While steering clear of Apple Inc.’s upcoming mixed-reality headset, Google’s YouTube and Spotify Technology SA, the world’s most popular video and music services, are joining Netflix Inc.
YouTube and Spotify Not Launching Apple Vision Pro Apps
Clarifying the same, YouTube said that it isn’t planning to launch a new app for the Apple Vision Pro, nor will it allow its longstanding iPad application to work on the device — at least, for now, in a statement on Thursday.
Just like Netflix, YouTube is also recommending its customers use a web browser if they want to see its content saying “YouTube users will be able to use YouTube in Safari on the Vision Pro at launch.”
Besides this, Spotify is also not planning a new app for visionOS currently.
Here visionOS is Vision Pro’s operating system which doesn’t expect to enable its iPad app to run on the device when it launches, said the sources.
Notably, the music service will still likely work with the use of a web browser.
For music and podcasts, the Vision Pro will be having access to Apple’s apps which mainly compete with Spotify’s offerings.
How Does It Matter?
This latest move by Netflix, Spotify and YouTube will result in the most popular streaming apps won’t be the part of the headset launches on February 2.
So far, the iPhone maker has mostly marketed the device as a platform for video, games and other entertainment.
Here, YouTube’s omission will particularly affect the product.
Considering the fact that earlier when Apple’s original iPad launched in 2010, YouTube was one of a handful of apps preinstalled on the tablet.
The consumers don’t have to be disheartened as the company didn’t rule out eventually supporting the Vision Pro.
Although, it had “no further plans to share at this time.”
In the meantime, YouTube and Spotify continue to offer popular apps for the iPhone and iPad.
This has theoretically given them an easy path toward supporting the Vision Pro.
The developers who have iPad software in the regular App Store will see those apps appear in the Vision Pro store by default.
This simply means that developers have to opt out if they don’t want to participate.
Please note here that many other entertainment apps are still participating such as Disney+, Max, Peacock, ESPN and Amazon Prime Video.
According to Apple, the device will support more than 1 million titles in the headset’s App Store.
The Vision Pro booking will commence on Friday.
But the mystery remains unsolved as YouTube and Spotify still haven’t released any comment on why they bowed out of supporting the $3,499 device.
