Apple Unveils Vision Pro’s New Persistent Widget System in VisionOS 26

At this WWDC thing, right, Apple just dropped some new update for Vision Pro, calling it visionOS 26 or whatever. So they’ve got this new widget system that, get this, actually sticks widgets onto your walls or tables like they’re freaking magnets. Imagine that, little info nuggets just hanging there like they’re part of the decor.

I stumbled upon this developer session during the week, right, and Apple was diving deep into these widgets. They’re permanent now, won’t float off into space when you reboot or recenter. Sounds solid, but like, does anyone else think ’bout cleaning virtual walls now? No? Just me?

Anyway, so existing widgets from iOS and iPadOS are supported too, which is neat. Apple’s added some new sizes and aspect ratios—does that mean I can finally display that oddly cropped meme I love? Maybe. Or maybe not. It’s Apple; they’re full of surprises. Or maybe not, who knows?

Oh, and there’s this fancy thing about choosing a ‘paper’ or ‘glass’ overlay, which changes how the widget reacts to your room’s light. ‘Paper’ dims it—makes it blend in like wallpaper, while ‘glass’ keeps it bright. Handy if you’re always misplacing your glasses and need info at a glance. Still missing mine, by the way.

Widgets even know when you’re close or far—like that weird feeling someone’s watching you from afar, only you’re the watcher. You see weather details when you’re across the room and more juicy bits like forecasts when you get up close. I wonder if it would work for nosy neighbors too.

Apple’s rolling out widgets like music posters that start jamming tunes when you poke them, or photo windows that make it look like you got a prime beachside view. Spoiler: they’re just flat photos. Sorry if you got excited there.

Also, the Clock widget’s been fancied up for when you really need to squint at the time. Do folks still use clocks? Not the point, I guess.

Apple’s really pushing these widgets to be part of your space—not just floating screens. You anchor them to walls, and they even throw shadows like they’re trying to be realistic. Personal opinion, it could be spookier at night. But I digress.

Users can mess with widget sizes from 75% to 125% and decide if they should pop out or nestle into the wall. You can even tweak colors—like picking paint chips but for widgets. Slightly less life-changing, I imagine.

They snap into grids like magnets if there’re others nearby, which is perfect for the chaos-averse. Oh, and they’re interactive; you can tick off to-do lists with a pinch or a poke. Simple, provided you don’t lose track of what you’re doing. I can’t be the only one, right?

These widgets hit the VisionOS 26 developer beta already, with a full rollout expected in the fall. Hold onto your hats—or maybe your headsets—and wait for the magic, or the mundane, to become a permanent fixture of your walls.