Don't read too much into early Apple Vision Pro app sales

AppleInsider

Developers have begun offering insight into how their apps are performing on the Apple Vision Pro, with many developers feeling underwhelmed right now.

Apple's visionOS menu system

Currently, the Apple Vision Pro has a library of about 600 apps, but it remains to be seen if any are considered the killer app yet. The $3,500 barrier to entry, coupled with units still shipping out to developers, means that any insights that can be gleaned just yet may not hold true over the next several months.

However, it's worth looking at what's worked and what hasn't. Tom Ffiske, of Immersive Wire reached out to developers to see why some apps are doing well and others are not.

Ffiske found that many developers are struggling to crack the 1,000 download mark. Zenitizer, for example, had only reached 600 downloads as of February 11. Hold On, a timer app, only had six.

One of the reasons for this is that the Apple Vision Pro App Store experience isn't terribly intuitive. Developers note that the search function could be better and that top 10 and popular download lists are difficult to find. And searching outside of the headset isn't easy to do, either.

Of course, there's also the fact that many buyers may be content to explore the apps that already come on the Apple Vision Pro rather than search for new experiences.

Immersive Wire notes that the analytics haven't been particularly helpful, either. Most developers use App Store Connect for analytics, but the service wasn't properly set up for the Apple Vision Pro. Outages meant developers weren't receiving accurate data, making measuring success difficult.

Some apps have done markedly well, though. Of course, any app that Apple highlighted in the Apple Vision Pro launch video and promotional materials does exceptionally well. JigSpace, for example, has received 14,000 installs in the first week of the device's launch.

If you can't get promoted directly by Apple, Immersive Wire points out that owning a niche is better. News Ticker, the top paid news app on the Apple Vision Pro, receives more than 300 downloads daily.

Solving existing problems is another great way to get downloads. While YouTube has walked back the statement saying that they wouldn't be releasing an app for the Apple Vision Pro, that wasn't always the case.

So, when Christian Selig created Juno, a YouTube player for the Apple Vision Pro, he saw immediate success.

Still, it's early in the game, and what does well today may not do well next week. Ultimately, the Apple Vision Pro -- and the App Store ecosystem that spring up around it -- will only hit steady-state with time.



Read on AppleInsider

neverindoubt

Device that’s sold a couple hundred thousand units has low app sell through compared to other devices that have sold a billion units.

 Film at 11.

dvz

AppleInsider said:

(…) The $3,500 barrier to entry, coupled with units still shipping out to developers, means that any insights that can be gleaned just yet may not hold true over the next several months.

And of course maybe it’s in just one country available, doesn’t help it either. Something most US-based outlets fail to mention. Hopefully it comes soon to Europe! 

How about an insight article how to import it, what kind of things happen then? Am very interested in that

chasm

dvz said:

How about an insight article how to import it, what kind of things happen then? Am very interested in that

This was actually covered in this article:

https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/02/08/berlin-customs-officers-confiscate-apple-vision-pro

The short version: if you, an individual, bought an Apple Vision Pro while you were in the US and you want to bring it back to your home country, that’s typically fine — just declare it when you re-enter (there may be a fee for for this).

If you’re trying to import quantities of the device for resale, forget about it, at least for now — you could be risking arrest and confiscation by the authorities, and possibly worse.

foregoneconclusion

I think the "barrier for entry" part is exaggerated. Pricing individual components that would give you the same functionality as the AVP is one way of understanding why the $3500 price is relatively inexpensive. Of course, if you don't need a lot of the functionality then you're not going to spend the $$. 

9secondkox2

foregoneconclusion said:

I think the "barrier for entry" part is exaggerated. Pricing individual components that would give you the same functionality as the AVP is one way of understanding why the $3500 price is relatively inexpensive. Of course, if you don't need a lot of the functionality then you're not going to spend the $$. 

I think 3500. is a barrier. The reason why. is people don't want to pay that much for a headset. 

I like a good quality blender at home. Blades stay sharp, it's reliable, and doesn't overwork itself.  And I am willing to pay. a premium. But...  I am not going. to. spend $2000 for one, no matter how. much better its specs. 

ultimately,  I think that's the Vision. Pro. It's the best of breed, but that. breed just. isn't all that.

foregoneconclusion

9secondkox2 said:

foregoneconclusion said:

I think the "barrier for entry" part is exaggerated. Pricing individual components that would give you the same functionality as the AVP is one way of understanding why the $3500 price is relatively inexpensive. Of course, if you don't need a lot of the functionality then you're not going to spend the $$. 

I think 3500. is a barrier. The reason why. is people don't want to pay that much for a headset. 

Only if you define "headset" as something that is primarily for playing VR games with a mobile processor or an add-on accessory for a gaming console. 

InspiredCode

At this point discovery is hard. You need to be featured on the App Store. There will be more interest in apps for media consumption and things you can’t do with your other devices. At this point there is only a handful of those 600 apps that you can’t do on other platforms. You can’t expect a timer app that has no real benefit to being in AR to do well. Those types of apps should only be on Vision Pro to prepare for the future when it sells millions of units- maybe in the 4th generation of the headset if you believe the rumors or internal sentiment.

Stabitha_Christie

9secondkox2 said:

foregoneconclusion said:

I think the "barrier for entry" part is exaggerated. Pricing individual components that would give you the same functionality as the AVP is one way of understanding why the $3500 price is relatively inexpensive. Of course, if you don't need a lot of the functionality then you're not going to spend the $$. 

I think 3500. is a barrier. The reason why. is people don't want to pay that much for a headset. 

I like a good quality blender at home. Blades stay sharp, it's reliable, and doesn't overwork itself.  And I am willing to pay. a premium. But...  I am not going. to. spend $2000 for one, no matter how. much better its specs. 

ultimately,  I think that's the Vision. Pro. It's the best of breed, but that. breed just. isn't all that.

Watching you slowly walk back your previous comments on Vision Pro has been humorous. 

danox

The Apple has only been released in one country less than two weeks ago, there is no pot of gold to be had for at least 1-2 years. like saving or investing in blue chip stocks. This isn't the lottery or Bitcoin.

Appleish

I haven't bought any new apps yet. Still overwhelmed by built-in apps, apps I already own I downloaded, and using my giant Mac screen.