Category: visionOS

NVIDIA unveiled Omniverse support for Apple Vision Pro content.

Announced today at NVIDIA GTC, a new software framework built on Omniverse Cloud APIs, or application programming interfaces, lets developers easily send their Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) industrial scenes from their content creation applications to the NVIDIA Graphics Delivery Network (GDN), a global network of graphics-ready data centers that can stream advanced 3D experiences to Apple Vision Pro.

NVIDIA

Developers will be able to utilize NVIDIA services and access content using native development frameworks such as SwiftUI and RealityKit.

NVIDIA: NVIDIA Omniverse Expands Worlds Using Apple Vision Pro

Reference: NVIDIA Introduces Remote Scene Rendering for Vision Pro Development

Tim Cook confirmed that Apple Vision Pro will be available in China later in 2024.

It is expected that important apps will be available on Vision Pro for Chinese users. Tencent company is reported to bring their apps critical to Chinese users to visionOS platform.

It is also reported that iPhone sales got a significant decline in China in February – up to 33%. At the same time some analysts are confident on iPhone demand in China.

The analysts say that most smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, have seen forecasts remain steady. Samsung and Huawei are doing better, with TD Cowen saying that their "targets increased modestly."

Overall, the analysts expect a 4% growth in the Chinese smartphone market across 2024 and 2025. So it's not a gigantic recovery, but after years of decline, it's a significant improvement.

AppleInsider

Reuters: Apple Vision Pro to hit mainland China this year, state media says

References:

• Apple Vision Pro to Launch in China Later This Year
• 'Critical' Chinese Apps Coming to Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro China expansion will get a giant boost from Tencent
• Chinese iPhone sales may be decelerating at faster pace than expected
• Apple's iPhone Shipments in China Fell 33% Last Month
• Chinese iPhone demand is more stable than expected

RevenueCat reports statistics on in-app subscriptions. Report shows significant gap between top performing 5% of the apps and the rest of them.

RevenueCat found that while the top-performing 5% of subscription apps amass revenue 200 times greater than those in the bottom quartile, the median monthly revenue for apps after one year is less than $50. Only 17.2% of apps cross the $1,000 monthly revenue mark. Reaching this milestone significantly boosts the likelihood of further financial growth, with 59% of these apps progressing to achieve $2,500 in monthly revenue, and 60% of those reaching the $5,000 mark. A mere 3.5% of apps achieve $10,000 in monthly revenue.

MacRumors

RevenueCat: State of Subscription Apps 2024

Reference: Report: Most Subscription-Based Apps Do Not Make Money

Users report that their accounts are being under attack with password reset scam. Users receive hundreds of system password reset requests preventing them from actually using their devices.

Even if users cancel all of these requests, some receive phone calls impersonating Apple Support and trying to get one-time code.

In no circumstances users should provide one-time codes by phone. One-time codes should be entered carefully on the web sites too.

It is expected that Apple might take down these attacks by rate-limiting password reset requests or other measures.

References:

• Apple users targeted by sophisticated phishing attack to reset their ID password
• “MFA Bombing” Attacks Targeting Apple Users

WWDC24 will take place on June 10–14, 2024. As in previous years, conference will be held online with one-day Special Event on Monday, June 10, 2024 at Apple Park for select developers. Selected developers will be notified in April.

Swift Student Challenge winners will also attend in-person Special Event.

Hints are made on AI announcements to be expected during WWDC24.

WWDC sessions are now expected to be also available on YouTube.

Apple Developer:

• WWDC24
• Special event at Apple Park
• Swift Student Challenge

Apple Newsroom: Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference returns June 10, 2024

References and further reading:

• WWDC 2024 confirmed for June 10: iOS 18 and more expected
• Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14
• WWDC 2024 Scheduled for June 10-14 Along with Special Event at Apple Park
• Apple announces WWDC 2024 takes place June 10-14
• Apple confirms limited, in-person event for WWDC24, here’s how to apply
• Apple Launches New Developer YouTube Account to Share WWDC 2024 Videos
• Apple to Announce 2024 Swift Student Challenge Winners on March 28
• Apple teases ‘Absolutely Incredible’ AI-focused WWDC
• Apple Developer videos now available on YouTube ahead of WWDC 2024
• WWDC 2024: June 10–14
• Apple Hints at iOS 18 AI Announcements Coming at WWDC 2024
• Swift Student Challenge winners to attend WWDC 2024 event at Apple Park

New Apple Support site provides relevant structured information on various Apple products. Information includes technical specifications, relevant documentation and support articles, appropriate software.

Apple Support: Manuals, Specs, and Downloads

Reference: Apple Launches All-in-One 'Manuals, Specs, and Downloads' Website

Apple published iOS/iPadOS 17.4.1, visionOS 1.1.1. Also updates are available for versions iOS/iPadOS 16.7.7.

Updates focus on security and stability. iPadOS fix resolves QR code scanning issue in past release.

References:

• iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1
• iPadOS 17.4.1 Fixes QR Code Scanning Bug

Spring is officially here. And we've got a good pack of articles to go through for this weekend.

• Swift blog announces Benchmark package to simplify performance testing – Introducing the Benchmark Package: Complementing Unit Tests with Performance Checks;
  
  
• WebKit team shares two articles: Implementing Vertical Form Controls on localization and internationalization approaches and Introducing Natural Input for WebXR in Apple Vision Pro helping to adapt WebXR apps for Vision Pro;
  
  
• Natascha Fadeeva guides on dark mode support in SwiftUI – How to support dark mode in SwiftUI programmatically;
  
  
• SwiftUI Inverting A Boolean Binding by Keith Harrison is a nice hint on how to use Boolean bindings in SwiftUI;
  
  
• Two interesting pieces by Wade Tregaskis – Including Services in contextual menus in SwiftUI which helps in making SwiftUI app a better citizen on macOS and getBitmapDataPlanes can break NSImages & NSBitmapImageReps outlining image issue and possible workaround;
  
  
• Sending trial notifications with provisional authorization on iOS by Natalia Panferova is about simple way of sending unobtrusive notifications without explicit request to user;
  
  
• Pasquale Vittoriosi navigates through user interface choices that will help making app more accessible – Preparing your App for VoiceOver: Headers and Heading Level;
  
  
• Majid Jabrayilov explains task contexts in Swift cooperative concurrency model – Where Swift Concurrency will run your function?;
  
  
• Jacob Eiting will help you answer new App Store Connect question properly – Am I a trader? And other existential questions for developers;
  
  
• Swift Isolation Intuition by Matt Massicotte covers data isolation in Swift concurrency model;
  
  
• Tiago Gomes Pereira guides through widgets in SwiftUI apps – Adding a Widget to a SwiftUI app.

And that is it for today. Come back next week for more interesting topics!

IDC forecasts significant growth of AR/VR headset market in coming years. IDC attributes this to attention brought by Apple Vision Pro announcement and availability.

IDC: IDC Forecasts Robust Growth for AR/VR Headset Shipments Fueled by the Rise of Mixed Reality

Apple made App Store for Vision Pro available on the web. Developers could use web links to promote their apps.

App Store for Apple Vision Pro

Reference: Apple Vision Pro App Store now viewable from web browsers