Home > Media News > Mark Zuckerberg criticizes Apple's ecosystem, saying metaverse should be 'open'

Mark Zuckerberg criticizes Apple's ecosystem, saying metaverse should be 'open'
14 Oct, 2022 / 10:02 AM / OMNES Media LLC

Source: http://www.mashable.com

1185 Views

Mashable:He firmly believed that an "open, interoperable metaverse" would be beneficial for all parties involved.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, argued that the metaverse should be "open," this time taking aim at Apple and its rumored mixed reality headset.

Despite rumors to the contrary, Zuckerberg is not convinced that Apple will release a headset in the near future. Meta unveiled its new virtual reality headset on Tuesday, while Apple's AR/VR headset won't be available until 2023.

In an interview with the Verge, Zuckerberg went into more detail about why he thinks Meta's VR ecosystem is better than Apple's work in the field.

In discussing the evolution of open and closed ecosystems in computing, Zuckerberg noted that "closed ecosystems focus on tight control and integration" and that these platforms end up appropriating a lion's share of the value generated. Still, Zuckerberg made it clear that Meta has different priorities when it comes to the metaverse.

He firmly believed that an "open, interoperable metaverse" (one that can be accessed and used by multiple developers and businesses) would be beneficial for all parties involved. The most important thing for Zuckerberg is not the most advanced hardware, but rather a freely accessible ecosystem. As both companies work on the future of what he calls the "metaverse," Meta's CEO has declared that his company is in a "philosophical competition" with Apple.

But this doesn't mean that Facebook's metaverse will definitely use blockchain technology, be compatible with NFT assets created on public blockchain platforms like Ethereum and Solana, or even support cryptocurrencies. However, this does show that Meta isn't claiming to be the metaverse's primary or even exclusive constructor.

The executive cited competition between personal computers and Apple's Mac computers, as well as between Android and iOS, as an example of how Apple tries to lock users into its ecosystem while other platforms can work together to reap the benefits of their joint efforts. He argued for the need for a large number of developers and companies to work together to create the metaverse.

Since Apple already has complete control over the iPhone, which is used by billions of people around the world, Zuckerberg claims that the company can hurt both competitors and consumers with its rumored mixed reality headset. He made a statement about Apple, saying, "The things that they're doing are not as altruistic as they claim to be."

As it develops its metaverse platform, Meta has collaborated with companies like Microsoft, Autodesk, and Accenture. One of the company's bets to bring more people into the metaverse is the new Meta Quest Pro.