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In the last two weeks since my device arrived, I’ve had a blast going through apps in visionOS. Thanks to everyone who sent me a link to your app, too.

I’m no expert yet, but I’ve spent some time thinking about the potential of visionOS as an app platform in the last couple of weeks. The first conclusion I’m ready to draw is that there are two types of apps:

  1. Apps that will make you put your headset on.
  2. Apps that are worth using if you already have the headset on.

The App Store has plenty of apps that are good to use if you already have the headset on, and I’m quite sure this is due to SwiftUI. The effort of adding one more platform to a multi-platform SwiftUI app isn’t enormous, especially if the app already supports iPad. But with that ease of development comes the downside. Your app already exists on other devices! So, if someone needs your app, they’ll pick up their iPad or phone (which they are probably already holding) before the Vision Pro.

Whereas if they are already wearing their Vision Pro, having your app on visionOS is a great benefit. I’d much rather open a native app than look through the passthrough cameras to use it on another device. So, the first thing I’d say is it’s definitely worth adding a visionOS version of your app if it’s not too much trouble. 👍

But those apps are not going to make the platform a success. visionOS needs apps that will make you walk up or down a flight of stairs, take your glasses off, and put the headset on for a chance to use them.

The good news is we have several years to make those apps happen, and it’s not solely up to third-party developers either. Apple needs to put plenty of work into clearing the “Compatible Apps” folder out. They also need to ship many more apps that make this device shine. The hardware is more than capable and when it gets it right, it really gets it right!

But until Apple releases those apps, do you have an idea for an app that will make people put their headset on?

Dave Verwer  

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