January 10, 2018
My Favorite Indie Apple Watch Apps of 2017
If you’re wondering what to do with that new Apple Watch you got for Christmas or Hanukkah a few weeks ago, here are some great apps made by independent software developers that you should check out:
1. Grocery
This app is awesome. It works with a companion iPhone/iPad application to create a grocery list, and then allows you to check items off via the Watch app while you shop. Sounds simple, but the implementation is brilliant:
- The underlying grocery list is a system Reminders app list. This means you can add to your grocery list from any app that supports Reminders lists, including Siri! (“Hey Siri, add pickles to my grocery list.”)
- Grocery will learn how you order your list by watching how you sort it, and then automatically sort it for you going forward.
- It has a “Quick Add” feature that shows items that appear often on your list.
- The Apple Watch app is very well-done, with no lag and some nice haptic feedback when you check an item off.
Using this app cuts my grocery-shopping time down by 25%.
App Store | @smartgroceryapp on Twitter
2. Strong
This is a a weight lifting workout tracking app for iOS and Apple Watch. You can pre-build workouts or make them on the fly. If you do the former, you can move through a workout via Apple Watch without touching your phone — this, plus rest time tracking are the killer features for me. It also tracks personal bests, which is nice.
3. Carrot Weather
There are a million iOS weather apps, and many of them support Apple Watch. But none allow for the customization and have the information density of Carrot Weather on Apple Watch. See this in-depth review on MacStories for more details of its capabilities.
The iOS app is also good, although I’m still partial to Weather Line on my phone.
4. PCalc
This is essentially a Casio Databank for Apple Watch!
Comments? Please send me a message.