Apple Gives Facebook, Others Early Access To Test Apple Watch Apps

Adam Satariano and Tim Higgins, Bloomberg:

In a lab shut off from communication with the outside world and where visitors can’t bring in a pad of paper, let alone a phone, Apple Inc. has given some companies special early access to Apple Watch.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Facebook Inc., United Continental Holdings Inc. and others have spent weeks at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, working hands-on with the smartwatch to test and fine-tune applications that will debut alongside the device next month, according to people familiar with the process, who asked not to be identified because of non-disclosure agreements.

This level of secrecy and oversight has been assumed for quite some time now. I’m sure a good portion of Monday’s keynote will be spent highlighting the launch apps of some of the biggest names in tech. The above should also drive home the notion that initial Apple Watch app availability won’t be anywhere near the 100,000 predicted. Apple is curating this roll-out tightly.