Key Takeaways
- Finally, visionOS 2.0 for Apple Vision Pro offers a customizable homescreen for a personalized AR/VR experience.
- Virtual Display enhancements include an ultrawide option equivalent to two 4K screens, perfect for extending your Mac’s display.
- Photos app now simulates 3D for older 2D photos, and Travel Mode expands to trains for a smoother commute experience.
Apple kicked off its WWDC 2024 keynote on Monday with news about visionOS 2.0, the next major update for its Vision Pro headset. The software is getting a series of significant upgrades, such as a long-demanded customizable homescreen. You’ll finally be able to reorder and/or remove app icons, which is obviously important given the personal nature of an AR/VR headset.
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We’ve tested some of the very best options on the market, including the Meta Quest 3, Oculus Quest 2, Apple Vision Pro, Pico 4, and HTC Vive Pro 2.
People using the headset to extend their Mac’s display are getting Virtual Display enhancements, mainly a new ultrawide option said to be equivalent to two 4K screens. The Photos app, meanwhile, is gaining the option to simulate 3D for older 2D photos by detecting and moving objects into their own planes. Travel Mode is being expanded to trains, which should keep content from shifting around on daily commutes.
Other changes include mouse support, a new Bora Bora environment, and new sharing options, namely SharePlay for Photos and an AirPlay receiver mode. Apple is promising a lot for the TV app, such as a Multiview option and a lot of new immersive content, one example being a music experience starring The Weeknd.
Work is also being done behind the scenes to support new app functions. These include new volumetric APIs, new enterprise APIs for tasks like healthcare, and a TabletopKit framework for anchoring apps like boardgames to flat surfaces. HealthKit is coming, as are new gesture types. A potential game-changer is Live Caption support for both apps and real-time conversations.
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