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Given up on Watch/WatchOS

R

RecentlyConverted

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 21, 2015
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I bought an original Apple Watch in 2016 and upgraded to a S5 in 2020. I have tried the ever changing WatchOS´s and spend hundreds of hours finding and testing third party apps to try and make the watch a more productive business device.



With newer watches being water resistant, the idea was to take the watch to the beach (due to said water resistance, it constantly with me, even when swimming, so I never missed a call or email and it wouldn’t get stolen), but still be able to reply to business emails, both just with text, but also with photos and files. Ideally I would be able to cut and paste text from files stored on the watch.



I found a couple of great Watch keyboard apps, as you can’t compose private apps with Siri in public, and scribble is dreadful. Unfortunately you can’t implement these keyboards in mail, and I only saw one third party email app that worked with one of the keyboards, but it was restricted to just one mail provider that I don’t use.



App developers don’t seem interested in developing for the watch, @10k apps per week released for the phone, @72 apps per week for the watch released, mostly health and games.



There are no file manager apps for the watch, even though I have approached all iOS file manager app providers. WatchOS, still won’t allow full integration of keyboard apps, file management, file attachment to emails, copy paste of text etc.



I now accept its really just a notification device, optimised for health features, with restricted music playback and some basic message and email features. I have now given the watch to my other half. Such a shame, when its probably more powerful than many previous iPhones.



My solution now is to leave my iPhone at home and take an elderly iPhone 6 Plus to the beach. It can do all I want, and it doesn’t matter if it gets, lost, stolen or wet.



Obviously, if watchOS changes and business people are supported with useful features, and third parties also support the watch with useful business utilities, I will jump back in.
 
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RecentlyConverted said:
I bought an original Apple Watch in 2016 and upgraded to a S5 in 2020. I have tried the ever changing WatchOS´s and spend hundreds of hours finding and testing third party apps to try and make the watch a more productive business device.



With newer watches being water resistant, the idea was to take the watch to the beach (due to said water resistance, it constantly with me, even when swimming, so I never missed a call or email and it wouldn’t get stolen), but still be able to reply to business emails, both just with text, but also with photos and files. Ideally I would be able to cut and paste text from files stored on the watch.



I found a couple of great Watch keyboard apps, as you can’t compose private apps with Siri in public, and scribble is dreadful. Unfortunately you can’t implement these keyboards in mail, and I only saw one third party email app that worked with one of the keyboards, but it was restricted to just one mail provider that I don’t use.



App developers don’t seem interested in developing for the watch, @10k apps per week released for the phone, @72 apps per week for the watch released, mostly health and games.



There are no file manager apps for the watch, even though I have approached all iOS file manager app providers. WatchOS, still won’t allow full integration of keyboard apps, file management, file attachment to emails, copy paste of text etc.



I now accept its really just a notification device, optimised for health features, with restricted music playback and some basic message and email features. I have now given the watch to my other half. Such a shame, when its probably more powerful than many previous iPhones.



My solution now is to leave my iPhone at home and take an elderly iPhone 6 Plus to the beach. It can do all I want, and it doesn’t matter if it gets, lost, stolen or wet.



Obviously, if watchOS changes and business people are supported with useful features, and third parties also support the watch with useful business utilities, I will jump back in.
Click to expand...
I think your expectations for the watch are a bit different than most. Though I do understand what you’re saying. I think the screen is just too small to be truly viable in the way you describe....then again I have sausage fingers, lol! But yeah the watch as definitely evolved towards health, no doubt.
 
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I kept my expectations inline with what I believe a device of this size should be capable of and I absolutely am satisfied with it's performance. I knew it would never be a good typing experience (how could it be with a screen that small) or even a replacement for my phone. I really appreciate the health features and I agree that's really the direction the watch is heading
 
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mysticbluebmw said:
I think your expectations for the watch are a bit different than most. Though I do understand what you’re saying. I think the screen is just too small to be truly viable in the way you describe....then again I have sausage fingers, lol! But yeah the watch as definitely evolved towards health, no doubt.
Click to expand...

Yeah I reply to texts messages on my watch sometimes but juggling photos/files on it? No thank you.
 
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Khalanad75 said:
Is this a joke thread?

The only thing you left out of wanting was split screen.
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No, not a joke thread.

At home / in the office I use my 27” iMac, if in bed or in a hotel the iPad, when out and about the iPhone (though that was dreadful before third parties produced file manager apps long before Apple Files came out).

Is there anywhere I said I want to get rid of my iMac, iPad, iPhone and solely use a watch. NO!

Sometimes it’s nice to get a life, pop to the beach and relax, but still be able to make deals.

Like with the early iPhone cameras, which were relatively poor when compared to a reasonable hand held camera of the era, people used them, because they had them with them. The watch is not an ideal device for what I and others may want to do, bit if it’s the device with us when we need it, it’s then the ideal device.
 
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MisterSavage said:
Yeah I reply to texts messages on my watch sometimes but juggling photos/files on it? No thank you.
Click to expand...
The idea is not to have it as a primary device, but a device to be used when appropriate, such as at the beach or if your iPhone is lost/stolen/broken/flat battery.

On the beach receive a client enquiry email, copy appropriate generic reply, insert name and any relevant information, add an appropriate catalogue and/or photo and send. Seconds.

Client won’t know/care whether it came from a home PC/Mac, a laptop PC/Mac, tablet iPad/Android, iPhone/Android phone or watch. All he/she would be concerned with is the prompt reply.

Apps like FlickType for the watch, work exceptionally well.
 
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The age old question. Make more money. Or have more work life balance/fun. This isn’t the watches fault, it comes down to your priorities. Sure tech has helped in this regard, but I think your expectations on a device like this isn’t realistic.
 
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Deliro said:
The age old question. Make more money. Or have more work life balance/fun. This isn’t the watches fault, it comes down to your priorities. Sure tech has helped in this regard, but I think your expectations on a device like this isn’t realistic.
Click to expand...
But that’s the idea. Years ago we were tied to the office.

My business in my area, out of excess of 200 competitors is no1, and has been for 3 years. Now I want to work smart, not hard.

Years ago the iPhone wasn’t much good for business, then great third party apps appeared.
 
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The size has its limitations. Having said that, there is nothing in the newer watches that is tempting me to upgrade from the AW3. Always on display would be nice but thats all. As you said, it is basically a notification device with some flaunt value. Can't give up on the watch since it is useful to unlock the phone and the mac, along with being a good alarm device and a fitness tracker but unless Apple releases something really cool with AW7 or 8 (3 day battery for example), will stick to AW3 and get a cheaper 5 or 6 in couple of years
 
MisterSavage said:
When you do eventually upgrade the 30% increase in screen size is so nice.
Click to expand...
Will certainly look cooler with always on display. But I am curious to know if the larger screen is really useful when interacting with the phone. I have a 42mm AW3 that feels slightly large on my wrist and was planning to get the 40mm of a newer one when I upgrade
 
Mistborn15 said:
Will certainly look cooler with always on display. But I am curious to know if the larger screen is really useful when interacting with the phone. I have a 42mm AW3 that feels slightly large on my wrist and was planning to get the 40mm of a newer one when I upgrade
Click to expand...
I've never used a 40mm so I'm not sure how the difference feels. The bigger text size was appreciated by me.
 
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Might as well strap an iPhone 12 Mini to your wrist, because that’s the device you’re describing.
 
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