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App Store Review Guidelines Updated to Forbid Time-Telling Apple Watch Apps

Well, count me even more out of the Apple watch game. I wasn't planning on getting one yet, but what I liked about the idea was the ability to change the face. I mean, that's the core benefit of an Apple watch over another watch in its price class. My plan was to turn all the notifications off and enjoy it for the timepiece aspects.

I'm sure Apple will sell a bunch of these no matter how many mistakes are made in policy or marketing, but I'm just a bit tired with all the Apple crap these days. BTW, long time Apple user (since 1985).

Screw up Final Cut Pro; screw up iTunes UI; screw up iPhone UI; maps disaster; push, push, push change on where they want users to go rather than responsiveness to user needs.
 
KdParker said:
Wouldn't that drain the battery faster? Might be the reason they didn't make that options available to start with.
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Eh the screen is only on when you are looking at it. Plus I doubt it would take more power than Mickey Mouse foot tapping to the second.
 
MasterRyu2011 said:
Really Apple? So no third party watch faces????
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That isn't what they are saying with this rule - they are just saying no watchfaces via the app store which makes sense, especially right now.

Any watch app now has the entire app logic running on your phone. So every tick of a second would mean the phone sending data to update the watch interface. And given you can set the watch to leave open the last used app it would end up causing massive battery drain on both the iPhone and the watch.

My guess is that there will be a new watch store that sells both watch faces and native apps and it will be announced at WWDC.
 
Apple always opens up extremely strict with new products. I'm sure in time they will loosen this stance and allow third party watch faces. Why would they want to miss out on the extra millions they'll be able to make from them?
 
A real shame, I was looking forward to seeing what third party developers could do as far as watch faces go, I'm sure they could do incredible things and some diversity isn't a bad thing.

The current range is pretty limited and, not that I have my watch yet (but have looked at the watch extensively online), okay but nothing special. Third party developers could do crazy and cool things I'm sure.
 
Aluminum213 said:
No third party watch faces

But the apple watch is supposed to be the most personal product ever
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^^ I came here to post that. Unbelievably Apple though. Thank you sir may I have another...LOL.

Off to go slap my kids for deviating from color by numbers and going outside the lines.
 
warfed said:
Since when is Apple responsible for copyright violations by app developers? Does Microsoft have to police every application built for Windows? Sure Apple can remove an infringing app when someone complaints but I doubt they could be sued over it.
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In the USA, anyone can be sued for anything. And there is always a chance of losing a lawsuit, whether you are at fault or not. In any case, it would be very bad publicity.
 
This makes sense *right now*.

1. They are currently trying to present a uniform, high quality aesthetic to the world. They don't want "garish" looking watch faces on there... it could turn people off of the watch altogether at this point.

2. This is about watch _Apps_ and currently those are extremely limited by what you can do in Watchkit. If you tried to keep a Watch App running all the time to tell the time... it would drain battery out of both the watch and the phone. The API's just aren't in place yet to support this.

3. In the future there will be a store specifically for watch faces. It _will_ happen... but probably not until the native App API comes out.

Everyone needs just chill out. This is a brand new product... over time it will be opened up...
 
Apple Watch II

"We have an industry first that will revolutionize the smartwatch category. We're incredibly proud of this incredible innovation. We have a new watch API that will allow our incredible base of over 10,000 strong developer community to create absolutely gorgeous watch faces, so our wonderful customers that are the core of what we represent here at Apple to truly personalize what we set the Apple watch out to accomplish; a very personal and intimate experience."

Crowd goes crazy and Apple triples 1st generation sales.
 
So it's the Apple Watch, but you can't write an app that involves displaying the time in any way, shape, or form. Lovely.

Do they give you access to the screen, or is that proprietary?
 
Some of you people act as if Apple said, "no" and that this is all there will be.

First, this has been a part of the rules for SDK usage since it's launch.

Second, it's not a "I want control" thing, it's a "There are standards and practices" thing.

If apps that start showing watch faces begin appearing in the store, people will be upset at the limited functionality, the inconsistency with how watch faces should work (based on the first party ones), and the general wonkiness of trying to make something like that work outside of the paradigm created (the Watch App is the center to  Watch's universe, rather than the home screen on iOS).

Apple will for sure open up the Watch App faces, but it's going to take time. They're only now getting into the extensibility world, remember? I assume iOS 9 and WOS2 at the latest.
 
Got my shipping notification!!!

Ordered SS 42mm BSB 3:05am being delivered tomorrow! 4/24 - 5/8 Delivery estimate. Life is complete!
 
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These 3rd party apps are not real "watch faces", they're just apps. You can't set it as default watch face app visible on the lock screen when you raise you hand. I'm sure over time Apple will open API to make real watch faces.
 
Will this bump the Mathematica Language viewer?

Wolfram Research has just released a Wolfram Cloud App for iOS/Apple Watch. As Stephen shows in that blog post, the Wolfram Language includes a way to make a clock on the fly:
instant-watch-apps-in10.png


Which shows up on the watch as
kitty-clock-app-on-watch1.png


This is similar to earlier prohibitions on programming languages. I think this prohibition is a FAIL -- especially if it will cause the pulling of cool apps like the Wolfram Cloud App.
 
I'd imagine this is because watch faces are apps that run directly on a watch and not from a connected phone like all current :apple: Watch apps (running them from iPhone would be a massive power drain as Bluetooth will be active continuously) - so developers cannot make them yet, but will be able to do that when the full native SDK will be made available.
 
Oh man, that sucks...

Apple's getting scared again .....

The same patten happened with third part extensions on iOS8 ...... it took time, but they slowly got there...

The same will happen here.....

May be strict now, but i wonder how long it will last.

Would make sense, since how can you claim something is "accurate" when your no longer in control ? Then again, I often think this i just a Webkit limitation, Apple wants to cover up.
 
"best possible time-telling experience"

Wow.

That is some bleeding edge pretentiousness right there.

Just wow.

----------

There's got to be money in this for all. Disney will have an Avenger watch... Heck, one for each character. Star Wars is coming down the pipe... Just for starters the novelty faces alone could be a gold mine. I can foresee a TV spot like the MacBook Air one with all the stickers. I get that they want to control the first impressions but I'm still blown away by "best possible time-telling experience."

I didn't go to a concert, I'm a live event enthusiast!
 
friedmud said:
1. They are currently trying to present a uniform, high quality aesthetic to the world. They don't want "garish" looking watch faces on there... it could turn people off of the watch altogether at this point.
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That's ridiculous. Seriously. That's like a car company stating you're not allowed to put aftermarket wheels on your new car until they permit you to do so. :rolleyes:


Mascots said:
Second, it's not a "I want control" thing, it's a "There are standards and practices" thing. If apps that start showing watch faces begin appearing in the store, people will be upset at the limited functionality, the inconsistency with how watch faces should work (based on the first party ones), and the general wonkiness of trying to make something like that work outside of the paradigm created (the Watch App is the center to  Watch's universe, rather than the home screen on iOS).
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Look, you create a product whereby apps are available for users to customize their device, then you should let them do so. For Apple to go around stating you can do only what we say because we are Apple is pretty dumb. The most impersonal / personal device rolled out to date. Consistently :apple:

Apple will for sure open up the Watch App faces, but it's going to take time.
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Yep, cut/paste iPhone all over again.
 
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