Apple is having a hard time encouraging developers to make apps on Apple Vision Pro – but there is a reason behind that.
Two months have passed since the announcement of the Apple Vision Pro, and as previously reported in June, Apple had planned to initiate developer labs and provide developers with device samples to facilitate app development for it. This plan has indeed been realized.
These labs offer developers the opportunity to test their apps and games directly on Vision Pro hardware, rather than relying on a Mac-based simulator.
However, this entire situation is not as promising as it may appear. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, only a limited number of developers have participated in these developer labs. “Developers who attended these sessions said that the rooms weren’t filled up, and they were surprised by how few people attended.” Gurman stated. “The event consisted largely of Apple engineers assisting with code troubleshooting.“
It appears that the interest in developing apps for the Apple Vision Pro is currently limited. Gurman suggests that this is largely due to the device’s high cost, which in turn creates a small market for it. Consequently, developers are hesitant to invest time in creating apps and games for a platform that is unlikely to be utilized as extensively as the iPhone, likely amounting to only a small fraction of its user base.
Another significant factor to consider is the limited number of locations worldwide. The Vision Pro developer labs are currently established in just six locations globally: Cupertino, London, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo, with only one of them situated in the US. With such a sparse distribution of labs, the accessibility for developers to attend these sessions is severely limited.
Gurman’s report also highlights that the hardware utilized in the developer labs remained consistent with what was showcased during this year’s WWDC demonstrations. Apple is particularly resolute when it comes to preventing leaks regarding the applications of the Vision Pro. According to the report, several developers noted that the company strongly emphasized maintaining confidentiality and ensuring that the proceedings were kept undisclosed from the press.
Why would I want to develop for something that I can’t test unless I travel and can’t get ahold of without insane rules? People aren’t developing not because of cost, but because Apple is making it as difficult as possible to do so.
Testing centers are the equivalent of trying to stage Hamilton on a flatscreen computer, then having to go to another state to see if it actually works in person. You can’t make a decent product like this.