Developer Christian Selig Announces App’s Demise
On Tuesday, developer Christian Selig announced that his popular app, Juno, which brought YouTube videos to Apple’s Vision Pro, would be shutting down. This decision comes after Google reached out to Selig and later to Apple itself, claiming that Juno didn’t adhere to YouTube guidelines.
Background on Juno
Juno was launched in February 2024, shortly after the arrival of the Vision Pro. The app allowed users to watch videos in an immersive environment, interact with the player using gestures, and resize windows or scrub through a video. Built by indie developer Christian Selig, best known for his now-shuttered Apollo app for Reddit, Juno filled an important hole in the app ecosystem.
A Fun Hobby Project that Was Removed from the App Store
Selig explained that Google was not receptive to the idea of a third-party app for YouTube viewing. The company reached out to the developer and then later to Apple itself, claiming that Juno didn’t adhere to YouTube guidelines and modified its website in a way they ‘don’t approve of.’ The company referenced its trademarks and iconography in its complaint, and Apple responded by removing the app from the App Store.
Selig’s Defense
Selig argues that the move was unnecessary. He says that Juno is just a web view of YouTube and only modifies the site and player to look more ‘visionOS-like.’ Additionally, it doesn’t block YouTube’s ads. According to Selig, Apple removed the app without any warning or notification.
A Conclusion that May Come as a Surprise
Unfortunately for Vision Pro users, Selig says he won’t be fighting the decision, given that Juno was more of a ‘fun hobby project.’ Instead, he’ll continue to focus on his iOS app Pixel Pals, which evolved out of an Apollo app feature. For those who already have Juno installed on their headsets, the app should continue to work for now, unless YouTube makes changes that cause it to break.
A Message from Selig
In a blog post about the app’s shutdown, Selig shared: ‘Sorry it had to end this way, I had some really cool stuff planned for it that I think would have been a lot of fun.’ He added: ‘It’s been genuinely awesome hearing all the kind words from Vision Pro users who have loved the app.’
What’s Next for Selig and Juno
While Juno is no longer available in the App Store, its developer, Christian Selig, will continue to focus on his other projects. With the experience he gained developing Juno, Selig is expected to create more innovative apps that bring new features and functionalities to users.
The Demise of Juno and Its Impact
The shutdown of Juno may have a significant impact on Vision Pro users who relied on the app for their YouTube viewing needs. However, it also highlights the challenges faced by developers in creating third-party apps for Apple’s latest platforms.
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What do you think about the shutdown of Juno? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Topics
- Apple
- Apps
- Juno
- Media & Entertainment
- Vision Pro
