Google Maps, Amazon, and eBay Drop Apple Watch Support [Updated x3]

[macTW]

Smells like either the upkeep on the apps is too much or these companies don't enjoy Apple use of their services. As in, they may be making their own wearables.
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Yes, for MMA, bodybuilding, and weight-lifting all "smart" watches are less than useless.

Alas, for Apple (and most of today's hipster/hippie crowd) "exercise" = running.

LOL

You do realize running is the single best activity for your body, as we are biologically designed to run...

 

[trifid]

I have an Apple watch and I don't understand how Spotify isn't making an app for it, and now we hear major 3rd party apps abandoning it. I just think Apple is messing up big time either through lack of vision, negligence, greed, resting on laurels, whatever. The platform is being hindered.

 

[kevinkyoo]

Google Maps is superior to Maps, and I frequently used it on my Apple Watch. Disappointing to say the least.

 

[nviz22]

I am not really feeling Android Wear or Watch OS much tbh. Hopefully that changes soon.

 

[Newjackboy]

Well good riddance, who wants to shop through their watch anyway? I wish we had a stock calculator app though.

And a stock voice recorder app
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Feel sorry for those who spent 10 to 17K on a gold version.

Don't. People who can afford a 17k watch, feel sorry for u

 

[CyberBob859]

I think the technological "use-case" of the Apple Watch is still in flux. Its a nice item but not absolutely essential. "+" phone owners like not having to get the phone out as often but I think the killer features haven't surfaced yet. I have used one but do not own one. As a watch wearer, I like many aspects, but I feel like there is something that hasn't been discovered in a use-case scenario that will make this semi-essential.

I think the Apple Watch currently does three things:

1) it is a timepiece. Yes, I know that's painfully obvious, but Apple did make a big deal out of how accurate it can tell time. Plus, the emphasis on the materials of construction for the watch itself, plus the many watch band designs, show that Apple is trying to reach the "watch geek" who like to purchase and wear timepieces.

2) it is a health and fitness device. No surprise here with all the emphasis on this area, along with the rumored work Apple is doing for diabetes research, but this is probably the area that attracts the most interest from the general consumer.

3) it is the second (widget) screen that the iPhone doesn't have. Android apps have widgets and a way to customize the interface with widgets to personalize the phone the way you want. The iPhone doesn't do this, but the Apple Watch can be your second screen with small apps that should be designed to complement, rather than compete or replace, the app on your phone. This is still an area of flux, as only some apps have done this right. (IMO, Apple is partly to blame for this for not clearly describing the ideal app for the watch.)

Also, you can find watches that pair with the iPhone that can do 1) and/or 2), but none can do all three except the Apple Watch, which makes it unique.

I have an original Apple Watch, and wear it every day, and as long as I hold it to these three expectations, it serves me very well.

 

[Newjackboy]

Lol it took you 2 generations of purchasing to understand you don't need the Watch? Maybe the Watch isn't the problem...

The Watch is a second screen for tasks on the iPhone. Not at all a distraction if you understand how to silence notifications you don't want. In fact, one could argue that the phone itself is the distraction.

Not fair. I bought and returned a first gen and a series 1. Kept by series 2 only cos I got it really cheap

 

[sterlingindigo]

Wow. That's a huge blow. Sounds like either Apple is making it too difficult or the scale/forecast doesn't look promising. Of course it could be some sort of collusion on AmaGooTarBay's part but I find that unlikely. Who's next FB?

 

[Seoras]

This. The SDK is strangling the platform - it only suits Apple's built-in Apps. If we had more freedom, we could build better and more engaging Applications.

Disagree strongly.
The SDK is an example of what Apple does best.
WatchOS is stripped down to the bare essentials keeping every App within a uniform UI.
If you want to port Donkey Kong to your watch then buy another smart watch that lets you do the geek stuff.
Personally I don't want a more "engaging app" on my wrist.
I want an App that I can quickly glance at to get quick information.
It's not game console or smart phone. Too many people are treating it as such and missing the entire point of it.
It's in an entirely new class of it's own which the majority of smart phone users haven't realised yet.

 

[Jakexb]

Apple Watch is all about notifications, fitness, today widget style information, and control center style controls.

I like mine, and it's a good device for those things, but it's not about running little apps.

It's a great remote control / remote screen for your phone.

 

[KPOM]

I'm still waiting on the official Spotify app for the watch

Shazam would be more useful. Apple Watch apps should do one thing very well and just stick to that.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Focus on what the watch can do the iPhone can't, improve independence and battery life / charging ease ?

What can the watch do that iPhone can't?

 

[tkukoc]

They'll lose even more support going forward unless Apple gets serious about software again. Hardware is well out pacing software but why should anyone upgrade their hardware yearly anymore? There's simply no reason to! Software needs a real kick in the butt! Apple needs to redefine their OS's across the board! New interfaces, new everything! Your clients and customers have grown up, your software hasn't. I'm one who loves the watch but it needs a lot more! I hardly use any apps and Apple saying this is their most personal device yet you cannot customize the faces much is extremely annoying!

 

[Sill]

You do realize running is the single best activity for your body, as we are biologically designed to run...

Agree with the latter, disagree with the former statement.

We may be "designed to run", but how about telling us about the best way to run while you're at it? Should we be on pavement? On grass? Sand? Run flat? Run up an incline? Run up/down steps? Should we be barefoot? If not, how thick should the sole of the shoe be?

Too many variables to make a blanket statement like "running is the single best activity for your body".

 

[ChrisMoBro]

As a Series 2 owner I think the reason is because AW2 with watchOS 3.2 is still a gimmick than a useful companion hardware.

I totally agree. I love the health and fitness side of things and for unlocking my mac but apart from that it's just an expensive device to show notifications

 

[Dominicanyor]

I'm just going to wait for another Apple Watch. The Apple Watch really does not do anything different from my iPhone. I just wait for the next big thing!!

 

[macsrcool1234]

The watch is a pointless device, I wouldn't spend time and money developing on it either.

 

[afd]

I had all of these apps on my watch and didn't notice they were gone...
The third party apps I use the most are the ones with useful complications - Dark Sky, Timetable

 

[dannyyankou]

Not surprising. It's a new market, we have to figure out what kind of apps work well and which ones don't. News and sports are my favorites.

 

[luddx]

Don't axe it, just rename it "TIMMY WATCH"

 

[macduke]

I have an original Apple Watch and have used fewer and fewer third party apps over time. The watchOS got faster over time, and yet third party apps have recently become even more buggy and slow. Some apps that used to work fine just don't even load content any more. Other apps, like Weather Underground, have never worked well. One of the best is Overcast and it can be slow and glitchy as well.

 

[Sill]

I mean they still don't know what the main purpose of the watch is. Fitness is more and more emerging as the main purpose, but that is quite new...

I've said it in a few threads I posted in last year, but just to reiterate here: Apple knows precisely what they're doing with the Watch. Believe it or not, the stuff the Watch can currently do is nothing more than candy to get people to buy Watches so they have a heavy base ready to go when things are ready. They are waiting for the rest of their ecosystem to catch up to the intended purpose.

I'm not going to reveal it here, or anywhere else for that matter, and believe me I want to shout this one out. The idea is right in front of everyones' noses, including Google and Amazon, but hopefully they don't think of it. I've written a book using the idea, but I withheld publishing because I don't want this idea screwed up by me trying to further my writing career. I have enough going on with other projects anyway.

This use has been in development since long before Steve left us, and it was actually part of his "I cracked it, I finally cracked it" thing he mentioned to Walter Isaacson, regarding his TV project.

Trust me, when this hits, it will take everyone by surprise, like we used to experience back in the day during (certain) keynotes. Only Apple can drop this ball now, and despite all their missteps so far, I really don't think they will. Lots of effort is going in to this, including distracting people with side projects, ala "Columbus".

And, as I've said before: the operative word is "Magic". I can't say anything more. Sorry if I sound like Apple Recon, but thats the way it is.

 

[furi0usbee]

Since you already need your phone to do anything meaningful with the watch, I guess they figure just look at your damn phone. The wrist simply isn't the place for that much tech; it's the pocket. The phone FTW. The essentially orphaned the Mac Pro, all but gave up on TV services, ignored anything "computer" all for the watch, for a long time. The iPhone is the only thing keeping them afloat. God knows their computers are good looking, underpowered pieces of hardware, at premium price. They better hope they stay on top of their game with the iPhone...

 

[576316]

That's because people are slowly coming to the realisation that the Apple Watch is totally useless outside of fitness. I've had an Apple Watch since launch day and I barely use it, I have no third party apps because the App Store is as bad as the Mac App Store, in that there's next to nothing decent in there. The Apple Watch is a product without a market. Not even Apple seem sure of what it's actually for.

Though the smart wearable market is stagnating, because it never truly found its place or purpose.

 

[Phil in ocala]

... what. I really hope they come back.

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In all those words, did anyone see the REASON for this? I didn't