Updating Meta Quest now simplifies the process of linking the headset to a Windows computer.
Updating Meta Quest now simplifies the process of linking the headset to a Windows computer.
The Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S are currently offering outstanding value for money in the VR headset market, astonishingly getting close to the capabilities of the costly Apple Vision Pro. Meta is planning to release an update, dubbed v72, which will include hand tracking and simple PC pairing, moreso resembling some of Vision Pro's best features.
In a write-up, Meta announced that the v72 update will introduce a new pairing method for Windows 11 PCs. This is done by downloading the Mixed Reality Link app from the Microsoft Store, setting up your PC, and then pairing your Quest in the headset's settings using "Pair to PC with Microsoft Mixed Reality Link". Once paired, you'll see a prompt to "Connect", without having to navigate through settings.
This feature is similar to one of the standout capabilities of the Apple Vision Pro. Following an update to visionOS2, Apple now enables use on wide and ultrawide MacBook screens. Although Quest lacks this feature, the $25 Virtual Desktop app on Quest and other third-party Vive and Pico headsets provide multi-screen viewing and ultrawide monitor mirroring.
Meta's update simplifies and quickens the process of loading your Windows PC into VR, whereas before, you'd need to use a separate app. The new feature comes with some limitations, but Meta aims to make this a typical experience for Quest 3 and 3S users. If you're performing more PC tasks through Quest, Meta claims the pairing process should become more straightforward, with the Quest detecting nearby keyboards automatically.
The other aspect of Meta's strategy to outshine Apple involves improved hand tracking. Apple's "spatial computer" features five sensors and 12 cameras, allowing for accurate tracking, even when your hand leaves your field of vision. Meta, on the other hand, is relying on software to compensate for the lower number of sensors. The v72 update will make hand usage in confined spaces more straightforward, enabling easier window manipulation through pinch gestures.
Meta's demonstration indicates improved hand tracking accuracy when your digits are in motion. Pinching and selecting objects are currently straightforward on Quest, but the controllers offer the most refined controls in VR. The Apple Vision Pro still lacks controller support, but reports suggest Apple is working on integrating PlayStation VR2 controllers and other third-party options for pairing with its high-end headset.
Somee of these features won't be available at launch, such as enhanced keyboard detection, which is only accessible to a select group of Quest users at present. The remaining features should become available on most users' headsets in the near future, Meta claims.
Meta chose the Quest 3S as its top pick for the best MR headset of 2024, priced at $300. For maximum PC control, you might consider the $500 Quest 3, which offers better displays and a wider field of view. Despite this, a Quest 3 will still cost you seven times less than the premium mixed reality experience offered by the Vision Pro.
In an earlier statement, Zuckerberg boasted that his headset was not just the cheaper option, but a superior one to Apple's spatial computer. Meta is working towards feature parity with Vision Pro, and if its hand and eye tracking can match Apple's headset, Zuckerberg's claims could potentially hold some truth.
In the future, Meta might incorporate the use of ultrawide MacBook screens with the Quest 3 or 3S, similar to how Apple Vision Pro functions. The upcoming tech in VR technology, such as the v72 update, aims to provide seamless PC pairing and improved hand tracking, closing the gap with tech giants like Apple.