Facebook parent firm Meta made a groundbreaking announcement nearly a month ago: it was opening up Quest OS to third parties.
The latest decision aims to put the social media giant in front of the XR industry. As promised, the rebranded and restructured Quest Store, now known as the Horizon Store, has successfully integrated with Meta's App Lab.
What is App Lab?
(Photo : JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
A member of the press tries out a MetaQuest 3 during the Meta Connect Developer Conference at Meta's headquarters in Menlo Park, California on September 27, 2023.
App Lab serves as a platform where in-development VR games and applications are available for download. This includes Early Access, Alpha, and Beta versions of various apps.
By offering developers a chance to showcase their apps earlier than usual, App Lab provides a critical opportunity for new and innovative VR experiences to gain visibility.
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Improved Discoverability for App Lab Titles
Previously, finding App Lab titles was quite challenging, as Phone Arena notes in its report. Users needed either a direct URL for the App Lab title or had to search using the exact name in the Horizon Store's search bar. This limited the exposure and accessibility of many promising apps.
Seamless Integration with Horizon Store
Fortunately, Meta's decision to integrate App Lab into the Horizon Store has simplified this process.
The Horizon Store now features a dedicated App Lab section, making it easier for Quest owners to explore a larger library of content. This integration not only benefits users by providing them with more options but also helps developers by increasing the visibility and downloads of their in-development apps.
What's more, this seamless merger is a win-win situation for both users and developers, and it's surprising that it took this long to happen.
Meta's Vision for XR and Spatial Computing
Meta's recent moves reflect its ambition to become the leader in spatial computing and the XR industry. It's no wonder that by making Horizon OS open-source, the company will retrace the same path that Google did with Android, but this time to position itself as the Android of XR.
This open-source approach is expected to foster innovation and collaboration within the XR community.
According to UploadVR, the previously rejected app will no longer be thrown into the trash for their quality. However, there's still a need to meet the "basic technical, content, and privacy requirements."
Revolutionary AR Glasses and Meta AI Integration
In addition to these advancements, Meta is working on developing AR glasses that promise to be as revolutionary as the first Oculus Rift. Furthermore, Meta AI is being integrated into various products, including Ray-Ban smart glasses, enhancing their functionality and user experience.
Meta Quest 3 is Expected to Lead the VR Market
Meta's Quest 3 surfaces as one of the best VR headsets currently available. The integration of App Lab into the Horizon Store is just one of the many ways Meta is enhancing its XR platform.
By making it easier for users to discover new content and for developers to gain visibility, Meta is driving the industry forward.
With ongoing innovations such as open-source Horizon OS, revolutionary AR glasses, and Meta AI integration, the Facebook maker is anticipated to remain at the forefront of spatial computing and XR technology.
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