Vision Pro: some Apple applications will be unmodified copies of their iPad version…

Apple promises more than 1 million apps on the Vision Pro, its very first mixed reality headset. However, the majority of them will actually be unmodified iPadOS applications… including those from the Apple brand!

Indeed, applications for the iPad will automatically be offered in the Apple Vision Pro App Store, unless developers choose to opt out first. According to analyst Mark Gurman, an Apple specialist, this method will have a direct impact on the number of platforms specifically designed for visionOS, the headset operating system. “ I guess 99% of total apps are iPad versions », he assures in his newsletter Power On.

A relatively small user base to begin with

This also affects some of Apple’s pre-installed apps, including Podcasts, News, Calendar, Reminders and ” other essential platforms “. If there is a chance that the Cupertino company will remedy this in the coming months, such an approach could directly affect users who favor productivity-focused use of the device. The headset will be sold on February 2 in the United States for $3,500.

This decision by Apple potentially results from the planned performance of the Vision Pro for its first year. Its initial inventory for the launch weekend is around 80,000 units, which the company sold out in the first hour of pre-orders. If Apple sells the 300,000 to 400,000 units it expects to ship this year, that still won’t represent a sizable user base for developers.

The Vision Pro is launched in a tense context

This situation potentially explains the decision of several companies not to develop applications dedicated to visionOS. This is particularly the case for Spotify, YouTube and Netflix. Meta and Google are also expected to shun the device when it launches.

According to Mark Gurman, many companies are frustrated by the Apple brand’s behavior regarding the policy in place within its application store. Its recent decision to allow links to third-party payments while continuing to charge a commission has made the situation worse. Also, many want to wait to know how attractive users are to the technology before spending on the development of a dedicated application.

Despite everything, this will not necessarily result in failure for the Vision Pro. For example, the Apple Watch is not known for its App Store, but remains a product particularly appreciated by the Californian giant’s customers. This raises questions, however, as the device is specifically for developers to get acclimated with the technology.

It is still difficult to know how users will use it; Above all, we must be patient before drawing conclusions. For its part, Apple is working on the successor to the Vision Pro, a much less expensive product which will be aimed at a wider audience.

Sources: Bloomberg, The Verge