With a press release, Apple just announced the availability of WatchKit, a set of tools that will allow developers to extend their apps to the Apple Watch before the device’s release. WatchKit is available alongside a new iOS 8.2 beta for registered iOS developers.
“Apple Watch is our most personal device ever, and WatchKit provides the incredible iOS developer community with the tools they need to create exciting new experiences right on your wrist,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With the iOS 8.2 beta SDK, developers can now start using WatchKit to create breakthrough new apps, Glances and actionable notifications designed for the innovative Apple Watch interface and work with new technologies such as Force Touch, Digital Crown and Taptic Engine.”
In the press release, Apple included quotes from ESPN, Instagram, and American Airlines, which are already building apps and features for the Apple Watch.
“Apple Watch allows us to make the Instagram experience even more intimate and in the moment,” says Kevin Systrom, co-founder and CEO of Instagram. “With actionable notifications you can see and instantly like a photo or react with an emoji. The Instagram news and watch list allows you to see your friends’ latest photos, follow new accounts and get a real-time view of your likes and comments.”
Apple also launched a WatchKit website and confirmed that developers will be able to create “fully native apps for Apple Watch” later next year.
The WatchKit website includes design guidelines, programming guides, templates, and more. As explained by Apple, WatchKit apps consist of an iPhone app extension and other assets loaded directly on the Apple Watch, and developers will be able to start building Glances and actionable notifications with WatchKit and the iOS 8.2 beta today.
If you want a great overview of what Apple rolled out today I’d recommend starting with @behrens’s video first: https://t.co/pf69HXCAyt
— David Smith (@_DavidSmith) November 18, 2014
“During installation of your iOS app, the system prompts the user to install the Watch app if a paired Apple Watch is present”
— Federico Viticci (@viticci) November 18, 2014
This also ‘solves’ the upgradability problem - you never need to upgrade Apple Watch if all the processing happens on your iPhone
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) November 18, 2014
Apple Watch Human Interface Guidelines https://t.co/PffwhjlpGt and WatchKit programming guide https://t.co/EWWZBZejsd
— Federico Viticci (@viticci) November 18, 2014
WatchKit is out. Key points:
- Bundled in iOS apps
- IB/Storyboards ONLY
- Xcode Watch Sim
- Code executed on iPhone
— Patrick Perini (@pcperini) November 18, 2014
The Apple Watch typeface, named “San Francisco”. (via HIG https://t.co/hUbTjj8bw1) download: http://t.co/212DHBU3In pic.twitter.com/zeseZ9tsxd
— Sebastiaan de With (@sdw) November 18, 2014
Here’s a mockup of OS X Yosemite with San Francisco as the typeface instead of Helvetica. http://t.co/xwzX5P6O8F pic.twitter.com/Ee9mSZ6Q5D
— Sebastiaan de With (@sdw) November 18, 2014
Have WatchKit questions? We have forums! https://t.co/qQy5QhQLNT
— Jake Behrens (@behrens) November 18, 2014
Resolutions for Watch.
272x340 and 312x390
— Louie (@mantia) November 18, 2014
Apple Watch size comparison pic.twitter.com/1uNpngftvT
— Abdel Ibrahim (@abdophoto) November 18, 2014
Apple Watch Human Interface Guidelines: Designing for Apple Watch: http://t.co/D3pKWHzlyu
— Daring Fireball (@daringfireball) November 18, 2014
Take a look how to pixel-hint menu icons: the rule of thumb here is the larger Apple Watch uses +1px strokes: pic.twitter.com/aRS23JJIVO
— Vaclav Vancura (@vancura) November 18, 2014
So watch kit doesn’t provide access to the heart rate sensor.
— Frank A. Krueger (@praeclarum) November 18, 2014
You can’t monetize watch apps directly. Ask yourself: Will someone pay more for my iOS app or web service if I do this? If not, why bother?
— jcieplinski (@jcieplinski) November 18, 2014
Apple Watch icon grid looks like a spider’s web. pic.twitter.com/vvCDZJvpzV
— Mike Rundle (@flyosity) November 18, 2014
The Apple Watch indeterminate spinner. http://t.co/m6l9drDYuy
— Benjamin Mayo (@bzamayo) November 18, 2014
And a clarification on ‘native’ apps coming later : https://t.co/ZVB8FCMTgt
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) November 18, 2014
This approach allows Apple to throttle the adoption of the APIs (much like the “sweet solution” did back in 2007.)
— Craig Hockenberry (@chockenberry) November 18, 2014
One interesting thing about reading the Apple Watch HIG/docs is how much iOS 8 prepared for this: extensions, Handoff, notifications, etc.
— Dan Moren (@dmoren) November 18, 2014
WatchKit Design Resources includes PSDs for all design layouts. Unprecedented concession that Photoshop is the de facto standard UI tool.
— John Gruber (@gruber) November 19, 2014