Wesley Hilliard
Like Netflix, YouTube and Spotify won't be building specialized apps for Apple Vision Pro, nor will they allow their iPad apps to run on the hardware.
Some of the world's biggest corporations are taking a wait-and-see approach with Apple's new hardware, declining to offer any support for apps. Netflix was first to confirm that no native or iPad ported app would come to Apple Vision Pro, and now two more prominent companies join the mix.
According to a report from Bloomberg, both YouTube and Spotify have confirmed that their apps will not be available on Apple Vision Pro. The companies recommend users visit their websites in Safari instead.
Spotify, YouTube, and Netflix make up the world's biggest streaming services. However, it isn't clear whether their apps missing from the platform will cause potential buyers to bypass the platform.
Since Apple Vision Pro is an expensive product starting at $3,499 that serves a small niche of use cases, the customers buying the device won't miss those services. It is likely that developers and Apple fans will be first in line, both of which likely already use competing Apple platforms like Apple TV+, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Music.
Most other third-party streaming services are embracing Apple Vision Pro with at least a port of the iPad app. The Disney+ app is launching on the platform with full 3D environments to watch content from, like on Tatooine or the Scare Floor.
The news isn't exactly a surprise, as Google is usually slow, if defiant, about adopting new Apple platforms or features. Spotify is in a similar situation, except it is generally more openly hostile towards Apple and its business models.
Apple Vision Pro is available for pre-order on January 19, starting at $3,499. It ships to customers on February 2.
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Andrew Orr
27 Comments
Uh oh… Apple’s gonna have another monopoly in Vision Pro. Call the antitrust layers. =P
Hmm Netflix and Spotify i wouldn’t care about
but no YouTube tbh is a bit of a bummer
but that’s what you get as an early adopter
I get Google being anti-apple as they are a direct competitor.
But why is Spotify opposed to Apple products? Hardly makes sense to limit your customer base.
“wait-and-see approach”, my @$$. Actively blocking their apps is just being plain sour p*
To offer support at this point, you’d need to be reasonably confident that 1) a lot of people will buy the $3500 AVP and use it a lot, 2) a decent percentage of those people will want to use your app with it, 3) the app experience would be far superior to what you can offer through a browser, and 4) all of these things will combine to justify the expense of development and ongoing support. It’s a tall order, especially when you can always wait a bit and see how things go.