Apple Asking Some Developers to Have Apple Watch Apps Ready by Mid-February

[ipedro]

So you're expecting people to just constantly have a set of earbuds stuck in their ears at all times?

If they're small and comfortable enough and if they're audio transparent when not in use, then yes. Like a hearing aid but smarter.

 

[unobtainium]

They really need to get this thing under the $200 mark.

I'm guessing it will be closer to the $349 mark for the cheapest sport models and much more for the "luxury" materials.

 

[viorelgn]

And for advertising. I'd expect an ad campaign similar to early iPhone ads that explained what the device does, including third party apps (even though that was all web-based at the time).

 

[rowspaxe]

The Apple Watch could be the same. Just because you haven't seen a reason to buy it, doesn't mean the people who buy it wont discover new use cases that make you want one, or that developers won't add functionality, or that when Apple update it you won't want it.

The only example that i can think of --where a product aquires a use case--is
when the introduction of broadband made the pc into media and communication hub.

 

[viorelgn]

This is odd since Cook said the Watch is coming in April, but this might simply mean they need certain apps to be ready for a March event.

 

[ipedro]

I'll not be getting an apple watch, but I am curious as to see what type of apps that will be produced. The form factor is so limiting, compared to the iPad, iPod and iPhone. Developers will really need to think out of the box to leverage their apps.

You know, that was the same kind of thinking that was prevalent before the iPhone was introduced. People were trying to imagine a cursor based desktop class app on a small screen of a phone. The iPhone solved that problem and everybody else followed.

Now we have a completely different type of computer on your wrist which will require not only a different user interface but an entirely new paradigm of how you interact with a computer. That doesn't just include how you'll input information but how you'll interact with apps and how they'll interact with you. Entirely new use cases will emerge, things that using a smartphone for just wasn't practical or desirable.

The Apple Watch won't make a lot of sense if you're trying to fit it into the app paradigm of a smartphone. People who think that way can't imagine how it'll be of any use with such a small screen just as people who could only grasp the desktop/cursor paradigm couldn't see how an iPhone would be useful.

The AppleWatch will be useful for the hundreds of micro interactions you experience during the day where pulling out a phone each time would be impractical or become cumbersome. Quick glances at information served to you as you need it, quick questions and responses from Siri rather than long browsing sessions, quick daily routine kind of things interacting with your home, work or car.

Those are the kind of uses that people still stuck in the smartphone paradigm can't yet understand until they see it being used in a totally new way.

The AppleWatch will usher in an era where you can leverage the power of a smartphone throughout your day — even more so than today — without having your eyes pointed down at a glaring screen all your life. You'll be more connected than ever while remaining present in the real world.

 

[Recognition]

How many clocks apps are there already for iPhone and iPad?

Loads, why?

 

[Col4bin]

I'll not be getting an apple watch, but I am curious as to see what type of apps that will be produced. The form factor is so limiting, compared to the iPad, iPod and iPhone. Developers will really need to think out of the box to leverage their apps.

Historically, watches have always been about fashion--catering to one's unique sense of style. (To me at least, this 1st gen Apple Watch form factor is really quite unappealing.) While I'm sure the devs will come up with some unique app integration with iPhone/iPad/Mac and whatever else, I won't be buying one simply based on its looks and hefty price tag alone. Perhaps the 2nd or 3rd gen will introduce new designs and options?

 

[Max(IT)]

Why? iWatch compatibility?

What is an iWatch?

 

[ron7624]

As with anything new to Apple, it takes a while to get all of the sticks in a row. It's coming. The first iPhone that Steve Jobs presented barely worked.... I remember reading that he was concerned that the demo might not work on stage. Typical Apple, but will come around. We all want perfection at the onset, but we don't ever get it... 🙄

 

[Cayden]

Most likely just preparing to have those from Apple Stores that are being trained to have some knowledge of 3rd party apps and how they work with the Watch

 

[ksuyen]

An Apple Watch will be useful, but I don't think it worth the price just yet.

...I wonder if the Watch will make such quick progress?

I don't think that's how Apple would like to achieve with their first watch. I think, rather than emphasize on how many things it could do, Apple would promote it as, how can you live without it.

Imagine how easy it is to: communicate with a touch, quick reassurance you are alright to your loved one, pay something, a glance of what's important...

These things may sound ordinary and so mundane (we Tech people always wanting something futuristic, but this aint it). However, once a person 'used to' do certain things, it becomes habit, and eventually become something that you can't live without.

That's how I foresee the first gen of Apple Watch is. It's just my 2c though, I might be wrong

 

[ThirdPrize]

They really need to get this thing under the $200 mark.

Apple makes things and sells them at a high price. That is why the Apple Watch was the obvious next step. You can spend £20K on a high end analogue watch that you still have to wind up and is only as accurate as its second hand.

OMG!

That is the market Apple wants to tap into. For them £1K would be cheap.

 

[Aniseedvan]

I don't think that's how Apple would like to achieve with their first watch. I think, rather than emphasize on how many things it could do, Apple would promote it as, how can you live without it.

Imagine how easy it is to: communicate with a touch, quick reassurance you are alright to your loved one, pay something, a glance of what's important...

These things may sound ordinary and so mundane (we Tech people always wanting something futuristic, but this aint it). However, once a person 'used to' do certain things, it becomes habit, and eventually become something that you can't live without.

That's how I foresee the first gen of Apple Watch is. It's just my 2c though, I might be wrong

Yep - having had notifications for a year on my watch/fitness band, I personally find them a valuable addition to my phone (not a replacement, but complementary). I can't quite bring myself to say I can't live without them, but find them incredibly useful.
I'm very interested to understand the apps the dev come up with. I'm about 70% sure I'm going to pass on this version - not always on is a turn off for me - but there could be a killer app which changes my mind, before I go and pre-order a garmin instead...

 

[jamesrick80]

You know, that was the same kind of thinking that was prevalent before the iPhone was introduced. People were trying to imagine a cursor based desktop class app on a small screen of a phone. The iPhone solved that problem and everybody else followed.

Now we have a completely different type of computer on your wrist which will require not only a different user interface but an entirely new paradigm of how you interact with a computer. That doesn't just include how you'll input information but how you'll interact with apps and how they'll interact with you. Entirely new use cases will emerge, things that using a smartphone for just wasn't practical or desirable.

The Apple Watch won't make a lot of sense if you're trying to fit it into the app paradigm of a smartphone. People who think that way can't imagine how it'll be of any use with such a small screen just as people who could only grasp the desktop/cursor paradigm couldn't see how an iPhone would be useful.

The AppleWatch will be useful for the hundreds of micro interactions you experience during the day where pulling out a phone each time would be impractical or become cumbersome. Quick glances at information served to you as you need it, quick questions and responses from Siri rather than long browsing sessions, quick daily routine kind of things interacting with your home, work or car.

Those are the kind of uses that people still stuck in the smartphone paradigm can't yet understand until they see it being used in a totally new way.

The AppleWatch will usher in an era where you can leverage the power of a smartphone throughout your day — even more so than today — without having your eyes pointed down at a glaring screen all your life. You'll be more connected than ever while remaining present in the real world.

The nerve of you to say micro interactions , we can do everything micro on our smartphones lol 🙄

 

[ipedro]

The nerve of you to say micro interactions , we can do everything micro on our smartphones lol 🙄

You can do everything on a laptop that you can do on a smartphone. It doesn't mean it's convenient. The larger our phones have gotten, the less convenient it is to pull them out to check the time or look at notification or look something up really quickly. A watch will fill that role and open up a world of applications that are just more convenient to use for small glance like interactions.