TapSense admits its Apple Watch "ad platform" may not fly at all
One day after TapSense unveiled its new ad platform aimed at Apple Watch, the firm has clarified that it will not be able to integrate with Apple Pay, won't be able to inject ads into watch faces, and that under Apple's development guidelines it potentially won't be allowed to push ads to the watch at all.
The initial report of the Watch advertising platform TapSense proposed described a marketing platform including "hyper-local targeting and Apple Pay integration," depicted in mockups like the one above.
However, the thought of advertisers pushing promotions and "hyper" location-tracking to the new Watch--which isn't slated to be released for several months--was enough to generate panicked headlines from a variety of blogs worrying that Apple had abandoned its pioneering efforts to protect users' privacy, policies that had been articulated alongside the original unveiling of Apple Watch last September.
Earlier today, TapSense updated its blog announcement to clarify that the firm's advertising intentions could potentially be blocked entirely by Apple's development guidelines for the new wearable device. Watch-specific developer guidelines haven't yet been released.
"Both Apple's WatchKit SDK and the TapSense SDK are in Beta and APIs are subject to change," TapSense added in its clarification. "As and when Apple makes the WatchKit guidelines available, we will review it carefully to ensure our SDK is both in compliance and approved by Apple."
While Apple has released initial WatchKit APIs for developers that enable existing iOS apps to included components that will support Glances and actionable notifications, it has not yet detailed how full screen WatchKit apps will work.
Apple has also released no details on its plans to enable or allow any type of advertising on Apple Watch. While iOS mobile devices support advertising via Apple's own iAd and support guidelines that enable third party advertisers (like TapSense) to display ads within iPhone and iPad apps, there is no support for app-based advertising on Apple TV, for example.
Additionally, Apple's iOS APIs and development guidelines prevent advertisers from inject ads or popups on the iOS Home page, within widgets in the Notification Center, or in any way masquerade ads as system alerts, among a series of other restrictions.
The highly personal nature of Apple Watch, combined with Apple's apparent efforts to position the product as an aspirational luxury product, make it even less likely that Apple Watch will allow ads in ways that Apple currently doesn't even allow on its other mobile devices.
TapSense acknowledged in its updated blog post that its original announcement "inaccurately mentions support for watch faces. Currently, the WatchKit SDK doesn't provide developer access to watch faces."
The firm also noted that "although Apple Pay integration with Apple Watch is a great convenience for the consumer, the TapSense SDK will not integrate directly with Apple Pay. To redeem a coupon from an ad, it would need to have a readable barcode that can be scanned at the point of sale, or the ad could be added to Passbook and then delivered to Apple Watch to be redeemed."
The initial report of the Watch advertising platform TapSense proposed described a marketing platform including "hyper-local targeting and Apple Pay integration," depicted in mockups like the one above.
However, the thought of advertisers pushing promotions and "hyper" location-tracking to the new Watch--which isn't slated to be released for several months--was enough to generate panicked headlines from a variety of blogs worrying that Apple had abandoned its pioneering efforts to protect users' privacy, policies that had been articulated alongside the original unveiling of Apple Watch last September.
Earlier today, TapSense updated its blog announcement to clarify that the firm's advertising intentions could potentially be blocked entirely by Apple's development guidelines for the new wearable device. Watch-specific developer guidelines haven't yet been released.
"Both Apple's WatchKit SDK and the TapSense SDK are in Beta and APIs are subject to change," TapSense added in its clarification. "As and when Apple makes the WatchKit guidelines available, we will review it carefully to ensure our SDK is both in compliance and approved by Apple."
While Apple has released initial WatchKit APIs for developers that enable existing iOS apps to included components that will support Glances and actionable notifications, it has not yet detailed how full screen WatchKit apps will work.
Apple has also released no details on its plans to enable or allow any type of advertising on Apple Watch. While iOS mobile devices support advertising via Apple's own iAd and support guidelines that enable third party advertisers (like TapSense) to display ads within iPhone and iPad apps, there is no support for app-based advertising on Apple TV, for example.
Additionally, Apple's iOS APIs and development guidelines prevent advertisers from inject ads or popups on the iOS Home page, within widgets in the Notification Center, or in any way masquerade ads as system alerts, among a series of other restrictions.
The highly personal nature of Apple Watch, combined with Apple's apparent efforts to position the product as an aspirational luxury product, make it even less likely that Apple Watch will allow ads in ways that Apple currently doesn't even allow on its other mobile devices.
TapSense acknowledged in its updated blog post that its original announcement "inaccurately mentions support for watch faces. Currently, the WatchKit SDK doesn't provide developer access to watch faces."
The firm also noted that "although Apple Pay integration with Apple Watch is a great convenience for the consumer, the TapSense SDK will not integrate directly with Apple Pay. To redeem a coupon from an ad, it would need to have a readable barcode that can be scanned at the point of sale, or the ad could be added to Passbook and then delivered to Apple Watch to be redeemed."
Comments
Called it. It's surprising that a developer of this level has such a poor grasp of how the Apple Watch works.
Yes please! The screen on a watch is too small to display ads in a way that doesn't completely destroy user experience.
Called it. It's surprising that a developer of this level has such a poor grasp of how the Apple Watch works.
Yes please! The screen on a watch is too small to display ads in a way that doesn't completely destroy user experience.
When have ad companies ever cared about the user experience?
Because f*ck ads anyway.
POS ad pushers
You know, I’m both intrigued and disgusted that advertising works.
Because it does. It’s the application of memetics and patterns designed to twist the brain into thinking good things. It’s neat. It’s interesting to see that happen to people.
But these memetic agents have the opposite effect on me. Those you mentioned, sure, and specifically otherwise any article that has a title with a number in it. “10 ways to…” “15 most popular…” etc. That’s just disgusting to me.
I don’t know, advertising has never worked on me. I buy what I find to be best, not what someone says. Impulse buying, in particular, confounds me. You have a grocery list, you go in, you get what’s on the list, you go out. I’m not going to randomly buy something just because it’s there.
Hopefully this stupid idea of ad implementation will die right here and now.
I would not mind a discount ad when using Ipay, that say you can get an instant discount applied to your purchase at check out time, kind o like retailmenot coupon without having to the the search for them. I Like shopping in store who tell me that have a discount even then I did not know about them or forgot the coupons at home. They still give you the discount without having the coupon, so this kind instant feedback base on a location of purchase would be great.
Called it. It's surprising that a developer of this level has such a poor grasp of how the Apple Watch works.
Yes please! The screen on a watch is too small to display ads in a way that doesn't completely destroy user experience.
When have ad companies ever cared about the user experience?
Always! They insist on ruining it at every opportunity...
You know, I’m both intrigued and disgusted that advertising works.
Because it does. It’s the application of memetics and patterns designed to twist the brain into thinking good things. It’s neat. It’s interesting to see that happen to people.
But these memetic agents have the opposite effect on me. Those you mentioned, sure, and specifically otherwise any article that has a title with a number in it. “10 ways to…” “15 most popular…” etc. That’s just disgusting to me.
I don’t know, advertising has never worked on me. I buy what I find to be best, not what someone says. Impulse buying, in particular, confounds me. You have a grocery list, you go in, you get what’s on the list, you go out. I’m not going to randomly buy something just because it’s there.
Yes, but most decisions are emotionally based. People may THINK they make rational decisions and some obviously are rational, but the emotional aspect is what guides us. The problem with rational decisions is that rationality never ends, there are so many factors to consider and in the end people tend to buy what they 'want' anyway.
But regardless - I do find advertising and marketing very interesting. I tend not to like to be subjected to it but it as a subject it is fascinating. There is line that is incredibly hard to define across which marketing becomes 'bad' for lack of a better word. When marketing becomes 'underhanded' as in your example it is definitely bad. If you have something to sell (don't we all?) you have to get out there and tell people. I guess when what's being sold holds no real value it all becomes murky, but then that is a judgement call in an of itself.
It is a certainty that advertising works and I suspect it works on you, too, though your alarm bells may trigger quicker than for most. Brand awareness usually helps sell something. If you are thirsty and have the choice between Coke and McDuff's Cola brew (served in a beige carton), you'd probably choose Coke, right?
Never. But Apple does, so I have hope that they will kill this before it even gets off the ground.
Yeah, while I probably won't get an Apple Watch anyway (because I don't like wearing anything on my wrist), if Apple allowed ads to take over the display it would be the final straw that makes up my mind to never own one.
As it is, I'm still trying to decide if the usefulness overrides my hatred of things on my wrist.
Always! They insist on ruining it at every opportunity...
If they ruin your pleasant experience, you may be inclined to go out and buy their shit!
/s
Called it. It's surprising that a developer of this level has such a poor grasp of how the Apple Watch works.
Oh, you know exactly how it works when it has not even been released yet? Maybe you should read the article next time. It is surprising you make an insulting comment about a developer when you have such a poor grasp of comprehending the article. Nothing has been finalized with the Apple Watch software or the development kit.
Directly from the article:
Both Apple's WatchKit SDK and the TapSense SDK are in Beta and APIs are subject to change.
As and when Apple makes the WatchKit guidelines available, we will review it carefully to ensure our SDK is both in compliance and approved by Apple.
While Apple has released initial WatchKit APIs for developers . . . , it has not yet detailed how full screen WatchKit apps will work.
Apple has also released no details on its plans to enable or allow any type of advertising on Apple Watch.
What kind of jack ass MF would want to put ads on your wrist gizmo? Answer: the worst kind of person in the world.
But these memetic agents have the opposite effect on me. Those you mentioned, sure, and specifically otherwise any article that has a title with a number in it. “10 ways to…” “15 most popular…” etc. That’s just disgusting to me.
Another one I hate is any headline involving a vague "this" or "what"...like "what this girl said had me crying in 30 seconds." Between the countdowns and these, it's about 99% of Buzzfeed, Upworthy, etc., output. (Actually I just don't visit anything on Buzzfeed, Upworthy, etc. -- but Clickhole can be awesome.)
Hooray!