Apple is removing the training wheels for Apple Watch app makers, letting them take full advantage of the device’s hardware.
Currently, Apple Watch apps can’t function without a paired iPhone, which handles not just Internet connectivity but core functions such as the app's logic. These apps also can’t tap into key hardware features such as the microphone, motion sensors, the heart monitor, and the Digital Crown.
All of that’s going to change now that Apple is allowing native app development on the Watch. The new and improved apps should start to arrive this fall, alongside the release of WatchOS 2 and iOS 9.
Why this matters: The Apple Watch is an exquisite piece of hardware, but one that can be extremely frustrating to use. Users are frequently confronted with loading screens, as third-party apps struggle to load everything they need from a paired iPhones. And when these apps finally load, most of them are of limited utility. The new powers that Apple is granting to app makers, along with some added features in WatchOS 2, should go a long way toward turning the Apple Watch into a useful accessory.
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