Once again, it’s the code strings found in beta versions of a developer kit that reveal the interesting stuff.
Apple’s forthcoming Vision Pro headset will apparently support screen mirroring via AirPlay or FaceTime, as indicated by code strings found in the beta 4 release of visionOS 1.0.
The code strings are as follows:
Select a device to mirror content to from your Apple Vision Pro
Only one activity is available when mirroring or sharing your view through AirPlay or FaceTime.
This suggests that users will be able to mirror the headset’s display to an external monitor or TV, or share their view with others through AirPlay or FaceTime. Other headsets like Meta Quest have similar features which can help to reduce the feeling of isolation of the headset user from others.
The visionOS 1.0 beta dev kit also references a new option to reset EyeSight data. EyeSight is the feature that displays a user’s simulated eyes on the external display of the Apple Vision Pro.
The option reads as follows:
You can reset EyeSight by going to Settings > People Awareness and tapping Reset Personalized EyeSight. This will remove personalized eye details from EyeSight, like your eye shape and measurements, but EyeSight will still use your skin tone where available. After you have reset EyeSight, you can restore it by recapturing your Persona.
A “Persona” reference located in the beta indicates that a user’s Persona will be sent to all participants within a FaceTime call, which will allow other participants to view the user’s Persona. Apple Vision Pro can generate Personas via machine learning that allows users to share virtual representations of themselves that reflect face and hand movements in real-time with others over FaceTime.
Where FaceTime calls on a visionOS device are concerned, a user’s Persona data will be sent securely to all users on the call, who can then view your Persona. Once the call is completed, the Persona may remain stored encrypted on the other call participants’ devices for up to 30 days. The other call participants will be able to access your Persona only when they are on a call with you.
The code references also indicate that Personas, but not the data used to generate them, could be stored on Apple’s servers, though securely in a manner inaccessible to Apple.
To create your Persona and personalized EyeSight, Apple Vision Pro cameras capture images and 3D measurements of your face, head, upper body, and facial expressions. The data used to build your Persona and EyeSight do not leave your device. Your Persona may be stored on Apple servers, encrypted in a way that Apple cannot access.
Other new alerts referenced in the beta include the following:
- Calling unavailable while in Travel Mode
- Brighten your lighting to use your Persona.
- This video has excess motion, and could cause discomfort if expanded.
Apple has stated that the Apple Vision Pro headset will launch in the U.S. come early 2024 prior to expanding to other countries at later dates.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors