Apple Adds Over 100,000 Optimized Apps to App Store Ahead of Launch

Apple has been working to address one of the main criticisms of its new foldable iPhone Duo: the lack of optimized apps available at launch. The company has made significant strides in recent days, with over 100,000 Duo-optimized apps now live on the App Store.

A slew of notable titles have joined this growing list, including Microsoft Word and Outlook, Zoom, sports apps from the NBA and NHL, shopping apps like Etsy and LTK, productivity tools like Goodnotes and Extra, and camera app Halide Mark III. These join existing Duo-ready apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Non-optimized apps can be a bit of a letdown, with a black bar on the side of the screen that eats into valuable display space. In some cases, these apps also hide essential functions behind an overflow menu.

Apple's efforts to support developers in creating Duo-ready apps seem to have paid off. The company claims over 2,000 app developers attended its workshops held across 19 cities worldwide, where they could work on their apps using the Duo with Apple's guidance.

These workshops appear to be part of a larger push by Apple to get more developers up to speed on creating Duo-optimized apps.

The iPhone Duo's high price point didn't seem to deter consumers from snapping up the device, as it quickly sold out within hours of orders opening up.

Apple has now shifted its shipping estimates for the Duo into next year, a move that suggests the company underestimated demand for the device.

On its earnings call this week, Apple revealed that it's struggling to keep pace with demand for the iPhone Duo, stating that it's "hard to predict" when supply constraints will ease up.

Meanwhile, developers continue to show enthusiasm for creating apps optimized for the iPhone Duo, with Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, praising their creativity and innovation in a recent statement.

A wide range of popular apps have been updated for iOS 27 and optimized for the iPhone Duo, including Spotify, CBS, Tubi, and several others, as developers continue to accelerate the pace of updates.

The rollout of updates for iOS 27 and the iPhone Duo continues to gain momentum, but not all apps have fully adapted yet.

Some popular apps, such as Spotify, are still showing signs of their pre-update state, including a black bar on the side of the screen. This suggests that while these apps are being optimized for the Duo, they may not be entirely ready for prime time just yet. The App Store listing does not currently indicate an update is available.

The pace at which developers are updating their apps for iOS 27 and the iPhone Duo has been accelerated in recent days. Many popular titles have already received updates to take advantage of the new device's capabilities, but some are still lagging behind.

As more apps receive updates, users can expect a smoother experience when using their iPhone Duo, with features and functionality tailored specifically to the device's unique strengths.

Apple's iPhone Duo is set to benefit from a series of app updates designed specifically for its unique strengths.

The updates will enhance user experience as more apps receive tailored functionality and features, allowing them to make the most of the device's capabilities.