Apple Asking Some Developers to Have Apple Watch Apps Ready by Mid-February

applewatch2Apple appears to be asking some high profile app developers and partners to have their Apple Watch-compatible iPhone apps prepared and ready to launch in the App Store in mid-February. According to a source that spoke to MacRumors, Apple has asked one of its biggest Apple Pay partners to prepare an iOS application with WatchKit support that's ready to launch in the App Store by February 12.

It is unclear if Apple is asking the same of other developers, but it is possible the company is hoping to test some third-party Apple Watch apps with employees ahead of the device's launch to get a better feel for battery life when using non-Apple apps. As we detailed earlier today, thousands of Apple employees in the Cupertino area are wearing and testing the device on a daily basis to work out final kinks ahead of an April launch.

It's also possible that Apple could use this high-profile partner's app in an upcoming demonstration or launch event to show off how Apple Pay works on the Apple Watch. Apple Pay will be a key function of the Apple Watch, letting users authorize credit card payments right from their wrists. As has been outlined in the past, the Apple Watch will authenticate payments biometrically, requiring a passcode when the device is first placed on a wrist and again if it loses skin contact.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said earlier this week that Apple Watch development is on track and that the device will launch at some point in April. Pricing for the Apple Watch is largely unknown, but will start at $349 for the least expensive option.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch Series 9
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

vinced45 Avatar
120 months ago
I wished they reached out to me...

I would love for them to demo my Watch app..

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9beAy9jKaM&list=UUSgj_E4RY1jhp7_hZVESUdg
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Peace Avatar
120 months ago
Sounds to me like Apple wants to showcase a few Apple Watch apps in realtime for a potential event in February.

;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ebouwman Avatar
120 months ago
They really need to get this thing under the $200 mark.

No.
They.
Don't.

Look at the pebble steel, thats at the $200 and it doesn't have half the features that the apple watch has.

Look at the iPad, that was (and still is) very expensive, especially when comparing it to a laptop, but its still a great device that defined a new market.

The cost of most apple devices is a little high and people are constantly moaning about the cost of this product or that. For me though, the cost is usually worth it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
princered Avatar
120 months ago
Mixed Feelings

I have mixed feelings about the :apple:Watch. I am excited about the product, and I want to have faith that Apple will make it satisfying. I don't care if it's not a superior product in it's first generation. As long as it has that :apple: feel to it and works fine. I'm glad the release is pushed back further, so hopefully they get everything right. iOS 8 has been a very bad :apple: for me. I became an Apple fan because things "just worked". I continue to fork over my money bc of the same reason. Let's get back on track Apple
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SockRolid Avatar
120 months ago
Sounds to me like Apple wants to showcase a few Apple Watch apps in realtime for a potential event in February.

;)
More like Apple wants to have real apps running on the watch so they can film better commercials. If the watch launches in mid-April, that will give Apple's ad agency (or in-house marketing group) two months. Plenty of time.

Not sure that Apple really needs to do another Apple Watch event.
Another pre-launch event will only lessen the impact of the actual launch.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
shandyman Avatar
120 months ago
Sounds to me like Apple wants to showcase a few Apple Watch apps in realtime for a potential event in February.



;)
If they're only getting apps ready for mid February, then they need time to test them. Event is more likely March, since Tim said April for launch.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
maxresdefault

Apple to Launch New iPad Pro and iPad Air Models in May

Thursday March 28, 2024 11:07 am PDT by
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

Apple Releases Revised Versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Updated Build Number

Wednesday March 27, 2024 5:59 am PDT by
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS...
applephilschiller

Apple's Phil Schiller Works 80 Hours a Week Overseeing App Store

Wednesday March 27, 2024 2:03 pm PDT by
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to "Apple Fellow" in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working...