Apple has once again leaped into the future with its Vision Pro VR headset, a device promising to transport us into the virtual worlds we’ve dreamed of since the dawn of the dial-up internet era.
This marvel of technology, born from the creators of the iMac, iTunes, and iPhone, made a grand entrance by supporting a whopping 600 native apps on launch day, along with a compatibility mode for around 2 million other iOS/iPadOS apps available on the App Store.
But wait, before you start planning your virtual escape, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – or should we say, the four elephants?
Despite its vast universe of apps, there are a few notable absentees from the Vision Pro’s party.
Here’s a rundown of the four major apps that, in a plot twist worthy of a daytime soap opera, aren’t supported yet:
The major apps not supported at launch
1. YouTube – The Land of Endless Videos
Imagine diving into the depths of VR only to find out you can’t watch that video of a cat playing the piano in 3D. Yes, YouTube, the cornerstone of digital procrastination, isn’t immediately available. You’ll need to pop back into the 2D world for your cat video fix.
2. Netflix – Binge-Watching in Flatland
Next up is Netflix, the behemoth of binge-watching. Want to experience the thrill of your favorite shows in an immersive VR setting? Well, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. For now, your virtual popcorn remains uneaten.
3. TikTok – A Virtual Void of Viral Videos
TikTok, the addictive short-form video platform that has us all mimicking dance moves we shouldn’t, is also MIA in the Vision Pro universe. The absence of 15-second dance challenges in VR might actually be a blessing in disguise, though.
4. Spotify – Silence in the Soundscape
Lastly, Spotify, our go-to music streaming service, isn’t ready to serenade us in the VR world yet. Silence, it seems, is golden in the virtual realm (at least where Spotify is concerned).
Why the Wait?
The reason behind these glaring absences? It boils down to optimization. The Vision Pro supports two types of apps: compatible and native. While the former includes iOS/iPadOS apps that aren’t optimized for VR but can still run in a windowed mode on visionOS, the latter offers a fully immersive experience with apps built specifically for the Vision Pro. It seems our missing apps fall into neither category just yet.
What This Means for early adopters?
Fear not, intrepid virtual explorers! The world of VR is ever-evolving, and it’s only a matter of time before developers bridge these gaps. Until then, there are still 600 native apps to explore, not to mention the 2 million compatible apps ready to dip their toes into the VR waters. The future is bright, and who knows? Maybe the absence of these apps will give you the perfect excuse to explore new virtual horizons.
So, as we stand on the precipice of this new virtual era, let’s embrace the adventure, even if it means waiting a bit longer for our favorite apps to join the party. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a fully immersive VR ecosystem. In the meantime, let’s dive into the virtual world Apple has crafted for us and discover the wonders that await.
For more details, check out Apple’s official announcements here and the comprehensive list of compatible and native apps here. The virtual world is vast, and this is just the beginning.
