Apple Rolling Out Kits To Help Developers Design Apps For Unfamiliar Vision Pro

While users with US$3,499 to spare will be exploring new ways to browse content with the long-awaited Apple Vision Pro, developers, too, will be charting unfamiliar territory.

Needless to say, with the immersive technology tied to the mixed-reality headset, app builders will need a leg up in creating experiences that transcend flat screens—it doesn’t help that they’ll only get their hands on the gear when it launches in early 2024. As such, Apple is offering some solutions to help them stay prepared for “spatial computing,” AKA the next dimension in UI/UX design.

The company plans to hand out Apple Vision Pro developer kits and conduct hands-on lab sessions to get creators familiarized with the all-new visionOS software.

“To support great ideas for apps and games for visionOS, developer kits will be available to help bring your creations to life on Apple Vision Pro,” the company shares. “These kits provide the ability to quickly build, iterate, and test on Apple Vision Pro, so your app or game will be ready to deliver amazing experiences.”

Other solutions include a visionOS simulator within Xcode, which is slated to arrive later this month. Developers can use this to explore the new operating system and learn how to design apps from there.

Apple will also start opening applications for Apple Vision Pro software compatibility evaluations, enabling developers to submit their iPhone and iPad apps for review. In turn, its staff will send back a report outlining which parts of an app are suitable for visionOS and the areas that will require tweaking.

As for the developer kits, the tech giant says more details will be announced later. What’s known is that developers will be able to register for access in the coming weeks.

Elsewhere, Apple will be hosting live labs that will let developers handle the Vision Pro hands-on in Cupertino, London, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.

[via AppleInsider and 9to5Mac, images via Apple]