Apple says the visionOS beta will include the App Store this fall and iPadOS and iOS apps will be published automatically on the Vision Pro App Store by default

As developers continue to work on bringing their apps to Vision Pro, Apple has shared a new update via its website with details on the Vision Pro's App Store.

9to5Mac 2023-09-06 Chance Miller

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple had already given developers the visionOS SDK and access path to developer kits and labs, establishing the tools needed to build for the new platform. This update adds the distribution mechanism and uses Apple’s existing mobile-app catalog as the starting supply of software.

The approach matters because it reduces the gap between platform availability and app availability: later coverage of more than 600 optimized Vision Pro apps at launch shows the distinction Apple was drawing between automatically available iPhone/iPad apps and apps tailored for the device.

First-order effects

The visionOS beta gains an App Store, giving developers a channel to distribute Vision Pro software during the platform’s pre-release period.
iOS and iPadOS developers have their apps placed in the Vision Pro store by default, immediately broadening the device’s potential catalog without requiring a separate visionOS build.

Second-order effects

Developers must assess whether their existing touch-first apps are suitable for Vision Pro and decide whether to invest in optimized versions that can stand out from the default catalog.
Native visionOS apps will compete for discovery against a much larger pool of automatically published mobile apps, increasing the value of platform-specific design and merchandising.

Third-order effects

Apple is lowering the cold-start risk of a new computing platform by carrying forward an established app ecosystem; if the pattern holds, cross-device compatibility becomes a central lever in future platform launches.
The split between compatible apps and optimized apps could create a durable two-tier software market, where device-specific experiences depend on whether developer incentives justify dedicated investment.

The trend: This is part of Apple’s strategy of bootstrapping new platforms through default access to its existing developer and App Store ecosystem.

Discussion

@stroughtonsmith … Steve Troughton-Smith on mastodon
Incidentally, that checkbox is now available on App Store Connect, so if you've been waiting to opt-out of visionOS support, now's the time — [image]
@tchaten@mastodon.world Tim Chaten on mastodon
@Techmeme @ChanceHMiller Early access App Store in the fall makes me optimistic early could mean March or earlier - January even?!
@elkmovie@mastodon.social Michael Love on mastodon
@paul It's not even particularly good for Apple; if they want developers to build optimized apps for this new platform with its tiny number of wealthy users, they should be encouraging us to make separate, paid visionOS apps and charge those wealthy users a bunch of money for the…
@ioloro@mastodon.social John Marc on mastodon
Some more news about releasing apps on visionOS. — Our teams have worked very hard to make the most amount of apps and experiences just work. If you're facing an issue, especially one that would make the decision to support visionOS as a compatible app or not, please do file f…
@elkmovie@mastodon.social Michael Love on mastodon
But yeah, I'm very much on team “if you want to run my app on your new $3500 headset you can certainly afford to pay me $35 for the privilege,” whatever skullduggery Apple wants to pull with opting people into things.
@stroughtonsmith … Steve Troughton-Smith on mastodon
visionOS seems to be mostly on the iOS 17 cycle, even if the hardware is still months away (but probably not as many as you think). That means the App Store is opening up soon™. — I for sure will be opting all my apps out of the visionOS App Store until I've had enough time wi…
@elkmovie Michael Love on x
I recommend everybody opt out of this, if only to preserve your ability to launch a separate paid visionOS app later - there are going to be hardly any customers the first few months anyway, but it'll give you time to try a Vision Pro out and see if you want to optimize for it.

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