Meta is gearing up to launch the much-anticipated Horizon OS update, which promises to bring several features similar to Apple’s Vision Pro to the Quest lineup. Among these additions are a selfie camera for avatars used in video chats, and possibly the capability to share windows while in the Horizon Home social space.
Thanks to dataminer ‘Luna,’ we have a sneak peek at the beta version of Horizon OS v76. It’s packed with new features, notably the avatar selfie camera that’s reminiscent of Facetime, designed for video chat apps.
At the moment, the v76 update can be accessed via the Public Test Channel (PTC). Luna has gone a step further, having successfully integrated the selfie camera into a sideloaded version of Discord.
On Twitter, Luna remarked that while call backgrounds aren’t available yet, several default options are expected. These might include settings like Abstract, Beach, Greenhouse, and others such as Home Office and Loft.
Furthermore, Luna discovered a hidden guide for a future overhaul of the user interface, dubbed ‘Navigator.’ First hinted at during Meta Connect 2024, the new UI will shift from the dock-based format to a more familiar icon-based launcher, much like what’s seen on Vision Pro and modern mobile devices.
Luna suggests that while the tutorial emerged in the v76 PTC, the Navigator feature might debut in v77 or later, potentially as an experimental tool.
Interestingly, Luna’s investigation also hinted at the potential for window sharing among users in Horizon Home, similar to SharePlay on visionOS.
There’s an eagerness from Quest users for these improvements, especially since the introduction of Apple’s $3,500 mixed reality headset sped up developments in this field. Since Vision Pro hit the market in early 2024, Meta has introduced features aiming for parity with visionOS, like spatial video playback and refined gesture controls on the Quest 3.
One feature, however, remains elusive—Meta’s photorealistic Codec Avatars, which were initially showcased in 2019. These avatars are similar to Vision Pro’s realistic avatars, using smartphones to capture and replicate a user’s face. The missing link is Quest 3’s absence of facial and eye tracking, suggesting that Codec Avatars might debut with a more advanced headset, potentially the rumored Quest Pro 2, perhaps with even more Vision Pro-inspired features.
