Apple Releases visionOS 2 With 2D Spatial Photos Feature, Persona Updates, Improved Guest Mode and More

[MacRumors]

Apple today released visionOS 2, the newest version of the visionOS operating system that launched alongside the Vision Pro back in February.

visionOS 2 can be downloaded on all Vision Pro headsets by navigating to the Settings app, selecting the General section, and choosing the Software Update option. To install an update, the Vision Pro headset needs to be removed, and there is a software progress bar available on the front EyeSight display.

Apple's visionOS 2 update allows users to create 3D spatial photos from 2D images, taking advantage of depth information and machine learning to add natural-looking depth and dimension.

The Home View can now be customized and apps can be moved around, and Apple added a new Bora Bora Environment. Environments have also been updated so that you can see your Magic Keyboard or MacBook keyboard while you're immersed, so it's easier to type, plus you can use them with Safari when watching web-based videos.

Personas have more accurate skin tones and more vibrant clothing color options, plus hand movement animations have been updated to be more fluid and natural. For controlling the Vision Pro, there are new pinch and rotate gestures for getting to the Home View, accessing Control Center, controlling volume, and checking battery level.

You can now use a mouse with the Vision Pro, and Apple improved Guest Mode so the most recent guest's hand and eye data is saved for 30 days for easier access without repeat setups.

Later this year, visionOS 2 will support a larger ultrawide view for a connected Mac, and support for Multiview for MLS and MLB games. Apple's full release notes for visionOS 2 are below.

Photos
- Create a spatial photo from past memories with just the tap of a button
- Share your favorite moments over FaceTime with others who use an Apple Vision Pro with SharePlay for Photos
- Find and enjoy your most precious memories in the redesigned Photos app with Collections, including Featured Spatial Photos
- Trim videos in your Photos library

Home View
- Personalize your Home View by rearranging apps, including those from the Compatible Apps folder
- Start a FaceTime call, send texts, or look up contact information easier with improved People View

Input
- Use new hand gestures for easy access to Home View, see the time, control volume, check the battery level, and open Control Center
- Input text quickly in Messages with Look to Dictate by simply looking at the microphone icon
- Navigate Apple Vision Pro using your favorite Bluetooth mouse
- See your Magic Keyboard or MacBook keyboard in an immersive experience with Keyboard Awareness

Safari
- Immerse yourself in panoramas that wrap around you just like in the Photos app
- Watch web videos from sites such as YouTube.com, Netflix.com and more with a massive screen, including glow and reflection
- Ask Siri to read content on Safari web pages
- Access your most important information quickly with pinned tabs
- Separate browsing topics like work, personal, or school using Profiles

Guest User
- Save your most recent guest's eye and hand data up to 30 days so they can skip setup and get right back into Apple Vision Pro

Travel Mode
- Use Travel Mode on trains to work privately, multitask with multiple apps, and watch your favorite shows on your long commute

Environments
- Explore a new beach Environment, Bora Bora

Persona
- Create Personas with more accurate skin tones, fluid and natural hand movements with effects, improved vibrant clothing colors, and more eyewear choices
- Choose from a variety of backgrounds including your own photos during FaceTime or third‑party video calls

Mindfulness
- Meditate to visual animations that follow your breathing

Privacy
- Turn on Communication Safety which includes protections for sensitive videos and photos that children may receive or attempt to send
- Blur sensitive photos and videos you've received with Sensitive Content Warning

Accessibility
- Use Live Captions for real‑time transcriptions of speech, audio, and video content including FaceTime calls
- Anchor Apple Immersive Video closed captions wherever you like in your space
- Pair Made for iPhone cochlear implant devices
- Invert colors to easily see what's in your view by changing how content is displayed
- Automatically dim video content that depicts flashing or strobing lights
- Reduce the transparency of an object to make it easier to see or read

This release also includes other features and improvements:
- Use Apple Vision Pro as an AirPlay receiver to mirror content from any nearby iPhone or iPad on the same wireless network
- Watch Apple Immersive Video in a new windowed view alongside other apps
- Edit playlists together and join the ultimate sing-along sessions using Sing in Apple Music
- Use Quick Look to anchor objects to a horizontal surface and preview them

Some features may not be available for all regions. For more information, please visit this website:
https://www.apple.com/visionos/visionos-2
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/100100

More information on the new features that are in visionOS 2 can be found in our comprehensive visionOS 2 roundup.

Article Link: Apple Releases visionOS 2 With 2D Spatial Photos Feature, Persona Updates, Improved Guest Mode and More

 

[zencowboy]

Yeah. Still my personal expensive movie theater.

 

[BarrettF77]

Wish they did more with the 2.0 of this. Pretty lacking.

 

[Rychiar]

been on the beta so long I can't even imagine not having these features

 

[blocsapp]

Brilliant update! Love all the new features and improvements. Now for 2.1 with improved screen mirroring 😁

 

[BarrettF77]

I’d love to see 2.1 drop later today since it’s been 3 weeks

 

[jimbobb24]

Did they put iPhone Mirroring in Vision OS 2.0? That would be amazing.

 

[AppleTO]

Wish they did more with the 2.0 of this. Pretty lacking.

Absolutely. For a product that was released to such massive fanfare (well, mostly by Apple), they’ve done very little to further it in visionOS 2. To be fair, it was only released in January in the US and then other countries not long ago, but still.

 

[Think|Different]

It’s been awesome, all very much welcomed changes. Does feel a bit rough that this is ‘all’ we will see till almost a year from now, too. Who knows what this platform will be by then, either! Still, one of the most unique technological experiences money can buy.

 

[diddl14]

Cool. Now bring on 2.1 with enhanced virtual monitor support!

 

[BarrettF77]

Absolutely. For a product that was released to such massive fanfare (well, mostly by Apple), they’ve done very little to further it in visionOS 2. To be fair, it was only released in January in the US and then other countries not long ago, but still.

We did read a lot of reports about critics stating that it wasn’t fully baked so we really got a product that was rushed out the door as soon as it could crawl. We are now able to do a slow walk. I think vision is 3 or 4 is where running or a brisk walk will be possible. It doesn’t even have AI or basic apps from the iPad. Not sure how much longer I’m gonna keep mine TBH if 2.1 and widescreen support doesn’t really impress.

 

[cpurdy]

Some day, probably sometime in 2043, you'll be able to get your Mac's audio to pipe to the headset.

Apple would have done it already, but they have no experience in audio codecs or streaming 🤣

 

[AppleTO]

Some day, probably sometime in 2043, you'll be able to get your Mac's audio to pipe to the headset.

Apple would have done it already, but they have no experience in audio codecs or streaming 🤣

The release notes say it can be an AirPlay receiver, so I’d imagine it already can?

 

[miiwtoo]

what about the 2025 model! 😠

 

[TechnoMonk]

Brilliant update! Love all the new features and improvements. Now for 2.1 with improved screen mirroring 😁

I am more interested in screen mirroring and tethering to my MBP.

 

[swester]

And...a few dozen people were thrilled!

 

[ice29]

Just updated, had not checked what was new before, so let myself surprise... To be honest, pretty disappointed by this, okay, new gestures, but what else is really improved? 2.0 deserved more features... I still really don't know what to do with AVP, watched the immersive videos which are amazing, but you can watch all in like 1 hour? (Apple is super super slow with adding new content)

 

[blocsapp]

Just updated, had not checked what was new before, so let myself surprise... To be honest, pretty disappointed by this, okay, new gestures, but what else is really improved? 2.0 deserved more features... I still really don't know what to do with AVP, watched the immersive videos which are amazing, but you can watch all in like 1 hour? (Apple is super super slow with adding new content)

Converting your photos to spatial photos is worth the upgrade alone imo.

 

[svish]

Good to know about the changes to Personas. Still waiting for Vision Pro availability to expand.

 

[cpurdy]

The release notes say it can be an AirPlay receiver, so I’d imagine it already can?

I tried that today, but it didn't work. The VP doesn't show up in the list of sound outputs on the MBP.