visionOS 1.2: 3D spatial personas are coming and are less weird

Apple has just rolled out the new beta of its firmware for Apple Vision Pro. Even if Apple does not mention it in its notes, this new version of visionOS 1.2 could offerthe Space Persona or Spatial Persona.This feature greatly expands the possibilities of the Persona. Users can nowmeet with several people with a very realistic avatarof each person, forplay chess for example, or watch a film like in the cinema.

Space Persona offers very realistic avatars

While Apple had not talked about it since WWDC in June 2023, spatial personas would be available in the new beta, according to Raymond Wong of the media Inverse. He shares in an article from April 2, 2024:

Yesterday, Apple invited me to try out a demo of Space Persona — in the comfort of my own home — with an Apple PR manager and a member of product marketing.

The persona in the Vision Pro is, as a reminder, an avatar which reproducesuser appearance in 3D. Until now, however, personas were placed in boxes, like this:

In visionOS 1.2, the persona comes out of the frame like a ghost, but itless afraidthan before:

The Vision Pro avatars have been judged from the start as “strange”, “bizarre”, “creepy”, but Apple has always made it clear that they were in beta. Which is an indirect promise thatthey would be more realistic in the future, and it now seems that this is the case.Avatars now look friendlier,while offering a consistent reproduction of the user.

Spatial personas also bring new features to headset users, withthe possibility of grouping up with five people to play,chat, or watch a film, choosing an environment of your choice. For example Inverse reports that: “In the Game Room app, you'll be able to play board games with one other Persona, and three others will be able to watch.»

This kind of functionality is already offered by the Quest, but Meta's personas are not as realistic, and more like BitMoji.

Fixes made to the visionOS 1.2 beta

Aside from spatial personas, Apple cites two known issues present in the new visionOS 1.2 beta.The first concerns FaceTime, and the second concerns Notifications. These notes are alsointended for developers. To consult them, it isover here.

To knowhow Apple is preparing the arrival of the Vision Pro in France, click here!