Meta Announces Quest v72 Update… Simplified Headset Pairing and More

Meta has unveiled an update for its mixed reality (MR) headset, Quest.

According to IT media outlet The Verge on the 9th (local time), Meta recently announced the v72 Quest update.

This update includes improvements in hand tracking speed, simplified pairing with Windows 11 PCs, and enhanced keyboard display in virtual reality. The update will be rolled out in stages, and some features may not be immediately available.

Meta stated that through Quest's remote desktop feature, users can connect by simply pressing the 'Connect' button that appears over the keyboard when viewing the paired PC. This operates similarly to Apple's Vision Pro, but the Mixed Reality Link application (app) must be installed on the PC to pair the device from the Quest headset's settings app. Windows 11 22H2 or later is required to use this feature.

Additionally, the v72 update will introduce a 'general keyboard tracking system' that detects all keyboards around you and displays them through the passthrough window while in a virtual environment. Since 2021, Quest headsets have offered the ability to display a virtual keyboard over the actual keyboard location, but this only worked with specific keyboards.

Along with this, Meta has improved cursor stability and made it easier to use hands in tight spaces. A 'hand ray visualization' feature, which helps in finding and targeting objects, has also been added.

Furthermore, various features have been added, including a People app with real-time call captioning, a direct messaging feature in the Instagram app, and a media gallery app that allows viewing images and videos (including spatial), and screenshots.