Apple Unveils Spatial Widgets, Lifelike Personas, and PS VR2 Controller Support in visionOS 26
- Widgets become spatial, integrating seamlessly into a user’s space and reappearing every time they put on Apple Vision Pro.
- visionOS 26 adds spatial photo scenes, expressive Personas, and PlayStation VR2 Sense controller support.
Apple has released visionOS 26 at WWDC, an update for Vision Pro that brings new spatial experiences to the forefront. The redesigned widget system allows users to anchor interactive widgets directly into their surroundings. These widgets are customizable in frame, color, and depth, and stay in place between sessions, offering persistent access to content like Music, Clock, and Photos.
A new feature called spatial scenes transforms how users experience their images. Using a generative AI algorithm, visionOS 26 creates spatial scenes with lifelike depth, making photos feel more realistic and immersive. These scenes are available in the Photos app, Safari, and the Spatial Gallery, and can also be integrated by developers using the Spatial Scene API.
Source: Apple Newsroom
Personas in visionOS 26 receive significant upgrades, with improvements to hair, complexion, and facial expressivity powered by volumetric rendering and machine learning. Users can now preview side profiles and fine-tune their all-new Personas, including choosing from over 1,000 eyewear options during setup.
The update also brings support for the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller, allowing developers to offer new gameplay experiences. The controller adds precise 6DoF motion tracking, finger touch detection, and haptics to the Vision Pro, expanding the range of available interactions for players.
Source: Apple Newsroom
🌀 Tom’s Take:
It was great to see visionOS take center stage in this year’s WWDC keynote. In fact, it felt like the star of the show. Why? Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design language, rolling out across devices, was directly inspired by the spatial interface pioneered on Vision Pro.
Source: Apple Newsroom
