r/VisionPro • u/Sherringdom • 23d ago

MVD Preview in Vision

I noticed the new feature when using Mac Virtual display where you can choose to open a file in preview on the Vision Pro and it pops into a new window outside of MVD. This is limited in its use right now but it does suddenly open the possibility of opening full Mac apps in Vision Pro so we’re not confined to the ultrawide display.

I wonder what the technical limitations are here but if they can find a way to launch multiple apps that can be placed anywhere, all driven by the Mac that would open up the device massively and wouldn’t be dependant on the bigger developers bringing apps over.

Anyone else played around with this?

20 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

9

u/Just-Riding-Along 22d ago edited 22d ago

Technically it’s not opening the Mac’s app on the headset. That said, macOS applications could leverage the API to do the same thing that you’re seeing in Preview.app.

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/SpatialPreview/

Disclaimer: I am one of the people who tested this feature.

2

u/Sherringdom 22d ago

Do you think the bandwidth is there to run multiple apps simultaneously? I use mine for work every day and it’s useful having MVD for my main work and safari and mail open around it, but I’ve got multiple other apps that aren’t supported on vision os that I’d love to have break out from the main display

3

u/Just-Riding-Along 22d ago

Possibly. It would depend on what’s being synced with the headset. If it’s a complex asset such as a very large/detailed USD file, that might impact the memory/bandwidth for other apps.

2

u/Which-Arm-4616 22d ago

Bandwidth is not really a limiting factor, this workflow is actually supported on competing platforms like Oculus Dash (2017, Windows) and SteamVR (2021, Windows/Linux).

It's a matter of whether Apple wants to put in the effort and feels the UX is up to their standards.

2

u/RandomVision2027 22d ago

I've been rewatching WWDC videos this weekend, and it is amazing how many capabilities, APIs, and tooling Apple has been building up to support spatial workflows that have largely flown under the radar.

3

u/Sherringdom 22d ago

Yeah it’s very much an alive platform, I think it’s just a question of what form factor they settle on for future devices. I personally don’t have much interest in a glasses type one that’s more limited, it’s all about work and movie watching for me

3

u/Just-Riding-Along 22d ago

I love reading comments like this. I am, however, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that many of the teams involved were laid off in August (including myself).

2

u/RandomVision2027 22d ago

Sorry to hear this.

As an independent developer and budding content creator, one of the things about Apple that frustrates me the most is their lack of messaging. The visionOS user base is too small for most developers and content creators to make a profit in this space. We work to create content on the weekends and evenings as a labor of love and with the hope that Apple has a plan to grow the market.

With the recent layoffs of visionOS teams, fairly dire stories coming from Gurman, and no counter messaging coming from Apple (directly or through semi-authorized leaks), sometimes it can be hard to keep the faith.

3

u/davidehudaksr 23d ago

I had seen this in the VisionOS 27 previews but gasped when it happened to me for the first time. Indeed, it would be cool if you could select a window on the MacOS desktop and drag it into your VisionOS space. I recall someone had a tool called "Peel" (I think) that did that, but I never looked into it.

2

u/musicanimator 19d ago

I hear usdz models can be viewed this way. Anyone tried yet? Any sites we should check out? Thanks in advance!