Okay, here we go. So, Meta’s at it again. They’re mixing things up with Quest’s Horizon OS, tossing out the old dock-based UI for this snazzy new ‘launcher overlay.’ And some lucky folks might randomly stumble upon 3D Instagram pics on their Quest, which is kinda cool if you ask me. Or not—I’m still on the fence.
Apparently, they hinted at this whole Navigator thing during Connect 2024. Finally, they’re rolling it out, promising this all-in-one central spot for apps, shortcuts, and whatever else they deem essential. Like, it’s supposed to make your life easier, letting you tack up 10 bits from your library so you can zip back to them without hassle. Multitasking, they say. Sure, if you say so.
Meta’s v77 patch notes ramble on about making connections with people and things you care about. Sometimes I think they’re trying too hard to sound, I don’t know, relatable? Anyway—no, hang on—let me explain better. Navigator claims to let you dive into system controls and jump back to whatever you were doing. Designed to mimic smartphones, so it should feel like second nature. Or that’s the hope.
That YouTuber, “The Construct,” dives into Navigator. There’s a video, impressions, yada yada. Not sure if I get the appeal fully, but watching someone else get excited is always amusing.
Meta’s designers, bless their hearts, boast how they crafted Navigator from years of wisdom. Apparently, it’s minimal, intuitive, and tailored for spatial computing. Not going to lie, sounded impressive until I think about how every rollout feels like a redo. But maybe that’s just me being cynical.
This fancy Navigator update is only for a few folks first, the Public Test Channel (PTC) v77. Eventually, everyone’s going to get it—like a slow-motion Oprah moment.
Oh, and here’s a curveball: Instagram’s being a bit lovey-dovey with Quest too. They’re testing some AI wizardry where random 2D snaps morph into immersive 3D experiences. A sneak peek into a 3D future, or so they claim. In the meantime, I’m just sitting here wondering when I’ll finally catch a break.
Oh, and if you’re itching to join Quest’s Public Test Channel, it’s a bit of a maze: you fire up the Meta Horizon app, go to ‘Devices,’ pick your headset, navigate to ‘Headset settings,’ then ‘Advanced Settings,’ and—voilà—flip on ‘Public Test Channel.’ Easy peasy, right? Or maybe not. Depends on how techy you feel.
