I have to admit. I'm kinda in love with ML's headset. It looks kinda like a bug faced gadget from a super hero movie, but after reading about what I'm looking at and how it works, I'm seeing many more applications than what today's headsets of any reality can do. It's now currently the most advanced and impressive headset to go on the market, at least in creator edition, which is a huge step forward this early in development of immersive technologies in general. I'm very impressed. It's kinda ugly, but this is the first version. Considering where we are, this is amazing. What their headset can do is f*cking amazing from what I've been reading....
For example, this is the first AR headset that allows you to see graphics that are not transparent. You can't see through the projections. That is beautiful...and Earth shaking. The future is now! This is it folks. Let the hype machine start rolling because this is hype worthy progress...
This raises the bar really high for Apple, which is good, because they have this reputation of being the best and now there's a new contender, forcing them to be even more innovative. Without ML's unique light field technology, I wonder how they will compete though....
It has been known that they have the best 'retina projector' in the industry and that method is not unique to ML, but
they are the only one going public with their work.
That makes it probably the best publicized imaging system.
The image is fed from the edge of the lens and reflected to the eye from the outer curve of the lens.
But I would not count on 'not fully transparent' unless you are in lower light levels. Not a sunny day.
But they are not the only folks that have been working on the same. Just the most famous by choice.
My only problem with them is the hype of 'size, cost and timeline'.
It's a pretty big deal if they can deliver that quality in a everyday wearable package at a cost under $2K
And I'm figuring that they are using a external pack for much of the electronics/battery.
That gets the heat and battery away from the head for a lighter more comfy experience.
I'm willing to bet that the looks of this are a model target and not a actual working device until we see someone try one on.
Apple's will likely be a 'plug-in' device to it's iPhone X and will be much less expensive since most already own half the required hardware. But perhaps a wireless option to it that I doubt because of battery drain.
Personally, I find this the biggest game changer over the next year (actually delivered at a affordable cost)
https://www.roadtovr.com/pimax-completes-15m-series-funding-round/
This and Oculus GO. Beating the cost/quality on the high and low ends.