Microsoft is among the first companies to announce support for Apple’s new Vision Pro augmented reality headset, with plans to bring its productivity apps, including Word, Excel, and Microsoft Teams, to the platform.
Apple Vision Pro will let you work with Microsoft Excel, Word and Teams in VR
During a brief demonstration, Apple showcased Excel, Word, and Teams running on the Vision Pro headset, featuring a user interface that can be controlled using eye movements. Microsoft has implemented a simplified ribbon interface similar to its web versions of Excel and Word.
While the Teams interface wasn’t extensively demonstrated, Apple revealed that Microsoft will support its 3D personas, which use machine learning techniques to create virtual representations of users’ faces. Zoom and Webex will also support these 3D personas on the Apple Vision Pro headset.
In addition to the support, Unity apps will run natively on the Vision Pro headset, indicating that a wide range of games can be expected once the headset becomes available next year. Adobe is also bringing its Lightroom photo editing app to the Vision Pro, allowing users to control the app using only their eyes and hands.
Microsoft’s decision to support Apple’s AR efforts is not surprising, considering its previous efforts with HoloLens. The company has a history of bringing Office to Apple’s latest hardware, including the recent launch of Office for M1 Macs. The company has also collaborated closely with Meta to bring Teams, Office, Windows, and Xbox to Quest VR headsets.
via TheVerge
