Apple to Unveil Kit for Watch App Developers
Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference begins on Monday, June 8, and this is when most developers will get their first look a the latest tools for creating apps for the new Apple Watch. While the watch was released with a rather paltry (for Apple, anyway) 3,500 apps, the new tools will allow the developers access to the device’s heart rate and motion sensors.
According to Jeff Williams, Apple’s senior VP of operations, the new kit will allow developers to write apps directly for the watch rather than modifying an iPhone app to include extensions that will run on the device. Apple Watch users can expect a flood of new apps coming in the fall.
Since the huge selection of applications played a major role in the success of the iPhone, apps are certain to be a major selling point for the Apple Watch. No matter what a buyer might like for his or her smartwatch to do, Apple is likely to “have an app for that” by the end of the year.
Shipping Times Improve for Some Apple Watches
As the day grows closer when customers will be able to actually buy an Apple Watch at one of the brand’s retail locations rather than having to order it online, shipping times are getting faster for a few models.
The 38mm Apple Watch Sport and stainless steel models now have listed shipping times of 5 to 7 days while the stainless steel watch with modern buckle has wait of 1 to 2 weeks. The high end Apple Watch Edition and most 42mm models currently have a shipping time of 2 to 3 weeks.
Rumors out of China claim that the Apple Watch will go on sale at Apple Stores on June 8, following Apple’s keynote at WWDC.
