The Meta Quest smartphone app will be rebranded as Meta Horizon next week.
Following a recent update that significantly revamped its design and streamlined retailer pages, search results, and other content, the app has announced this latest move. Prior to the update, the Meta Quest app was notorious for its sluggish performance on my phone, but following the refresh, it now operates with a speed comparable to other apps.
The redesign introduces a lightweight mode to the app for the first time, as depicted in the screenshot above. The app also fosters friendships and enhances the algorithm-driven feed, necessitating a brief tap on the top icons to access the store or headset settings. With the advent of modern technology, the once-convenient feature of casting has become a mere arm’s reach away – a mere tap of the screen separates us from seamlessly projecting content onto our smart TVs. Meanwhile, the app library, once easily accessible on the home screen, now languishes in the depths of a menu, awaiting discovery by users willing to dig through layers of options.
Meta Horizon OS Will Run On Headsets From ASUS & Lenovo
Meta is rebranding its Quest software platform to Meta Horizon OS and opening it up to third-party headset makers, including ASUS and Lenovo, allowing for greater collaboration and innovation in the virtual reality space.
The rebranding effort marks a significant shift in Meta’s Quest software platform, now dubbed Horizon. The Oculus Quest’s operating system is being rebranded as Horizon OS, with the corresponding retail platform transitioning to Horizon Retailer later this month.
The rebranding may result in a potential confusion phase for first-time users of the Quest headset, as they would reasonably expect a “Meta Quest” application rather than “Meta Horizon” in their app store. While some people remain closely associated with the Horizon model, its connection to Horizon Worlds, Meta’s metaverse platform, is akin to that of Rec Room and Roblox for many others.
The primary objective of the rebranding effort is to diversify the platform by integrating headsets from various companies, initially focusing on collaborations with industry leaders such as ASUS and Lenovo. Meta’s Quest will serve as the flagship hardware model, while Horizon will represent the software ecosystem, encompassing the platform and marketplace.
