Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 will now support Windows 11, offering performance updates and more tools for app developers. Owners of Microsoft mixed-reality headsets can expect to see Windows 11 as a free update to their existing Windows 10 by the end of June; Those who want to stay on Windows 10 can do so.
jump to:
How to update HoloLens 2 to Windows 11
To update HoloLens 2 to Windows 11, go to Settings, select Update & Security and select Check for updates. This will start the update automatically.
What does Windows 11 bring to HoloLens?
HoloLens 2 users can expect Windows 11 to offer mostly behind-the-scenes performance changes. Microsoft promises “improvements”[ed] App Performance” and more controls for developers.
The latter comes from the Microsoft Edge WebView2 control. WebView2 allows developers to embed HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web technologies into their HoloLens 2 applications.
Microsoft Teams video calls get a quality update. Users will be able to turn video on or off during calls and should see more reliable and better quality call streaming.
SEE: Microsoft survey: Low-code as a potential solution Cut IT costs.
What changes are coming to Dynamics 365 Guides for HoloLens 2?
Along with the upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft is making improvements to Dynamics 365 Guides, the feature with which employers can create step-by-step, 3D diagrams to walk employees through tasks. The latest feature is annotation (Figure A), which lets users pin notes or drawings anywhere in the visual field, rather than just attaching them to a specific physical surface.
Figure A
Porsche dealership technicians use the new annotation feature for Dynamics 365 Guides on HoloLens 2. The headset can display training content on the appropriate part of the vehicle or provide a hands-free call with an expert. Image: Microsoft
Additionally, HoloLens 2 now comes with an improved security setting called Restricted Mode, and it’s especially good for companies working with confidential or highly secure data. Restricted Mode gives organizations more control over how and when to share their mixed-reality apps.
Another Dynamics 365 Guide update, separate from the Windows 11 rollout, targets industries like manufacturing that use Good Practice protocols. New guidance on Dynamics 365 guides for compliance, quality control, risk management, and documentation will help manufacturers and other highly regulated industries tailor HoloLens 2 to their use cases while staying within GxP requirements. This update is expected to go live by the end of June.
How enterprises use HoloLens 2
Microsoft noted that one of its success stories with HoloLens comes from Porsche, which provides the headset to technicians at car dealerships to connect with remote repair experts or train on the job. Other areas in which mixed reality headsets may be useful to enterprises include engineering, manufacturing, construction, and education.
Mixed Reality Situation for Enterprise
The mixed-reality headset market for the enterprise appears to be a volatile space and one in which tech giants keep trying to compete for the one device that will truly become ubiquitous. Google announced that starting March 15, 2023, it will no longer sell Glass Enterprise Edition, the last remaining version of the company’s effort at a wearable for work.
Other competitors may emerge as Apple and Meta try to build a better mixed-reality headset. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is planning to announce its entry in June. Small company Magic Leap is making waves in the field with its own headset for enterprise. According to The Verge, Microsoft may be undecided on whether there will be a successor to HoloLens 2.
