Today Apple finally released iOS 8 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The new software comes with Apple’s HealthKit platform which basically collects health and fitness related data from a variety of sources and then allows third party apps to tap into the platform. Developers have been creating apps compatible with iOS 8 HealthKit ever since the software entered beta and they would have expected the accepted apps to go live today. Instead they found out at the last moment that Apple has put all HealthKit compatible apps on hold.
Apple has not commented on why it has put these applications on hold but some developers spoke with VentureBeat and revealed that they have been contacted by Apple and told of problems with the launch.
Healthy Target, an updated HealthKit compatible app by WebMD, was supposed to be launched today. It did appear online early in the morning but now it is unavailable. WebMD has been in contact with Apple over this issue and for now the previous version of their app will be put up in the App Store on a temporary basis before issues with HealthKit are sorted out and the new apps are made available once again.
Some developers revealed on Twitter that the apps have been put on hold because of data management issues in the HealthKit platform. Apple hasn’t said how long it will take to get this all back up and running again, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.