Also:https://hacks.mozilla.org/2022/03/a-new-year-a-new-mdn/
This isn't what's planned. They will not be charging for user-generated content including all content currently available on MDN. They will be charging for additional in-depth articles as well as some "premium" features when it comes to personalization and easier off-line use[0].
[0] and of course nobody will prevent you from rolling our own such features or even a competing MDN-like site, as the content is available under CC-BY-SA-2.5 on github.
Wow, I haven't encountered such an obvious technological fad since 3D TV was a thing, and I'm quite sure the "3D web" such as it is will meet the same fate. It has all the same markers too:
- a stalling industry desperately looking for a new revenue stream: check
- heavily locked down content tied to expensive hardware: check
- aggressively pushing an unwanted product that doesn't do anything anyone really needs: check
1/ Hubs and spoke (https://hubs.mozilla.com/spoke) are trying to solve the problem of how to composite and deliver 3D assets over web protocol.
1.1/ Unlike jpegs that can be passively embedded into web pages, 3D assets requires active interactions with other objects.
1.2/ Traditionally, we need a 3D game engine to pack all the assets into one big binary, then build and ship the binary over cartridge, DVD, or recently Steam.
1.3/ Spoke + Hubs is the new web-based 3D engine, which can potentially revolutionize how we create and access 3D content.
2/ Being a popular, open source, and independent browser company gives Mozilla the position of leading the effort to standardize the convention of the 3D Web.
3/ This is low level tech and worth investing in. Also Mozilla makes decent money (> $500M each year) and this is something they can comfortably afford.
4/ Virtual meeting space is just one use case. Admittedly Hubs' implementation is less than super well polished, but I don't know whether they want to be the 3D Zoom in the long run. But I will say it's pretty neat if we treat it like a tech demo for their Web-based 3D engine.