About 20 Watch app developers visiting Apple labs each day under tight scrutiny
Roughly 20 developers are coming to Apple's labs in Sunnyvale, Calif., each day in order to test their apps on the Apple Watch, doing so under intense supervision ahead of the device's launch, according to a new report.
The Financial Times said that the developers are "handpicked" by Apple, and under surveillance by security guards while they work. To prevent photos of the labs from emerging, participants are asked to cover up the cameras on their iPhones. Each person is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
The Sunnyvale facility is believed to be part of an office complex AppleInsider last month identified as also housing Apple's "Titan" automotive project.
Some of the developers says that the challenge of developing for the Watch is significantly higher than when they had to redesign iPhone apps for the iPad, owing to the device's small screen and unique control interface, including a digital crown and Force Touch. Most will not have the advantage of testing apps on a real Watch prior to the device's April 24 launch, and are instead said to be relying on less sophisticated options.
The primary option involves a Mac-based simulator Apple has included with WatchKit since last year. Kyle Yugawa, a mobile design lead on the popular fitness app Strava, told the Times that he resorted to printing out a paper mockup.
"Just from printing it all out and putting it on your wrist, you instantly realize, wow, this is a really small form factor," he said. "It's hard to judge that if you're starting and ending on your computer."
The vice president of mobile products at Evernote, Jamie Hull, told the publication that creating a Watch app was a "medium-sized effort," even though it had been considering concepts before the Watch was formally unveiled.
Developers are also reportedly experiencing mixed feelings about Apple's design rules, which to improve battery life dictate things like how often an app can trigger vibrations. Yugawa commented that they give developers guidance on ensuring a good experience, but others have complained that they're too restrictive.
Monday's report also suggested that developers are rushing to finish work ahead of Friday, April 10, when people will first be able to try on an Apple Watch and preorder. It's not clear how many third-party apps if any will work on demonstration units at Apple Stores.
The Financial Times said that the developers are "handpicked" by Apple, and under surveillance by security guards while they work. To prevent photos of the labs from emerging, participants are asked to cover up the cameras on their iPhones. Each person is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
The Sunnyvale facility is believed to be part of an office complex AppleInsider last month identified as also housing Apple's "Titan" automotive project.
Some of the developers says that the challenge of developing for the Watch is significantly higher than when they had to redesign iPhone apps for the iPad, owing to the device's small screen and unique control interface, including a digital crown and Force Touch. Most will not have the advantage of testing apps on a real Watch prior to the device's April 24 launch, and are instead said to be relying on less sophisticated options.
The primary option involves a Mac-based simulator Apple has included with WatchKit since last year. Kyle Yugawa, a mobile design lead on the popular fitness app Strava, told the Times that he resorted to printing out a paper mockup.
"Just from printing it all out and putting it on your wrist, you instantly realize, wow, this is a really small form factor," he said. "It's hard to judge that if you're starting and ending on your computer."
The vice president of mobile products at Evernote, Jamie Hull, told the publication that creating a Watch app was a "medium-sized effort," even though it had been considering concepts before the Watch was formally unveiled.
Developers are also reportedly experiencing mixed feelings about Apple's design rules, which to improve battery life dictate things like how often an app can trigger vibrations. Yugawa commented that they give developers guidance on ensuring a good experience, but others have complained that they're too restrictive.
Monday's report also suggested that developers are rushing to finish work ahead of Friday, April 10, when people will first be able to try on an Apple Watch and preorder. It's not clear how many third-party apps if any will work on demonstration units at Apple Stores.
Comments
The thing will be on display this coming Friday!
A bit ridiculous now.
Still secrecy with less than 3 weeks to go until launch.
The thing will be on display this coming Friday!
A bit ridiculous now.
its because Apple still don't want to reveal the built in laser pointer. This is the Killer Feature (and maybe literally on the high end watch, which has an extra powerful version.
Trust me, those limits are needed. When I enabled the "vibrate after an hour of inactivity" option on my Jawbone, battery life was almost cut in half, from ten days on a charge to five. In this case devs need to just be patient and understanding. Chances are their desires would drive us nuts anyway.
Maybe the dev's are not happy, but end users will be generally much more satisfied.
Now I know why Strava doesn't correctly interface with the Health app anymore. They're spending all their time working on the Watch app.
Meanwhile, Heath counts my bike rides as steps, and doesn't read the feed from the Strava app.
Just make it all work please?
its because Apple still don't want to reveal the built in laser pointer. This is the Killer Feature (and maybe literally on the high end watch, which has an extra powerful version.
Darn. I should have known.
I second your comment for all cycling Apps. Garmin are you listening? It seems like we're all step children to walking and running, why?
The secrecy is needed so that pictures of the test labs are not leaked. I do not think they care about pictures of the Watch device itself leaking at this point.
That's a good point about the lab itself, but I think they are absolutely concerned about leaks for the one main aspect which is, the sooner the competition gets their hands on specific technology, the sooner they can implement it, or circumvent it. By delaying as many specific details as possible to the very last minute, ensures they day after the ?Watch starts showing up on customers wrists, there aren't a dozen other knock-off products coming from the competition, not to mention un-licensed third party watch bands, charging cables, and the inevitable jail-breaking of the watch.
its because Apple still don't want to reveal the built in laser pointer. This is the Killer Feature (and maybe literally on the high end watch, which has an extra powerful version.
You mean the watch' high power death ray off course, why the euphemism ;-).
I've already seen one in the wild a couple of days ago and discussed it with its owner. The person (I'm intentionally not disclosing their gender) said it was a present from an Apple employee and clearly had no clue that wearing it in public like that could get said employee sacked -- but maybe it was a gift from Tim Cook, I don't know.
The watch is beautiful and the finish really spectacular.
Ive is still agonizing over the design for the dorsal fin mounting hardware.