Apple on Monday seeded the second public beta releases of its upcoming visionOS 27 and tvOS 26.6 operating systems to developers. The new betas come two weeks after the initial betas.
Registered public beta testers can download the public betas from the Software Update section of the Settings app on each device.
tvOS 27 brings only a few new features, including a redesigned Podcasts app, options for larger text, and a more responsive Control Center. AirPlaying to an Apple TV from another Apple device is also faster, and apps and animations are smoother. AppleCare coverage details are now available in the Settings app.
Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features now seem more integrated with the visionOS platform than in previous versions. Vision Pro user can now query Siri about anything in their surroundings, and the assistant will use Visual Intelligence to see it, identify it, and interpret it in real time, answering questions and providing contextual information about it.
When summoning Siri, a 3D orb will appear that can be placed anywhere in the user’s virtual space. Just looking at the orb can launch a conversation. The new Siri app also makes it easier to refer to previous conversations and interactions.
Panorama photos can now be turned into immersive spatial environments. Panoramas are no longer viewed as flat images. Instead, users can now step into them, experiencing added depth and realism.
Apple says visionOS 27 significantly improves wireless performance, with speeds up to three times faster than before.
A new extra-small widget size allows users to place more widgets throughout their physical space without overwhelming their environment.
A new Web Environments feature allows developers to use a new immersive API to launch users into a full 360-degree environment from within Safari.
Mac owners can now preview and edit 3D models from their laptop directly in visionOS. Meanwhile, Quick Look enhancements allow for annotations to be added directly to 3D models.
Control Center has been reorganized with dedicated sections for notifications and media playback, system controls, and immersive environments.
Notifications will now automatically expand when a user looks at them, providing quicker access to information.
Apps such as Apple TV, Safari, and others now sport new curved window layouts that wrap content around a user’s field of view, creating a more immersive workspace to make better use of Vision Pro’s virtual display area.
A new immersive environment, based on Thórsmörk, a nature reserve in Iceland known for its dramatic mountains, valleys, and glaciers, is now available.
New frameworks, APIs, and tools are now available to assist developers in building more advanced spatial experiences.
As usual, MacTrast and Apple both warn users to not install any betas on their daily driver Apple TV or Vision Pro. Instead, only install betas on a device set aside for testing purposes.