Disappointed In Now Playing

[friedmud]

Apple STILL messed it up!

One of the most frustrating things for me about Watch OS1/2 was the interacting with the Now Playing Glance. I always wanted it to act like a "real" app.

For instance, I want it to honor my Wake Screen choice to keep Apps open for an hour (so I don't have to keep manually opening it while I'm listening to music). Also: since Now Playing wasn't a real app you couldn't use a double-tap on the crown to switch to it quickly.

I thought all of that would change with watchOS3... but I was wrong.

Even though Glances are gone... Now Playing still ACTS like one!

It doesn't stay open (doesn't honor the Wake Screen setting for apps). And you can't use a double-tap on the Crown to switch to it! It's maddening!

How could they get so much right about OS3 and miss so badly on this one thing?

I'm not usually a conspiracy nut: but it does make me think that this feature is crippled on purpose. If you use Apple Music then you can use the Music App... which is a real app and works properly. If you're using Spotify (like me) you're relegated to this POS Now Playing "Glance".

Another indicator: there is no "Now Playing" complication... but there sure as hell is an Apple Music complication! I was excited about the idea of quickly switching Watch faces because I was going to dedicate one for when I'm listening to music and put a large Now Playing complication in the middle of it... but, nope, not possible. Ugh.

Anyone else miffed over this?

(BTW: I love everything else about watchOS3... it really is a huge improvement!)

 

[matrix07]

I'm not usually a conspiracy nut: but it does make me think that this feature is crippled on purpose. If you use Apple Music then you can use the Music App... which is a real app and works properly. If you're using Spotify (like me) you're relegated to this POS Now Playing "Glance".

Another indicator: there is no "Now Playing" complication... but there sure as hell is an Apple Music complication! I was excited about the idea of quickly switching Watch faces because I was going to dedicate one for when I'm listening to music and put a large Now Playing complication in the middle of it... but, nope, not possible. Ugh.

Hmm.. I have to test this. I'm an Apple Music subscriber.

 

[chabig]

You're right...you cannot double click the crown to go back to it. Here are some alternatives:

1. A single click on the lower button takes you to the dock, where it will be the front app if it was previously the front app.
2. "Hey Siri, open Now Playing"
3. Press and hold the crown to bring up Siri..."Open Now Playing"

 

[friedmud]

You're right...you cannot double click the crown to go back to it. Here are some alternatives:

1. A single click on the lower button takes you to the dock, where it will be the front app if it was previously the front app.
2. "Hey Siri, open Now Playing"
3. Press and hold the crown to bring up Siri..."Open Now Playing"

Yeah: I'm using the Dock method... but it's actually LESS convenient than the old "swipe up" to get the Glance method! This is definitely one regression in watchOS (thankfully, those are rare... the new OS is pretty awesome).

 

[matrix07]

@friedmud If your theory is true. I think the thinking in Apple is.. just let Spotify make an app for it. Why do we have to do some works for them?

 

[friedmud]

@friedmud If your theory is true. I think the thinking in Apple is.. just let Spotify make an app for it. Why do we have to do some works for them?

I can't disagree about the fact that there should already be a Spotify app for the Watch. The Watch has been out for 1.5 years now... and still no Spotify app. Making things even worse: Spotify makes apps for every little Android Wear (and Samsung Gear) watch out there... so it's obvious that they're just being crappy towards their Apple customers. This will hurt them in the long run if they keep it up.

That said: The Now Playing app is supposed to be universal for all apps. It works for Pandora, pod cast apps, etc. Apple should want to provide us with the best experience on their platform... regardless of which media source we're actually using.

But, yes, I do fear that the current fight between Apple Music and Spotify may have bled over into
The usability of the Apple Watch... both sides are being petty and customers are getting caught in the middle.

For another example of this see Sirikit (Apple's new API for third-party Siri integration). Sirikit allows for many different kinds of third-party apps to interact with Siri... but one is conspicuously missing: Music.

There is currently no way to plug a third-party music player in with Siri. Any Siri interactions dealing with music MUST go to Apple Music. That's a pretty nasty move.

 

[matrix07]

I can't disagree about the fact that there should already be a Spotify app for the Watch. The Watch has been out for 1.5 years now... and still no Spotify app. Making things even worse: Spotify makes apps for every little Android Wear (and Samsung Gear) watch out there... so it's obvious that they're just being crappy towards their Apple customers. This will hurt them in the long run if they keep it up.

What I don't understand is how you Spotify users uses your watch when running. Do you have to bring your phone all the time or there's a way to load songs to the watch?

For another example of this see Sirikit (Apple's new API for third-party Siri integration). Sirikit allows for many different kinds of third-party apps to interact with Siri... but one is conspicuously missing: Music.

There is currently no way to plug a third-party music player in with Siri. Any Siri interactions dealing with music MUST go to Apple Music. That's a pretty nasty move.

I don't know that. That's naughty. A few days ago I tried to think of Apple Music benefits over Spotify, now I know.

 

[friedmud]

What I don't understand is how you Spotify users uses your watch when running. Do you have to bring your phone all the time or there's a way to listen to it offline?

Yep. For me, running is not my life, I do it a few times a week... and not very long... so it's not a big deal. If I were a serious runner I probably wouldn't put up with it and would switch to Apple Music.

That said, I like Spotify _SO_ much more than Apple Music that it's worth putting up with. I did the Apple Music trial... and while it works fine... it was way worse for my particular music interests (indie). Spotify does an absolutely amazing job at music discovery... especially for indie music.

 

[lordofthereef]

I posted another thread but haven't had responses at all. Does this app not allow skipping and seeing what is playing inside of other apps? I use google play music and about all I can do is pause and increase volume. Can't see what track is playing nor can I skip or go back.

 

[friedmud]

I posted another thread but haven't had responses at all. Does this app not allow skipping and seeing what is playing inside of other apps? I use google play music and about all I can do is pause and increase volume. Can't see what track is playing nor can I skip or go back.

Sounds like a problem with Google Play Music. When using Spotify I can skip forward/back, change volume, see the current track/artist.

Any iOS app that uses the media player API properly should work.

 

[lordofthereef]

Sounds like a problem with Google Play Music. When using Spotify I can skip forward/back, change volume, see the current track/artist.

Any iOS app that uses the media player API properly should work.

I just don't get it though. Works in my car deck. Works in my Fitbit. Why would it be an app issue?

Edit: I figured it out lol. For some reason it wasn't working until I tapped play pause play. Maybe it is an app issue? Least it works

 

[perezr10]

Yeah: I'm using the Dock method... but it's actually LESS convenient than the old "swipe up" to get the Glance method! This is definitely one regression in watchOS (thankfully, those are rare... the new OS is pretty awesome).

I totally miss swiping up for the Now Playing glance.

 

[sean000]

I posted another thread but haven't had responses at all. Does this app not allow skipping and seeing what is playing inside of other apps? I use google play music and about all I can do is pause and increase volume. Can't see what track is playing nor can I skip or go back.

I use Google Play Music as well. Now playing shows me what is playing and allows me to skip and go back.

Sean
[doublepost=1474266364][/doublepost]

I totally miss swiping up for the Now Playing glance.

Yes... I would rather swipe up for now playing and make control panel an app. I almost never need control panel.

Sean

 

[lordofthereef]

I use Google Play Music as well. Now playing shows me what is playing and allows me to skip and go back.

Sean
[doublepost=1474266364][/doublepost]

Yes... I would rather swipe up for now playing and make control panel an app. I almost never need control panel.

Sean

I've since posted a response to this. For some reason I need to play pause play in order for the tracks to show up. I need to do this every time for whatever reason but it works. Idk if it's some strange bug or what.