Meta Tests Quest UI Revamp and 3D Instagram Photos in New Horizon OS Update

Alright, here’s my take on it. Let’s see if I can channel my inner chaos:

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So, okay, Meta’s up to something new again. They’re fiddling with Quest and throwing in this fresh thing called Navigator. It’s basically this shiny new launcher overlay that’s waving goodbye to that old dock-based setup. Or so they say. They dropped this little preview back during Connect 2024—yep, not too long ago. Anyway, they’re all about this new centralized spot for apps, quick taps, you know, the whole shebang.

Here’s the gist: Meta’s gunning for this “fully spatial operating system” vibe, which is fancy talk for making sure we’re not totally lost in there. Navigator comes in with neat tricks like letting you pin stuff. You can stick up to, what, 10 things in your library for that snappy access. Multitasking in that headset jungle just got a smidge easier. They’re doing this because… well, maybe they think we’re going to forget what we’re doing in there without it.

Imagine your smartphone, but, like, floating in space or something. That’s what they’re going for, making it all feel cozy and familiar to us phone addicts. Oh, and some YouTuber called ‘The Construct’ went hands-on with it. Would’ve watched it, but got busy. Oops.

Meta’s really puffing their chest out about Navigator. Decades of learning, they claim. It’s sleek, stays out of your way, and is basically the Sherlock Holmes of spatial tech. Or maybe that’s just me exaggerating. It’s a limited test for now. A chosen few in the Public Test Channel (you know, the cool kids) will check it out first. Then, all of us mere mortals will get it… sometime soonish.

And get this—Instagram is getting some jazzed-up treatment on Quest too. They’re cooking up this 3D photo thing. Yup, the AI takes your regular flat pics and zhuzhes them into 3D. Magic, right? Or just more AI wizardry, who knows anymore. It’s a peek into their grand scheme to warp everything into 3D, one pixel at a time.

Oh, by the way, if you’re itching to hop onto this Public Test Channel bandwagon, there’s some app-y stuff you have to do with your phone and headset. Not that I remember the steps, but maybe you do. Or someone else does. Anyway, happy navigating! Or bumping around blind, if that’s your style.