Software developers see more apps coming after Apple Watch

Developers, who had been limited to using software simulators of the watch, discovered new possibilities.

San Francisco — Software developers who tried on an Apple Watch for the first time on Friday predicted a rush of new apps over the next few months, particularly in areas including health and messaging.

Developers, who had been limited to using software simulators of the watch, discovered new possibilities.

Ross Cohen, chief operating officer of BeenVerified.com, which makes a caller ID app for the watch, said he only realised on Friday that the watch goes on and off automatically as you raise or lower your wrist.

The simulator did not have a microphone, leaving some developers to guess how well it could hear. Having the watch on hand will speed development, said Danielle Keita-Taguchi, marketing analyst at Y Media Labs, which has designed apps for companies like American Express, EMC and eBay.

“A lot of Fortune 500 companies really want to leverage this new technology quickly,” she said. “Health, transportation and social media will be the three main industries that will utilise the Apple Watch.”

Tracking firm App Annie counted 3,061 total apps supporting Apple Watch on Friday. Some 10 per cent were games. Productivity apps were eight per cent and lifestyle and health/fitness each accounted for seven per cent.

Ride-hailing service Uber
had an app, as did sports network ESPN, microblogging platform Twitter, photo sharing service Instagram, tune-identifier Shazam and the Outlook email app from Microsoft Corp. — Reuters