Meta Quest Pro VR headset may, with Microsoft’s help, be super productive
Several of Microsoft’s work and productivity tools are coming to the metaverse
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Microsoftis bringing some of its most popular remote working software to the metaverse, announcing during the recentMeta Connect 2022event that it is entering a new productivity-focused VR and AR partnership.
In ablog post, Microsoft highlighted that as workplace environments evolve in the aftermath of the pandemic, it’s important to adapt with the times. The company points to recent data it collected showing “50 percent of Gen Z and millennials [envision] doing some of their work in the metaverse [within] the next two years.”
It’s in this context that Microsoft is expanding beyond its ownHoloLens/mixed-reality efforts to help Meta establish a foothold in productivity-oriented VR and AR.
Remote work support
Within the “coming months”, four of Microsoft’s “work and productivity tools” will be making their way to both theQuest 2VR headset and the newly announcedMeta Quest Pro(the official name for the long-awaited Project Cambria). Some of the tools include integration withMicrosoft Teamsas well as support for a variety of work apps.
To be more precise, the companies are addingMicrosoft Meshto the Quest headsets. This feature will allow people to join Teams meetings being held in Horizon Workrooms, which are virtual boardrooms. You’ll be able to interact with others through Meta Avatars and brainstorm ideas via virtual tools.
It appears the Quest devices will support all the apps from theMicrosoft 365suite. The announcement specifically mentions support for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint, but nothing for OneDrive or OneNote.There are also reports statingthe apps won’t be special VR versions. Rather, the apps will be a direct port of the desktop version done through Progressive Web App (PWA) technology.Windows 365will be supported on Quest headsets, too, allowing users to stream a Cloud PC complete with personalized settings.
Security is also being taken into consideration.Microsoft IntuneandAzure Active Directorywill support the Quest headsets, allowing IT professionals to protect the devices “with a Quest for Business subscription.” Put more simply, Intune helps manage hardware to protect company data while Active Directory protects software against cyberattacks.
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Outside of the remote work integrations, both companies briefly mentioned a plan to bringXbox Cloud Gamingover to the Meta Quest Store. A giant screen will be projected inside the headset giving you access toXbox Game Passand whatever titles you have, but it doesn’t cover the whole view. Think of a movie screen at a theater.
It’s unknown if services likeXbox Game Pass Ultimatewill be supported. We reached out to Microsoft so we can learn more. This story will be updated if we hear back
Potential end of Hololens
After going through the reveal, we were left with one question: what will happen to Hololens?
Hololens is Microsoft’s own take on mixed reality headsets, but it never really took off. The current state of this tech is a bit of a mystery.Earlier this year, reports came out that Microsoft scrapped all work on the HoloLens 3 in the middle of development. But then the company said those claims were exaggerated and that Hololens was being repurposed for the US Army. Sure enough, thecompany revealed IVAS(Integrated Visual Augmented System) for the US military in early September.
So when it comes to virtual reality for consumers and businesses, Microsoft looks like it’s more interested in providing support via software over hardware. Hololens may truly be gone now, outside of niche uses.
Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and the gaming industry. But he’s also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity.
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