Juno YouTube App for Vision Pro Gains New Features in First Update

[MacRumors]

Juno, developer Christian Selig's YouTube app for Apple Vision Pro, has received its first update since launching earlier this month, introducing several user-requested features like the ability to select video quality.

Juno automatically selects the quality of videos based on its "best guess," says Selig, but previously provided no manual control. As of Juno 1.1, however, the UI includes a playback quality option, allowing users to select the resolution of the videos they watch.

The video player has also gained quick-access volume controls, allowing users to tweak Juno's playback volume without affecting the volume level of the whole system. Selig says that he's looking into ways to link the player's audio volume to the system volume, which hopefully comes as an option.

Another handy addition is the ability to open a video in Juno via Shortcuts or another app. To do so, users can simply replace "http://" in the URL with "juno://" (for example, juno://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7I0vHIWyO4). In addition, when Juno's video playback controls fade out, the system "grab bar" now also fades out to increase viewer immersion.

Elsewhere, the app's code has been improved to increase load time speed, an improved video scrubbing control has been added with a new custom view that expands on selection, and it's now easier to jump between playback speeds. Several bugs have also been squashed based on user feedback, and the player will no longer pause the video if the middle of the screen is tapped.

One of the reasons for Juno's popularity is that YouTube initially said it did not plan to offer a dedicated app on Apple's Vision Pro headset. While ‌iPad‌ apps are available on Vision Pro by default, developers can opt out of having their apps appear on the device, and YouTube opted out.

That was before Vision Pro launched. YouTube has since changed its tune and now claims that it is "excited" by the Vision Pro launch and that an app is on the company's roadmap, but it gave no hint of timing.

Juno for YouTube is priced at $4.99 and the app is available on the visionOS App Store.


Article Link: Juno YouTube App for Vision Pro Gains New Features in First Update

 

[CheffyDude]

I can only assume that MacRumours thinks that wearing the Vision Pro "In The Wild" is appropriate. Please, it is not.

 

[rehkram]

I can only assume that MacRumours thinks that wearing the Vision Pro "In The Wild" is appropriate. Please, it is not.

I worry that drive-by scooter snatching of the device will become "a thing" once thieves figure out how much they cost. To help them out further one could always wear a T-shirt saying "Please Rob Me, and Don't Forget my Wallet".

 

[spazzcat]

I can only assume that MacRumours thinks that wearing the Vision Pro "In The Wild" is appropriate. Please, it is not.

People can do what they want with their stuff as long as they are not breaking any laws.

 

[MacRumuer]

Does anyone know if YouTube TV works with Juno?

 

[rgeneral]

Does it block ads?

 

[contacos]

Surprised Google isn’t blocking this

 

[Antoniosmalakia]

Surprised Google isn’t blocking this

People watching YouTube is making Google money, I guess, regardless of where it is coming from?

 

[tobybrut]

As someone who has complained about Juno and junked the app for being awful, this update is quite welcome. Here are the problems addressed:

1) Worst problem was inability to select the video progress slider. More than 80% of the time when trying to scroll the video, it would close the app instead since the eye tracking would go to the close box right below it. FIXED. It's possible to scroll again.
2) Video would get inadvertent finger taps and scroll the video to unpredictable places, which would require going through problem #1. FIXED. Inadvertent taps now just bring up controls, which disappear quickly
3) If the video finished, there would be no way to return to the previous screen. Only option available was to replay the video or click on the YouTube icon to go to home page. FIXED. Options now have a close button as well as replay
4) Going to home page seems to log me out more often than not, presenting me with the Sign In button on the top right and all sorts of videos I have no interest in. I'd be forced to sign in repeatedly, though it remembers credentials and would immediately sign me back in just by tapping the Sign In button. FIXED. I haven't seen it sign me out yet. Fingers crossed.

Bottom line is that this version fixed the major problems of this app that caused me to download other YouTube apps because this one sucked so badly. The other apps I downloaded which had their own problems were: HoloStream, Portal for YouTube, and VisionTube. it's now a usable app that works better than the other three I tried. It is now my YouTube player of choice because the web version is terrible, with the major deal breaker that the controls never went away on the web.

The only thing I wished any of the YouTube apps would have is to allow selection from a list of subscribed channels. Right now, going to the Subscriptions section only shows all videos in all subscriptions in reverse chronological order with no way to sort by channel. None of the YouTube apps have this, unfortunately, so I'm still waiting for the optimal YouTube app. Waiting on you, Google.

 

[zilchfox]

The first version was very buggy. This update addresses pretty much every problem I had with it.

 

[Hogswarts]

Surprised Google isn’t blocking this

Google will have its own, superior app soon enough. In the mean time, Juno requires users login before viewing anything--Google still gets to track you.

 

[Graphikos]

Surprised Google isn’t blocking this

Afaik, it is using Google's API properly. It still serves ads, it still tracks you, it still makes Google money.

 

[Arsenikdote]

I can only assume that MacRumours thinks that wearing the Vision Pro "In The Wild" is appropriate. Please, it is not.

Seems like two quick things should be pointed out:

1. If you are saying MacRumors is encouraging this based on the thumbnail, I think that is a pretty far leap since they are showing one of the most OG and famous YouTubers first and foremost...anything else you are reading into it would likely be your opinion, especially since the person watching the video in the thumbnail is doing so not "In The Wild" but rather in a room, presumably at their dwelling.
2. Which is the second point, I am totally fine with anyone sharing their opinion. And while I don't plan on just "going around in public" with mine on, I choose not to live my life telling other people what is and isn't appropriate when it isn't something that is a legal or moral issue. It makes society work a lot better and you make more friends.

 

[echo44]

This is an excellent app have been using it on vision pro since launch. Initially tried viewing YouTube through browser which isn't bad but this app makes the experience much more enjoyable. So far the only app I have purchased specifically for the device.

 

[nutmac]

I can only assume that MacRumours thinks that wearing the Vision Pro "In The Wild" is appropriate. Please, it is not.

If AirPods firmware update without any meaningful release note can get a mention, surely, popular apps from beloved indie developers should get a mention once in awhile.

 

[lovehateapple]

I really want to be able to watch 360° youtube videos on the AVP. Very disappointed this isn't possible at the moment. Hopefully Juno can add this feature soon. 🤞

 

[NT1440]

Surprised Google isn’t blocking this

They’re making money, and it’s just a UI wrapper for their actual YouTube site.

Basically they got a free YouTube client for visionOS without spending a dollar on development. That’s a win on their end.

 

[Arsenikdote]

As someone who has complained about Juno and junked the app for being awful, this update is quite welcome. Here are the problems addressed:

1) Worst problem was inability to select the video progress slider. More than 80% of the time when trying to scroll the video, it would close the app instead since the eye tracking would go to the close box right below it. FIXED. It's possible to scroll again.
2) Video would get inadvertent finger taps and scroll the video to unpredictable places, which would require going through problem #1. FIXED. Inadvertent taps now just bring up controls, which disappear quickly
3) If the video finished, there would be no way to return to the previous screen. Only option available was to replay the video or click on the YouTube icon to go to home page. FIXED. Options now have a close button as well as replay
4) Going to home page seems to log me out more often than not, presenting me with the Sign In button on the top right and all sorts of videos I have no interest in. I'd be forced to sign in repeatedly, though it remembers credentials and would immediately sign me back in just by tapping the Sign In button. FIXED. I haven't seen it sign me out yet. Fingers crossed.

Bottom line is that this version fixed the major problems of this app that caused me to download other YouTube apps because this one sucked so badly. The other apps I downloaded which had their own problems were: HoloStream, Portal for YouTube, and VisionTube. it's now a usable app that works better than the other three I tried. It is now my YouTube player of choice because the web version is terrible, with the major deal breaker that the controls never went away on the web.

The only thing I wished any of the YouTube apps would have is to allow selection from a list of subscribed channels. Right now, going to the Subscriptions section only shows all videos in all subscriptions in reverse chronological order with no way to sort by channel. None of the YouTube apps have this, unfortunately, so I'm still waiting for the optimal YouTube app. Waiting on you, Google.

I don’t even see how to access any subscription section inside of the Juno app. Where do you go for that?

 

[tobybrut]

I don’t even see how to access any subscription section inside of the Juno app. Where do you go for that?

I am a YouTube Premium subscriber, so I just tap on the Sign In button on the YouTube home page on the top right. By logging in, it knows all of my subscriptions and video history, so it knows what videos I would tend to watch.

 

[bLackjackj]

I hope Juno is banking the cash, because when Google blocks access the requests for refund will come flooding!

 

[CheesePuff]

I hope Juno is banking the cash, because when Google blocks access the requests for refund will come flooding!

It simply uses the publicly available embed API and a wrapper of the website itself:

Introducing Juno for Apple Vision Pro

YouTube is probably one of the parts of the internet I consume the most, so I was more than a little sad when YouTube announced that they don’t have plans to build a visionOS app, and disabled the option to load the iPad app. This leaves you with Safari, and the website is okay, but definitely...

christianselig.com

 

[svish]

Good to have the added manual control!

 

[obviouslogic]

Surprised Google isn’t blocking this

Would not be possible for Google to take any action against this. They aren’t using any Google API’s. It’s just a Safari extension that just filters through the web page and reformats it.

 

[cardfan]

I hope Juno is banking the cash, because when Google blocks access the requests for refund will come flooding!

They won’t block it. They’ll just come out with their own and his payday will be over.

 

[mrBeach]

They won’t block it. They’ll just come out with their own and his payday will be over.

If you’ve ever used this developer’s Reddit app, Apollo, you might find he’s going to keep one step ahead of the official Youtube app - the same way his Apollo app was far superior to the official app from Reddit.