Meta unexpectedly beats Apple in the innovation war – but wait, there’s more!
I just finished watching Mark Zuckerberg’s keynote speech at Meta 2024 Connectiona company’s big deep dive into their technology and research. Think of it as the equivalent of Apple WWDC but for Meta technology.
Just a few weeks ago, I watched Apple’s annual event to launch new products. iPhone 16 and I can’t help but be struck by the contrast. Meta seems to be making a concerted effort to move toward the future. Apple, for the most part, seems to be going in the same direction.
Also: Meta Gets Some Big AI Changes at Meta Connect 2024
Well, that’s not really fair. Apple is constantly innovating and improving its products. The company invests heavily in engineering. But, with a few surprising exceptions, like AirPods Pro 2 Headphones currently available as hearing aidApple looks like it’s still the same with a new coat of paint.
In fact, the new AirPods Max are exactly that. All Apple has done is change port and add some new colors. I want to tell you more about Apple Intelligence on my new $1600 iPhone 16 Pro Maxwhich Apple claims is built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence. Except Apple Intelligence isn’t ready yet. Parts will be rolled out in a few releases.
Also: 6 Ways the New AirPods Max Could Be So Much Better
And then there’s Meta. I can understand why Zuckerberg changed the company’s name from Facebook because what we saw at Connect 2024 was more than just Facebook.
What I saw at Meta Connect 2024
First, we see the company confidently expanding its Quest product line. 3S Mission will be priced at $299 and shipping in October. It’s a cheaper version of the Quest 3, but it can do everything the Quest 3 can do, especially real-time navigation. That means you can see your surroundings and interact with them.
Meta also reduces the prices of higher end products Mission 3brought my $649 512GB model down to $500Zuckerberg ended the segment with an indirect dig at Apple’s extremely expensive Vision Pro devices. “We’re not just innovating to extend the state of the art,” he said. “We’re advancing and innovating to bring it to everyone.”
But there is more to it than that. There are Ray-Ban Meta Smart GlassesNow powered by Meta’s AI assistant, the glasses can instantly translate, remember things, recognize objects, and even act as eyes for the blind through Be my eyes partnership
Also: 4 interesting features of Ray-Ban smart glasses that Meta just announced at Connect 2024
Zuckerberg also introduced a development prototype of Project Orion. These are holographic glasses, where you look through actual lenses and a holographic image generator inserts graphics between your eyes and the lenses. They use hand gestures, voice recognition, and even a neural interface that records wrist movements.
But wait, there’s more. Zuckerberg showed off two powerful deep fake features from his Meta AI product that will make you question what’s real. First, Meta created an AI avatar of a real person, with the AI acting exactly as if you were talking to a real person over a video call. The lip movements, facial expressions, and head movements all seemed natural and authentic.
Also: How Apple, Google, and Microsoft Can Save Us From Deepfake AI
Zuckerberg then introduced a real-time translation voiceover feature for Reels, where you can record a clip in English, but the software will show you speaking in Spanish (and vice versa). Again, all facial and lip movements are perfectly synced to the voice.
Apple Vision Pro vs. Meta Quest
Apple Vision Pro has some much more advanced capabilities and features than the Quest 3. But as i discussed earlierAnd at one-seventh the price, the Quest 3 is a better product overall.
Meta, with products like the Quest 3S, seems to be relentless in pushing its products into consumer acceptance, while Apple seems content to just have bragging rights over a concept demo that sells for $3,500.
Zuckerberg gave a very powerful demo and it was clear that he was quite pleased with the work his company is doing on mixed reality and AI. While Llama Code And Super AI performed poorly in my programming testThe company’s AI demo was impressive.
The fact that Meta is releasing its LLM to the public while Apple keeps things very private is also a strong statement about the company. artificial intelligence effort.
Also: 10 Intelligence Features Apple Needs to Really Compete with OpenAI and Google
That said, there has been Rumors that budgets have been cut at Reality LabsMeta operations are responsible for creating mixed reality devices.
A warning to me
There is still one key difference between Apple and Meta, at least for me. My productivity revolves around Apple devices in the Apple ecosystem (with a little help from Linux and Windows). Meta, and I’m including Facebook and Instagram here, doesn’t help me create work product, other than posting updates to social media regularly.
Basically, Apple makes me money. Meta doesn’t. So my budget for Apple expenses will reflect that, and I’m sure many other Apple customers will too.
Also: You Can Buy 11 Meta Quest 3S Headsets for the Price of One Apple Vision Pro
Still, it’s been a while since we’ve seen Apple deliver a groundbreaking homerun. Meta, with its Quest line, Ray-Bans, and upcoming Project Orion, could have a grand slam on its hands.
A year ago, I never thought I’d say this. But Meta’s announcement is much more interesting than Apple’s current announcement.
While Apple continues to refine and perfect its ecosystem with incremental improvements, Meta is taking bold steps into the future with innovations in mixed reality and AI.
Also: Meta Quest 3 Review: The VR Headset Most People Should Buy in 2024
Zuckerberg’s company seems more focused on pushing boundaries, while Apple seems content to maintain its position of high productivity and quality.
Meta’s vision may still have to be fully realized, but the ambition is undeniable. Meta is trying to create a new platform, and if mixed reality becomes as widespread as Zuckerberg thinks it will, it will disrupt desktops and smartphones. It’s something Apple should take note of before it becomes a too late.
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