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Steve Jobs on Virtual Reality (D3, 2005)

Steve Jobs on Virtual Reality (D3, 2005) on HackerTube: recommended by 1 Hacker News commenter across 1 month, 2023–2026.

Milan Lajtoš

interview · evergreen

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A one-minute clip of Steve Jobs at the D3 conference in 2005 discussing virtual reality. He compares VR headsets to headphones for video, an analogy later applied to Apple's Vision Pro.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN commenters cite it in Vision Pro and AR threads as Jobs's concise take that a headset is like headphones for video.

people recommended it
1
separate months
1
strong recommendations
0
discussed on HN
2023–2026
“I think of the AVP like Steve Jobs once described: headphones for video”
— JeremyHerrman, May 2026, in “Ask HN: Is anyone working at least 4 hours daily on an Apple Vision Pro?”

What HN commenters said

4 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

GeeeJun 2025Recommends

VR / AR will definitely replace desktop / stationary computers, but they need to be as lightweight as headphones. Steve Jobs said it best (also his opinion of the current Vision Pro at the very end): ▶ this video

in “Apple's Liquid Glass is prep work for AR interfaces, not just a design refresh” · View on HN

JeremyHerrmanMay 2026Cites it

I think of the AVP like Steve Jobs once described: headphones for video [0] I use it a few hours a day, a few times a week exclusively as a virtual display for my macbook. Being able to put a huge virtual monitor anywhere is the killer feature and I don't tend to use it for anything else. It's indispensable on flights where laptop lids can't even fully open. Apple got the interactions just about perfect for AR window management, etc. Of course the main drawbacks are the weight, size, and overall embarrassment from having a giant face computer strapped to your head. I don't find it very comfortable for more than a couple hours at time, at least with the solo knit band + the belking head strap. I'd like to get a dual knit band at some point. But when this sort of hardware gets miniaturized I think many people will prefer it to hunching over a laptop screen. Just like headphones, wearing glasses while typing at a black screen could signal "Do not disturb, I'm working here" [0] Steve Jobs on Virtual Reality (D3, 2005) ▶ this video

in “Ask HN: Is anyone working at least 4 hours daily on an Apple Vision Pro?” · View on HN

al_borlandJan 2024Cites it

▶ this video Seems like Walt Mossberg made the girl comment in this video where Jobs is talking about headphones for video. Mossberg also made fun of Dell’s large phone, saying it was like holding a waffle up to your head, and the market proved him wrong there. These devices, in their current form, aren’t something to wear while walking around town, like someone might do with headphones.

in “YouTube and Spotify won't launch Apple Vision Pro apps, joining Netflix” · View on HN

neillyonsJun 2023Cites it

I don't think the experience needs to be shared. Steve Jobs was making a comparison to headphones ▶ this video That is the way I think of it. A pair of headphones for your eyes.

in “Here’s what Mark Zuckerberg thinks about Apple’s Vision Pro headset” · View on HN

Topics & tags

VR, AR & spatial computingTech pioneers & interviewssteve jobsvision provrapplespatial computing