AsiaOne app now available on Apple Watch

SINGAPORE - As Singaporeans wait with bated breath to get their hands on the Apple Watch when it goes on sale here tomorrow, AsiaOne has developed its own Apple Watch app for users who want yet another way of catching up with the latest news on-the-move.

AsiaOne was the first Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) website to create a locally developed app for the Apple Watch.

The AsiaOne team worked closely with Apple to prepare for the app so that it will be available when the watches go on sale in Singapore.

Readers can scroll through the latest news and tap to open a story or receive notifications on the Apple Watch wherever they are. The seamless handover from the Watch to mobile app lets users read articles easily on their phones.

AsiaOne's Mobile Editor Ms Karen Lim said that the team had an enriching experience developing the Apple Watch app. "Working with Apple closely was an eye-opener as we got to see how the teams at the world's top tech company worked together to launch a product. Because Singapore's launch date was yet to be announced, we had to keep our project low profile."

"But now, we are extremely proud and happy to be able to introduce AsiaOne onto a brand new platform which we have never ventured into. We hope we have delivered what our readers expect from us as a digital media organisation," she said.

Mr Adrian Tay, Editor of AsiaOne said: "The team at AsiaOne is always innovating to bring content delivery to the next level for our readers."

"The Apple Watch presented the AsiaOne mobile and the SPH Digital Tech teams the opportunity to move into the digital wearable space and provide our readers with a great compact app that pairs seamlessly with our revamped iPhone app."

The AsiaOne app is already compatible with the Apple Watch, and users can download it for free from the AppStore.

Another SPH publication venturing into the Apple Watch sector is The Straits Times, Singapore's most-read newspaper.

The app will provide news at a glance across many of The Straits Times' sections, including Asia, Tech and Lifestyle. The Straits Times' breaking new alerts will also extend to Apple Watch. The Watch app is an extension of The Straits Times on the iPhone and will be free for all users from mid-July.

Mr Julian Tan, Head of SPH Digital, praised the work of the AsiaOne and The Straits Times mobile teams, who developed their Watch apps by working closely together with SPH Digital's technical team.

Mr Tan said: "SPH Digital constantly strives to be at the forefront of innovation and I'm delighted that we are breaking new ground once again with the AsiaOne and The Straits Times apps on the Apple Watch. Both apps were created to provide readers, especially busy professionals on-the-go, with quick and easy access to news complete with push notifications."