by Meta Quest Pro’s latest update brought some major improvements that I wish Oculus Quest 2 would have as well.
The first and my favorite is the introduction of background audio. Now when you’re sitting at your virtual desk in Horizon Workrooms or playing a round of Walkabout Mini Golf, you can enjoy audio played in the background by the browser app. Subscribe to your music streaming service of choice or stick with a podcast, and with background audio turned on, you should be able to hear the audio while using another app.
To enable this feature, go to the experimental section of your Meta Quest Pro settings. Once you get there, you should be able to turn on the background audio and give it a try.
The other update is a major change to Quest Pro’s mixed reality capture tool.
I remember at a pre-launch event for Meta Quest Pro, the YouTubers in attendance weren’t thrilled when they heard that mixed reality footage wasn’t going to capture the real world. Instead, the in-game elements would appear in the video against a completely blank black background. This wouldn’t make for interesting content and certainly wouldn’t properly demonstrate the Pro’s MR capabilities.
Luckily, v47 changes that. Now if you press record while playing a mixed reality app like Tribe XR or Painting VR (one of the VR apps I recommended back in October (opens in new tab)) lets you capture both in-game and real-world elements into one video. So take this as your warning to remove anything embarrassing from your VR room before hitting record as it is now visible to all.
Make your wish list come true
Meta hasn’t forgotten that those of us are still using Oculus Quest 2, as v47 also brings some (albeit minor) upgrades to your headset.
If you’re hoping to digitally unbox some new VR games this year – maybe some from our list of the best Oculus Quest 2 games – then you might appreciate the new wishlist sharing feature. In the Meta Quest Store, you can go to the Wishlist tab, make your Wishlist public, and then create a link for other people to view.
The update will also make it easier to change the look of your meta avatar. Thanks to the new mirror that will appear in your Horizon Home environment, Quest 2 and Quest Pro users will be able to check what your avatar looks like in real time. You can mix and match your digital aptitude before jumping into a Metaverse hangout.
Looking for something Meta’s hardware doesn’t already offer? Check out our other picks for the best VR headsets.
