What you need to know
- Meta Quest v66 update is now in beta testing for people registered in PTC channel.
- VR analyst Luna found several new features in testing, including Ray-Ban Meta AI, a hand button, a changeable virtual keyboard, bases for more realistic avatars and more.
- Hardware improvements include more granular brightness adjustment settings for the Quest Pro, integration of Android’s Bluetooth Quick Pair feature, and new sensor privacy features.
The Meta Quest v66 update started rolling out to members of the Public Test Channel (PTC) last week, and VR analyst Luna took the time to tear down the new update to see everything that’s new, including new features hidden within the operating system code.
Published on UploadVR, Luna’s data mining of the Quest v66 update reveals nearly a dozen new features that haven’t fully surfaced, meaning they’re coded into the operating system but don’t necessarily have a button or key to activate yet.
The most interesting of the bunch is the inclusion of Meta AI Assistant, which we first saw rolling out on Ray-Ban Meta glasses in late 2023. Since then, the assistant has gained some new features thanks to Meta’s Llama 3 AI model , which can be run locally on the device.
This could give players significant improvements in voice commands over the current voice assistant. Based on previous updates, this new AI assistant may be able to visually identify objects in the room or potentially automatically map the room even better than before.
Hand-tracking games are set to get more accessibility features, including a new wrist-mounted base button. This means you can turn your hand in any hand tracking app or game and tap your wrist to go home. Currently, users have to perform a pinch gesture to pull up the main menu.
Meta is also working to make the Meta Quest feel more like a space computer than just a mixed reality headset with upcoming features like a download folder, implementing Android Quick Pair for Bluetooth, calendar syncing, and changing and setting customized virtual keyboard.
Quick Pair, in particular, will make pairing a mouse and keyboard with a Meta Quest headset even easier. Plus, it’s entirely possible that we’ll be able to pair a Bluetooth speaker with the headset so you can control everything from there. Additionally, the improved Do Not Disturb mode appears to allow users to schedule DnD for maximum productivity.
That should make headphones like the upcoming Lenovo productivity headset and the Meta Quest Pro 2 make a lot more sense as proper laptop replacements than expensive toys.
Beyond that, a new sensor lock feature will keep the cameras and microphones off whenever the headset is put to sleep. This means tracking may take an extra second or two to load when a user puts Quest on their head, but sometimes a little wait is worth the extra privacy.
Lastly, Meta continues to work on its realistic avatar technology, adding further support to Quest for calibration and testing. Meta’s realistic avatars would require a smartphone to scan your face (see the video above), but would allow avatars that look incredibly realistic when released.
As always, with a beta release, some of these features may make their way into the final June v66 update, while others may be delayed to release in future updates. There’s also no guarantee that any of these features will make it to a final version of the software, but most features available in a firmware beta tend to be released quickly after public testing.
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Image Source : www.androidcentral.com
