If we have to highlight just one technological product this year, without a doubt, it’s the Apple Vision Pro. The company’s new space-age computer is something that, even without being officially unveiled yet — except for developers — is on everyone’s lips. Since its debut in August, it has sparked an unprecedented interest in the global development community.
This is reflected by Apple in an article on their website, where we can read the reactions of some of the most important development teams in the world. The individuals behind Fantastical, Widgetsmith, or Slack share their experiences.
A one-of-a-kind experience
Michael Simmons, CEO of Flexibits, the company behind well-known apps like Fantastical and Cardhop, summarizes the experience in a surprising way: “It was like seeing Fantastical for the first time.” Simmons describes his visit to the Apple Vision Pro labs in Cupertino as a surreal encounter with his own creation, feeling like he himself was a part of the app. While familiar with every aspect of his application, experiencing it on the Vision Pro provided him with a completely new perspective.
And this is not just an individual impression. The feeling is repeated among developers from all over the world who have had the opportunity to work in these labs. Places like London, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Cupertino have been the settings where developers have experienced their applications like never before.
A quantum leap in the development experience
The Vision Pro not only represents a new way of interacting with technology but also an opportunity for developers to explore beyond conventional limitations. Simmons captures it perfectly by noting that a “screen with edges can be limiting.” The spatial approach of the Vision Pro breaks through traditional barriers, allowing for an immersion that goes beyond the physical confines of a screen.
David Smith, a developer and podcaster, experienced something similar. For him, seeing his Widgetsmith app on the Vision Pro was an experience that prompted “an audible sense of wonder.” While simulators offer a preliminary view, there’s nothing comparable to the real-life experience of the device, enabling developers to adapt and refine their apps with an unprecedented perspective.
Exploration and Adaptation
The tests not only serve to admire the capabilities of the Vision Pro, but also to explore and adapt existing applications to this new paradigm. Ben Guerrette from Pixite worked hard to adapt the interaction of their video editor, Spool, to the innovative spatial environment of the device. This adaptation posed a challenge but also an opportunity to enhance and strengthen the connection between the user and the application.
On the other hand, Chris Delbuck from Slack, after just a few minutes with the device and his application, understood “how 3D elements in the interface could present a completely new experience.” The ability to experiment in the laboratory with the Vision Pro expanded his perspective and allowed him to imagine solutions and features he hadn’t even considered before.
A promising future
The impact of the Vision Pro goes beyond a simple novelty. For many developers, this device represents the future of computing and app design. Michael Simmons, reflecting on his experience, states that the Vision Pro has reshaped his perspective on what it truly means to design for a spatial experience.
The Apple Vision Pro labs offer more than just a testing space: they provide developers with a window into the future, allowing them to anticipate and adapt to a constantly changing technological world. Undoubtedly, the Apple Vision Pro is leaving an indelible mark on the developer community.
Its ability to provide an unprecedented spatial experience has opened the doors to a world of virtually limitless possibilities, marking the beginning of a new era in app design and development. These applications that we will be able to enjoy alongside the new device in a few months, when it launches in the United States early next year. A device that, while we await the iPhone 15 or iOS 17, is already shaping, even before its official presentation, a before and after.
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