Apple ignored visionOS 2’s best updates

Apple mentioned a few new features coming to the Vision Pro during its WWDC 2024 keynote on Monday, like the ability to turn your 2D photos into 3D and support for using the headset on trains. But the company glossed over some of the most needed features it’s adding to visionOS — and these quieter changes make the update much more interesting.

Once the update arrives this fall, you’ll be able to see a Magic Keyboard while working in a virtual environment, use any Bluetooth mouse you want, and rearrange your home screen icons — including placing iPad and iPhone apps wherever you want. These are all features that probably should have been available from the start, and will improve the day-to-day experience of using the Vision Pro in significant ways.

Apple says Vision Pro will also start saving eye and hand settings for guest users for 30 days. It’s been really annoying to share a Vision Pro with someone because every time you put it in guest mode they have to go through the setup again. This made it difficult for my partner to try out the headset. (I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s experienced this.) I’d prefer to be able to set up entirely separate profiles, but this is at least a step in that direction.

Sports fans will be pleased to know that Apple is also adding five-screen multi-view streaming to the Apple TV app, something the company added to its Apple TV streaming box last year. And you’ll be able to stream content via AirPlay to the Vision Pro from your iPhone, iPad or Mac – which, depending on how well it works, could be useful if you want to play games on the Vision Pro that runs on a Mac but not the headset. by ear.

Lastly, when you find a video on the web, you can split it into a floating video player — something Apple should do, as neither YouTube nor Netflix have created apps for the Vision Pro. Users may still prefer dedicated third-party apps for the services, like Juno or Supercut, but being able to watch other videos online this way will be good.

All of these details appeared somewhere in Apple’s press materials. But there’s even more in the release notes for the first visionOS 2 developer beta (which, by the way, is available now). Here is a brief list of additional features that are on the way:

Apple may not have hit my entire wish list during its WWDC keynote, but I was surprised to see how specifically it addressed the things I want from visionOS, like the ability to access the Home screen with a single gesture. And to be fair, yesterday really highlighted a big treat for everyone: a giant widescreen virtual display that wraps around your head. As a loyal three-monitor user, I couldn’t be happier with this news.