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Apple Watch Apps Are About To Get Way Better

Hooray!
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Senior Reporter, HuffPost

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The Apple Watch Edition is on display for the release of the Apple Watch at the Eaton Centre Apple Store on Friday, April 10, 2015 in Toronto. (Photo by Ryan Emberley/Invision for Apple/AP Images)

The Apple Watch is the latest playground for app developers.

Just six weeks after the smartwatch came out, Apple said Monday that apps created by non-Apple developers can be designed and downloaded without running through the iPhone.

Until now, most aspects of the Watch operating system were closed off to developers. Apps on the device functioned as extensions of iPhone apps, causing them to be rather sluggish. With the latest version of the Watch software, Watch OS 2, apps can be developed specifically for the wearable, meaning they should run faster and more smoothly.

"We believe that by opening up the platform you will create new and powerful uses that today we can only begin to imagine," CEO Tim Cook said at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

The announcement followed a rousing video tribute to the community of developers who create apps sold on the App Store. The company boasted that more than 100 billion apps have been downloaded.

For more from our WWDC 2015 coverage, take a look at our posts on Apple's new streaming music service and iOS 9.

Apple's WWDC 2015
Tim Cook delivers the keynote address(01 of08)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address during Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple's annual developers conference runs through June 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
Johnny Iovine announces Apple Music(02 of08)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: Johnny Iovine announces Apple Music during Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple's annual developers conference runs through June 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
Eddy Cue high fives Drake(03 of08)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue (L) high fives with recording artist Drake during the Apple Music introduction at the Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple's annual developers conference runs through June 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
Drake speaks about Apple Music(04 of08)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: Recording artist Drake speaks about Apple Music during the Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple annouced a new OS X, El Capitan, iOS 9 and Apple Music during the keynote at the annual developers conference that runs through June 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
Eddy Cue speaks(05 of08)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue speaks during the Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple annouced a new OS X, El Capitan, iOS 9 and Apple Music during the keynote at the annual developers conference that runs through June 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
Tim Cook poses for a photo with high school kids(06 of08)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook (C) poses for a photo with high school kids during Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple annouced a new OS X, El Capitan, iOS 9 and Apple Music during the keynote at the annual developers conference that runs through June 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
The Weeknd performs(07 of08)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: The Weeknd performs during Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple annouced a new OS X, El Capitan, iOS 9 and Apple Music during the keynote at the annual developers conference that runs through June 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)
Attendees pack onto an escalator(08 of08)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 08: Attendees pack onto an escalator during the Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple annouced a new OS X, El Capitan, iOS 9 and Apple Music during the keynote at the annual developers conference that runs through June 12. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (credit:Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)

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