Apple to reveal Apple Watch ‘Companion’ app for iPhone

14 Jan 2015

Apple will release a new Companion app for the iPhone to accompany its forthcoming Apple Watch wearable, slated for release in March.

The Companion app will manage settings for the Apple Watch applications and for interactivity between the iPhone and the Apple Watch.

Using the app users will be able to manage and organise applications on the Apple Watch Home screen.

For the aesthetically-minded a new Monogram feature will allow users o include a virtual, embedded stamp of 1-4 letters – such as your initials – directly onto the clock face of the Apple Watch.

According to 9to5Mac the Companion app will let fitness fanatics activate more granular fitness features such as stand reminders if you’ve been sitting or standing in the one place for too long. It also lets users toggle through different settings like calculate calories burned, step counts and fitness levels.

The Companion app will also let iPhone users see storage capacity on the Apple Watch in terms of photos, music and apps.

Glances, the feature that sends timely information to your watch, can be organised via your iPhone to shuffle through stock price, point change, percentage change or market cap information discreetly via the iPhone to your Apple Watch.

Sleight of hand tricks

It is understood that potential Apple Watch owners would be advised to clean up the apps on their iPhone and have them in a preferred order as this would be reflected on the Apple Watch when it is up and running.

Just like with the iPhone the Apple Watch will allow you to zoom the screen by double-tapping with two fingers and pan around.

Settings on the Companion app will also make it easier to reduce motion, control audio and change text settings.

In terms of security, users can set up a four-digit code that would work in tandem with Apple Pay for making transactions and they can also set up their iPhone to accept lengthier passwords to unlock the Apple Watch device, only if the watch is attached to your body.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com