SDK available in Nov, any app ideas?

[HereBeMonsters]

I have to say I am little miffed that no-one's taken my "Paid to Poo" app seriously.
I would actually love an app like that, and would pay anything up to 79p for it.

 

[Piggie]

I have to say I am little miffed that no-one's taken my "Paid to Poo" app seriously.
I would actually love an app like that, and would pay anything up to 79p for it.

Perhaps you could use the sensor on the back and lay the back of the watch gently on your hot poo pile and the app could give it a rating ?

Heat, Steam, Moisture, Density, Aroma.

If only there was a camera it could be rated for "Artistic Formation" also

It could then upload this automatically to the 'Rate My Poo' Website, that I will not give a link to here as it's easy enough to Google!

 

[firewood]

I think we can all see a problem here.

Someone asked a genuine question and we're struggling to think of much we'd want on out wrist...

Developers aren't struggling. They have tons of ideas, some bad some good But most developers don't want to give the potential competitors reading here any head start.

Watch apps are not new. Developers have been playing with watch apps since the PalmOS/Fossil watch, Timex Datalink, and, more recently, the Pebble (which has over 4000 apps in its App store).

 

[melman101]

I have to say I am little miffed that no-one's taken my "Paid to Poo" app seriously.
I would actually love an app like that, and would pay anything up to 79p for it.

I like the idea. Maybe I'll make it

 

[Mstf]

Health and Evernote. Especially Evernote would be very effective.

 

[frankk]

Repost from new thread.

If I remember from the Keynote, there is navigation functionality planned for the Watch. Something like two vibrations, turn left, etc.

One function I'd like to see would be a compass functionality turned on when I raised my arm directly away from body, you would then sweep your arm horizontally/circularly, and it would vibrate when you were pointing north. Alternatively, it could point you in the direction of your destination.

Perhaps use of such a technology over time might lead to development of a heightened 'orientation sense', something these inventions are aimed at:
http://www.gradman.com/hapticcompass
http://feelspace.cogsci.uni-osnabrueck.de/
http://sensebridge.net/

 

[mtmac]

I'd like to see a taptic navigation ap for individual ski areas. "Navigate to chair x via blue." "Navigate to base lodge via black." "Navigate x run to same chair." "Navigate gladed run to car." "Navigate to x restaurant." Bonus for being able to navigate to huts. The ap should know if a user is on a lift so it would choose options knowing you want it to navigate from the top, not the current position. It could then give the user several options, then allow a choice, either verbally, or on the fly, giving one signal for a mandatory turn, another for an optional turn, and a warning when it's the last option. Potentially ski area or social media updates to alert of new terrain open. There's ski aps that run on the iPhone to track runs, vertical feet, average and high speed. Display of data from these aps would be nice.

All the requests could be done on the lift when many people don't want to pull out their phone for fear of dropping. Gloved or cold hands are lousy at handling phones or ski area maps. It would allow a person to efficiently navigate a ski area they have never attended before, without standing on a run consulting a map.

The iPhone component could also display an interactive area map. "Highlight south facing slopes." Highlight bowls." "Highlight double blacks." The iPhone could also provide restaurant ratings and apres ski specials.

Personally, the taptic response is one of my main reason for wanting the watch. Being able to navigate without staring at a phone would be very beneficial. When I'm carrying a bunch of stuff, phone use requires me to stop, look at the phone, and try to remember the way. Turn by turn navigation walking, riding a bike or driving would be more convenient, quicker and safer as well.

A more popular ap, but not as important to me would be airport navigation. Some airports have good signage, others do not. It would be especially useful abroad when signs are in another language. "Navigate to gate 62." "Navigate to car rental." "Navigate to bus servicing parking lot x." "Navigate to flight x." This would be especially useful for finding connecting flights when time is limited. Everyone's hands are full at the airport so many would appreciate taptic navigation.

 

[jason.siegel]

How about an app to make coffee?

 

[mtmac]

It can navigate to a coffee shop, and pay for your cup of choice.

 

[prowlmedia]

I think we can all see a problem here.

Someone asked a genuine question and we're struggling to think of much we'd want on out wrist, other than time, some notifications and perhaps some health monitoring stuff.

Or perhaps no one is stupid enough to post a good idea an open forum.

----------

I had to smile when someone mentioned an App that automatically dialed 911 if it detected your pulse stopping.

Can you just imagine the chaos that would cause!

In theory a great idea, in general practice I think not.

That was actually mentioned in the healthKit release back in June. They mentioned the possibility of having a wearable device and notifying someone if you were having problems or simply sending your data to a doctor.

This may perhaps be referring to up coming watch or indeed an FDA approved medical device.

Point is I don't think you need FDA approval to send someone a text if it detected an arrhythmia form the pulse for example. Personally I think it's better than nothing.

 

[Bengy66]

Smart alarms if traffic is heavy on normal route to work then it wakes you up 20 minutes early.

If home alarm or smoke alarm is triggered, the watch WILL wake you up.

If accelerometer exceeds certain speed (like a car crash), text is sent to emergency contacts.

I want every paper ticket or boarding pass you can think of to be on my wrist.

 

[Pootan]

power ranger simulator, talk to Zordon, or similar watch based role-play apps.

tamagotche type game maybe?

 

[skwash]

I once spoke with an Apple employee about designing Apps on the Apple Watch. He was obviously very hush hush, about anything WatchKit, but he did say this..

When you develop an App for OS X, you think of your App being used for hours.
When you develop an App for iOS, you think of your App being used for minutes.
When you develop an App for Apple Watch, you think in terms of seconds.

He gave a good analogy of using Today Widgets in terms of what an App would look like. You pull it down, do a something simple, then close it. It's not something you are expected to spend more than a few seconds doing.

 

[mtmac]

Or perhaps no one is stupid enough to post a good idea an open forum.

I completely disagree with this. The vast majority of us are not application designers but we still may come up with a great idea. Unless you plan on producing an ap, you are better off sharing the idea so ultimately we all gain.

I agree with the smart alarm clock. Besides traffic it could also monitor weather to adjust the awaking time, however this would mostly be an iPhone ap. I like the idea of taptic response to awaken so it doesn't bother others, but if it senses you didn't get up, revert to an audible alarm.

I hope the Apple watch isn't as loud as my fire detector!

Automated responses to emergency personnel usually results in far too many false positives.

 

[Piggie]

I once spoke with an Apple employee about designing Apps on the Apple Watch. He was obviously very hush hush, about anything WatchKit, but he did say this..

When you develop an App for OS X, you think of your App being used for hours.
When you develop an App for iOS, you think of your App being used for minutes.
When you develop an App for Apple Watch, you think in terms of seconds.

He gave a good analogy of using Today Widgets in terms of what an App would look like. You pull it down, do a something simple, then close it. It's not something you are expected to spend more than a few seconds doing.

That's interesting, and I did say something about wondering if Apple had strict rules on app power etc so as not to made the device look bad regarding battery life.

If what you say is true, I wonder if that rules out Apple allowing games to be programmed for the watch, which would mean the screen and watch could be running for 5, 10, 15 mins at a time whilst someone plays?

 

[HereBeMonsters]

Or perhaps no one is stupid enough to post a good idea an open forum.

I completely disagree with this. The vast majority of us are not application designers but we still may come up with a great idea. Unless you plan on producing an ap, you are better off sharing the idea so ultimately we all gain.

Hence my "how much am I paid to poo" app idea! I still want this to become a reality!

 

[matrix07]

If what you say is true, I wonder if that rules out Apple allowing games to be programmed for the watch, which would mean the screen and watch could be running for 5, 10, 15 mins at a time whilst someone plays?

From Expectations for WatchKit.

So to start with we will be given the ability to implement actionable notifications and Glances. This is what I believe we are getting with the SDK release this month.

It will only be later next year that full apps will be possible. It is not a stretch to think that later next year is code for WWDC next June. Likely along with WatchOS (or whatever they call it) version 2.0.

 

[Piggie]

From Expectations for WatchKit.

Thanks, and "Ouch"

So, as quoted now Tim cook is saying you start the day with your iWatch and it will be dead by bedtime, or need charging by then anyway.

So if you wished to be out late on a friday/sat night you'd need to charge it again before you go out if you wanted it to last.

And we're saying no full apps really until perhaps the next model of the watch comes out?

tbh seeing all those round icons on it's screen I thought we'd be having pretty full apps from the start.

Thanks again, and interesting.

 

[Rogifan]

Thanks, and "Ouch"

So, as quoted now Tim cook is saying you start the day with your iWatch and it will be dead by bedtime, or need charging by then anyway.

So if you wished to be out late on a friday/sat night you'd need to charge it again before you go out if you wanted it to last.

And we're saying no full apps really until perhaps the next model of the watch comes out?

tbh seeing all those round icons on it's screen I thought we'd be having pretty full apps from the start.

Thanks again, and interesting.

One again, negative, negative, negative. Why don't we wait until the SDK comes out. Then we'll know for sure what's available now and what's not.

 

[Piggie]

One again, negative, negative, negative. Why don't we wait until the SDK comes out. Then we'll know for sure what's available now and what's not.

Wow

You are THE most negative poster I know here.

Every single item made by anyone else you call crap, cheap, junk etc etc.

As you saw a few days ago I tried to explain everyone likes different things, but you cannot even accept that.

I was going by what was posted, that Devs will only be allowed to do light things like notifications etc.

I can be positive or negative, unlike you I'm not blinded and biased towards Apple. I don't care what brand, what size or shape or material.
I can also accept just because I like something, someone else may not.

Magnetic strap = dumb by the way.
An expert can get even a proper watch off many people pretty quick, with magnets it's going to be laughable easy for them

And I'd say that for any brand.

 

[Bengy66]

I would like an app that does tapping notification when someone is approaching. Not sure if possible but maybe using cell towers and GPS or between iOS devices at least?

So many times I have seen near run ins between people with headphones on a walking/biking trails. The closer the person is the faster the tap?

Just an idea. I just started running recent so not sure if there is app out there like this already.

 

[prowlmedia]

Or perhaps no one is stupid enough to post a good idea an open forum.

I completely disagree with this. The vast majority of us are not application designers but we still may come up with a great idea. Unless you plan on producing an ap, you are better off sharing the idea so ultimately we all gain.

Hmm... wonder how the person that came up with the idea for WhatsApp felt when they posted their idea on a forum and it sold to Facebook for $19 Billion.

Sorry as someone that works in a screwed over industry - VFX and Design* the attitude that ideas are worthless is shocking. If something is worthwhile doing then it can probably make someone money. The person with the idea should be approaching some who CAN make an app and entering into a deal after signing an NDA.

*"Do the first job cheap and we will sort you out next time" - "What do you mean we can't get a Pixar quality 2 minute animation for $1000" - "My neighbours kid does animation, We could get him to do it" etc etc blah blah

Basically anyone on here posting ideas that are possibly worth anything are certifiably insane.

 

[asparagus]

Useful app extensions...

I use the app "Hours" quite frequently to track time for billing purposes. I'd love to see an apple watch interface. I could switch between clients from my wrist, and it could display my running time per project.

My second use case is fitness. Specifically, power meters on the bike, cadence sensors, GPS data, heart rate straps, etc (synced through the iPhone). I'd rather use an Apple watch than Garmin or Polar. I was planning to buy a new tri/running watch and am not on the expectation of using the Apple Watch in this manner.

Personally, I see the Apple Watch as Candyland. It's going to sell like mad, people will actually use it, and anyone can write app extensions for it. Requiring an iPhone, rather than a limitation, is actually a selling point, in my mind. It means that apps don't have to deal with compatibility limitations or processing capability limitations. Why do Moto360 apps suck? They have to run on a processor from, what, 2008? Your phone just got another screen, and it's on your wrist. What's not to love?

I see the Apple watch and I get the same feeling I had before the iPad was released. A world of potential.

 

[Julien]

I use the app "Hours" quite frequently to track time for billing purposes. I'd love to see an apple watch interface. I could switch between clients from my wrist, and it could display my running time per project....

I would email the App seller and ask for the App to be written for the aWatch. Nothing works much better that direct requests.

...My second use case is fitness. Specifically, power meters on the bike, cadence sensors, GPS data, heart rate straps, etc (synced through the iPhone). I'd rather use an Apple watch than Garmin or Polar. I was planning to buy a new tri/running watch and am not on the expectation of using the Apple Watch in this manner.....

I'm a little concerned since first gen Apps won't be able to do full aWatch access. You may be limited to using the OEM fitness app until the 2ed SDK is released. Nike has announced an App but not clear if it's a full app or more of a notification app. Of course you will need your iPhone anyway for GPS so may not be that big of a deal wether the aWatch App is a native aWatch app or running on the iPhone.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

So, as quoted now Tim cook is saying you start the day with your iWatch and it will be dead by bedtime, or need charging by then anyway.

So if you wished to be out late on a friday/sat night you'd need to charge it again before you go out if you wanted it to last.

That's not exactly true. I believe Tim said something like "I expect people will charge their Apple Watch nightly as they do with their iPhone". That by no means would indicate that the watch will be dead by bedtime. I charge my iPhone regardless of battery life, even if there is over 50% battery life remaining. I mean why not? I wouldn't want to unnecessarily risk my device dying the next day. I think the only reason I wouldn't charge my watch every night would be if I reliably began to use less than 40% of charge daily.