Google Maps, Amazon, and eBay quietly stopped supporting Apple Watch

Need more proof that smartwatches are doomed? Several internet giants, including Google, Amazon, and eBay, quietly dropped support for Apple Watch in some of their apps in recent weeks.

But there was no big riot on social media, and we're only learning this now because it appears a few people actually use (or miss) these apps.

The trend was noticed by AppleInsider, which claims Google Maps stopped supporting Apple Watch in recent weeks, while Amazon and eBay dropped Apple Watch support in late April. And some other companies, such as Target, also launched a new version of their iOS app sans support for the Watch. Right now, if you open any of these companies' apps on Apple's App Store, you won't see the sign that says "Offers Apple Watch App for iPhone."

So what's happening? It's unclear; Google responded to AppleInsider, saying that Google Maps will return to the Watch in the future, but offered no reason for the move. None of the companies published any sort of announcement for the change.

It's possible that a new version of watchOS, which could be launched at this year's WWDC in June, brings changes that will explain while all these companies have (temporarily?) left the platform. But it's still indicative that there was no internet outrage about some of the biggest online companies leaving Apple's smartwatch platform. The simplest explanation for this is that very few users really used these apps on their Watch.

We've contacted Google, Amazon, and eBay about the change and will update the article when we hear from them.