The social network is now in the process of creating its first application compatible with smartwatches.
Instagram has now announced that it is developing a new Apple Watch app that would provide its users with an alert as soon as there is a picture posted by someone that they know.
The Facebook owned image based social network will now be providing a simpler alert system for users.
The idea is to make it possible for the wearers of the smartwatch to use this Apple Watch app to keep up with what their closest friends are doing. It will let them know when a picture has been posted so that they can view it and respond as they’d like. This represents the first time that Instagram has ever made an entry into the world of wearable technology. Until now, it has kept itself well away from wearables, including the number of other smartwatches that are already on the market, and headsets such as Google Glass.
That said, due to the image based nature of Instagram, the Apple Watch app had to be created with care.
After all, the social network is meant for pictures and the Apple Watch has a tiny little screen. This caused the developers of the app to have to completely rethink the way that it would function. According to Ian Silber, a designer at Instagram, it was key for them to come up with “the simplest feed we could think of.” He also went on to add that “I think the watch is really about quick information and notifications. With the Watch, it’s about thinking about interactions in terms of seconds.”
Apple has established very solid rules with regards to the way that it will allow apps to be created for its smartwatch. For example, it has restricted the types of tools that third party developers can come up with through the use of its tools (the Watchkit). For example, the developers at Instagram attempted to transfer the double-tapping an image feature from its smartphone application in order to “like” that image through the Apple Watch app. However, that is not a feature that the Watchkit has to offer.
The streaming video service released a commercial that spoofs the smartwatches that are at the height of tech right now.
Netflix has recently released a commercial in which it has taken advantage of the hype surrounding wearable technology in order to be able to draw more attention to its video streaming services.
The commercial pretends to be introducing a new smartwatch device called the “Netflix Watch”.
The idea behind this pretend device is that owners of this wearable technology will be able to keep watching the streaming video service no matter where they are. Despite the fact that April Fool’s Day has come and gone, this video has still been well received and many are getting quite a laugh out of one of the funniest little pranks that the company has ever released.
The phony wearable technology from Netflix is essentially a wrist band with a smartphone attached to it.
The Netflix Watch is worn just like a regular wrist strap, only it has a full sized smartphone attached to it, supposedly to allow the wearer to be able to continue to view the service regardless of whether or not they are in a location that would allow them to hold the device in their hands. This way, says the commercial, people can watch the shows and movies they like while driving, jogging, and taking part in all sorts of other activities that are clearly inappropriate for video viewing.
The soothing voice of the narrator explains that “It’s the vast world of Netflix right on your wrist.”
When it comes to the timing of the commercial, Netflix has clearly made quite the strategic choice. The Apple Watch has only just recently come available for pre-order, and it will soon be possible for those who have purchased or reserved their own smartwatches to pick them up in stores, on April 24.
With such a large amount of attention focused on the world of wearable technology, the company has slyly ensured that it would be able to keep at least part of the tech news spotlight on itself, regardless of the fact that it doesn’t actually have a smartwatch to offer.
After all, the social network is meant for pictures and the Apple Watch has a tiny little screen. This caused the developers of the app to have to completely rethink the way that it would function. According to Ian Silber, a designer at Instagram, it was key for them to come up with “the simplest feed we could think of.” He also went on to add that “I think the watch is really about quick information and notifications. With the Watch, it’s about thinking about interactions in terms of seconds.”