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macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jun 24, 2004
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Anyone know, from using the in-store models, how to get the digital time display to show seconds as well as hours and minutes? I was trying to do this in the modular display, but it seemed that the time in the top right would only display hours and minutes.
 
I meant to check that yesterday but forgot. :) One thing I did notice is what ever changes you make are still in effect if you change faces and then go back. Was concerned it might go back to default.
 
Had another go yesterday with an Apple Store employee who went through it extensively before coming to the conclusion that it can't be done.

Hope this is wrong though. Out of 2 million possible watch faces, you would expect that the very obvious one of hh:mm:ss should be available somewhere! :confused:
 
Had another go yesterday with an Apple Store employee who went through it extensively before coming to the conclusion that it can't be done.

Hope this is wrong though. Out of 2 million possible watch faces, you would expect that the very obvious one of hh:mm:ss should be available somewhere! :confused:

Start the stop watch at midnight and let it run, you then get seconds! :p
 
Had another go yesterday with an Apple Store employee who went through it extensively before coming to the conclusion that it can't be done.

Hope this is wrong though. Out of 2 million possible watch faces, you would expect that the very obvious one of hh:mm:ss should be available somewhere! :confused:

This is strange and seems like an oversight. Using the watch as a quick/informal seconds timer is a near must and seems to be a natural on a digital display face. Hopefully Apple will update this (or add additional faces) in wOS 1.1.
 
I hope Apple has a fix for this in the very near future. I use the seconds on my current watch to time things multiple times a day at work. Finding and using a stopwatch would accomplish the same thing but why would I bother when the watch on my wrist is right there with me all the time? I guess I just figured that having a digital watch that it would show the seconds as well...
 
I hope Apple has a fix for this in the very near future. I use the seconds on my current watch to time things multiple times a day at work. Finding and using a stopwatch would accomplish the same thing but why would I bother when the watch on my wrist is right there with me all the time? I guess I just figured that having a digital watch that it would show the seconds as well...

It is beyond ridiculous to have a watch touted for its precise, atomic time standard that doesn't display seconds. Only Apple could be that obtuse.
 
I was wondering what Jony Ive was smoking the day he approved the prohibition of seconds display -- especially since all the analog faces have a second hand.

I'm hoping for access via the companion app. You can't display in 24-hour mode except by setting that in the companion app. Maybe there's a setting that hasn't shown up in any of the screen shots I've seen of the phone app that will turn on seconds.
 
This seriously can't NOT be an option, right? I need to see the seconds on my digital display. Come on!
 
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Anyone know, from using the in-store models, how to get the digital time display to show seconds as well as hours and minutes? I was trying to do this in the modular display, but it seemed that the time in the top right would only display hours and minutes.

I went through every face and complication and couldn't find a way to do this. It's the only thing about the watch that bothered me. I'm so used to seeing the seconds on my current digital watch.

I certainly hope this will be fixed in a future update.
 
Why is the second so important to you? Simple curiosity here

For some of us it's just part of a digital display that we're used to and expect. I display the seconds on the menu bar clock on my Mac. It may not sound logical, but it is something I want to see.

Also, the need to do a quick timer thing without having to go to the timer screen.
 
Why is the second so important to you? Simple curiosity here

A minute is too big a quantization jump. If you're possibly late for a meeting, knowing you have 50 seconds instead of 10 can make a difference. Lots of places it doesn't matter, but some judges are pretty persnickety, for example. And when you've gotten used to knowing a precise time, switching to having to add extra time just to make sure you're not late is annoying.

If you informally time things that only take a couple minutes, then one minute resolution totally sucks. It's probably true that the Apple watch will make it easy to launch a stopwatch instance, but that takes two hands or the freedom to say 'Hey Siri' out loud.

In the days long before stopwatch functions in a wristwatch, my father would time the pastor's sermon every week. He'd have never sat still for not being able to see a second hand.
 
Why is the second so important to you? Simple curiosity here

Sometimes it's very important to know if it just changed to the current minute or it's just about to change to the next. I also often need to time things in 10, 20, or 30 seconds without having to switch to a different view on my watch or push any buttons - taking pulse, timing sensitive material bonding times, etc. Knowing it's JUST ABOUT to be noon or if it JUST BECAME noon is a huge huge difference in certain instances or professions.

I can't go into the limitless possibilities, but they're countless - no pun intended. A digital watch without the seconds is the design of somebody who has never worn a digital watch, or prefers fashion over function. Unacceptable.
 
Concur, but Apple knows what is best for you, right?

Hopefully, there will be third party apps that will keep the screen display on, and display seconds. I use an atomic clock app on the iPad for that now, perhaps it will be updated for the watch.
 
The screen doesn't stay on that long anyway right?

It's a bummer, but you can put a complication on the watch face to open the stopwatch. Probably takes 2 more seconds (though inconvenient). Or use an analogue face.
 
Anyone know, from using the in-store models, how to get the digital time display to show seconds as well as hours and minutes? I was trying to do this in the modular display, but it seemed that the time in the top right would only display hours and minutes.
Can't you just look at your Mac or the Clock app on your iPhone?? I mean, what's the big deal? Seriously you people.
 
Can't you just look at your Mac or the Clock app on your iPhone?? I mean, what's the big deal? Seriously you people.

you cannot be serious. if people wanted to just look at their phone, they wouldn't be buying this product
 
Can't you just look at your Mac or the Clock app on your iPhone?? I mean, what's the big deal? Seriously you people.

That is probably one of the most absurd and ridiculous statements I've ever heard.

Given the mentality behind that statement, I'm surprised you didn't suggest that we just strap our phones to our wrists and save them money we're spending of the watch.

One of the major concepts of the Apple watch is that a watch and time are very personal things. It's absolutely NOT unreasonable for some to want to see the seconds on a digital display. If it was such a stupid thing, then why does Apple offer it on the menu display of a mac, and why do I see it on my digital watches? Seriously, you person. What is wrong with you?
 
Can't you just look at your Mac or the Clock app on your iPhone?? I mean, what's the big deal? Seriously you people.

Something must not be computing in your head. By your logic, the watch might as well just tell you the current date with no time at all.

EDIT: I just looked at this guy's other posts. Everything is crystal clear now. I can actually picture the person behind the keyboard.
 
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To put salt into the wound. :)

image-EE96_55313908.jpg
 
This quote is from Apple's website:

One Apple Watch face can have a multitude of looks. When you choose a face, you can also choose the colors and indicate even more details of time, like minutes, seconds, and milliseconds. So when you glance down at your wrist, you see time precisely the way you like.

They make it sound like you should be able to do it, although it is interesting that none of the faces on Apple's website show digital seconds.
 
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