Throughout the Join 2025 Developer Keynote, Meta teased a brief clip of the following evolution of Quest’s Horizon OS system interface.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth referred to as it “our spatial UI navigation”, and described it as “a piece in progress”.
Meta’s tease throughout the Join 2025 Developer Keynote.
It appears to be like to be an evolution of the ‘Navigator’ system UI overhaul Meta began slowly rolling out to the Horizon OS Public Take a look at Channel (PTC) in Could, which it first teased eventually yr’s Join.
Navigator strikes the primary system interfaces like Library, Fast Settings, Notifications and Digital camera into a brand new massive overlay that seems over each immersive and 2D apps, a serious enchancment from the earlier method of those being in panels which might be handled like another 2D app. It means system interfaces will not shift round when opening different home windows, and makes it simpler to launch new apps. Navigator’s library additionally permits you to pin as much as 10 gadgets, considerably akin to the Begin Menu on Home windows.
At launch, Navigator additionally had a murky gray background with an oval form. It was seemingly meant to enhance distinction. However in addition to obscuring your view of what was behind it, be it passthrough or a digital world, it simply did not look good. So Meta removed that and made mentioning Navigator dim the background as a substitute.
After One Key Change, Meta’s Quest UI Overhaul Has Gone From Dangerous To Nice
The Quest system UI overhaul launched to testers in Could, with key enhancements however an unsightly semi-opaque gray “cloud” background. Now, Meta has gotten rid of it.
However Meta would not appear to suppose Navigator is sort of prepared but. With Horizon OS v81, Meta stated it is reverting to creating the outdated Common Menu UI the default for “most individuals”, with a view to “preserve issues easy and acquainted”.
“Whereas we proceed to experiment and enhance Navigator, it’s nonetheless obtainable”, Meta famous when beginning to roll out v81 PTC.
The Join 2025 tease reveals the course Meta is taking to enhance Navigator.
The clip reveals a Library with interleaving offset rows, much like Apple’s visionOS, although it nonetheless appears to be like to scroll vertically. Search, Menu, and Retailer icons are seen on the left. Additional, the underside buttons like Library, Associates, Profile, Notifications and Fast Settings have all been centered, reasonably than additionally being unfold between left and proper. The time is now on the high, reasonably than the underside, and the Wi-Fi and battery standing icons appear to be gone.
There is not any phrase but on when Meta may roll out the developed Navigator UI, and we reiterate that Bosworth described it as a piece in progress. We’ll preserve a detailed eye on Horizon OS updates within the coming months for any indicators of it transport.
