There are open source apps for Apple smartwatches
I confess that the idea of the existence of open source applications for Apple devices always seemed like a contradiction to me. Sort of like a vegan restaurant offering bacon burgers on the menu. ANDhe Apple ecosystem, even though macOS is a distant relative of FreeBSD, is as opposed to open source principles as you can get.
Of course, if one stops to think about it, there may be many good reasons why. Some titles like VLC are top of the line and it's only natural that someone would want to have it on their device. Or maybe Apple's hardware is as good as its fans say it's worth sacrificing freedom and privacy, but the software isn't. Or, my favorite of all, each installs on their devices what comes out of the app store.
Anyway, here is a small sample.
Open source applications for Apple devices
Apple TV
It is a hardware to play multimedia content. It connects to the Internet and to a television and is managed by remote control. It has its own operating system called tvOS. In recent years, Apple decided to bet its efforts on a streaming service of the same name.
Moonlight Game Streaming
Allows PC games compatible with Nvidia gaming technology to be played on the TV. The game is streamed from a personal computer connected to the same network as Apple TV and can be played using a gamepad or touchscreen TV.
For this to work, the computer must have NVIDIA GeForce Experience (GFE) installed and GameStream must be enabled in the GFE settings page in SHIELD
VLC
Unless you've been in the open source world for five minutes, this program needs no introduction (if so, welcome). VLC is he media player. It not only plays almost all existing video and audio formats, but also allows synchronization with remote services via Dropbox, GDrive, OneDrive, Box, iCloud Drive, iTunes, direct download or using SMB, FTP, SFTP, NFS, UPnP/DLNA protocols. It also gives access to content hosted within computers on the same network.
Apple Watch
It is a line of watches designed to monitor sports activity, health control and connection with other company devices.
The truth is that for this device, the offer of open source applications is quite poor.
420!
For workaholics, this alarm will remember when it's time to take a break.
Clendar-Minimal Calendar
As its name indicates, it is a simple application that allows us to manage our commitments. Since it has versions for other Apple devices, synchronization is possible. It has support for widgets, dark themes, and the use of keyboard shortcuts. In addition, you accept the use of natural language when scheduling commitments. (It does not clarify if it is for all languages)
count it
Application that allows you to keep track of things. Among the examples put by the developers are:
- Laps of a race.
- Beers drinks.
- days without smoking
- Glasses of water ingested per day.
- People walking into a business.
This app is actually installed on the phone, but it automatically integrates with the watch.
KHabit
This is a minimalist application that helps maintain productive habits. Among its functions are:
- Creation of multiple tasks.
- Write additional notes for each completion of tasks.
- Set reminder notifications for each task.
- Toggle reminder notifications for each day of the week.
- Monitor progress with charts.
- Complete tasks from the clock.
- Sync data with iCloud.
pomosh
If there is an application that cannot be missing from a watch, it is a timer for the Pomodoro technique (Alternate work and rest cycles). This particular program allows you to set the duration of the periods and works in the background.
In the next article we will continue with open source applications for the rest of the Apple devices.