Apple is finally taking app submissions for the Apple Watch

As cool as the Apple Watch looks, the smartwatch is pretty much worthless without any apps. While any developer with the WatchKit can whip up their own app for the Apple Watch, only a handful of partners have actually had permission from Apple to release those apps, until now that is. With the release of the smartwatch just a few weeks away, Apple has decided to finally start accepting app submission from all developers. 

The primary question for the Apple Watch remains, “What are we supposed to use it for?” Any iOS developer with the WatchKit development tools and some chutzpah is free to make his or her best case, now that Apple is finally taking Watch app submissions. Previously, no one except a limited group of partners had Apple’s blessing to roll out apps for its upcoming wearable. Those early entrants mostly covered news, social, shopping, travel, fitness and some limited productivity features. But now developers of all stripes can take their best whack at making this curious wrist gizmo more tempting. To start, the company advises developers to update Xcode to the latest version, Xcode 6, which includes the iOS 8.2 SDK with the WatchKit framework. For more information, check out Apple’s Watch app guidelines for App Store submissions.