue numbers, they can afford billions in R&D investment just fine. I’m not sure what market share you’re talking about but there’s plenty of money for them to afford the VR research they do.

  • ReallyActuallyFrankenstein@lemmynsfw.com
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    8 months ago

    It’s maybe unpopular, but I agree that if you’re going to leverage your success to make a bet on the next big thing, VR/AR is a great choice. I agree it’s inevitable that many computing interfaces will eventually become a personalized virtual space, and AR will eventually become a permanent way to add our “computer brains’” data to our vision.

    Obviously we’re not there yet. And there’s always going to be a contingent that thinks that future will never come. But I do think it’ll come, when that one thing or things we need VR/AR to do and can’t seem to imagine life without are eventually found. Zuck doesn’t know where the inflection point is going to happen but he’s positioning Meta to be in the ideal place to own the space. He seems to know it may not happen for a long time. He’s gambling he can afford to wait for it, which is a bet I’d take.

  • VirtualOdour@sh.itjust.works
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    8 months ago

    Business lesson, : never build a factory because it won’t pay for itself in the first year.

    And yes I know it’s hard to hear but Meta’s vr is doing really well in the areas they targeted, industry, academia, and special use. This is likely to end up a profitable part of their business for a long time.

    • kellenoffdagrid❓️@lemmy.sdf.org
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      8 months ago

      Yeah unfortunately I agree, as much as I dread knowing Meta’s going to be behind a lot of the VR/AR developments as it gets more common, this isn’t really an indication that they screwed up. They’re not the first company I’d want to lead the VR market but it looks like they will be regardless.

    • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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      8 months ago

      Well he’s missing the point then. He wants to be on the software side of things not the hardware side.

      They need to actually create a decent experience and then make it accessible to everyone. That’s how you make money.

      • yamanii@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        The quest probably has the best experience though, it’s really easy to setup and works both standalone or connected to PC via cable or wifi 6, there really isn’t anything as easy and accessible as it.

  • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
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    8 months ago

    I know it’s apples to oranges and what not, but there’s a lot of life changing things you could do for a lot of people with that kind of money.

    As a society the way we allocate resources is stupid.

  • Fedizen@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    its like they have too much money and they’re burning it away on bad ideas. Imagine how much public housing that money could have built.

    • Savaran@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I mean, you do understand that this money isn’t just vanishing right? It’s being spent on people, manufacturing, materials. It doesn’t just vanish into nothing.

      • Black_Gulaman@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        8 months ago

        yeah it gets distributed in the economy and gets absorbed in the system. at least it’s not being hoarded or funneled outside the country.

        the other poster is just parroting things they do not understand.

      • Fedizen@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Its also drawing real resources away from other things. The real estate used on these luxury failures had other potential buyers and raises costs across the board as it competes for chip factory space, marketing, etc.

        If the money was taxed out of circulation it actually does essentially vanish, increasing the value of every remaining dollar if the state budget remains unchanged - its the easiest way to reduce inflation.

        These big corporations with lots of money do affect everyone when they make big stupid decisions - resources get misallocated and costs go up. Money doesn’t exist in a void, the things people do with it have real world effects.

    • Croquette@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      They have the best VR headset in the market. The only problem is that it’s also mining all your data.

        • OADINC@feddit.nl
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          8 months ago

          It’s the best for normal users (price vs performance), not for VR pros or the best experience possible.

          Mandatory: fuck Facebook / Meta

          • Vash63@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            That’s because they’re losing billions selling it. If it cost what it actually took to produce it wouldn’t be the best on the market anymore, they’re trying to bully out players who can’t afford to lose billions for years until they’re in total control.

        • Croquette@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          Is it the cheapest? I don’t follow VR much anymore.

          I agree being the best is subjective, but the UX is impeccable.

          Pull out the helmet, setup the guardian and you can play pretty much anywhere.

          • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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            8 months ago

            Ok, so it sounds like you put a lot of value on a standalone experience. So something like a Switch or phone for gaming instead of a gaming PC.

            That seems to be the area they win at. They don’t have the best image, refresh rate, or tracking accuracy, but they are easy to get going with, and it’s inexpensive relative to other options.

            • Croquette@sh.itjust.works
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              8 months ago

              To me, the biggest strength is how small the headset is and the fact that you don’t need to dedicate a room to VR with sensors.

              I put a lot of value on how easy it is to setup. When VR first started, I had a dedicated 7x7 space with a pulley system so that the wires wouldn’t get in the way. My computer had to be near as well.

              If I had a mansion, I would definitely use a better headset, but if we want a better VR adoption, then it needs to be accessible to as many people as possible.

    • tal@lemmy.today
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      8 months ago

      I doubt public housing would have made a fantastic return either.

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        8 months ago

        If all you care about is money, then yeah sure. If you actually give a shit about humanity the return would be absolutely immense for society.

        • xpinchx@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Think about it longer term… All the people struggling at the bottom now have secure housing. More money is free for nutrition, hygiene, they can get better jobs or afford schooling… Trades or higher education. More people have a chance to escape poverty and contribute production, get more money to spend, more money gets out into local economies. So and so forth. It’s a good idea.

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        8 months ago

        They shouldn’t have that amount of disposable income in the first place, and a good portion should have been tax money. If that money were invested in public housing the return would be massive.

      • flerp@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Really? You don’t think that building solid foundations for people to get on their feet and start making more money themselves, money that they can turn around and spend on more products, would have a fantastic return? The benefit for the economy would be immense but corporations can’t write that into their spreadsheets changing their bottom line so it “doesn’t count”

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    8 months ago

    Honestly love to see Meta losing money. Zuck is a parasite on this nation. A cancer.