At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled visionOS 26, which introduces significant enhancements for users of the Apple Vision Pro. Among the standout features are spatial widgets, enhanced Personas, and new collaborative capabilities. One of the key updates is the evolution of widgets into spatial objects that blend seamlessly with users’ environments.
These customizable widgets – such as Clock, Weather, Music, and Photos – provide unique interaction opportunities and persist in the user’s space each time they wear the Vision Pro. Users can personalize their surroundings with panoramic images, spatial photos, and unique clock designs, along with quick access to Apple Music playlists. A new Widgets app has been introduced to help users find compatible widgets from iOS and iPadOS applications.
Personas have also received their most substantial upgrade to date, utilizing volumetric rendering and machine learning to enhance expressiveness and detail. The updated avatars showcase full side profiles with lifelike features, including accurately rendered hair and complexion. Users can customize their Persona during setup and select from a vast array of over 1,000 variations of eyewear.
Another exciting feature is Spatial Scenes, which leverages generative AI to convert standard photos into immersive multi-perspective experiences. Users can explore these enhanced images in various applications, while Zillow has already incorporated the Spatial Scene API into their Immersive app for improved property visualizations. VisionOS 26 also introduces shared spatial experiences, allowing multiple Vision Pro users in the same room to engage in activities like watching 3D movies or collaborating on projects, even adding remote participants via FaceTime.
Safari now includes a spatial browsing mode, enhancing how users interact with articles and spatial scenes, while web developers can embed 3D models directly into web pages for a more immersive experience. Gaming on the platform has also been expanded with support for PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers, enhancing motion tracking and interactivity. Enterprise features are also part of this update, such as team device sharing, which allows organizations to manage shared pools of Vision Pro devices while ensuring privacy for user data.
New functionalities like eye-controlled navigation, iPhone unlocking with Vision Pro, and call relaying from iPhone further enrich the experience. Finally, Apple has enhanced their Intelligence features, bringing updates to Image Playground and introducing new language support for several languages. The developer beta for visionOS 26 is available now, with a general release slated for fall 2025.
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