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EnTech: Developer hacks Watch OS to get a web browser running on Apple Watch

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Monday, May 11, 2015
Developer hacks Watch OS to get a web browser running on Apple Watch

Screen Shot 2015-05-10 at 16.20.51
Prominent community developer and jailbreaker Comex has posted a video showing a successful hack of Watch OS to get the device running a web browser.
In the video, Comex has managed to get the Google homepage to render on the small Watch display. Apple does not include a Safari browser app on the Watch, for obvious reasons. The video shows that scrolling around even basic web pages on a tiny display is impractical.
More importantly, the video shows that it is possible to get the Watch to run arbitrary code. This could be the first step towards a ‘jailbreak’ of the Apple Watch although Comex makes no such promises to ever release the details of his hack.

The video shows familiar iOS UI, like the Copy/Define contextual menu, which is an amusing look at the underlying software stack that powers the Watch. Watch OS 1.0 is actually a version of iOS 8.2 that runs a custom front-end layer to display the device-specific UI, called Carousel (Springboard is the iPad/iPhone equivalent).
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To further prove the point, Comex also shows the Watch presenting the iOS dictionary view â€" again scrunched down onto the ~1.5 inch screen. Apple has announced a native SDK is in the works, which will allow the wider developer community to create apps that run code on the OS itself (rather than through an iPhone app extension a la WatchKit). Until then, community hacks like this are the first glimpse of what might be possible.
Apple said native third-party Watch apps are coming “later this year”. Many have took this to mean an announcement at WWDC, which runs from June 8th to June 12th.
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20 Responses to “Developer hacks Watch OS to get a web browser running on Apple Watch”

  1. mytawalbeh says: Impressive!
    Liked by 2 people
  2. azzurr1 says: Not sure if you want to have such a web browser on your wrist. I prefer a solution like the one Glimpse provides
    Liked by 1 person
    • Gazoo Bee says: This is clearly just a demo, not a “solution.” There is no solution to web browsing on your wrist. It’s something that literally no one wants to do.
      Liked by 3 people
    • Wec says: It is not even supposed to be useful, it is a proof of concept, just like the article says “More importantly, the video shows that it is possible to get the Watch to run arbitrary code. This could be the first step towards a ‘jailbreak’”
      Like
  3. srgmac says: Very awesome but very scary at the same time. Guess Apple shouldn’t have let this guy go…after all, he was working there.
    They could use a little more security across the board.. Seriously though, I would not want my watch to get hacked…
    Liked by 1 person
  4. Gazoo Bee says: Cool! :-) Useless, but cool.
    This reminds me of cruising the web in the 1990’s with my nino running Windows CE.
    Liked by 1 person
  5. Traducto (@TraductoApp) says: This is what I call useless hack unless someone can help me understand the benefits? Who cares about running a browser on a watch?
    Liked by 2 people
    • Wec says: It is not even supposed to be useful, it is a proof of concept, just like the article says “More importantly, the video shows that it is possible to get the Watch to run arbitrary code. This could be the first step towards a ‘jailbreak’”
      Liked by 2 people
    • kadajsouba says: Did you read the article? Or, do you know how to read?
      Like
  6. Jay Scullin says: I bet Apple could come up with a way to make sites readable on the apple watch. Think “reader” view in Safari. As a web developer I know this can be done natively. Just add a media query for teeny screen sizes and format the content that way.
    Liked by 2 people
    • Joel A Ibarra (@UF_Tech94) says: I do see your point from one web developer to another.
      Thats definitely one of the great things with CSS 3 and Media Query’s
      Liked by 1 person
    • Gazoo Bee says: I think the only way this would work is if websites offered a view of their articles that is essentially a “Twitter view” summing up the content in 40 characters or less.
      The sad truth is that that majority of “articles” on the web could easily accommodate this view given that the actual content is so remarkably low. Most tech websites in particular run articles that could be summed up by the headline.
      Like
  7. macnificentseven48 says: I can’t wait to read War And Peace on my AppleWatch… NOT!
    Liked by 2 people
  8. Gamerzzplace says: hmm
    Like
  9. Barry Kushner says: A hack to allow Bluetooth gps dongle connection would be awesome for running, biking etc.
    Like
    • jmholmes83 says: I want to like that idea but I keep coming back to just taking the phone along if I have to take additional gadgets anyway.
      Like
    • Gazoo Bee says: I would be surprised if Apple didn’t use the power savings in the second generation watch, to put the GPS radio in it, making this dongle idea obsolete. It’s likely the very first extra thing they will add (besides perhaps a camera).
      Like
      • Barry Kushner says: Garmin GPS watches last 5 hours with gps on. I can’t see Apple perfecting this for a while.
        Like
    • srgmac says: Back when the iPod touch came out and didn’t have an onboard gps there was a jailbreak util called rocky BT that allowed for a Bluetooth GPS to be connected…it was pretty cool. BT GPSs are very small and more portable than a phone. Anyway â€" a lot of people seem to be pissed that the watch does not have a built in GPS…id have to say I agree. I didn’t see an issue with it at first but not having it for running and being forced to bring my phone with me is kind of lame, considering the competition offerings all have onboard gps…you would *hope* that the next gen model would have one, but that’s what everyone said about the iPad and iTouch; to this day *neither* have a gps, not counting the cellular iPads, although I would think since the watch is a wearable and completely different form factor, that would have to be taken into consideration.
      Like
  10. locksleyu says: This is pretty awesome. When I saw someone with an Apple Watch the other day the first thing I asked was if a web browser was available. I realize the UI makes it very hard but if there was some way to do limited surfing it would be great.
    Looking forward to the native SDK.
    Like

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