Spatial computing enthusiasts, brace yourselves: visionOS 26 is here, transforming how we interact with digital spaces through the Apple Vision Pro. Widgets, previously confined to flat screens, now invade your actual space, making your home feel futuristic, or slightly haunted, depending on your comfort level with floating digital objects.
In This Article
Widgets Gone Wild
Widgets have always been handy, but visionOS 26 elevates their game. Now, your favourite Clock, Weather, Music, and Photos widgets aren’t merely displayed—they’re spatially anchored, persistently floating around your living space. Imagine your music playlists hovering conveniently by your sofa, or panoramic vacation photos magically decorating your walls. Customizable with frame depth and colours, these widgets are more than useful—they’re stylish digital furniture.
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Digital Doppelgängers Get Real
The somewhat uncanny Personas of past versions now look alarmingly lifelike, thanks to volumetric rendering and machine learning magic. These digital avatars, capturing everything from your hair’s texture to your side profile, promise to make virtual interactions eerily authentic. Setting up your Persona now includes previewing spatial appearances and selecting from over 1,000 pairs of digital glasses—good luck making that choice quickly.
Immersive Experiences & Enhanced Connections
visionOS 26 broadens content compatibility to embrace 180-degree, 360-degree, and wide-view media from Insta360, GoPro, and Canon. Whether watching extreme sports videos or navigating real estate listings via Zillow’s immersive app, spatial scenes offer unprecedented realism, making standard photos feel distinctly last decade.
Social butterflies will appreciate the new shared spatial experiences, enabling friends and coworkers to watch movies, play games, or collaborate within the same room. Dassault Systèmes’ 3DLive app even facilitates real-time visualization of 3D designs, helping you pretend to know exactly what your engineering friends are talking about.
Browsing, Gaming, and Enterprise: Covered
Web browsing enters the third dimension, with Safari supporting embedded 3D models—perfect for compulsive online shoppers. Gaming also takes a leap forward, now supporting PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers. Expect intense, finger-sensitive gameplay with enough vibration feedback to keep you wide awake.
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On the business side, enterprise APIs offer secure and tailored experiences. Features like device sharing and data portability make managing Vision Pros within teams effortless. Enterprises can secure confidential content, preventing screenshots and unauthorised sharing, ensuring your top-secret meeting notes remain truly secret.
Final Thoughts
While the idea of widgets floating around your head or digital Personas mimicking your every move sounds both exciting and slightly creepy, visionOS 26 undeniably marks a leap forward in spatial computing. This update isn’t just about adding flashy new features—it’s about fundamentally reshaping digital interaction. Time will tell if we’re ready to embrace this brave new spatial world, or if floating widgets will send us running back to reality.
