Apple opens the doors of the visionOS software platform for the Vision Pro to app developers. You will be instructed to create “spatial apps”.

Apple introduced the highly anticipated Vision Pro AR headset to the world at WWDC. The Vision Pro has impressive hardware specs on paper, but without applications there’s little reason to buy the goggles. Apple turns to developers for this and opens access to the underlying software platform visionOS.

Spatial Computing

Apple describes visionOS as a “spatial computing platform,” which also highlights the Vision Pro’s purpose. The Vision Pro is not a VR headset that immerses you in a virtual world, but lets the physical world interact with the real world. While this worked quite well in the first demonstrations, there is now a need for applications that also find practical use for it.

Developers have access to the Reality Composer Pro 3D platform to create and test 3D models for Vision Pro. With a simulator they can test different decors and lighting conditions. Starting next month, Apple will welcome developers to labs set up at its headquarters in Cupertino, as well as in London, Munich and some major Asian cities, where they can also test their work on the hardware in the real world.

The Apple Vision Pro is expected to be available in stores in early 2024 at a whopping price of $3,499. For a comprehensive overview of the specifications, please click here. We summarize the first impressions of the AR glasses for you in this article.