Testing Improved Vision Pro Personas in visionOS 1.1

[MacRumors]

Apple is currently testing visionOS 1.1, the first major update to the visionOS operating system that runs on the Vision Pro. visionOS 1.1 updates Personas, and multiple reports suggest the software makes Personas look better than before. We thought we'd take a closer look at Personas in visionOS 1.1, comparing the update to the prior visionOS 1.0.2 software.

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Personas are a key feature on the Vision Pro, representing the user in video calls on FaceTime, Zoom, and other platforms. Personas are a digital representation of the Vision Pro wearer, and are captured using the headset itself. With the Vision Pro, the wearer takes a 3D facial scan that captures their facial structure, expressions, hand movements, and more. Apple describes a Persona as an "authentic spatial representation" of a person.

Apple released Personas in a beta capacity, and it's not hard to see why with the Personas that have been shared on the initial versions of the visionOS software. Reviewers have called personas "deeply weird," "deep in the uncanny valley," "ridiculous," and "frightening."

With visionOS 1.1, Personas have more natural looking eyes, skin tone improvements, and more detail that adds realism, though Apple's scanning feature still struggles with hair.

Most Personas are noticeably better with the 1.1 update, but Apple still needs to do a lot of work to eliminate the otherworldly, unnatural vibe that the virtual representations give off. visionOS 1.1 is available to developers in beta right now, and it will likely see a launch in March alongside iOS 17.4.

The update also adds Contact Key Verification, support for resetting the headset without a computer, and support for mobile device management.

Article Link: Testing Improved Vision Pro Personas in visionOS 1.1

 

[Havalo]

Better to wait for 2nd or 3rd gen when it comes to these things but that's just my opinion.

 

[Rychiar]

I love my persona. First capture was perfect and looks like a nicely airbrushed version of a hauntingly real portrait. I wouldn't hesitate to use it.... too bad I never use FaceTime or take video calls lol

 

[antiprotest]

Maybe it's supposed to look like that.

 

[coolfactor]

Dan, don't be too hard on yourself. We only see how cool and enthusiastic you are in videos. You are envy for many, and a leader / teacher for others.

 

[wilhoitm]

Better to wait for 2nd or 3rd gen when it comes to these things but that's just my opinion.

Nah, early adopter with the beta version all the way! By the 2nd or 3rd version all the fun challenges are gone! I rather be a leader, than a follower! Early adopters can also send feedback to Apple and shape what is to come!

 

[tomtad]

Needs more blur

 

[Jensend]

It even captured the red line on your forehead you got from the pressure of the headset.

 

[m.x]

I can't stop thinking that this may be the most genuine reaction I've ever witnessed on this site. I think I would react the same way when I get the first view of my persona.

As @coolfactor already said, Dan, don't be too hard on yourself. It's really awesome that you make all the content and that you show us your reactions unfiltered! And I can relate much more to your reactions than to the actors in Apples glossy PR materials.

 

[epox999]

Still uncanny valley as hell, you should be able to use the better cameras in the Iphone range to use generate the 3d image profiles / scan

 

[surfzen21]

We are slowly drifting into real life characters from the movie Ghost. Rip Patrick Swayze

 

[tobybrut]

Until It gets hair right it’s gonna stay in beta. It also needs to scan ears better.

 

[kagharaht]

Needs more blur

I'm butt ugly so the more blur the better!

 

[progx]

Eh, 1st generation kinks that will be ironed out over time. Looks like a slight improvement, but I think there's a long road ahead.

 

[Michael Scrip]

They look like the portraits at Hogwarts.

🤣

 

[boss.king]

This would have been a great feature to launch around Halloween. Who wouldn't want to torment their acquaintances as a blurry, spectral, disfigured nightmare?

 

[Antoniosmalakia]

It’s probably the least important part of the device if you consider what they omitted at the outset.

 

[gatorvet96]

Still light years better than Meta's take on Personas

 

[Harry Haller]

It’s probably the least important part of the device if you consider what they omitted at the outset.

Vanitas Vanitatum Omnia Vanitas

 

[steve09090]

Be careful what you wish for. When it gets too life like, no one will like it. A lot easier to criticise when it’s trying to be perfect. They’ll say the teeth are too white or that freckle looks weird or whatever. I’d rather have a caricature. It’d be nice if the hair reacted to movements but that’ll come.

 

[maxoakland]

It looks better but it still looks bad

 

[Analog Kid]

Thanks for putting yourself out there, Dan, and doing it with character.

 

[dasjati]

This quick update shows me that, even with years and years of preparations, some of the most talented people in their respective fields, and the resources of the most valuable company in the world, you can still miss deadlines.

I take some comfort in that.

I hope Apple keeps iterating quickly on the software.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Very handy for checking in with friends and family while looking like an evil spirit

 

[klasma]

Now every day is a bad hair day.