Catholic App developers are taking note of the new (and yummy-looking!) Apple Watch announced today. Using Apple WatchKit, third-party developers can create apps for this wildly miniaturized format. Watch app partners introduced today include Twitter, American Airlines (check in using your watch), City Mapper, BMW (find where you parked your car), Pinterest, Starwood Hotels (unlock your room with a swipe of your watch), Honeywell (set your house’s thermostat) and more.
Check out some screen shots of apps on the watch here and here. RUN to the Apple web site to see the videos and specs on this revolutionary device everyone in the world will eventually wear (or want to). It’s that cool.
Developers have a bit of time to work on creating a micro-mini format for their apps as it was announced Apple Watch will not be available until “early next year.”
The new Apple Watch comes in three categories (based on finish and furnishings of the band and device) in 18 styles and starts at $349, according to the announcement made live on the internet webcast today.
Finally, we note the lack of “i” in the name of this revolutionary product. The world expected it to be called iWatch. It is a brilliant marketing move to use the name of your company in your product names (a la Microsoft). We do that with our kids who take on the family last name, right? We expect that naming strategy to be used for subsequent product introductions in the future.
What kind of Catholic app features would you like to see on your watch? I’ll start the list:
* A rosary with vibration to go with the tap on each bead and a counter to indicate where I am in the midst of praying rosary.
* A discrete Missal for use in church pews at Mass.
* Chimes to remind me to stop to pray with text for Liturgy of the Hours automatically appearing on the screen.
* A flashlight (ok, it’s not “Catholic,” but we don’t want to trip in the parking lot at night).
* Beautiful clock face art (these watches are wildly customizable) with faces of the Saint of the Day appearing on their actual feast days as designated in the area of the world in which I live.
yes, would like to see catholic saint watch face for each saint of the day!