In the course of 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 known as it “our spatial UI navigation”, and described it as “a piece in progress”.
Meta’s tease throughout the Join 2025 Developer Keynote.
It seems 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 ultimately 12 months’s Join.
Navigator strikes the primary system interfaces like Library, Fast Settings, Notifications and Digital camera into a brand new giant overlay that seems over each immersive and 2D apps, a significant enchancment from the earlier strategy of those being in panels which might be handled like some other 2D app. It means system interfaces will now not shift round when opening different home windows, and makes it simpler to launch new apps. Navigator’s library additionally lets you 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 supposed 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 an alternative.
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 unpleasant semi-opaque gray “cloud” background. Now, Meta has gotten rid of it.
However Meta does not appear to suppose Navigator is kind of prepared but. With Horizon OS v81, Meta mentioned it is reverting to creating the outdated Common Menu UI the default for “most individuals”, so as to “maintain issues easy and acquainted”.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 route Meta is taking to enhance Navigator.
The clip reveals a Library with interleaving offset rows, just like Apple’s visionOS, although it nonetheless seems to scroll vertically. Search, Menu, and Retailer icons are seen on the left. Additional, the underside buttons like Library, Buddies, Profile, Notifications and Fast Settings have all been centered, fairly than additionally being unfold between left and proper. The time is now on the prime, fairly than the underside, and the Wi-Fi and battery standing icons appear to be gone.
There is no phrase but on when Meta may roll out the advanced Navigator UI, and we reiterate that Bosworth described it as a piece in progress. We’ll maintain an in depth eye on Horizon OS updates within the coming months for any indicators of it transport.
