Hands-On With the New Theater Mode in watchOS 3.2

[kemal]

Great. Now some desktop updates.

 

[rikscha]

I'm trying to remember exactly how many years it's been since I last stepped into a theater...

And while I can see where the "this is really necessary" commenters are coming from, I question its usefulness. If people are that inconsiderate, they're not going to be turning this mode on anyway - so unless it's automatically triggered by some proximity beacon, I doubt it'll make much of a difference.

On the other hand, Apple has to try to keep adding features to its devices - but the useful ones are pretty much already there. So this is what is left.

psst, that's a lost argument, apparently the entire world still goes to the cinema! There is link further up this post.
I agree with you though in regards to cinemas and I think you make an excellent point. Who will be using this in a cinema? The enthusiast who really enjoys and wants to have an undisturbed movie experience. But who won't use it? The people the enthusiast would love to kick out of the cinema in the first place. Apparently though there are people who get distracted by their own watch. I can't argue with this, I find it very unbelievable having used the watch daily for 18months but why would anyone make this up. I guess some are more sensitive than others.

 

[thirteen1031]

I don't get it at all - how this is remotely useful. Who is spending that much time in dark places to justify its own easily accessible setting for this feature?

If Apple had labeled this "stealth-mode" would you then see more uses for it? I have had occasions where my watch has lit up with a reply or reminder that I didn't want others to see--but I did want to get the alert. This gives me the alert (tap) so I can check my watch on the sly and see if that reply/call came in (or what the reminder is), but doesn't flash or ring so that someone sitting next to me can see. It maintains my privacy as well as making sure my little watch, via a flash or a sound, doesn't disturb anyone in either a theater, meeting or, well, in bed with me That sounds like it could be useful.

 

[rikscha]

You got answers with others' use cases and yet you feel compelled to try and ineptly shoot them down.
If you're reaching for the millenial argument you would have to be at least 40-ish right now, don't you have more vital things to do than engage in stillborn self-provoked "discussions"?

I shall feed my cat now, Sir!

 

[Jamie0003]

Fine. Some will have a use for this.

Now can we PLEASE talk about how there should be 2 pages in control center with one being music controls?!? You know, EXACTLY how it is on the iPhone? I would use this far more than all of the other controls in control center combined.

If Apple did this I may consider a pair of AirPods. Being able to skip tracks and change volume is insanely useful with inline controls that the AirPods takes away. A black colour option would be good too

 

[rikscha]

If Apple had labeled this "stealth-mode" would you then see more uses for it? I have had occasions where my watch has lit up with a reply or reminder that I didn't want others to see--but I did want to get the alert. This gives me the alert (tap) so I can check my watch on the sly and see if that reply/call came in (or what the reminder is), but doesn't flash or ring so that someone sitting next to me can see. It maintains my privacy as well as making sure my little watch, via a flash or a sound, doesn't disturb anyone in either a theater, meeting or, well, in bed with me That sounds like it could be useful.

Ha ! I can actually relate to that. I get the 'theatre' mode name although stealth makes much more sense. There are many occasions where you don't want certain people to see any notification on your watch. I actually want this for my iPhone now as well

 

[atomic.flip]

Sorry to burst the bubble of your extremely limited world view but there are more than enough adults who attend not only a CINEMA but also Theatre (as in plays and shows and symphony orchestra or ballet or what have you) where the audience is extremely particular about the experience. These are more subtle and quiet events where people are expected to shut up and keep still. And ushers prevent late arrivals from going in and disturbing the audience on and don't forget the performers. And yes the light from the watch is noticeable and if you have IDk say 500 or 1,000 people in an auditorium with Apple watches all lighting up like tiny camera flashes it can be very distracting on stage. Someone might miss a cue or what have you.

So yes. People do go to the Cinema and the theatre. And we have another 50 years of that culture left. You may choose to never attend such events and if so that is your choice. But don't try and impose your standards on everyone else. Thanks!

It's all in the details my friend. As others have noted you have been "trolling" this thread for reasons I can only imagine but one simple detail that frankly puts your commentary out of context for the intended target audience is that the basic icon used by Apple is that of two masks . This is the traditional an universal symbol for Theater (as in plays and other performances that are put on stage live before an audience.). If they only intended this for "Cinema" goers or movie watchers they'd have used the film reel or projector symbols which are universal for those entertainment formats.

Now you have answers that explain the usage scenarios and also the potential audience size.

And I also agree with many other comments on the suitability of such a feature for other applications. Like sleeping or meetings or even intimate dinners.

 

[rikscha]

It's all in the details my friend. As others have noted you have been "trolling" this thread for reasons I can only imagine but one simple detail that frankly puts your commentary out of context for the intended target audience is that the basic icon used by Apple is that of two masks . This is the traditional an universal symbol for Theater (as in plays and other performances that are put on stage live before an audience.). If they only intended this for "Cinema" goers or movie watchers they'd have used the film reel or projector symbols which are universal for those entertainment formats.

Now you have answers that explain the usage scenarios and also the potential audience size.

And I also agree with many other comments on the suitability of such a feature for other applications. Like sleeping or meetings or even intimate dinners.

You are too late with your comment, what a shame! It is difficult to respond as we moved on quite a while ago. I shall attend to my cat now.

 

[coolbreeze]

I don't get it at all - how this is remotely useful. Who is spending that much time in dark places to justify its own easily accessible setting for this feature?

I have my watch always on silent and I get haptic feedback all day, every day. When exactly was it ever an issue to have the screen light up, turning the situation into an inconvenient moment? Even in a theatre/cinema, it is not like my watch will light up the entire room.

Driving, sleeping.

 

[zacheryjensen]

If Apple did this I may consider a pair of AirPods. Being able to skip tracks and change volume is insanely useful with inline controls that the AirPods takes away. A black colour option would be good too

Just put Now Playing in your dock. Problem solved. I use this functionality all the time. "Now Playing" is actually a separate app from the Music app and even if it wasn't preloaded, which the dock usually maintains, it loads basically instantly. I also have a separate watch face I swipe to when I'm listening to a lot of music that has the now playing as a complication and of course you can just tap that to get to the full controls. Furthermore, it stays as the active (by default settings) screen for 8 minutes. So if you're hitting that interface frequently, you're STILL covered.

Anyway, point is, it's a non issue if you learn to use the new watch features.

Edit: better edit this to point out that the watch face complication goes to the Music app, not the "Now Playing" app. If you want the Now Playing app, start something like Spotify on the phone then look in your dock, it should show up at the end and you can tap "Keep In Dock"

 

[atomic.flip]

Just put Now Playing in your dock. Problem solved. I use this functionality all the time. "Now Playing" is actually a separate app from the Music app and even if it wasn't preloaded, which the dock usually maintains, it loads basically instantly. I also have a separate watch face I swipe to when I'm listening to a lot of music that has the now playing as a complication and of course you can just tap that to get to the full controls. Furthermore, it stays as the active (by default settings) screen for 8 minutes. So if you're hitting that interface frequently, you're STILL covered.

Anyway, point is, it's a non issue if you learn to use the new watch features.

Thanks for the tip. Saves me the trouble of fumbling with the phone while going on a run.

 

[zacheryjensen]

Thanks for the tip. Saves me the trouble of fumbling with the phone while going on a run.

Yeah it's handy. Also see my edit of my last comment for an important detail regarding the complication behavior.

 

[Jamie0003]

Just put Now Playing in your dock. Problem solved. I use this functionality all the time. "Now Playing" is actually a separate app from the Music app and even if it wasn't preloaded, which the dock usually maintains, it loads basically instantly. I also have a separate watch face I swipe to when I'm listening to a lot of music that has the now playing as a complication and of course you can just tap that to get to the full controls. Furthermore, it stays as the active (by default settings) screen for 8 minutes. So if you're hitting that interface frequently, you're STILL covered.

Anyway, point is, it's a non issue if you learn to use the new watch features.

Edit: better edit this to point out that the watch face complication goes to the Music app, not the "Now Playing" app. If you want the Now Playing app, start something like Spotify on the phone then look in your dock, it should show up at the end and you can tap "Keep In Dock"

Thanks that is useful, though would still be nice to have this in control centre as would be a bit quicker and matches the iPhone. I'll have to give it a try

 

[mustrd_seed]

"No one goes to watch movies in a cinema anymore" -- what planet do you live on? There were like 1.3B movie tickets sold in the U.S. alone last year. Sure that is off its peak in 2002 from 1.6B, but its still more iPhones than Apple sold in like 10 years and nobody says "no one carries an iPhone".

And yes, when your Apple Watch light comes on when you reach for your drink or your popcorn and shines right in your face in a dark theatre it is disturbing the person wearing the watch. This is way better than using power-save mode since it takes forever to come out of power-save mode.

I am glad they are providing this feature. If it it wasn't in control center, it would be worthless. Putting it where you can get to it quickly when the lights dim is right on the money.

Have to agree. Plus this is not only useful in the theater but at-home movie watching (with family, significant others, the like). Surely that market hasn't gone down.

 

[MTD's Mac]

Add this to iPhone Control Center, and they can remove the Silent/Vibrate switch; one less physical button!

I actually would like this. Disable raise to wake on the phone, maybe preserve custom or prominent haptics, so you can leave the theater in an emergency but ignore regular incoming notifications.

I see this as useful for meetings, libraries, etc. not just "theaters."

 

[ZebraDude]

Mine doesn't do this! Why doesn't mine do this?

HI! I'm guessing you don't have a Series 2 Apple Watch. This is a feature of the Apple Watch 2 only...sadly...

 

[Braderunner]

So, what's different? The watch doesn't come on half the time when I raise my wrist anyway.

 

[moo083]

I have a watch face in modular mode, with everything removed but the time, which is red. I use that combined with Do Not Disturb. That way, I can raise my wrist in a movie and check the time, but it is very subtle and not distracting to people around me.

 

[-BigMac-]

What a f***ing let down.

pretty much do not disturb

 

[CrownVic]

Can you turn the digital crown to slowly turn the screen on in this mode? For example, currently if my watch face is off, I can turn the digital crown and the screen will turn on, but dimly and will get brighter as I turn it. It'd be nice to be able to just turn the dial enough to where I can see the time.

damn thats a good idea!!

 

[spazzcat]

While this call cinema mode, this will be great when sleeping!

 

[Abazigal]

I don't get it at all - how this is remotely useful. Who is spending that much time in dark places to justify its own easily accessible setting for this feature?

I have my watch always on silent and I get haptic feedback all day, every day. When exactly was it ever an issue to have the screen light up, turning the situation into an inconvenient moment? Even in a theatre/cinema, it is not like my watch will light up the entire room.

I suspect this might be a smokescreen for another feature Apple intends to deploy on another product that sells in way greater numbers and might also ship with an OLED display later this year...

 

[gigaguy]

Surprised so many responses, I'm wondering if it shows how neglected the Watch is by Apple and any tidbit gets a lot of attention.
I actually had my friend tell me my Watch was distracting him at the movie theater. I switched it totally off.
Theater Mode? I first thought, hmm? it meant some useless Watch movie viewing mode? Seems like they could have named it differently, isn't the term used on other Apple platforms to denote optimizing the screen for movie watching on the devise/Mac?

 

[pika2000]

Ah, one feature that Android wear watches have had for a while.
I guess it's great that Apple caught up. On the other hand, considering people don't even bother switching off their phones (with many using their phones in theaters), I wonder if this is a great feature that won't be used by many people.

 

[supertomtom]

I've actually been looking forward to this since day 1. I turn off my watch every time I go into the cinema because I hate that it lights up every time there's a notification or even just readjusting my arms.

This is a simple solution for those concerned about etiquette. I don't understand how adding this can be seen as a negative for some...If you don't think it's a big deal...just don't use it??