Streamed ‘Windows Volumetric Apps’ Announced For Quest
In an exciting development within the virtual reality industry, Microsoft has unveiled its innovative ‘Windows Volumetric Apps’, aiming to revolutionize how PC applications are experienced on Meta Quest devices. This breakthrough is part of an ongoing collaboration between Microsoft and Meta, intending to elevate Windows to a premier status on Quest platforms. The initiative leverages the distinctive abilities of Quest headsets by enriching standard Windows applications with immersive 3D spatial elements.
The cornerstone of this endeavor is a novel API designed to seamlessly integrate Windows applications with 3D spatial technology when streamed to Meta Quest. This integration is facilitated through a new Windows application tailored for Quest. This app will provide users the capability to access their local or cloud-based Windows 365 PC, presenting it within virtual monitors inside the Quest environment.
The announcement of Windows 365’s compatibility with Quest came at Meta Connect 2022, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing strategic partnership between Meta and Microsoft in the extended reality (XR) landscape. This alliance has already seen the introduction of Xbox Cloud Gaming on Quest headsets, along with progressive web apps for popular Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Moreover, the collaboration is set to further expand its horizons with the launch of a limited-edition Quest 3 headset, featuring Xbox-themed aesthetics and accompanied by an Xbox gamepad.
For developers keen on exploring the possibilities of volumetric integration within their Windows applications, Microsoft is opening the doors to the Volumetric API, inviting developers to sign up for access. This initiative not only promises to bring a new dimension to app development but also enhances the user experience by blending the familiarity of Windows applications with the immersive capabilities of 3D spatial technology.
The introduction of ‘Windows Volumetric Apps’ signifies a pivotal moment in the convergence of traditional computing and virtual reality technologies. As this partnership between Microsoft and Meta continues to evolve, users can look forward to a future where the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds become increasingly blurred, offering novel ways to interact with technology and each other within immersive, three-dimensional spaces.
