Apple Watch on watchOS 2 Hacked to Run Truly Native Apps Including 'Canabalt' and 'Flappy Bird' Clone

[MacRumors]

Since watchOS 2 was released last Monday, several developers have been tinkering with the software and have managed to get games like Canabalt and a Flappy Bird clone to run natively on the Apple Watch using frameworks like UIKit and SpriteKit, which are not available to developers for Apple Watch apps.

One of the main features Apple added to watchOS 2 is the ability for developers to create "native" apps that run on the device itself instead of the iPhone, but as it turns out, developers are restricted to using WatchKit for Apple Watch interfaces and are not able to use more advanced frameworks available on for iPhone apps like UIKit, SpriteKit, and SceneKit.

Last week, developers Steven Troughton-Smith, Adam Bell, and Jay Freeman were able to get apps using UIKit and SceneKit to run on the Apple Watch, and in the video below, endless runner Canabalt is shown running natively on the Apple Watch.

Developer Hamza Sood has also been tinkering with watchOS 2 and today tweeted that he was able to get a Flappy Bird clone to run on the Apple Watch with native SpriteKit rendering. He also took it one step further, adding both touch and Digital Crown input controls.

Hacked a Flappy Bird clone onto Apple Watch with native SpriteKit rendering, touch/crown control, SFX through speaker pic.twitter.com/U1cavXb7SN - Hamza Sood (@hamzasood) June 16, 2015

Developers don't yet have permission from Apple to use these frameworks for Apple Watch apps, but the hacked games give a look at what the device might be capable of in the future. WatchOS 2, set to be released in the fall, will allow developers to create native apps that are powered by the Apple Watch instead of the iPhone, but without the frameworks used in the above examples.

watchOS 2 also gives developers access to the Digital Crown, the microphone, and various sensors on the watch, including the accelerometer and heart rate monitor, which will lead to more full-featured apps later this year.

Article Link: Apple Watch on watchOS 2 Hacked to Run Truly Native Apps Including 'Canabalt' and 'Flappy Bird' Clone

 

[iLoveiTunes]

and the flappy bird fans world over rejoice, cheer and party all night after this news

 

[lunaoso]

My question is how long can you play a game like that before the battery dies?

 

[Zxxv]

ha back to the 80's we go

 

[AngerDanger]

I'm still waiting for the Flappy Bird movie.

 

[DaveMcM76]

and the flappy bird fans world over rejoice, cheer and party all night after this news

More like party for the couple of hours that the battery will now last under the increased load...

 

[kemal]

Now I want an Apple Watch! Oh wait -- What's the battery life like with SpriteKit?

 

[macslayer118]

I feel like this is a good example of why NOT to have games native on an Apple Watch. It seems WAAY too hard for him to play

 

[Thunderhawks]

Developing license revoking coming in 3, 2, 1..............

 

[Brian Y]

If that's the performance that's possible, why on earth are current apps so laggy?

 

[Benjamin Frost]

So, so pointless.

How apt; it's a perfect fit for the Apple Watch.

 

[WardC]

"What are you doing"

"I'm giving you the bird..."

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Well that app certainly didn't seem to launch any faster than one hosted on the phone. That's honestly my biggest gripe with Watch apps so far.

 

[bbeagle]

If that's the performance that's possible, why on earth are current apps so laggy?

Because current apps are required to RUN on the iPhone.

You click a a button on the Watch, the watch sends a bluetooth command to the iPhone asking the phone what to do. The Phone needs to launch the companion app (if it's not launched already), figure out what to do, then report back to the watch over bluetooth.

This all changes with Watch OS 2, now it can all run natively on the watch.

 

[WardC]

I prefer the original "Flying Fish" aka Mario:

 

[subjonas]

OS X on the watch or I'm not interested.

 

[iBlazed]

I wish someone would hack Watch OS 2 to let me downgrade to Watch OS 1.

 

[OriginalClone]

If that's the performance that's possible, why on earth are current apps so laggy?

Because they're running from your phone and not natively on the watch. Which is why native apps in watch OS 2 is such s big deal..

 

[Thunderhawks]

The

If that's the performance that's possible, why on earth are current apps so laggy?

Apple Watch is the AppleTV for the iPhone, same lagging and all.

 

[Norbs12]

Please let the Apple watch equivalent of Jailbreak be called Wristbreak.

 

[Douglas B]

I wish someone would hack Watch OS 2 to let me downgrade to Watch OS 1.

Why is that? Do you no longer need to develop for Watch OS 2? Joking aside, are you finding it unstable? Have the Apple Apps on the watch gotten worse?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

My question is how long can you play a game like that before the battery dies?

About 110 flaps or up to about 500 steps in Canabalt. (joking, I don't actually know)

 

[Norbs12]

OS X on the watch or I'm not interested.

Waiting on 4K display minimum, and 8GB ram.

 

[dannys1]

Waiting on 4K display minimum, and 8GB ram.

And then make sure you wait for the gen 2 of that revision, no one should buy the first gen redesign...

 

[6836838]

Good luck with the battery life.