Apple has released visionOS 2.1 Beta 5, introducing several updates and fixes aimed at enhancing the functionality and user experience of the Apple Vision Pro. This latest beta version addresses known issues across various frameworks, providing developers with improved tools for creating immersive applications.
One of the key areas of focus in this release is Keynote. Users have reported that presenter controls can be inaccessible or difficult to access while presenting. This issue affects several functionalities, including the ability to navigate slides using the Light Table, access Drawing Tools, manage the Presenter Display, and utilize the Live Video source. Additionally, it impacts the Multi-Presenter feature and the ability to enable or disable Auto Dimming. As a workaround, users can tap to advance the presentation and long press then swipe right to go back a slide. Accessing Slideshow Tips can be done through Keynote Help in the app toolbar.
In the RealityKit Graphics framework, a known issue has been identified where a translucent SwiftUI view and a translucent ModelEntity positioned at the same point in space may cause visual flickering. Developers can mitigate this issue by adding a ModelSortGroupComponent to the ModelEntity and setting its group using ModelSortGroup.PlanarUIPlacement.
The StoreKit framework has also seen improvements in this beta release. A fix has been implemented to resolve an issue in StoreKit Testing within Xcode, where the offer identifier in subscription renewal information was reported incorrectly for offer codes. This fix ensures that developers can accurately manage subscription offerings.
Swift Charts has received a significant update as well. A previous issue that caused projects utilizing Swift Charts to fail to build when targeting iOS, macOS, or visionOS has been resolved, allowing developers to create and deploy their applications without hindrance.
In SwiftUI, several issues have been addressed. The beta fixes a problem where scene restoration would launch the incorrect scene. Additionally, the View.navigationSplitViewColumnWidth modifier now updates dynamically across iOS 18.1, tvOS 18.1, and visionOS 2.1. This enhancement allows developers to modify column widths effectively after the NavigationSplitView has been created, improving the adaptability of their applications.
Another fix in SwiftUI addresses a crash that occurred when using if #available in @WidgetBundleBuilder and @SceneBuilder on prior OS versions, ensuring greater stability for developers working with different OS versions.
Lastly, the Voice Memos app has been updated to resolve an issue where users were unable to rename a voice memo while recording, enhancing the overall usability of the app.
With the release of visionOS 2.1 Beta 5, Apple continues to refine its mixed reality operating system, providing developers with the tools they need to create innovative applications for the Apple Vision Pro. Users can look forward to a more stable and feature-rich experience as they explore the capabilities of this cutting-edge technology.