Apple Executives Discuss Optimizations for Larger Apple Watch Series 7 Display, Lack of Third-Party Watch Faces

[4jasontv]

Am I the only one who wants to completely turn off the watch hands? Specifically, on the Infograph face, the watch hands offer no value whatsoever to me, and in fact, cover the digital time display or other complications completely for an amount of time per day.
The Infograph face is the most useful to me because it offers the most amount of complications but in no shape way or form do those hands actually add any value to the face (for me.)
Example (note how the hands completely cover the Messages and will all other central complications, including digital time.)
I wish we had an option to turn the watch hands OFF, at least on certain faces.

I have the opposite request. Do any of the watch faces have to option to always have hands? On my S4 the second-hand goes away after a few seconds, and while I can do the tap for 70 seconds or whatever that's not good enough. I just want the option for the second hand to always be on.

 

[jz0309]

Am I the only one who wants to completely turn off the watch hands? Specifically, on the Infograph face, the watch hands offer no value whatsoever to me, and in fact, cover the digital time display or other complications completely for an amount of time per day.
The Infograph face is the most useful to me because it offers the most amount of complications but in no shape way or form do those hands actually add any value to the face (for me.)
Example (note how the hands completely cover the Messages and will all other central complications, including digital time.)
I wish we had an option to turn the watch hands OFF, at least on certain faces.
View attachment 1879274

Try the digital Infograph maybe?
I for one don’t like digital time displays, but we’re all different

 

[MrGimper]

I know. And imagine the anger as people who aren’t great as using software call or rush into Apple stores to get support for user issues.

I barely use watch faces but I enjoy seeing what creative people come up with.

There should be the ability to add 3rd-Party faces, but not user-defined ones. Maybe have a Tag one for purchase, Omega etc.

 

[mazz0]

The Apple watch is so boring if they at least offered us more watch faces, but with each passing year it's "same same but different".

It's a tool - if it does the job well then it's fine if it's boring.

 

[4jasontv]

There should be the ability to add 3rd-Party faces, but not user-defined ones. Maybe have a Tag one for purchase, Omega etc.

I can't see Apple doing DLC on watch faces, but I could see them partnering with brands to offer collaborations (like the Nike and Hermes faces) that are activated when attaching a specific band.

 

[RoboCop001]

It would be great if the modular faces were customizable in terms of placement of each complication area. And maybe you could choose between different layouts for each row. So an example would be instead of 3 small complications, you could switch that area to a large complication.

 

[jmgregory1]

I find it strange that Apple is focusing any time or marketing on the thicker lens and curved-edge look. The thicker lens feels like a solution to a problem that wouldn’t exist if they instead used a flat lens. And the curved edge visual is very similar to the waterfall edge displays that multiple Android makers have used. There is no real benefit to the look and in fact that curved edge creates reflections that are a negative, imho.

 

[diamornte]

That subtle refractive edge is talked about so much, but in reality when I look down at my S7, the edges looks slightly dark…

 

[pbird]

Am I the only one who wants to completely turn off the watch hands? Specifically, on the Infograph face, the watch hands offer no value whatsoever to me, and in fact, cover the digital time display or other complications completely for an amount of time per day.

I agree. I also use Infograph and those hands only distract from the info I want to see.

 

[hagjohn]

They need to give up some control over things, like watch faces. I do not see the harm.

 

[Edgecrusherr]

all design and no attention to battery life. less than 24 hours in today's world is ridiculous.

The vast majority of people don't use a watch for 24 Hours straight.

 

[123]

I barely use watch faces but I enjoy seeing what creative people come up with.

I don't use them either, because there aren't any.

I want digital information only. Unfortunately, none of the current faces offers good usability, readability, and information density. For example, I want a clean display of time including seconds, not a tiny time as on Infograph, covered by useless analog watch hands. I'm already out of luck and have been for 6 years. This is not just about "creative people" coming up with nice designs, this is about providing customizable basic functionality.

 

[hagjohn]

Very pleased with my Series 7, got exactly the green model in the screenshot. Upgraded from a Series 4 and couldn't be more happy with it.

I can't find the watch face that is in the picture. I've looked in the watch app but can't find it... not that I would use it but I would like to see it in person.

 

[jonnysods]

Battery has to be up there - have to turn a lot of stuff off on my SW6 to get decent all day life out of it.

 

[Spock]

I think that the series 7 was pushed out because a total redesign wasn't ready to ship and they needed to stick to the yearly upgrade schedule. I am guessing that the series 8 will be a redesign but use the same display as the 7

 

[jonnysods]

I don't use them either, because there aren't any.

I want digital information only. Unfortunately, none of the current faces offers good usability, readability, and information density. For example, I want a clean display of time including seconds, not a tiny time as on Infograph, covered by useless analog watch hands. I'm already out of luck and have been for 6 years. This is not just about "creative people" coming up with nice designs, this is about providing customizable basic functionality.

I think we are on the same page actually - I want readable stuff immediately for a few items so I can just take a look at my wrist and get a sense on the day. They have it for weather, calendar, but there are other things I'd like too.

I use info graph but it just doesn't have what I need, and modular seems like a waste of space.

 

[canyonblue737]

interesting, no mention of sensors, health ... just display ...

well that was the focus for the series 7. the series 8 probably will have the same display but come with a new CPU and new sensors so health will be a focus again in 2022. its a tic tock on products like this on a yearly pace.

 

[GLS]

If Apple would just let me have hands on photo faces vs a digital clock in a corner, I'd be good.

 

[K. Bayquoi]

I have Apple Watch 6 and ordered the 7. But after further review, I cancelled the 7. Just not enough improvements or additional functionality to make it worth it. It is more like a 6+, not worth the minimal upgrade.

 

[flur]

all design and no attention to battery life. less than 24 hours in today's world is ridiculous.

Wore mine yesterday for 23 hours straight and still had 50% battery.

 

[mansplains]

A new way to manipulate faces is needed before any introduction of some face studio. The simple lack of a color picker instead of scrolling through a bunch of shades is terrible UX, especially on older watches. Before I got rid of mine I would always use the watch app on my phone when I wanted to set up a new face, and it's not much better. Gallery views have got to go! And the added padding on the complications are obnoxious on such a small screen.

 

[Mick-Mac]

I use the Infograph face but I want numbers around the perimeter instead of major tick marks. I also don't the point at all for minor tick marks at 30 intervals vs the customary 1 minute intervals. I also don't see the need for a second hand that sweeps continuously like a Rolex - having it jump every second is fine by me and it would likely save power as well. However, I'm stuck because Apple made all those design choices for me. I would love to see an ecosystem where these things can be tweaked.

 

[diamornte]

Imagine if they released a tool where you could design your own watch faces. Would be pretty amazing!

The only way this could ever happen is if a competitor released a more successful smart watch that allows custom design of watch faces. Seems like Apple is obsessed with control over the image of their products and they won’t allow just ANYONE’s random design to be featured.

 

[zfletch74]

I can't find the watch face that is in the picture. I've looked in the watch app but can't find it... not that I would use it but I would like to see it in person.

It's the Contour watch face exclusive to series 7.

 

[happydude]

Is it just the spec sheet you want to say 24 hours or is there some sort of actual use case you are asking for?

unsure what you're getting at. but their own site mentions "up to 18 hours" - that's just not acceptable. I don't want a watch I have to recharge just to go to bed, or to recharge after a workout, or to recharge in the middle of the day. I don't want to buy an extra charger to have at work to give it a boost to last until I get home. and from my own experience, that 18 hour max lifetime will significantly decay over time. it's just ridiculous they can't get that battery life up. almost every other smart watch maker has weeks, if not days, of a battery life. this is the one apple product I just can't get behind.