Hi all, is there any mention for the ability to create custom watch faces in the new watch kit api?
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Custom watch faces in watch kit api
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From my limited understanding it looks like no except for maybe a digital face. You can do a digital timer with a static background (for a digital face) but I don't see a way to have a moving image connected to a timer (for an analog face). It will probably have to wait until the 2ed SDK.
No. You can write your own watch app that will run on iPhone and push the updated watchface every second (or at least, minute) via Bluetooth which is going to eat battery for lunch. And it'll freeze when you go out of BT range (e.g. you left iPhone in one room and go to another room).
In this version of SDK, the yawnWatch is just a dumb little external BT display for iPhone.
I think it would be nice to see an opportunity to have a customisable or copied watch face (such as a TAG or a Rolex) but in my opinion, watch faces and how they look are really only important on a watch that keeps it's face on all the time, so to speak. As the Apple Watches display will be off when your arm is down by your side, it don't really matter.
I like watches and I like the concept of the Apple Watch, even so with how it looks on my arm and with the clothes I wear. Is that vanity,? Maybe a bit. But a good looking watch has that about it. The function of the Apple Watch plays a bigger part in it's purpose than merely a reliable good looking and clearly expensive piece of jewellery.
This means that the Apple Watch has it's own identity when you are just wearing it, as does a Rolex. It is a good looking accessory and as a person who likes watches, I think Apple got this aspect right.
One thing they have over other watches and smart watches is the excitement of it's customisable physical components. The other smart watches available now are just not attracting the hype. They have good features but they made a device, not a series of options that the Apple Watch has. People can select sizes, colours, build material or strap type. The best smart watch available now comes in one good looking package that compromises use-ability. As a fashion accessory, it will appeal to many that like it's look. But Apple, fresh to the watch market, will offer several styles with the same functions on each of them.
So my point is, the Apple Watch series has it's own look similar to TAG and Rolex series, that is recognisable when it's just down by your side, which in my opinion is really when a watch face is important. The faces on the Apple Watch for telling the time are as relevant as the iPhone's lock screen.
I like watches and I like the concept of the Apple Watch, even so with how it looks on my arm and with the clothes I wear. Is that vanity,? Maybe a bit. But a good looking watch has that about it. The function of the Apple Watch plays a bigger part in it's purpose than merely a reliable good looking and clearly expensive piece of jewellery.
This means that the Apple Watch has it's own identity when you are just wearing it, as does a Rolex. It is a good looking accessory and as a person who likes watches, I think Apple got this aspect right.
One thing they have over other watches and smart watches is the excitement of it's customisable physical components. The other smart watches available now are just not attracting the hype. They have good features but they made a device, not a series of options that the Apple Watch has. People can select sizes, colours, build material or strap type. The best smart watch available now comes in one good looking package that compromises use-ability. As a fashion accessory, it will appeal to many that like it's look. But Apple, fresh to the watch market, will offer several styles with the same functions on each of them.
So my point is, the Apple Watch series has it's own look similar to TAG and Rolex series, that is recognisable when it's just down by your side, which in my opinion is really when a watch face is important. The faces on the Apple Watch for telling the time are as relevant as the iPhone's lock screen.
You might but the watch companies see it different and Apple will not allow possible copyright infringement since they could be liable for damages and lawsuits.
Watchmakers issue takedown notices.
I'm glad they don't & hope they never do.
Can you imagine how ugly and cluttery the app store would be if they had a "wallpapers" section? That would be so easy to "code" that there could literally pop up a million overnight. What a cluster**** that would be!!! Although, of course I would like more choices, I would NOT give up having 11 awesome choices for having 150 awesome choices, hidden amongst 5 million shabby ones.
Can you imagine how ugly and cluttery the app store would be if they had a "wallpapers" section? That would be so easy to "code" that there could literally pop up a million overnight. What a cluster**** that would be!!! Although, of course I would like more choices, I would NOT give up having 11 awesome choices for having 150 awesome choices, hidden amongst 5 million shabby ones.
Amazing.
Arguing for no choice
Simply amazing
I presume you also feel Apple should lock down the wallpaper background on iPhone, iPads and iMacs also, to keep them with a small selection of Apple approved images also, to keep everyone the same?
as already mentioned, watchkit doesnt support native apps yet.
but if you have some ideas about a specific watchface and want to check out how it will look like at your apple watch later, you can just go for lot of user-made mock ups of the new watch. you can find them on behance and dribbble
br,
michael
but if you have some ideas about a specific watchface and want to check out how it will look like at your apple watch later, you can just go for lot of user-made mock ups of the new watch. you can find them on behance and dribbble
br,
michael
Using that logic, there should only be a dozen Apple created apps available in the Apple App Store, with no third party choices at all.
Hmmm....
Well, I suppose you are welcome to think whatever snarky b.s. gives you your jollies. However, your ludicrous example doesn't work. There IS the ability to change the background on the iPhone, the iPad, and... (wait for it...), the Apple Watch as well.
Now, do I think they should allow a "wallpapers" section on iTunes because of this?? H E L L no!!!!!! For every fandom, Doctor Who, for example- there'd be five million wallpapers up for it OVERNIGHT (sports teams, car brands, etc. It would be a litigious nightmare!). A few hundred would be cool, but near impossible to find, due to the IMMENSE amount of images available. The app store is already suffering from difficulty to hunt down the gems because of the overwhelming amount of apps. App discovery management will be a key challenge over the next decade. For me to say that I think people should go hunt down or create their own backgrounds for Apple Watch IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS!!!! for the other iProducts, rather than overwhelm the App Store unnecessarily with such an endeavour in NO way means I don't celebrate every person's right to have whatever background they choose... as they have up to now, with the system that's in place... with no need for any silly & ignorant presumptions at all.
He does have a point. The App Store is full of garbage. Cluttering it up with thousands of apps just for Watch faces is not the solution. I fully expect Apple to eventually allow custom watch faces. But hopefully there will be some decent curation and not just dumping ever watch face app submitted onto the App Store.
Yes, in fact they had to stop approving flashlight and fart apps about 5 or 6 years ago.
Apple personally knows all about watch face copyright infringements. They paid Swiss Rail $20M or so a few years back.
Branded watch faces
I'm quite surprised the initial apple watch software has no faces from the well known watch faces like swatch (who I believe were in discussions with apple in the summer about working together). Something that could work well for both parties.
I'm quite surprised the initial apple watch software has no faces from the well known watch faces like swatch (who I believe were in discussions with apple in the summer about working together). Something that could work well for both parties.
After dropping $21 million to SBB, I'm surprised they didn't continue to license that bugger for a face on Watch - I would have digged that.
Okay, I see what you're saying. It makes sense to allow people to put in their own wallpaper, because Apple doesn't have to become wallpaper curator or censor, or worry about legal issues.
One difference with watch faces, though, is that they usually require more information and code to work. They're not just backgrounds, they're little apps, which means Apple will want to curate and control them.
Now, if Apple were smart, they'd allow users to create and use their own watchface image files for both Apple and third party watch apps. That way, Apple doesn't get involved in copyright issues.
In other words, Apple would curate the "mechanical" part, but not the visuals.
So, you might install from the App Store a watch app that has supports analog hands, a timer, and a text notification block, but if you wanted, you could also download (outside of Apple) a custom background made for that particular mechanical layout.
Well then should Apple not have an app review team and not have anyone curating the store? IMO the App Store needs more curation not less. It's already tough to separate good apps from junk. I fear the same will be the case with watch faces.
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I could see Apple eventually allowing something like this....if engineering and design teams are allowed to trump app review.
Apple would be liable since Apple controls the App store. If any App is approved and distributed through the App store Apple must make every reasonable attempt to control copyright infringement. There is no way Apple's law department will allow Apps to make copyrighted watch faces.
Now we could see Apple license watch faces. They are offering 1 already.
I think you misunderstood?
I'm saying that if watchface apps (from anyone) allowed users to create and install their own background and hand image files, then it'd be no different than the way it is now with user installed wallpapers... Apple would be out of the loop.
OK, I see what you are saying. We do know it won't be possible with the 1st SKD. Also there is the problem of adding Complications. We will have to wait on the 2ed SDK before we have any idea.
Which leads to another question. Will developers be able to add custom Complications in the 2ed SDK?
Also the OEM's are a lot more customizable that most realize. There are at least 9 of them and (most of them) can be customized. Take Utility for example. It can be shown in at least 4 ways plus you can have at least up to 4 Complications (3 shown in 1st pic).
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Nope......., Well yes. However, there is a simple, easy, and what I and I'm sure many people would love, and/or would hope for.
A Watch Face Designer Toolkit App.
In it's most basic form a basic watch face is just 4 PNG files.
1 for the background
1 for the second hand (that rotates around the center point of the PNG file)
1 for the minute hand (that rotates around the center point of the PNG file)
1 for the hour hand (that rotates around the center point of the PNG file)
Sure, you can offer "complications" and the ability to have extra mini dials within the face, but at it's most basic, it's just 4 images.
Apple could easily release a simple Watch Face Toolkit, that allowed the end user to pick those 4 images, they made themselves to make their own personal watch face, in exactly the same way you can now select 1 image of anything for your background on your iPhone, iPad, iMac etc.
Apple are not to blame for the image you as a user select