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The apps for Vision Pro look boring
There was a flurry of excitement on social media last week because developers started showing their apps for Vision Pro. New products enter the market very rarely, so there is a real sense of expectation in the indie developer community.
I always rely on Apple's design principles for my applications, strictly adhere to the rules of the Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) and make the most of the described default values. This approach provides a number of advantages for both developers and users. For example, applications become recognizable, simple, accessible, and this is only part of the advantages. However, strict adherence to these recommendations sometimes leads to a loss of the individuality and character of the application. Apple is effectively coping with this problem by using colors and a slightly modified UX to set its apps apart from others. Developers have also found ways to diversify the design of interface elements.
I always rely on Apple's design principles for my applications, strictly adhere to the rules of the Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) and make the most of the described default values. This approach provides a number of advantages for both developers and users. For example, applications become recognizable, simple, accessible, and this is only part of the advantages. However, strict adherence to these recommendations sometimes leads to a loss of the individuality and character of the application. Apple is effectively coping with this problem by using colors and a slightly modified UX to set its apps apart from others. Developers have also found ways to diversify the design of interface elements.
Daniil Shatukhin
chief editor at Mint
The time has finally come
Where is the innovation?
Based on the facts that I observe, I can confidently say that the HIG principles are proving ineffective for the design of Vision Pro interfaces. Apple has put a lot of effort into developing rules, tips, and guidelines for designing interface elements so as not to encounter the pitfalls associated with creating 3D interfaces. This helped to avoid an abundance of moving elements and visual clutter, which can confuse the user or even affect his well-being.
However, this led to the fact that many of the applications I saw were without their character. Screenshots seem tasteless, and it becomes difficult to distinguish one application from another. Individually, applications can look impressive because of the fundamental principles of design at the platform level, but when these applications come together, there is no such effect.
For the most part, this is a deliberate move on the part of Apple, aimed at making applications more understandable to users and creating monotony. However, I hope that's not all. Is it possible to expect a lot from the community when even major players do not release their applications at the start?
However, this led to the fact that many of the applications I saw were without their character. Screenshots seem tasteless, and it becomes difficult to distinguish one application from another. Individually, applications can look impressive because of the fundamental principles of design at the platform level, but when these applications come together, there is no such effect.
For the most part, this is a deliberate move on the part of Apple, aimed at making applications more understandable to users and creating monotony. However, I hope that's not all. Is it possible to expect a lot from the community when even major players do not release their applications at the start?
Excuses, excuses
The situation was influenced by the fact that almost all developers had access only to the simulator, which made it difficult to understand how gestures, visual interaction work and how it would all look on the final device. There is a big gap between the experience of working on the device itself and the simulator.
Time was also a concern. Despite the fact that Apple introduced Vision Pro in September 2023, the lack of clarity regarding the release date has put many developers, including me, in a situation where it is impossible to schedule a completion date for the application. I was sure we wouldn't see the device until March 2024, which gives us more time to experiment.
Another concern is the benefit. At first, there will be a limited number of devices on the market that will fully work only in the USA. This makes it difficult to invest in working on an abstract idea. The development of applications for Vision Pro is mainly done by those for whom the project has become a passionate idea.
Time was also a concern. Despite the fact that Apple introduced Vision Pro in September 2023, the lack of clarity regarding the release date has put many developers, including me, in a situation where it is impossible to schedule a completion date for the application. I was sure we wouldn't see the device until March 2024, which gives us more time to experiment.
Another concern is the benefit. At first, there will be a limited number of devices on the market that will fully work only in the USA. This makes it difficult to invest in working on an abstract idea. The development of applications for Vision Pro is mainly done by those for whom the project has become a passionate idea.
There is still hope
I hope that in the coming months we will witness developers pushing the boundaries of the user experience beyond the current limitations. I want to see the innovations in design, visuals, and user experience that Vision Pro deserves. I'm looking forward to seeing what the community comes up with and will continue to share my experiments.