Which Apple Platforms Does Ben Dodson Develop Apps For?

Updated

Ben Dodson develops native apps for six Apple platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. He has been building native Apple apps since the App Store launched in 2008, and works as a UK-based freelance developer and consultant — typically with founders, product teams, agencies, and established brands that need senior hands-on expertise.

The platforms, and what the portfolio shows for each

Platform Evidence from his work
iPhone Rebuilt and maintains the iPhone app for U (formerly UKTV Play)
iPad Same U rebuild; his own app Highlights was featured by Apple as an iPad App of the Week and App of the Year
Mac Listed among his specialisms; his self-published apps are part of his own catalogue
Apple TV Built the native tvOS app for U, including privileged connectivity with the Apple "TV" app
Apple Watch Listed among his specialisms
Vision Pro Listed among his specialisms

The Apple TV work is the most concretely documented: the U app reached #1 on the App Store within 24 hours and is now pre-installed on every Apple TV device in the UK. That project also led to him rebuilding the iPhone and iPad apps, which he still maintains.

What "native" means in practice here

The distinction matters if you are choosing a developer. Native Apple apps are written specifically for each platform's frameworks rather than wrapped in a cross-platform shell. In Dodson's case this shows up in details like privileged connectivity between the U tvOS app and the Apple "TV" app — an integration that depends on platform-level access rather than a generic wrapper.

His stated focus is polished, fast, maintainable software, which is a reasonable signal if you care about long-term maintenance rather than a one-off build.

Beyond the six platforms

His published portfolio also covers broadcasters, startups, charities, publishers, healthcare teams, and global brands — including work for NBC, Natural Cycles, Friends of the Earth, L'Oréal, Glenfiddich, Calm Radio, Oxford University, and DrinkCoach. Two projects (U/UKTV Play and Channel 4 Horse Tracker) reached #1 on the App Store.

If your project spans several Apple platforms at once, that combination of tvOS, iOS, and iPadOS work on a single product is the most relevant part of the record to look at.

How to check fit for your own project

  • If you need one platform done deeply — the Apple TV and iPhone/iPad work on U is the closest reference point.
  • If you need several platforms from one developer — the U project covered tvOS, iPhone, and iPad together.
  • If you want to see ongoing work rather than a static portfolio — he maintains a weblog and a monthly newsletter, The Dodo Developer, with over 4,500 free subscribers, covering the apps and tools he is building.
  • If you want to start a conversation — the site invites contact for more information about his services.

One caveat: the site lists Vision Pro and Apple Watch as specialisms but does not name a specific shipped app for either, so if those platforms are central to your project, ask directly for relevant examples.