As mobile developers rush to release applications compatible with Apple’s new wearable device, the Apple Watch, many are still wondering what sorts of app experiences make sense for the small wrist-borne screen versus that of the smartphone. To some extent, where the Apple Watch really shines is with “invisible” apps – paying for items with Apple Pay, or using the Watch to unlock hotel room or car doors, for example.
Today, two new apps are launching for Apple Watch that continue this trend: Knock and oneID are both debuting Watch apps that can lock and unlock your Mac computer with just a tap. And in the case of oneID, the app works with websites as well.
Knock for Apple Watch
Knock, as you may recall, first debuted in late 2013 with a clever iOS app that let you knock on your iPhone’s screen while the phone was still in your pocket in order to unlock your Mac desktop or laptop computer. The app takes advantage of low-energy Bluetooth technology to enable the connection between the devices, and is focused on developing a solution to the problem with passwords – namely, that people just hate them and want a better way.
But to be clear, Knock doesn’t replace your password – it simply enters it for you by way of a secure, encrypted connection (1024-bit RSA encryption) when you knock on your iPhone.
At the time of its debut, co-founders William Henderson, who previously worked on the Wallet team at Square, and Jon Schlossberg, who led user experience at Bonobos, said their long-term vision was a future where Knock could unlock anything, not just computers. But instead of bringing the app to the web browser, as they earlier imagined, they turned their attention to Apple Watch, calling Knock and Apple Watch “a match made in heaven.”
Today, the company is rolling out its next major release of the Knock iOS app with Knock 2.0.
With this release, Knock works with Apple Watch. This includes a Knock Glance, which is a quick way to access the app from the Watch’s main Clock Face. And the app will also automatically pop up when you open your Mac computer.
Also new is “Touch to Unlock,” which adds a two-factor authentication option for those who want more security. With this, the app can use the iPhone’s built-in Touch ID sensor – instead of just knocking on your phone, the app can require a PIN or your fingerprint to unlock your computer instead.
Meanwhile, if you have an Apple Watch, you can skip the TouchID step as long as you’ve used TouchID at least once since you last put the Watch on your wrist. In other words, as long as you’re wearing your Apple Watch, you’ll be able to unlock the computer with just a tap.
