Introduction to Apple Watch development (I.)

With Apple Watch, users can view information in an unobtrusive way. Without taking the iphone out of your pocket, you can quickly get important information by looking at your watch.

Third-party app developers, as Apple Watch, should provide important information in the most straightforward way to support short operations

Apple Watch and it's matching iphone

Apple Watch requires an iphone to run a third-party app. To create a third-party app, you need to provide two things: a WatchKit app (running in Apple Watch) and a watchkit extension (running on iphone). The WatchKit app contains only storyboards and resource files related to the app interface. WatchKit extension contains the code that manages the user interface of the WatchKit app and the corresponding interface.

The user experience is the unique reason for Apple Watch. First, always provide the user with a full app experience, by opening the app on the main screen. With multi-screen content, you can make it easier for users to interact with app data.

In addition to the full app experience, it can also be provided for a read-only interface called glance, which displays app-related information in a timely fashion. Custom interfaces can also be used to change the way a push message is presented to the user.

Because the WatchKit app is an extension of existing app behavior, the Watch Kit app and WatchKit extension are packaged in the iOS app. When installing the iOS app, users are recommended to install the WatchKit app if they have a matching applewatch.

The WatchKit App

The WatchKit app is a user-initiated app that appears on the Apple Watch home screen. The WatchKit app is the primary way for users to view and interact with data. The WatchKit app can show only a subset of the data in the iOS app.

The WatchKit app is like a public image of the app, but he works with WatchKit extension, WatchKit extension is the brains of all operations. The WatchKit app contains only storyboards and resource files. WatchKit extension contains code that manages the content, the corresponding user interface, and the update user interface. Because watch extension runs on the iphone, it can work with the iOS app to accomplish complex tasks.

Glance Interfaces

Glance is used to display the most important information about the app. Glance's name indicates that he will be looked at quickly by the user. The glances is not scrollable. All glance interfaces must be displayed on one interface. Glance is read-only and cannot contain buttons, and the switch is alive with other interoperable controls. Clicking Glance will launch the WatchKit app.

Creating a glance does not require creating a project. You just need to create some objects in the WatchKit app and the WatchKit extension. In fact, implementing glance classes and techniques is the same as creating a WatchKit app.

Customizing the interface for local and remote notifications

Apple Watch displays notifications along with the matching iphone. Initially, AppleWatch uses a small interface to display the received message. When users want to see more detailed information, they switch to a more detailed interface. You can customize the detailed interface to add graphics and customize the layout of your data.

Apple Watch automatically supports actionable notifications in iOS8. Actionable notifications are the way you add buttons to notifications. For example, a notification of a meeting invitation might contain a button that is accepted or rejected. When iOS registers an actionable notification, Apple Watch automatically adds the appropriate button to the notification screen. You just have to deal with the results of the user's choice. These are done in the watchkit extension.

Design your user interface

Personalized Apple Watch requires a different implementation when implementing the WatchKit app,glance and notification interface. The interface should be easy to display and interact quickly. Creating this interface means not simply moving the iOS app to Apple Watch. A complementary experience for iOS apps should be provided.

Introduction to Apple Watch development (I.)