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Not many things make people’s eyes roll as much as the Metaverse does. The recent v47 update of the Meta Quest Pro is clear evidence that the company is still dedicated to making the Metaverse a revolutionary experience. Critics would not justify the $1500 price tag for the hardware plus the old software, but this is no ordinary update.
Some think it’s a small step toward making the Metaverse more immersive, but the new update brings significant changes. For starters, it lets you capture the real-world environment around you, making mixed-reality experiences more realistic. Before the update, you could only capture the virtual reality environment. Now, you get to capture both at the same time.
Not that this comes as a surprise. Meta has always been about taking immersion seriously and making the experience more fluid. We expect more updates soon to take on Meta Quest Pro’s apparent horsepower. A lot to talk about with this update.
Meta Quest Pro
An average person may not be deep into what having a VR headset really means, but for gamers and tech geeks, it’s a means to an end. About two years ago, when going by the company name Facebook, Meta launched the Quest 2, a VR headset that was more powerful and versatile.
In October 2022, it launched the Meta Quest Pro, a $1500 headset that was one of the market’s most powerful consumer-level VR headsets. And now, with the v47 update of the Quest Pro barely two months old, it’s already making a mark in the VR world. That alone shows that Meta isn’t here to play.
Background Audio Playback
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The update now brings background audio playback to the Quest Pro, a feature lacking in the previous iteration. Picture this. You’re playing a game — let’s say, Walkabout Mini Golf — but you want to listen to an episode of your favorite podcast. You don’t need to switch off the game audio or remove your headset. The update lets you do both at the same time.
To access this feature, open your settings and access the Experimental Features panel. To test if the Background Audio Playback works, open the browser and load up your favorite music streaming service. Continue to play your game, and you’ll be able to listen to the music in the background.
The good thing about this update is that it supports background audio from any 2D panel app. That’s media streaming services, radio apps, or audio-only apps in any VR experience. If you’re a fan of VR audio and sound effects, this is a great way to keep the immersion going even when you want to listen to music.
Mixed Reality Capture
Perhaps the most significant update in this release is the Mixed Reality Capture. Meta Quest’s v47 update enables users to capture the real-world environment alongside the VR scene. You can record a mixed-reality video of yourself playing a game in VR and the real-world environment around you.
It’s like having two cameras set up and recording simultaneously. Only you don’t need to carry two cameras or set up a studio. It’s built into the Quest Pro and takes just a few clicks to start recording. The Meta Quest Pro comes with capture controller shortcuts that make this process a breeze.
To record the mixed-reality experience, press and hold the Oculus button on the Quest Pro and then long-hold the controller trigger in your right hand. Navigate to the camera tab and hit the “Record Video” button to start recording. Meta says it’s improving how users view, edit, and share these mixed-reality videos, so we expect more updates to this feature soon.
The previous software version promised that media syncing would be automatic to the Oculus app, but that hasn’t been the case. Often, we would wait for days before the sync happened. With the v47 update, we hope to get faster media syncing, more control over what is synced, and better media playback on our mobile devices.
Shareable Wishlists
Among the more minor but still significant updates is the shareable wishlist feature. Meta made this feature available to the entire Quest lineup. With shareable wishlists, users can build a list of their most-wanted apps and virtual reality games from the Meta Quest Store and make the wishlist public.
Friends and loved ones in your life can view the list and, if they feel generous, they can gift you the items on your wishlist. No need to leave clues about what you want for the holidays or your birthday.
With the shareable wishlist feature, your loved ones can get you precisely what you wish for quickly and easily. It’s not just a great way to get gifts but also a great way to stay connected with friends and family.
If you change your mind about the gifts, you can delete the list and start fresh with a new one. The shareable wishlist feature also works across all Meta platforms, so you won’t have trouble accessing it no matter which device you use.
Meta Quest Mobile App
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The company brings your virtual reality friends closer to you with the Meta Quest Mobile App. In the v47 update, you can see when your friends are online and join them in their VR worlds. The app will also let you send private messages and start playing with a friend with just a few taps.
You’ll also be able to see the controller and headset battery life through a widget on the home screen. As the app evolves, you can monitor crucial VR hardware performance from the comfort of your smartphone. Users can access and launch apps and games from the app and other vital settings without using their controller.
Avatar Mirror in Horizon Home
Meta is giving users an improved way to keep up with avatars. It could be a hairstyle change, different clothes, or even an experimental mustache. In the v47 update, you can quickly check your avatar in the avatar mirror and even change how you look in real time.
It’s the perfect way to stand out among players and friends. For instance, you can wear a cozy sweater or your adventuring clothes before exploring the virtual world. Of course, you don’t have to be limited to a few outfits and hairstyles; the avatar mirror gives you access to the entire catalog of avatar customizations available.
Conclusion
Overall, the v47 update is an excellent addition to the Meta Quest family. It brings long-awaited features that make it easier for users to capture and share mixed-reality videos, create shareable wishlists, access their friends through a mobile app, and customize their avatars quickly.
We can’t wait to see other updates for the Meta Quest family. We expect that with the v47 update and future updates, Meta will continue to push boundaries, making it easier and more enjoyable for people to explore virtual reality.
The improvements are just a starting point, and we look forward to more exciting updates from Meta soon. If you’re an avid fan of virtual reality, then the v47 update of the Meta Quest Pro is something you shouldn’t miss out on.
