Meta Horizon OS: Opening Up the Operating System for Third-Party Hardware Integration
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is making waves in the tech world with its latest announcement to open up the operating system that powers its Meta Quest devices to third-party hardware makers. This move, dubbed Meta Horizon OS, aims to create a larger ecosystem and make it easier for developers to create apps for larger audiences.
The operating system combines mixed reality features with a focus on social presence, supporting eye, face, hand, and body tracking for more natural interaction. It allows users to move their identities, avatars, and friend groups across virtual spaces and devices, creating a seamless experience across mixed reality, mobile, and desktop platforms.
In addition to social features, Meta Horizon OS supports mixed reality-oriented features like high-resolution Passthrough, Scene Understanding, and Spatial Anchors. Developers and creators can leverage these technologies using custom frameworks and tooling to create mixed reality experiences and reach their communities through content discovery and monetization platforms built into the OS.
Companies like ASUS’s Republic of Games, Lenovo, and Xbox are already building new devices based on Horizon OS, catering to diverse interests in gaming, entertainment, fitness, productivity, and social presence. Meta is also streamlining the software shipping process by featuring titles from the App Lab in the official Meta Store, making them more discoverable to a wider audience.
On the tooling side, Meta is previewing a new spatial app framework to help developers create mixed-reality experiences. Horizon OS is closely tied to Snapdragon processors powering Meta Quest devices, ensuring compatibility for companies building products using the same hardware and software stack.
Industry veteran John Carmack shared his insights on Meta’s announcement, envisioning the potential for high-end “boutique” headsets with enhanced features like resolution, field of view, and comfort. While acknowledging the hardware advancements, Carmack emphasized the importance of software development in advancing VR technology.
Commenters echoed Carmack’s sentiments, speculating on the creation of a new space for VR devices akin to Google’s Android platform. Privacy concerns also surfaced, particularly regarding the collection of users’ gaze tracking data. As Meta continues to push boundaries in the VR space, the tech community eagerly anticipates the impact of Horizon OS on the future of mixed reality experiences.
