Apparatus and methods for projection conversion decoding for applications eco-systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a decoder apparatus is utilized to read formatting information from an intermediate projection format; convert the intermediate projection format to a display projection format; apply a rotation operation to the display projection format in accordance with the reading of the formatting information; and transmit the display projection format for use by an application. In some implementations, the intermediate projection format has been stabilized prior to encoding in order to improve upon the encoding efficiency for the intermediate projection format. The application of the rotation operation may then be utilized to reverse the stabilized imaging data. Methods and computing systems are also disclosed.