Apple’s Vision Pro Receives Major visionOS 26 Update
Apple has officially launched the much-anticipated visionOS 26 update for its innovative Vision Pro spatial computing headset. As was announced last week, this upgrade is part of Apple’s commitment to enhancing user experiences across its devices.
A New Naming Convention: visionOS 26
Contrary to what some might have expected, the update is named visionOS 26 instead of visionOS 3. This change is part of a substantial revision in Apple’s versioning system, coinciding with simultaneous releases of other platforms, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and macOS 26 Tahoe.
Innovative Features of visionOS 26
An exciting aspect of visionOS 26 is its incorporation of Apple’s Liquid Glass design language, which provides a sleek, glass-like aesthetic throughout the user interface. This update introduces noteworthy features, including augmented widgets that interact seamlessly within your spatial environment rather than being fixed to a single point.
Enhanced Widget Experience
Imagine placing a clock on your wall or incorporating a panoramic window into your digital surroundings. The Widgets app now includes options like Clock, Weather, Music, and Photos, which you can personalize with various choices for color, depth, and frame width. Notably, the Vision Pro headset remembers the placement of your widgets, ensuring they reappear precisely where you left them when you next use the device.
Sharing and Connecting in Spatial Experiences
For those who own the $3, 499 headset, visionOS 26 enhances communal experiences by enabling users to share spatial interactions with others. This means you can enjoy 3D films, engage in spatial games, collaborate with colleagues, and bring remote participants into your sessions via FaceTime.
Upgraded Digital Avatars
The update also breathes new life into the Personas feature, enhancing digital avatars to appear more lifelike and relatable. The updated Personas now include a full side profile view, along with realistic depictions of hair, complexion, and expression, making virtual interactions feel more authentic.
Transforming Images with Spatial Scenes
A standout addition is the Spatial Scenes feature, which adds depth to standard images by creating a 3D effect with multiple perspectives. This feature works with the majority of photos in your library, resulting in an immersive parallax effect that enables you to explore images dynamically. Users can access Spatial Scenes via the Photos app, the Spatial Gallery app, and Safari.
Expanded Device Compatibility
visionOS 26 also broadens its compatibility with various devices, including support for the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller for gaming. Users can now enjoy native playback of 180-degree, 360-degree, and wide field-of-view content from cameras like Insta360, GoPro, and Canon. Furthermore, the functionality allows users to make phone calls directly from the Vision Pro headset and navigate websites and applications with an innovative Look to Scroll feature that interprets eye movements.
How to Update to visionOS 26
To update your Vision Pro to visionOS 26, simply navigate to Settings > General > Software Update. You can choose to either activate automatic updates or to initiate the process manually. Remember to back up your device prior to performing the update.
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