Oculus Quest headsets received the January 2022 update, the version called v37, which included support for Apple Magic Keyboard in VR, link-sharing from your phone to your headset, a more adjustable Browser window, and more.
Oculus already included keyboard support for Logitech’s K830 keyboard in VR in their v28 version, which was released in April 2021, as well as Bluetooth keyboard compatibility in VR, and now they’re adding support for Apple’s Magic Keyboard in VR in their v37 update.
Users may now connect their Apple Magic Keyboard to their Quest 2 VR headset and see a 3D version of the keyboard and their hands in their home environment.
You can pair your Apple Magic Keyboard with your headset under the Experimental Features panel in Settings. If you haven’t done so before, you’ll need to enable hand tracking under the Hands and Controllers settings menu.
In addition, Oculus intends to release a Tracked Keyboard SDK for developers to use in their own apps.
v37 also allows anyone with an Android device to share links from their phone to the headset via the Oculus Mobile App. Make sure your headset is turned on and your phone’s Bluetooth is turned on. Now, open a website on your phone and tap the Share icon, then select Oculus App > Open Now and select your headset. When you put your headset on, it will instantly open in the browser.
According to the company, you may share whatever you want, whether it’s an article or an Instagram Reel. If you don’t have your headset with you, try the Save to VR option, which you can access later from the Saved area of your Explore page.
According to the company, Link Sharing is currently only available for Android smartphones, but it will be available for iOS users in future releases.
The v37 introduces a new adaptable Browser window which makes the active window much better in a large workspace, these new features are called Tablet and Desktop modes. The Tablet mode displays your 2D panels in a single close-up window and may only be used for one task at a time.
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Desktop mode allows you to display your 2D panels in wide, repositionable windows that are ideal for multitasking. In the Experimental Features area of your Settings panel, you can enable multitasking.
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At any time, you can switch between the two modes. Simply pull the Display Bar (the thin grey line) from beneath any 2D panel app window. You’ll be able to slide it up to Desktop mode or back down to Tablet mode from there.
Your Browser tabs will now consolidate into a single window when you switch between Desktop and Tablet modes, making it easier to keep your desktop clean and focused.
In version v37, Oculus adds hand-tracked gestures to the Quick Action Menu, making it easier to access basic actions. Simply hold your hand palm-up and pinch it to bring up a shortcut menu that allows you to take screenshots, perform voice commands, and more.
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Additionally, the company has updated the Explore page that opens when you power on Quest. Explore is meant to be your starting point, a place where you may learn about what’s possible and what’s occurring in virtual reality.
Explore will show you new games, apps, and media recommendations, as well as allow you to see what your friends are up to and follow up on anything you’ve stored on your phone.
When you turn on your headset after the update, you should see the new Explore page, but if you want to go back, search for the blue compass icon in the navigation bar.
