Apple is expected to showcase the highly anticipated iWatch at the press event on Tuesday alongside the new iPhone 6.
According to a new report, the upcoming iWatch will be able to run third-party apps, and will feature an App Store. Moreover, Apple has already seeded the SDK (Software development kit) to popular developers under strict non-disclosure agreement, who have started working on the apps dedicated for the wearable device.
9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman further reports, citing two of his sources, that one of the developers is the social networking giant Facebook, who is also developing an iOS 8 optimized app for the iPhone with improved notifications.
As far as the App Store is concerned, there’s no word if it will be a full-fledged, dedicated App Store as the iPhone or iPad, or just a section under the current iPhone App Store listing apps compatible with the SDK.
Seeding of the SDK to developers ahead of a product launch is not new. In the past, Apple has seeded the SDKs to popular developers to develop apps which can be showcased at the launch floor during the keynotes to demonstrate specific capabilities. For example, in 2010, Apple seeded the developers the SDK before it went on to showcase the first iPad, and also ahead of the iPhone 4S’s A5 chip to demonstrate its capabilities. Similarly, Apple has seeded the iWatch SDK to select developer so it can show some apps designed for the wearable device at the keynote on Tuesday.
The new SDK is deeply integrated into iOS 8 features such as the HomeKit and Healthkit APIs, as well as the new Continuity, Handoff, and Widgets features for iPhone users which will enable users to seamlessly transfer files to the wearable from their smartphone and vice versa.
Apple has scheduled a keynote on September 9th where the company is expected to unveil the iWatch, alongside the two new iPhone 6 models. Stay tuned, we’ll update you as soon as we get any other information.
Source: 9to5Mac
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
