Roman GłogulskiYouTube and Spotify, the world’s most popular video and music services, are joining Netflix Inc. in avoiding the upcoming Apple Mixed-Reality goggles. YouTube announced on Thursday that it has no plans to release a new app for Apple Vision Pro and will not allow its long-standing iPad app to work on this device. Similar to Netflix, YouTube recommends using a web browser if users want to access its content: “YouTube users will be able to use YouTube on the Safari browser on the Vision Pro device once it is released.”
Spotify is also not planning to create a new app for the visionOS, the operating system of Vision Pro, and does not expect its iPad app to function on this device, according to a knowledgeable source. However, the music service will likely still be accessible through a web browser. This decision by Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube was reported by Bloomberg News on Wednesday.
Vision Pro goggles will have access to Apple’s music and podcast apps, which compete with Spotify’s offerings. However, the fact that Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube have withdrawn their support means that the most popular streaming apps will not be available from the release date of February 2. Apple primarily promotes the device as a platform for video, games, and other forms of entertainment.
The absence of a YouTube app for this product creates a particularly significant gap. When the original iPad was introduced by Apple in 2010, YouTube was one of the pre-installed apps on the tablet.
YouTube and Spotify still offer popular apps for the iPhone and iPad. In theory, this would have made it easy for them to support Vision Pro. Developers with iPad apps in the regular App Store will see these apps automatically appear in the Vision Pro store. However, this means that developers must opt out if they do not want to participate.
Other entertainment apps are still participating in the project, including Disney+, Max, Peacock, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video. According to Apple, the device will support over 1 million titles available in the App Store for the goggles. The company will begin accepting preorders for Vision Pro on Friday.
YouTube and Spotify have declined to explain why they have withdrawn support for the $3,499 device. Spotify does not offer apps for competing goggles like Meta Platforms Inc.’s Quest, although YouTube does. Spotify has also been involved in a dispute with Apple regarding App Store policies, but the decision not to support Vision Pro is unrelated to that, according to a personal source who requested anonymity. A search conducted by MacStories on Thursday also indicates that other significant iPad apps like Facebook Meta, Instagram, and WhatsApp are currently not optimized to work on Vision Pro. However, this may change before the device’s release date, and developers may be planning new versions dedicated to visionOS. Meta has not immediately responded to a request for comment.
The world’s most popular video and music services, including Google YouTube and Spotify, are joining Netflix Inc. in avoiding the upcoming Apple Mixed-Reality goggles. They do not plan to introduce new apps for Apple Vision Pro or make their iPad apps work on this device. Instead, they recommend using the Safari web browser if users want to watch their content. Spotify is also not planning to create a new app for the visionOS – the operating system of Vision Pro.
Google YouTube recommends using the Safari web browser on the Vision Pro device once it is released. Spotify will likely still be accessible through a web browser. The announcement of not supporting Vision Pro came from Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube.
Apple mainly advertises Vision Pro as a platform for video, games, and entertainment. However, the absence of a YouTube app for this product creates a significant gap, as YouTube was one of the pre-installed apps on the original Apple iPad.
Other entertainment apps such as Disney+, Max, Peacock, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video are participating in the project and will be available on Vision Pro.
YouTube and Spotify have declined to explain why they have withdrawn support for the device. Spotify does not offer apps for competing goggles like Meta Platforms Inc.’s Quest. A search conducted by MacStories also indicates that other significant iPad apps like Facebook Meta, Instagram, and WhatsApp are currently not optimized to work on Vision Pro.
Useful links:
– Apple Website
