The annual Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) lovefest known as Apple Worldwide Developers Conference that kicks off on Monday in San Francisco will give developers the platform to show off their coolest apps for the Apple Watch.
Previously a time when the company would introduce new products, Apple now mostly focuses on software developments and updates at the annual gathering. Sales of its Apple Watch are expanding to seven more countries in a couple weeks, the company announced on Thursday,
Apple Watch: Soon Available for Sale in StoresA keynote address will kick off the event at 10 a.m. local time and CEO Tim Cook is expected to introduce new iPhone and Mac features.
1. Updates to Mac OS X and iOS
Apple may tease or introduce updates to its operating systems for its computers, the iPhone and iPad by fixing bugs and making things faster. It's possible the Mac OS X could get a new look. There may even be some updates to the somewhat sluggish Apple Maps.
2. Software Development Bells and Whistles
Last week, Apple's senior vice president of operations Jeff Williams teased a new software development kit that gives programmers the ability to make direct use of the Apple Watch's microphone, sensors, and the scrolling digital crown instead of relying on the iPhone's functions. One example may be allowing the song recognition app Shazam to use the watch's microphone to identify a song on the radio instead of listening through the iPhone, according to tech site Re/Code.
3. Cool Watch Apps
The WWDC conference schedule is already packed with sessions with titles like "Game Center Lab," but there are at least a dozen called "To Be Announced," the titles and descriptions for which will be revealed after the keynote address. Customers will hope for new ways to use the Apple Watch beyond just a simple extension of their iPhones.
Apple will award the best apps for all its products at 4:30 p.m. local time during its 2015 "Apple Design Awards." Developers and companies that make cool apps for the Apple Watch may be the key to continuing sales.
When the company announced on Thursday that the watch will be sold in seven more countries, Williams said in a statement, “The response to Apple Watch has surpassed our expectations in every way, and we are thrilled to bring it to more customers around the world."