Apple took years to give birth Vision Proand yet visionOSthe device’s operating system, looks like a barely rough alpha version. visionOS 2.0, presented during WWDC and offered to developers in the form of a beta, is not a revolution: it integrates functions that should have been part of version 1.0! However, let’s not deny ourselves the pleasure: the new features are welcome, some of them greatly improving the daily use of the Vision Pro.
Bora-Bora daily life
This is the case with new gestures. It is now possible to display the home screen by opening your hand: a small virtual button is displayed, which you can “click” with your fingers. Flipping the wrist, visionOS presents a small window with the time, battery and sound level; You can access the control center directly by clicking on this window. No more need to roll your eyes, which was the old “gesture” to summon the control center!
The home screen is benefiting from a new function that is as basic as it is essential: the reorganization of application icons! As incredible as it may seem, the operating system arranged apps in alphabetical order without any options. Will we have to wait for visionOS 3.0 to be able to create app folders? Let’s hope not.
In this same chapter of productivity, let’s welcome the display of the physical keyboard in an immersive environment! So sure, it’s limited to Apple keyboards and the camera could do a better job of showing the entire device. But it’s a significant leap forward for anyone who wants to work with their Vision Pro while being completely immersed in the Moon… or in Bora Bora, the new environment that feels like working on the beach. Disorienting! Please note: in addition to the Magic Trackpad, the headset is also compatible with Bluetooth mice. When we were talking about basic functions…
Unfortunately, it’s not yet possible to test the Mac’s new virtual screen display: it will be able to transform into an ultra-wide-angle monitor equivalent to two 4K screens side by side. An update is planned for later this year for this already highly anticipated feature.
Still on the side of practical functions: in Safari, videos from YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video and other streaming services can be displayed in separate windows. The browser interface disappears completely, allowing you to fully enjoy the video. Yes, it’s the equivalent of the picture-in-picture feature that YouTube charges for elsewhere…
Beyond these productive features, Apple has not forgotten the more flashy new features: the already mentioned Bora-Bora environment, and especially the 3D transfer of 2D photos. This process adds depth to any photo, including those that were not taken in portrait format. And the results are truly amazing: the relief is really high quality, the main subject “jumps out” at the eye. Of course, it doesn’t look as good on the screenshots below, but it gives you a little idea:
visionOS 2.0 also improves SharePlay sharing features with Persona virtual avatars during a call. It’s the spatial and connected equivalent of slideshow parties with friends… Friends with whom it will be easier to share a Vision Pro, the guest user function can save the configuration data for a guest’s eyes and hands for 30 days. No more need to repeat the whole process every time you pass the headset.
Taken separately, these new features are nothing really exceptional, but as a whole, they end up representing a solid 2.0 update for visionOS. It is understood that Apple would have been better off integrating them from version 1.0, but what matters is that they will be available very soon.
However, does visionOS 2.0 transform the user experience to the point of making the headset an essential everyday item? It is certainly much more pleasant to work with these new functions, but the platform itself is still very young and incomplete. The absence of numerous applications – starting with those from Apple: Pages, Numbers, Logic, etc. – and the lack of immersive content are still major obstacles to overcome. To put it another way: visionOS 2.0 is not enough to justify the cost of the Vision Pro, even if we must recognize Apple’s efforts.
Lire : A month with the Vision Pro: has Apple’s headset changed our lives?
To not miss any news from 01net, follow us on Google News and WhatsApp.
