For Apple Watch, a focus on speed at WWDC

Apple is updating its Watch operating system to launch apps about seven times faster, the company announced at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. New ways to launch apps by swiping or tapping once on the Watch face could address complaints that the device is too complicated or takes too long to respond. Apple began selling the Watch in April 2015, banking on the company’s first new product since the iPad to create another lucrative market. According to various estimates, Apple sold about 12 million to 15 million watches in the first year, a number that for most tech firms would be considered good. Kevin Lynch, Apple vice-president of technology, said the updated Watch os3, available as a free download to consumers this fall, will also include a SOS button that dials emergency services, using both 911 in the United States and other emergency numbers abroad. [...] Apple is mimicking motivational features found in activity trackers like the popular Fitbit by making those fitness rings visible to friends or relatives who own an Apple Watch. Even if the company were to see accelerated sales of its watches, we do not expect Watch to be the next revenue or profit driver as the company has a total revenue base of over $200 billion and the category itself is not large enough to move the needle for them.