Bloomberg bets on VR
Bloomberg is back again with a story about Apple that is almost certainly wrong - claiming that Apple will release a VR headset in 2022.
Apple isn’t looking to create an iPhone-like hit for its first headset. Instead, the company is building a high-end, niche product that will prepare outside developers and consumers for its eventual, more mainstream AR glasses.
As a mostly virtual reality device, it will display an all-encompassing 3-D digital environment for gaming, watching video and communicating. AR functionality, the ability to overlay images and information over a view of the real world, will be more limited.
Almost everything about VR is unlike what Apple represents:
- The most common case for VR is gaming. And while Apple excels at mobile gaming; VR is more similar to a desktop gaming experience - which Apple lags in.
- VR is an individual, but isolating experience. Almost everything Apple offers today is personal, but personal in a way that helps the individual more fully interact with their world.
- And most importantly, VR induces sickness in more than 20% of women and around 10% of men. It seems very unlikely for Apple to sell a device that makes so many people sick.
The article continues with more incredible ideas:
The company has also designed the headset with a fan, something the company usually tries to avoid on mobile products, the people said.
No, they will not sell a headset that has a fan.
To further reduce the device’s weight, Apple is planning to use a fabric exterior.
No.
By developing a less mainstream initial headset, Apple can invest in the underlying technologies, consumer education, content development and developer relations to give its eventual AR glasses the best opportunity to be successful — when they are ready.
Apple has already been doing this for years, by building AR into the iPhone and iPad. They don’t need to release a less mainstream headset to accomplish these goals.
Wide screen view of Sonic 2
The level design is wonderful. In this wide-screen view, it becomes clear that Sonic is a virtual roller coaster masquerading as a 2-D side-scroller.The SOC2 Starting Seven
Industry people talk about SOC2 a lot, and it’s taken on a quasi-mystical status, not least because it’s the product of the quasi-mystical accounting industry. But what it all boils down to is: eventually you’ll run into big-company clients demanding a SOC2 report to close a sale.
The future of work arrived early.
I heard this during our board meeting yesterday, and to me, it perfectly captures what we’re all experiencing right now: distance learning and remote working, micro-mobility, and a massive tech adoption across every demographic.
As Covid-19 impacts every aspect of our work and life, we have seen two years' worth of digital transformation in two months.
-Satya Nadella
Universal Healthcare
In an alternate timeline, leadership passed universal healthcare. The President, marking the signing of this historic bill, tweeted, “Access to quality health care is a basic human right!”
The United States was the last developed country that failed to offer health care coverage for all of its citizens.
Wi-Fi-6
Looks like I might be buying a new router this year.How long will this last?
95% of the nation is under stay-at-home orders - and we’d like to know when this will end. What follows are thought on the actions taken to date re: COVID-19, how long we may continue under physical distancing, and some information of how that might change with the addition of a vaccine or similar therapy.I’m thinking about investing in business casual sweatpants. Any suggestions?
Deploying Hugo to S3 via Bitbucket
I’m really happy with my recent switch to Hugo.io for my personal site. Full automation is Forestry.io, to Bitbucket, which uses Pipelines to upload to S3. Smooth.Playstation 5
Looks like the future.
![playstation 5 controller]( "Playstation 5 controller")
Excalidraw
Excalidraw is a fantastic paper prototyping tool. It’s easy to use and produces visually pleasing work. Even better, it’s open source, MIT-licensed and free to use.Steve, you will be missed
Over the weekend, my good friend and mentor, Steve Nordberg, passed away.
Early in my career, Steve took a chance on me to become a software developer. I had no experience and not much in the way of credentials, but despite the early stage VUE was at (few customers and building a testing system in nine months), he was willing to take me on as an intern.
Steve provided guidance and counsel to me as I took on challenges and increasing responsibility. But, it wasn’t just me. For many, he was a person that you could call to get clear advice on almost any business challenge.
This is because Steve’s superpower was the ability to identify the simplest solution possible. He had this incredible ability to get to the heart of the problem. To take a complex problem, and identify the crux of the issue - and to make it understandable for others.
Steve was a terrific friend and someone I could count on throughout my career.
But most of all, I will forever be indebted to him for believing in me - in the beginning and beyond.
Steve, you will be missed.
![Image of Steve on ski slope]( "Steve skiing iconic")
Why Structural
I recently joined Structural (structural.com), the Employee Success Platform. Moving to a startup has long been a dream of mine. But, the right one needed to be… well, right. So, what follows are a few reasons why I chose Structural.Good bye VUE, and thank you
To my colleagues at VUE, This past Friday was my last day at Pearson VUE - marking the end of over two decades. Together, we have built a terrific company - one that ensures the public safety, one that helps people achieve their life’s goals, and one that assists people in achieving professional success.Lean Startup: using the Validation Board
The Lean Startup Validation Board is a one-page tool created by Lean Startup Machine. It’s a terrific way to test early stage ideas. All too often we as engineers have an idea and then immediately jump into building. In the past, I’ve spent months (in one case years) of my time and/or money building something that wasn’t viable. Three different times. And I’m not alone.Sharing constructive feedback using a 3-step approach
This approach is easy to remember and works for many situations, not just the tough ones. If you’re in a situation where you are having difficulty coming up with the right words to say, or the issue has grown large enough to become the big talk, or if you just want a simple way to broach an uncomfortable conversation, then start with this approach.Giving feedback - don't wait until it turns into the big talk
Direct literally means “with nothing in between” and that’s exactly what you should strive for. What this means in practice is that you get to the point and you clearly say what you intend.Five clear actions to take as a first-time tech leader
As a new leader, one of the best things you can do is to meet regularly with your direct team members. Establish these so that they are weekly, consistent, for about half an hour, and in a private setting.
