Apple opens Apple Watch app development starting today

Apple just opened up the WatchKit development platform to allow developers to get on board with creating apps for Apple Watch starting today. Apple Watch is expected to come in Spring of 2015 but Apple wants a robust app ecosystem for the wearable from day one.

The iOS 8.2 SDK beta including WatchKit is available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com/watchkit. The WatchKit site includes programming guides, human interface guidelines, templates and more. Starting later next year, developers will be able to create fully native apps for Apple Watch. 

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Garmin's Connect IQ is an open SDK for wearable apps

Garmin International Inc.  announced Connect IQ, the first-ever open platform for third-party developers to create apps for Garmin products. The software development kit leverages the trusted technology that Garmin is known for, with an emphasis on low power consumption, extended battery life and connectivity to smartphones and peripheral sensors through Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and ANT+.

Garmin prides itself on creating active lifestyle products that become an essential part of customers’ lives, and now with Connect IQ, third-party developers can utilize the expanding line of world class wearables, while also taking advantage of the loyal customer base and diverse distribution channels.

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Wacom to allow cross-platform sharing of handwritten notes

Wacom wants its users to be able to share notes across devices and platforms with its new tool. The Wacom Ink Layer Language or WILL is designed to capture pen stroke coordinates, creator identity, and pressure to allow for the cross-platform sharing. This concept will also work to allow editing by other users. The company will start promoting WILL through the distribution of the SDK to iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS platforms, as well as cloud-based platforms and browsers. They hope to gain partners to develop the idea further and make the concept a reality.

Source: Engadget

Google release Google+ iOS SDK update

Google has just unveiled an update for the SDK of its Google+ iOS app. The update is intended to improve content sharing on the social network via third party apps. It is said to better support auto-complete capabilities and introduces a “suggested recipients” option. Auto-complete is designed to suggest device, Gmail and Google+ contacts and “Suggestions” is meant to highlight the people you frequently or recently got in touch with.

Source: The Next Web