Is it me or are developers giving up on watchOS?

[facedmurkroots]

I was late to the game with the Apple Watch only getting an SE in 2020. I have a series 10 now and it’s great. But there’s very little third party apps that are actually useful for my use case.

Microsoft used to have a brilliant little authenticator app and deliberately chose to remove the functionality to tap two factor numbers. Why? Surely that, once built, cost very little to maintain.

Have any if your favourite watch apps over the years been removed and why do you think developers are giving up?

Remember back a decade ago when companies like Netflix and YouTube actively worked hard to be on ‘everything’. Wasn’t Minecraft on Apple TV back then?! Not that these need Watch apps. But now competing companies with ‘platforms’ are holding off things like the Watch and Vision Pro just to do all they can to try stamp out success for said platform, willingly sacrificing millions of loyal users of their services in the process (okay, 12 users for AVP - but you get my point)

 

[jz0309]

I was late to the game with the Apple Watch only getting an SE in 2020. I have a series 10 now and it’s great. But there’s very little third party apps that are actually useful for my use case.

Microsoft used to have a brilliant little authenticator app and deliberately chose to remove the functionality to tap two factor numbers. Why? Surely that, once built, cost very little to maintain.

Have any if your favourite watch apps over the years been removed and why do you think developers are giving up?

Remember back a decade ago when companies like Netflix and YouTube actively worked hard to be on ‘everything’. Wasn’t Minecraft on Apple TV back then?! Not that these need Watch apps. But now competing companies with ‘platforms’ are holding off things like the Watch and Vision Pro just to do all they can to try stamp out success for said platform, willingly sacrificing millions of loyal users of their services in the process (okay, 12 users for AVP - but you get my point)

been a trend for a few years, apps have been removed from developers.
AW doesn't really let you interact a lot, eg typing, yes you can but is a pain.
see thread below
what apps are you missing?

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...any-develop-apps-for-the-apple-watch.2374067/

 

[Mackilroy]

Not everything is suitable for a watch’s form factor or needs to be on it. So long as it has plenty of useful software, does it matter if not everyone is on the platform or if some abandon it?

 

[BigBlur]

I think there's a few things going on.

• A lot of authentication apps are switching to biometric authentication. The Apple Watch doesn't support biometrics.
  • This is one reason why Okta removed their Okta Verify app from the watch. They go into more detail here.
  • Microsoft has also said watchOS was incompatible with new Authenticator security features, but did not specify which ones. (link)
• Some apps can still be functional via rich notifications.
  • With Okta Verify, I'm still able to approve my logins through the notification that appears on the watch.
  • Supposedly, the same can be done with Microsoft Authenticator for requests that don't ask for a number.
• App usage on the Apple Watch may be low. Developers don't want to spend time and effort developing/maintaining for a platform that doesn't get used much.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Developers don't want to spend time and effort developing/maintaining for a platform that doesn't get used much.

Agreed. Most everyone is tethered to an iPhone at all times of the day and night, so why bother. The few of us who leave our iPhones at home whenever possible have managed okay, but I would have even more peace of mind if my cellular AW could hire a ride share.

 

[doogm]

The Apple Watch has never been a great platform for most apps for usability, so I've never installed all that many (I've had a watch for 8+ years). That said, the app OTP Auth continues to work great on Apple Watch and I use it all the time for two-factor auth codes when my phone isn't handy. I use iCatcher as my podcast app these days and their app is pretty good on the watch (I used Overcast for years but the watch app seems broken, not to mention the iPhone app). I have Sports Alerts if I want to check scores of games that finished after I went to bed - otherwise I never use it.

 

[1rottenapple]

These days the for me, it’s mainly for fitness, sleep, Apple Pay, and recently as a key for my car. I frankly reduce 99% of the notifications. I have messaged turn off on the watch.

 

[Adelphos33]

It’s been a trend for about a decade. Uber got rid of its Apple Watch app and never made another one.

I think Apple where an Apple Watch application makes sense will continue to see development. For example, car apps seems to get consistent development on Apple Watch with stuff like car unlock, start, etc. Health apps work great. But I would love to see a wider variety