‘Made for Apple Watch’ is Arrives with Third-party Band Support

‘Made for Apple Watch’ is Arrives with Third-party Band Support
On Monday, Apple announced their "Made for Apple Watch" program for companies to develop third-party Watch bands for Apple\'s wearable-device. A new branch on the developer portal, \'Creating Bands for Apple Watch,\' and it notes the new \'Made for Apple Watch\' program. The webpage notes that first-party bands are, “easily changed with simple release buttons and lugs that secure the band to the Apple Watch case," and third-party bands should as well. As any other guidelines for Apple, the Apple Watch band guidelines are pretty strict:

• Bands for Apple Watch must integrate two lugs that mate with the Apple Watch Band Interface
• Bands must not integrate magnetic chargers.
• Bands and lugs should pass a 72 hour salt mist test as specified in ASTM B117 with no visible corrosion
• Bands for Apple Watch must comply with applicable environmental regulations in the regions in which such bands are to be sold, and any applicable substance or material restrictions.

It was originally thought that Apple would be limiting customers to the companies first-party bands. This should give customers an ease of mind considering some have gone as far as modifying Apple\'s classic buckle.