Netflix says use Safari on Apple Vision Pro, because you aren't getting an app

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Apple Vision Pro users will have to access Netflix via Safari as the company has no plans to develop an app or offer the iPad app on the platform.

A modern room showcasing two large, floating virtual displays; one displays a YouTube page for AppleInsider, the other features an article with a hands-on view of Apple Vision Pro headset.
Netflix can only be accessed via a web browser on Apple Vision Pro

Despite its competitors embracing Apple Vision Pro and other headsets, Netflix is content in taking the wait-and-see approach
before committing to the platform.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Netflix has no plans to offer a native visionOS app nor will it allow its iPad app to work on the platform. According to a statement from the company, users can "enjoy Netflix on the web browser on the Vision Pro, similar to how our members can enjoy Netflix on Macs."

A reason isn't provided as to why Netflix won't develop for the emerging platform, but it is likely resource distribution. Rather than devote any of its development team to ensuring compatibility with the platform and deliver a good user experience, it chooses to have no experience whatsoever.

Alternatively, Netflix competitors like Disney+ and Apple TV+ are embracing the platform fully. Disney CEO Bob Iger called Apple Vision Pro a "revolutionary platform" that helps the company achieve its goal to "create truly remarkable experiences."

Netflix is happy continually increasing its prices, withholding functionality from Apple users, and offering the bare minimum in effort on new platforms. It isn't clear if the lack of a Netflix app will affect customers' purchasing decisions.

Apple Vision Pro is available for pre-order on January 19 starting at $3,499. It ships to customers on February 2.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 44
    It would be funny if Apple TV+ didn’t support the platform.
    9secondkox2bloggerblogwilliamlondon
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  • Reply 2 of 44
    Early adopters won’t mind either way.
    9secondkox2danoxwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 3 of 44
    eightzeroeightzero Posts: 3,182member
    I can't remember if Netflix offered an app for the iPhone when it came out.
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 44
    eightzero said:
    I can't remember if Netflix offered an app for the iPhone when it came out.
    iPhone didn’t have an App Store when it came out. 
    blastdoorappleinsideruser
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 44
    Netflix not jumping in both feet first on a hyped new platform means they’ve taken a gander and weren’t impressed. 

    Kind of like everyone else not selling apps for it. 

    The effort and engineering power going into the VP is astounding. Unfortunately, it’s just fundamentally flawed as a concept. 
    edited January 2024
    designrravnorodomtobiangrandact73
     4Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 44
    Maybe Netflix is owned by General Motors  :p
    kiehtanblastdoor9secondkox2ForumPostStrangeDayswatto_cobra
     5Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 7 of 44
    mjtomlinmjtomlin Posts: 2,699member
    Netflix not jumping in both feet first on a hyped new platform means they’ve taken a gander and weren’t impressed. 

    Kind of like everyone else not selling apps for it. 

    The effort and engineering power going into the VP is astounding. Unfortunately, it’s just fundamentally flawed as a concept. 

    Yeah, that’s not what that means. Netflix has a history of being hostile towards Apple’s platforms.
    paisleydiscobloggerblogblastdoorpulseimages9secondkox2SpitbathForumPostStrangeDayswatto_cobra
     8Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 8 of 44
    M68000m68000 Posts: 933member
    mjtomlin said:
    Netflix not jumping in both feet first on a hyped new platform means they’ve taken a gander and weren’t impressed. 

    Kind of like everyone else not selling apps for it. 

    The effort and engineering power going into the VP is astounding. Unfortunately, it’s just fundamentally flawed as a concept. 

    Yeah, that’s not what that means. Netflix has a history of being hostile towards Apple’s platforms.
    Actually,  I believe it’s because there is an unknown market for this kind of device, whether it costs $500 or $3500.  If the volume is not there, then the development is not there.

    There is one thing for sure, it will be interesting to see what happens with the device.  Some people on these forums are so excited that they think monitors and big screen TV’s are now obsolete and pointless LOL.  I do not share the excitement for these goggles. Instead, wondering if it will create a vertigo effect for some people.  I just don’t see myself wanting to sit or stand around with goggles.  Sorry,
    not feeling it..
    edited January 2024
    ravnorodomwilliamlondongrandact73michelb76
     3Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 9 of 44
    thttht Posts: 5,895member
    Heh, Netflix is being a Gatekeeper here, and should be subject to antitrust. /sarcasm

    Anyways, the Vision Pro can run Netflix’s iOS and iPadOS apps, unchanged or at minimum with a recompile with the VP target checked. Since they aren’t letting VP users use those apps, Netflix is explicitly not allowing that to happen. 

    Perhaps they have some strategy here, who knows. There’s the notion that Apple is a streaming service competitor and an app store service competitor for Netflix. 

    They want to have an App Store on iOS with no fees going to Apple. So, there might be some negotiation going on for that, but I imagine Apple isn’t tempted. 

    dewmewatto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 10 of 44
    Hrebhreb Posts: 96member
    eightzero said:
    I can't remember if Netflix offered an app for the iPhone when it came out.
    iPhone didn’t have an App Store when it came out. 
    And yet the iPhone did have Google Maps on it at launch, even without an app store.
    You can bet that if Apple thought a Netflix app was critical to AVP then some money would change hands and there would be a native app.
    9secondkox2watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 11 of 44
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,604member
    It will probably be a better experience on the web like all Social Media is better web than native. 
    ravnorodom9secondkox2watto_cobra
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  • Reply 12 of 44
    A few days ago they said they would make the iPad app available, I guess it must not have worked well.
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 13 of 44
    Curious if we see Plex. I don’t recall that in the list.
    9secondkox2watto_cobra
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  • Reply 14 of 44
    eightzeroeightzero Posts: 3,182member
    eightzero said:
    I can't remember if Netflix offered an app for the iPhone when it came out.
    iPhone didn’t have an App Store when it came out. 
    Oh. So I guess it didn't.

    Now I can't remember if the mac had a netflix app when it came out. 

    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 15 of 44
    IMO having less exposure to increasingly bad content and higher prices on Netflix is a... feature.
    ForumPostwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 16 of 44
    On job search sites, Netflix is on hiring spree for the gaming division. I think that’s where they are focusing right now. 
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 17 of 44
    So far the Vision Pro is more hype than substance. It's only just coming out in a very limited release (US only).
    Why would anyone bother to develop for that heavy piece of headgear? It barely holds enough charge for a movie and reading the reviews is too heavy to wear for an extended time as well.
    Add to that the fact, that Netflix holds no 3D content, only an extremely limited amount of 4K content (even if you pay the high premium subscription at Netflix and the content would be available in 4K from the producers it is not so with Netflix).
    Add to that that Netflix doesn't seem to be profitable and is in fact stuck in a growing mountain of debt.

    The result is Netflix does the low cost approach we all see. Masses of self produced often low quality content, streamed in a minimum viable quality (they do compress the hell out of their streams leading to low quality). So no money left, for anything that isn't strictly necessary.

    Let's face it, even if each and every Vision Pro buyer in the next 24 months would pay for a Ultra-Premium Vision Pro subscription it would barely be interesting for Netflix to invest. Since they don't have any relevant content even less.

    AppleTV+ being Apple owned ... of course it produces stuff (AppleTV+ alone doesn't necessarily need to produce a net profit)
    Disney+ actually has lot's of content (even 3D and 4K+) and has been tight with Apple for a long time. Makes sense as well. 

    The rest is wait and see, since they won't be able to shift market share in any meaningful way, by offering Vision Pro.
    edited January 2024
    williamlondongrandact73
     1Like 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 18 of 44
    danoxdanox Posts: 3,668member
    Netflix not jumping in both feet first on a hyped new platform means they’ve taken a gander and weren’t impressed. 

    Kind of like everyone else not selling apps for it. 

    The effort and engineering power going into the VP is astounding. Unfortunately, it’s just fundamentally flawed as a concept. 

     Ha...Ha...Ha...Netflix is nothing without all those Korean programs what are they going to do when they bailout.

    Microsoft played hard to get too in the early days of the iPad.
    edited January 2024
    ravnorodomwatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 19 of 44
    danoxdanox Posts: 3,668member
    eightzero said:
    eightzero said:
    I can't remember if Netflix offered an app for the iPhone when it came out.
    iPhone didn’t have an App Store when it came out. 
    Oh. So I guess it didn't.

    Now I can't remember if the mac had a netflix app when it came out. 


    Like most they supported Microsoft Windows until they had no choice, if Netflix or Spotify disappeared tomorrow no big deal. 
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 20 of 44
    What a brain dead move- remember this is a company spending billions every year and supporting an app that plays videos would cost them perhaps 100K a year or less.
    williamlondon9secondkox2StrangeDayswatto_cobra
     3Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
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