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How many of you miss the haptic feedback notifcations?

Dormammu

Dormammu

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 21, 2013
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A mysterious location in the middle of nowhere
I am noticing that when I turn the sounds off on the Apple Watch (leaving just haptic notifications to alert me) I often times miss my notifications. Especially when I am doing things aside from just sitting at my desk. Does anyone else fall into this category here? Or I am I simply in the minority?

Before anyone mentions -I do have prominent haptic feedback on, and the watch is fitted correctly around my wrist.

For now I suppose I'll leave the sound notifications on on the Apple Watch ... though at some point I would like to be able to rely solely on haptic feedback.
 
Nope, with the prominent feedback on, I don't seem to miss any notifications. Still not crazy that it is the strongest setting I can have it on, but it is probably right around where I'd want to leave it anyways for the most part.
 
I've been known to miss even the strongest iPhone vibrations in my pocket while I'm on the move. Same situation. Fortunately, it's easy enough to check for the red dot.
 
CellXor10 said:
Nope, with the prominent feedback on, I don't seem to miss any notifications. Still not crazy that it is the strongest setting I can have it on, but it is probably right around where I'd want to leave it anyways for the most part.
Click to expand...

^ This, I don't think I've missed one yet.
 
I've had to turn on the prominent feedback function on. I think I would miss at least half of them if not turned on.

It's too weak when walking/moving to rely on.
 
I used to miss haptic feedback for Messages app all the time. Then I realized I can customize it through Apple Watch app on iPhone (My Watch | Messages | Custom | Haptic -> ON and Repeat Alerts -> 3 Times).
 
I've become more used to it after a few days and now don't miss them as often. the prominent haptic startled me, so it's now off.
 
Yea I miss them when I am driving most of the time. And a few here and there but other than those few instances I feel them.
 
cosmic68 said:
I've had to turn on the prominent feedback function on. I think I would miss at least half of them if not turned on.

It's too weak when walking/moving to rely on.
Click to expand...

That was my experience too. Haven't missed anything with prominent... missed one in maybe 4 without. But I check the time frequently enough that I catch it quickly enough.
 
I would prefer to use it without prominent haptic, because I feel that's more the way it was intended, but I do sometimes find myself missing alerts without it. I tried it for a week or so and did miss a few. It's only when I'm doing something with my hands or am otherwise very occupied, but it does happen occasionally.

I'd be happy with the haptic feedback being twice as strong as it currently is. Then I could get rid of the "pre announcement" of notifications using prominent haptic.
 
CellXor10 said:
Nope, with the prominent feedback on, I don't seem to miss any notifications. Still not crazy that it is the strongest setting I can have it on, but it is probably right around where I'd want to leave it anyways for the most part.
Click to expand...

Me too, had to turn on Prominent Feedback, never miss one now.
 
mightyjabba said:
I would prefer to use it without prominent haptic, because I feel that's more the way it was intended, but I do sometimes find myself missing alerts without it. I tried it for a week or so and did miss a few. It's only when I'm doing something with my hands or am otherwise very occupied, but it does happen occasionally.

I'd be happy with the haptic feedback being twice as strong as it currently is. Then I could get rid of the "pre announcement" of notifications using prominent haptic.
Click to expand...

Yeah, something like they do with accessibility options in the iphone where you can tweak your own vibration pattern would be nice. Granted the watch seems to tap in rapid succession rather that vibrate but the point is still the same. I simple software update could easily address this.
 
I definitely seemed to get more accustomed to it after a while, but the flipside is that I also experienced more false positives ("phantom haptics") where I thought I felt something and didn't. In the end, I wanted to remove all doubt so I turned prominent back on.
 
mightyjabba said:
I definitely seemed to get more accustomed to it after a while, but the flipside is that I also experienced more false positives ("phantom haptics") where I thought I felt something and didn't. In the end, I wanted to remove all doubt so I turned prominent back on.
Click to expand...

Lol, I was going to bring up "phantom haptics" (hadn't seen anyone talk about them at all, but was going to use the same name) in my first post but decided against it. They seem pretty discernible to me now tho where I realize they were 'phantom' before I even lift my arm up enough to activate the screen.

I was trying to figure out if they might be caused when the Watch was taking a HR reading or something of the sorts perhaps.
 
nutmac said:
I used to miss haptic feedback for Messages app all the time. Then I realized I can customize it through Apple Watch app on iPhone (My Watch | Messages | Custom | Haptic -> ON and Repeat Alerts -> 3 Times).
Click to expand...

I have two for repeat alerts but still miss some . Do you know how long it is between taps ? I'm going to add more .

On the phone if you add alerts for messages the interval between alerts is 2mn .
 
Last edited:
Aml216 said:
I am noticing that when I turn the sounds off on the Apple Watch (leaving just haptic notifications to alert me) I often times miss my notifications. Especially when I am doing things aside from just sitting at my desk. Does anyone else fall into this category here? Or I am I simply in the minority?

Before anyone mentions -I do have prominent haptic feedback on, and the watch is fitted correctly around my wrist.

For now I suppose I'll leave the sound notifications on on the Apple Watch ... though at some point I would like to be able to rely solely on haptic feedback.
Click to expand...

I have sound off and don't miss haptic taps.
 
Since I turned Prominent feedback ON I have been missing less notifications. But it still happens. Seems to happen most often when I am driving (perhaps the vibrations of the steering wheel mask the taps). But definitely better with the Prominent - but I will be damned if I can tell the vibration before the notification (unless that is what I am actually feeling).
 
I miss them about 20% of the time. Not sure if it is a software glitch causing it not to give the haptic feedback...or if I just flat out miss them. This is why I wish notifications would go to BOTH the phone and the watch. The phone vibration is much stronger.

The more frustrating thing is 2 of 10 days I've owned the watch, I've lost notifications on my watch completely and had to reset the watch. VERY annoying.
 
Problem is you don't have it on tight enough to feel it. I see so many pics of ppl wearing the rubber band with it so loose, what do you expect?
 
I find the opposite. With the sound on, I'm listening for the ping first before noticing that I was tapped. Once I turned sound off, I noticed the tap instantly. It's merely a matter of perception, but after getting used to the tap without sound, I notice it all the time now with sound on.
 
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