10 Apple Watch Apps We Can't Wait to Try
The Apple Watch is finally here. And though it will almost certainly sell like crazy when it hits the market –– because, you know, it’s a new Apple product –– the Watch will likely live or die by the quality and quantity of apps it has to offer.
Apps are what helped the iPhone and iPad reach such stratospheric levels of success. For proof that apps are what can make or break a platform, just look at Microsoft’s Windows Phone. The operating system has far fewer apps than Apple’s iOS and has struggled to match Cupertino’s success despite offering powerful hardware and a slick user interface.
Apple is keenly aware of the need for apps for its smartwatch, which is why the company showed off so many during its stage demonstration, including Siri, WeChat, and Salesforce. But out of all the apps shown, these are the ones we’re most excited about.
Read more: Apple Watch: New Features, Prices Unveiled
1. Twitter. If we could implant a Twitter widget in our retinas, we would. So the ability to see what’s trending, check our retweets, and dictate tweets from our wrist is something we’re can’t wait to do.
2. Apple Pay. The Apple Watch’s killer app may come straight from Cupertino itself. With Apple Pay, you’ll be able to double-tap the button on the side of the watch and quickly wave your wrist above the payment terminal to buy your venti chai latte.
3. ESPN. Want to check the score of the game but don’t want to look like a jerk by pulling out your phone? The ESPN app for the Apple Watch has you covered, offering score details and updates for your favorite teams. Watching the Knicks lose has never been so easy.
4. American Airlines. You’re running through the terminal trying to reach your gate before they close the plane doors, and you suddenly realize you can’t find your boarding pass. With the Apple Watch’s American Airlines app, you won’t have to worry, as your boarding pass is right on your wrist. You can even check in for your flight from the watch and see at which baggage claim your bags will be. That sounds convenient.
5. Alarm.com. If you’re the type of person who can’t remember if you locked your doors, you’ll be happy to know that the Apple Watch will soon let you check your locks on the fly. The app will also let you lock and unlock doors, as well as watch video streams from your home to make sure that everything is just as you left it.
6. SPG. The Apple Watch’s second killer app, SPG lets you check into your hotel and unlock your door using the watch without ever having to stop by the front desk. The feature, though, is limited to select Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
7. Instagram. Instagram for the Apple Watch lets you scroll through your feed, check out your friends’ photos, and leave emoji-style comments. You’ll even be able to like pictures from your wrist. Say “so long” to productivity.
8. Uber. Uber is coming to the Apple Watch. The controversial taxi app will let you check to see if there are available cars in your area and let you call for one with the push of a button. Once your ride is confirmed, the app will tell you the name of your driver, provide a photo and the driver’s rating, and let you track the vehicle’s progress.
9. Citymapper. Few things are worse than being in a new city and not knowing how to navigate its transit system. With the Citymapper app for the Apple Watch, though, you can get step-by-step directions for a host of cities, including their subway and bus systems.
10. Shazam. Have you ever had an argument with a friend about who sang the song playing on the radio? Now you can prove your friend wrong with ease by using the Shazam app for the Apple Watch. Shazamming from the wrist seems quicker than on the phone: Just start the app, and it will instantly recognize the song being played, tell you who sang it, and provide you with lyrics. Just make sure you’re on the right side of the argument.
Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley or on Google+ here.
