All Apple Watch Apps Must Be Native Apps Starting on June 1

Friday April 22, 2016 3:43 PM PDT by Juli Clover
watchos2betaApple today informed developers that starting on June 1, 2016, all watchOS apps submitted to the App Store must be native apps built with the watchOS 2 SDK or later.

When the Apple Watch first launched, watchOS apps were reliant on the iPhone to run on the Apple Watch, but with watchOS 2, Apple introduced support for native apps. With native app support, developers can build apps that are able to run on the Apple Watch, allowing apps to open more quickly and work more smoothly.

Apple's June 1 deadline for native apps hits two weeks before the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, where it is expected to show off new versions of iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS.

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Aluminum213
30 months ago
THANK YOU

This will help with the fact that 99% of watch apps are slow junk
Rating: 29 Votes
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OneMike
30 months ago
But native apps are still slow...
Rating: 21 Votes
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MMan5797
30 months ago
I wonder if this is in preparation for a next Gen Apple Watch that is less iPhone reliant to be revealed at WWDC?
Rating: 18 Votes
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DFierce
30 months ago
Thank god. Slow apps make a really poor experience on the watch.
Rating: 12 Votes
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Sirious
30 months ago
This is good news. I can't count how many times I've given up on an app due to its long load times and completed the task on my iPhone instead.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Pakaku
30 months ago
So even Apple admits the iPhone crutch was a really stupid idea?
Rating: 7 Votes
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BvizioN
30 months ago

If I could use it as a phone I would buy an Apple Watch tomorrow. It's pain having to carry an iPhone everywhere I go.


The only time when I don't want to have my phone on me is when am running or swimming. Which makes less then 5% of my time. I feel that these should be 2 totally different devices and not replace each other.
Rating: 7 Votes
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robjulo
30 months ago
Is Apple going to fix their own native apps, so it doesn't take 10 seconds for the fitness app to open?
Rating: 6 Votes
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PlutoPrime
30 months ago
About time! I'm tired of staring at the spinner loading an app, standing like an early adopting foo staring at my wrist!
Rating: 6 Votes
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Shaun, UK
30 months ago
If I could use it as a phone I would buy an Apple Watch tomorrow. It's pain having to carry an iPhone everywhere I go.
Rating: 5 Votes
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