All Apple Watch Apps Must Be Native Apps Starting on June 1

[MacRumors]

Apple today informed developers that starting on June 1, 2016, all watchOS apps submitted to the App Store must be native apps built with the watchOS 2 SDK or later.

When the Apple Watch first launched, watchOS apps were reliant on the iPhone to run on the Apple Watch, but with watchOS 2, Apple introduced support for native apps. With native app support, developers can build apps that are able to run on the Apple Watch, allowing apps to open more quickly and work more smoothly.

Apple's June 1 deadline for native apps hits two weeks before the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, where it is expected to show off new versions of iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS.

Article Link: All Apple Watch Apps Must Be Native Apps Starting on June 1

 

[Aluminum213]

THANK YOU

This will help with the fact that 99% of watch apps are slow junk

 

[DFierce]

Thank god. Slow apps make a really poor experience on the watch.

 

[CFreymarc]

Six week drop dead notice? A few just delayed early summer vacations.

 

[Pakaku]

So even Apple admits the iPhone crutch was a really stupid idea?

 

[PlutoPrime]

About time! I'm tired of staring at the spinner loading an app, standing like an early adopting foo staring at my wrist!

 

[69650]

If I could use it as a phone I would buy an Apple Watch tomorrow. It's pain having to carry an iPhone everywhere I go.

 

[OneMike]

But native apps are still slow...

 

[bushido]

nice, not that i am using any apps on my watch. they r as slow as a windows 2000 computer either way

 

[dampfnudel]

But native apps are still slow...

Then you have a good reason to upgrade to Apple Watch 2 in a few weeks/months.

 

[MMan5797]

I wonder if this is in preparation for a next Gen Apple Watch that is less iPhone reliant to be revealed at WWDC?

 

[Sirious]

This is good news. I can't count how many times I've given up on an app due to its long load times and completed the task on my iPhone instead.

 

[BvizioN]

If I could use it as a phone I would buy an Apple Watch tomorrow. It's pain having to carry an iPhone everywhere I go.

The only time when I don't want to have my phone on me is when am running or swimming. Which makes less then 5% of my time. I feel that these should be 2 totally different devices and not replace each other.

 

[DFierce]

This is good news. I can't count how many times I've given up on an app due to its long load times and completed the task on my iPhone instead.

So many times!!

 

[WordsmithMR]

Good. I was just about to sell mine. It has been barely more than a Fitbit and a text responder when I'm too lazy to get up. All other apps almost force me to go get my phone because it just takes too long.

 

[MikhailT]

So even Apple admits the iPhone crutch was a really stupid idea?

They intentionally did it this way as the SDK wasn't ready in time for the watch's release. This was planned from the beginning.

 

[ghost187]

Even the native apps are not completely native if you know what I mean, And this is why Apple watch apps are unbearably slow.

 

[PlutoPrime]

If I could use it as a phone I would buy an Apple Watch tomorrow. It's pain having to carry an iPhone everywhere I go.

I know! It's so heavy and hard to carry. The burdens we must endure in this generation...having an always connected pocket computer.



but on a serious note, you're absolutely right. Things need to continue to improve continuously.

 

[thekeyring]

Even the native apps are not completely native if you know what I mean, And this is why Apple watch apps are unbearably slow.

And I think why the Watch lacks a certain wow factor. After all, if the Watch relies on your iPhone for Internet connectivity and GPS, why doesn't it also just use the processor and be a 'dumb screen' on your wrist? I wonder if some users just think that's what it is, and don't realise that it's got an iPhone 4S equivalent chip inside it.

If you could actually make calls on the Watch, that would be incredible. if your sim in your iPhone could be uploaded to iCloud and used on the Watch without your phone nearby, that would be really cool technology.

 

[CrAkD]

If I could use it as a phone I would buy an Apple Watch tomorrow. It's pain having to carry an iPhone everywhere I go.

This philosophy literally makes me scratch my head. I don't want another data plan and the watch is good for notifications but that's about it. No phone = no web browsing and talking into your wrist on the phone or to dictate messages or use any of the apps is a pain. I would never leave home without my phone regardless.

 

[robjulo]

Is Apple going to fix their own native apps, so it doesn't take 10 seconds for the fitness app to open?

 

[ohio.emt]

If you could actually make calls on the Watch, that would be incredible. if your sim in your iPhone could be uploaded to iCloud and used on the Watch without your phone nearby, that would be really cool technology.

with AT&T you sort of can, as long as you are at a wifi location you've used before. I just wish you could enter wifi information on the watch itself.

 

[OneMike]

Then you have a good reason to upgrade to Apple Watch 2 in a few weeks/months.

Actually the opposite. If I found it unacceptable I'd have sold it already. Upgrading to the apple watch 2 is not even in my thought process.

 

[edwardelston]

This is a good move by Apple, most Apple apps are painfully slow on Apple Watch. Ever tried opening the Facebook Messenger app on an Apple Watch after not using for a while?

It takes a good 60 or so seconds for all of the messages from your friends to update which it does individually message by message until everything is in sync with Facebook's servers, hopefully v2 of the Apple Watch has power to run these apps properly.

 

[ke-iron]

I think this may be because they're going to announce a new watch that is faster