This upcoming feature will make Quest 3 a better computer
Meta is currently testing a feature for Quest 3 that allows you to seamlessly use the browser, YouTube, and other 2D apps in VR games. We tried it.
Meta Quest is first and foremost a game console. In the future, Meta wants it to be much more: an all-purpose computer that can do everything you can do on a laptop, including multitasking between different apps. A new feature called Seamless multitasking brings the device one step closer to this vision.
Meta is currently testing the v69 PTC firmware update, and I could try it.
The biggest new feature of the update seems to be Seamless Multitasking, which supports Quest 3 and Quest Pro. It gives you the ability to bring a 2D app into a running VR application and use both simultaneously. Previously, either the 2D app or the VR application would freeze, depending on which was currently in use.
Multitasking just got a lot better
I tested the feature by opening YouTube (in 2D mode) inside the VR game Demeo and watching a video guide with game tips. I was able to interact with the game while the video continued to play. I then opened the browser to browse the Demeo WIKI while the VR game continued. The following video shows what this looks like.
Of course, there are many other possible applications for Seamless Multitasking. As long as it is a 2D app, you should be able to open and use it in a VR game. This could be Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook or productivity apps such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. You can find an overview of existing 2D apps on the Horizon Store.
Alternatively, you can install unsupported Android apps on Meta Quest via sideloading and use Discord, Spotify or emulators while being immersed in a VR game or productivity app.
Support for multiple 2D apps in the future?
Seamless Multitasking currently has the limitation that only one 2D app is supported. In addition, the transition between VR and 2D app can be a little bumpy.
But the feature is still experimental and has to be activated first under Settings > Experimental Features. Meta describes it there as follows:
"Use your universal menu and windows while immersed in an app. Reference videos, respond to chats, and complete tasks without interrupting your activity."
The choice of words seems to suggest that Seamless Multitasking could support more than just a 2D app in the future, which could make the feature even more useful.
Together with the new window layout, Seamless Multitasking will change the way you use Meta Quest and make it a more versatile computer.
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