VisionOS Updates from WWDC: Spatial Widgets & Realistic Personas

visionOS 26: Enhancements to Apple's Spatial Computing Platform

Apple has released updates for visionOS 26, the operating system that drives its innovative mixed reality headset. These improvements expand upon the capabilities initially introduced with the Apple Vision Pro spatial computer.

The Vision Pro seamlessly integrates digital content with the user’s surrounding physical environment, creating a unique computing experience.

Updates for All Users

Announced at WWDC, Apple detailed a variety of enhancements designed for both individual consumers and business users. These updates encompass new spatial widgets, expanded content offerings, and significant improvements to existing features.

Users can anticipate a more immersive and interactive experience with the introduction of new spatial widgets.

More Realistic Personas

A key area of focus has been the refinement of Personas, the digital representations of users within the visionOS environment. The updates aim to deliver more realistic and expressive Personas.

These enhanced Personas will contribute to more natural and engaging interactions during spatial FaceTime calls and other collaborative experiences.

Enterprise-Focused Improvements

Beyond consumer features, Apple is also delivering updates specifically tailored for enterprise applications. These enhancements are intended to unlock new possibilities for businesses leveraging the power of spatial computing.

The company is committed to expanding the utility of the Vision Pro within professional workflows.

Further details regarding the specific enterprise features were shared during the WWDC presentation.

Apple continues to refine and expand the capabilities of visionOS, solidifying its position in the emerging spatial computing landscape.

Personalized Spatial Widgets

Apple’s widgets are designed to deliver information that is both tailored to the user and readily accessible. The introduction of visionOS 26 brings a new dimension to these widgets, making them spatial in nature.

This means the widgets now integrate directly into the user’s physical environment. Users gain the ability to modify the widgets’ appearance, adjusting their size, color, and perceived depth.

Furthermore, placement is fully customizable, allowing users to position widgets precisely where they desire within their space.

New Widget Capabilities

Several new widgets are being introduced with this update. These include a highly customizable clock, allowing for personalized decoration.

A dynamic weather widget will provide real-time conditions based on the user’s current location. Quick access to music playback is also facilitated through a dedicated widget.

The photos widget offers innovative display options, capable of transforming images into expansive panoramas or simulating a “window” into another location.

These enhancements aim to provide a more immersive and interactive experience with information at a glance.

Enhancing 2D Images with Perceived Depth

A recent visionOS Photos application update incorporates an innovative AI-driven algorithm. This algorithm utilizes computational depth techniques to generate multiple viewpoints from standard 2D photographs.

The result is a more dynamic visual experience, effectively animating still images. Apple describes the effect as allowing users to virtually “peer into” and explore the image from different angles.

Immersive Web Browsing with Spatial Safari

Safari’s spatial browsing feature is also being refined to deliver a more engaging web experience. When activated with compatible web content, distractions are minimized.

Inline photographs within these articles are presented in a way that appears to dynamically respond as the user scrolls. Developers are also empowered to integrate spatial browsing capabilities into their own applications.

• This allows for a greater degree of customization and immersive content creation.
• The feature aims to bridge the gap between traditional 2D web content and the spatial computing environment of visionOS.

Computational depth is key to these advancements, offering a new dimension to how users interact with digital imagery.

Personas on Vision Pro: Enhanced Realism

Last year, Apple introduced Personas, an AI-generated avatar designed for video conferencing on the Vision Pro, initially as a beta functionality.

With the release of visionOS 2, Apple asserts that Personas now offer a significantly more authentic representation of the user.

Improvements in Persona Creation

The updated Personas leverage advancements in volumetric rendering and machine learning technology. These improvements impact various aspects of the avatar’s appearance.

Specifically, enhancements have been made to the depiction of the user’s profile, as well as the accuracy of details like hair, eyelashes, and skin tone.

On-Device Processing

Apple emphasizes that Persona creation remains a swift process, occurring entirely on the device itself.

The company states that a Persona can be generated in just a few seconds.

This on-device processing ensures both privacy and speed during avatar creation.

Shared Experiences with VisionOS

visionOS 26 introduces a new feature enabling collaborative viewing experiences. Users wearing compatible headsets can now enjoy movies or engage in spatial games together.

This functionality extends beyond entertainment, offering significant benefits for professional applications as well. It facilitates remote collaboration and shared visualization of projects.

Enterprise Applications

The collaborative capabilities are being actively adopted by enterprise clients. Dassault Systèmes, a leading 3D design software provider, is integrating this feature into its 3DLive application.

Through 3DLive, users can visualize complex 3D designs both locally and with remote team members, enhancing teamwork and design review processes.

This allows for a more immersive and interactive approach to design collaboration, regardless of physical location.

Enterprise APIs and Tools

With visionOS 26, organizations gain the capability to efficiently distribute devices from a shared inventory amongst their personnel.

Furthermore, the system now securely stores biometric data, including eye and hand tracking information, vision correction details, and accessibility preferences, directly on the user’s iPhone.

This allows for a seamless guest experience, enabling quick access to a shared team device or a friend’s Vision Pro.

Expanded API Support

Apple has committed to expanding its suite of APIs, facilitating the development of applications specifically tailored for the visionOS platform by enterprise developers.

A new privacy feature, termed “for your eyes only” mode, has been implemented to restrict access to sensitive information to authorized individuals only.

New Spatial Accessory

Apple also unveiled the Logitech Muse, a spatial accessory engineered for use with Vision Pro.

This accessory provides users with the ability to engage in precise 3D drawing and collaborative workflows within the headset environment.

Further Enhancements in visionOS 26

The Apple Vision Pro is set to receive additional capabilities through forthcoming Apple Intelligence integrations. Specifically, visionOS 26 introduces compatibility with a wider range of languages, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

Expanded English language support is also included, now extending to Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

New Interaction Methods

A novel interaction method has been implemented, allowing users to navigate applications and websites simply by directing their gaze – a feature known as “look to scroll.”

Furthermore, iPhone unlocking is now possible while the Apple Vision Pro is worn, even with the headset on.

Seamless Call Management

visionOS now facilitates the relaying of calls originating from the iPhone. This allows users to answer incoming calls directly through the Apple Vision Pro, enhancing connectivity.

This feature streamlines communication, providing a more integrated user experience between devices.