Hello Magic Leap 2 Developers!
The March 2024 release of OS 1.6.0 is here, bringing support for several new OpenXR Features across the Unity, Unreal and MRTK3 packages. This update also introduces the new Magic Leap Spectator mobile application which allows users to capture high-quality mixed reality content from the headset. Read on to learn about all of the new updates.
Release Highlights:
- Upgrades the OpenXR plugin dependency to 1.10.0
- Deprecates multiple C APIs in favor of OpenXR APIs
- Introduces new OpenXR feature support in Unity SDK 2.1.0 and Unreal SDK 1.3.0, including Environmental Meshing and Spatial Anchors.
- Launches the initial release of the Magic Leap Spectator application
Deprecation Notice 
As part of our ongoing efforts to build and promote the OpenXR ecosystem, we have integrated the OpenXR APIs into our native, Unity and Unreal SDK packages beginning with the OS version 1.5.0 release. Moving forward, we will only be releasing OpenXR packages and will be deprecating the com.unity.xr.magicleap package used in previous non-OpenXR builds. Support for this XR plugin package will officially stop on June 1st, 2024, meaning there will be no future bug fixes or new features added to the plugin past this date. However, the plugin will continue to be available for older versions of the Unity SDK.
We encourage developers to migrate to the new version of our OpenXR-supported Unity package, which can be obtained alongside the compatible OS using the Magic Leap Hub. For assistance, refer to the OpenXR Overview Guide or the Unity Migration Guide. As always, we are more than happy to assist you on the forum during your porting efforts.
Featured Guides
ML Spectator
We are pleased to release Magic Leap Spectator, an iOS application that makes it easy to view and record mixed reality content streamed from Magic Leap 2 applications. With powerful camera tools and quick device connectivity, it’s now possible to showcase your Magic Leap 2 content in a variety of ways.
Magic Leap Spectator works in conjunction with compatible apps on Magic Leap 2. Currently, both Workshop and Assist support ML Spectator for testing and evaluation, but you can easily enable your own apps by downloading the Magic Leap Spectator Unity package from the Magic Leap Hub.
For complete instructions on how to make your apps compatible and start capturing mixed reality video, see the Magic Leap Spectator User Guide.To download the iPhone app, please visit the Apple App Store.
Clipping Plane Policy with OpenXR
The new experimental XR_ML_view_configuration_depth_range_change OpenXR extension reads the Magic Leap 2 device's Display Zone near boundary setting while an app is running. Read these guides to learn more about accessing the clipping plane policy, display zone settings and how this manifests in the Unreal plugin.
Unity Environmental Meshing with OpenXR
This release includes support for environmental meshing in OpenXR. Read this guide to learn about implementing Triangle and PointCloud environmental meshing in your Unity application.
Holoscan
Nvidia Holoscan is a hybrid computing platform designed for medical devices that combines hardware systems for low-latency sensor and network connectivity, optimized libraries for data processing and AI, and core microservices to run surgical video, ultrasound, medical imaging, and other applications anywhere, from embedded to edge to cloud. Read this guide to learn more about integrating Holoscan with the Magic Leap 2 device.
SDK Release Highlights
For a full list of updates, see the Releases section on the Developer Portal.
C SDK
This update deprecates the following ML C APIs in favor of OpenXR APIs:
- ml_eye_calibration.h
- ml_graphics.h
- ml_graphics_utils.h
- ml_head_tracking.h
- ml_headset_fit.h
- ml_marker_tracking.h
- ml_planes.h
Unity SDK
New OpenXR feature support, including Facial Expressions, Environmental Meshing, Spatial Anchors, Spatial Anchor Storage, and adds the AprilTagSettings struct to Magic Leap 2 Marker Understanding.
Unreal SDK
New OpenXR feature support, including Facial Expressions, Environmental Meshing, Spatial Anchors, Spatial Anchor Storage and Implemented Magic Leap 2 XR_ML_view_configuration_depth_range_change. The Unreal SDK also now supports Magic Leap Remote Rendering for apps created using the version of Unreal Engine available for download on the Unreal Engine website.
Soundfield (MSA) SDK Unity Plugin
The ‘Override 3D Properties’ setting under MLPointSource Distance Properties is now set to false by default. This allows consistent behavior with component-less plugin operation, with distance attenuation governed by the AudioSource 3D Sound Settings. Set this to true to restore MLPointSource distance attenuation model and settings. This update also fixes a bug related to automatic creation of the MLListener component.
Soundfield (MSA) SDK Unreal Plugin
This release adds logging support. The Soundfield panel under Project Settings provides a checkbox to Enable Native Logs as well as a drop down menu to set the Plugin Log Level. These settings expose logs from the plugin binary for debugging purposes.
This release adds OpenXR support when using the com.unity.xr.openxr package (version 1.9.1 or later), and choosing the OpenXR plugin under Edit > Project Settings > XR Plug-in Management. New profiles, prefabs and settings have been provided to support running with OpenXR. This update also added an option to choose the hand and controller multimodal behavior when using both hands and the ML controller at the same time.
Systems & Performance
AR Cloud Localization and Mapping Services
Improved map accuracy through enhanced detection capabilities of revisited locations in the map.
WiFi / BT disable
Magic Leap now provides customers with a public preview ability to disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless network capabilities for operations in high-security environments.
Sleep Mode
Sleep is now ON by default for 'clean' (erase userdata) flashing of the latest software build and for factory reset use case. For upgrade use cases (e.g., upgrading from a prior software release without erasing user data), user's existing Sleep setting will be retained.
GFX Changes
Remote Rendering With MLCapture
In order to provide the highest level of quality capture to our remote rendering customers, we implemented a mechanism that while offering good capture quality, trades off fidelity on the left eye viewport. This can cause artifacts, especially when content is transparent or thin, but only when the user is recording a capture.
Reduced jitter for heavy OpenGL apps in the browser
Earlier, if we ran GPU heavy apps on the browser on device we would encounter significant jitter and see issues with the rendering. We have addressed this issue to greatly reduce the jitter seen in these cases by optimizing the OpenGL backend.
UX Changes
Capture: OS Nav Support and Text Tooltips
The Capture app now supports better hand interaction so that users do not have to disrupt tasks to capture images and videos. We also added in-app tool tips to reduce ramp up time to successfully taking captures on the ML2.
Visit the 1.6.0 OS Release Notes for more information.
1.6.0 Package Version Guide
Listed below are the version numbers of the packages that comprise the 1.6.0 update:
- Magic Leap OS - 1.6.0
- Unity SDK -2.1.0
- C SDK - 1.6.0
- Unreal SDK - 1.3.0
- Soundfield (MSA) Unity - 3.4.5
- Soundfield (MSA) Unreal - 3.4.3.1
- MRTK3 - 1.0.0-pre.7
Reminder: if you update to the latest SDK, you also need to update the OS on your device. If you are using Unity, be sure to use the versions listed above for full compatibility. After you download the packages listed above, check out our setup guides.
Developer Input and Feedback
Our Developer Forum and our Bug Report submission form are prime channels for direct input to continuously improve Magic Leap 2. If you have an issue developing for our platform, give us a shout on the Forum. We respond to each question. If you suspect you’ve found a bug, don’t hesitate to report it to us either through the bug report form or a forum post.
That’s it for this month. Best wishes on your Magic Leap 2 project and we’ll see you on the Forum.
Best,
Magic Leap Developer Relations Team