Recent reports have suggested that Apple is notifying its highest-profile developers who are known to be working on Apple Watch apps to be sure the programs are ready for launch by mid-February, about a month earlier than expected. Similarly, Apple is asking Apple Pay partners who will be creating iOS apps with Watch support to have them ready by specifically the 12th of February. Apple CEO Tim Cook has already announced that the Apple Watch will ship in April.
There could be a variety of reasons why Apple wants the the Watch apps ready well ahead of schedule. The most likely is that, with the product being not just the launch of a new device but also a wholly new platform, the company wants to have time to ensure that third-party apps work as expected, both in terms of the Watch App itself as well as how well it interacts with the iPhone, which the Apple Watch relies on for several key functions.
In addition, Apple may be preparing for a launch of Apple Pay POS compatibility with the Apple Watch ahead of the formal ship date, hoping to be sure that the Watch allows iPhone 5 and higher users to leverage the wristwatch to use Apple Pay at merchant partners, reports MacRumors. Up until now, only the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have been able to handle transactions in stores.
Finally, Apple engineers are probably very keen to see how third-party apps affect the Apple Watch’s battery life. While it appears likely that the company has now made some improvements in the battery — with new speculation saying that Apple is aiming for 19 hours in a combination of “active” and “standby” modes between charges — the company hasn’t been able to do much real-world, in the field testing of everyday use with a wider variety of applications and workflows (though sightings are said to be popping up more often).
