Posts tagged #apple

The first beta of the was launched this past week and developers can now start making apps.

There are some limitations, but Apple released a lot more than was expected for WatchKit. There's a lot you'll be able to do within the restrictions, which are related to the embedded hardware (i.e.: Apple Watch) and it's battery life.

For now, until Native Apple Watch support is added sometime next year (fingers crossed), you'll have to work within the provided mechanisms. If something doesn't work, you'll need to let Apple know by submitting to WatchKit or Xcode.

Known Limitations of WatchKit in Xcode 6.2 Beta

Updated: (Beta 2 allows Watch apps to trigger iPhone apps) You cannot press a button on Apple Watch to cause an action in your iPhone app.
You cannot create or use gestures. All gestures are controlled by Apple.
You cannot move objects around screen by CGPoint position (Maybe with tableview hide/show).
You cannot add UI elements at run-time, everything is design time before app runs.
You cannot make fluid 2D/3D games like Flappy birds (Maybe jittery gameplay with image animations + hiding/showing hackery, + borderless button).
Animations are image-based (in Apple's sample they include 360 images to show a full circle progress bar = 2mb image data).
Your code runs on your iPhone app in an extension (new in iOS 8), and your UI + images reside on the Apple Watch.
Your app will stop if the Apple Watch and iPhone are separated beyond the range of bluetooth. Only Apple can run native apps on device.
You can only use storyboard files for UI (no .xib files).
You must create an iPhone app Xcode project and add Apple Watch targets to create an app.
You cannot use a physical iPhone with the Apple Watch simulator. Only available in simulation on Mac.

With some of the limitations in perspective, you can design apps that provide meaningful information that compliment your iPhone app. The watch is intended to show information that can be used quickly, and it isn't designed as a gaming device because of it's limited battery and processing power.

Download and install Xcode 6.2 Beta from the Apple Developer Website

Go to and you can download the beta versions of Xcode 6.2 and iOS 8.2 for testing out features relating to Apple Watch.

Scroll down to the bottom and read both the and the .

Download .

Getting Started with WatchKit in Xcode 6.2 Beta

In order to bring you up to speed, I've created a short that demonstrates how to create a WatchKit app using timers. There are some bugs, but this is the best place to start if you want to work with some cutting edge technology.

Please submit any bug reports to and you can help Apple improve WatchKit. Duplicate bug requests are a good thing, because it helps Apple see the more common issues.

Download the

Swift WatchKit Tutorial 1 - Get Started with WatchKit to Make apps for the Apple Watch

WatchKit Swift Tutorial 2 - Getting Started with your First WatchKit App in Xcode 6 2 Beta

WatchKit Swift Tutorial 3 - Apple Watch User Interface Explained

WatchKit Swift Tutorial 3 - Apple Watch User Interface Explained WatchKit Course: http://learn.iphonedev.tv/course/make-apps-for-apple-watch Learn how to customize the User Interface (UI) in your first Apple Watch app. There are limitations and you won't use Auto Layout like in a normal app. It's really different with a grid based layout.","source":"

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WatchKit Swift Tutorial 4 - Connect the Apple Watch User Interface to Code

WatchKit Swift Tutorial 5 - Setup a NSTimer in Swift with Apple Watch

WatchKit Swift Tutorial 5 - Setup a NSTimer in Swift with Apple Watch WatchKit Course: http://learn.iphonedev.tv/course/make-apps-for-apple-watch The WatchKit SDK is limited. You can't run code on the Apple Watch with the current beta of WatchKit. This should change when Apple finishes the SDK for native apps.","source":"

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WatchKit Swift Tutorial 6 - Synchronize NSTimer and WKInterfaceTimer

WatchKit Swift Tutorial 6 - Synchronize NSTimer and WKInterfaceTimer WatchKit Course: http://learn.iphonedev.tv/course/make-apps-for-apple-watch The WKInterfaceTimer runs only on the Apple Watch and doesn't have a callback to the code running in your app extension. In order to keep everything in sync you need to set a duration variable that is of type NSTimerInterval and set it for both the NSTimer and the WKInterfaceTimer.","source":"

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I'll be teaching a on how to make apps for Apple Watch next year.
You can start my Swift iPhone app course today with 100+ videos.

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Paul Solt and filed under iOS 8, Programming and tagged WatchKit Swift Xcode 6.

How I Wish I Learned to Create iPhone Apps: Watch 25+ HD Screencasts and Lectures FREE

Create your own iPhone apps with Objective-C

I'm giving away 1,000 free discount codes to my iPhone course through November 30th 2013. Start learning how to program iPhone apps with HD videos and source code. In my course you can follow what I do and avoid the common pitfalls

http://www.skillshare.com/classes/technology/Program-iPhone-Apps-Become-an-iPhone-Developer/461761892/classroom/feed?discount=BLOG4280 (100% discount link)

I’ve been dabbling with iOS development since 2008 when I worked as an intern at Apple Inc. At the time I really wanted to get into iPhone development, but my assigned work was in Python, so I couldn’t.

Fast forward a year, I tried to learn in college, but RIT didn’t teach it. So I taught myself, and boy was it a struggle (even as a computer science major). I used free resources and a few books, but nothing really clicked until I sat down and coded. A lot of times it was super frustrating and I didn’t have anyone to help me. The iOS SDK was full of bugs or undocumented behaviors in Xcode. FYI: For any real beginners, the Standford iOS courses were too long and totally missed the beginner audience. (i.e. they expect programming experience... yikes!) Over the years I've submitted a handful of apps to the , which has been a great learning experience.

Last year I was offered an Adjunct Professor position to teach iPhone app development at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). It was great, but I wanted to find other creative people like me who have ideas and struggled to put the pieces together. Programming is hard, and if you don’t have a programmer friend it can be overwhelming. It’s easy to lose motivation and stop when you hit those walls. It seems like every developer goes through these struggles, but I think it can be better.

In 2012, I started teaching iPhone programming in-person/skype through Skillshare. Shortly after, I launched my online iPhone Programming on Skillshare.com because it aligned with my desire to help more people. I spent a ton of time filming, editing, and planning . I think you’ll enjoy free access and if you like the course, please leave feedback.

p.s. I’m happy to help direct beginners or anyone struggling to get off the ground. Right now I’m filming iOS 7.0/Xcode 5 materials, which will be available in November/December. Anyone in my current Skillshare class will get free access to the new iOS 7.0 course.

p.p.s If you signup, please recommend the course on Skillshare.

Learn how to use Xcode 5 to make iPhone apps for iOS 7.0

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Paul Solt and filed under Programming and tagged iPhone course skillshare Xcode Objective-C.