Smartwatches that still require a smartphone have always meant a higher price tag for consumers, but having to develop both a smartphone and a smartwatch app also meant more cost for companies and app developers. Now, with the capability for standalone wear apps, companies will have the ability to create an app made just for smartwatches.
Many standalone wear apps will likely utilize functionality that is specific to a smartwatch; things like a watch’s GPS, speaker, or heart rate...