• Apple’s Vision Pro headset, priced at $3499, faces a lack of interest from major foreign apps like Spotify and YouTube, except for Netflix.
  • In response to the demand for YouTube on Vision Pro, independent developer Christian Selig released the unofficial Juno app, priced at $4.99 on the Apple Application Store.
  • Juno replicates native YouTube functionality, supports features like gesture control and playlist browsing, and aims to enhance the YouTube streaming experience on Apple’s cutting-edge devices, with ongoing improvements planned.

Recently, Apple’s Vision Pro headset launched in the U.S. with a starting price of $3499, but not all major foreign apps are interested in it, with notable exceptions being Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube. In response to the demand for watching videos on the Vision Pro device, an independent developer named Christian Selig has released an unofficial YouTube app called Juno, priced at only $4.99, available on the Apple Application Store.

This third-party app fully replicates native YouTube functionality, including gesture control, maintaining the original video aspect ratio, and supporting browsing playlists, even incorporating YouTube ads during viewing. The developer states that this move aims to avoid Google’s disapproval.

Also read: Dawn of a new VR era: Apple Vision Pro now available to buy

The App store pages shows the app’s fit with YouTube

The App Store product page explains:

“Enjoy seamless streaming on popular video platforms! Juno is the ideal choice for exploring the YouTube streaming platform on Apple’s cutting-edge devices. With significant improvements in visual presentation for the visionOS, it performs effortlessly. Its comprehensive features and exquisite design, coupled with native controls, allow easy interaction with videos, adjusting hanging ratios for a home theatre-like viewing experience in the living room.

Features include aspect ratio recognition; support for high or low speed, full screen, sharing, and subtitle conversion (subtitle functionality not officially introduced in this 1.0 version, as stated in the developer’s blog); quickly launch the app by sliding the visionOS main screen; no need for a YouTube account. While Juno does not intentionally avoid ads, YouTube Premium members can enjoy all its benefits.

Also read: Will X ever be as profitable as YouTube for creators?

The app is being continuously refined

The development team notes that the app is continuously being refined with ongoing improvements, confirming upcoming additions such as displaying comments, subtitle control features, offering various video quality options, and enhancing an immersive environment for multi-angle video viewing.

Earlier reports indicated that several companies have pledged support for Apple Vision Pro devices, including Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, among others. Disney, in particular, has committed to delivering certain movies for Vision Pro users, providing a nearly cinematic three-dimensional experience.