iOS 11 Streamlines Creation of Custom Apple Watch Faces With New Share Sheet Option in Photos

[MacRumors]

Apple has made it easier than ever for users to create custom watch faces on their Apple Watch in iOS 11, thanks to a new share sheet option within Photos on iPhone.

On the current operating systems for iPhone and Apple Watch, users can choose a "Photo" watch face to add to their Apple Watch, but the only way to change the picture is to customize the face on the Apple Watch and swipe left and right through photos in a synced album. "Photo Album" is also available, which automatically shuffles up which picture will appear on Apple Watch -- again, within a selected album -- each time the wrist is raised.

Now, Apple has added in a simple new share sheet to Photos on iOS 11, as spotted by French site Watch Generation [Google Translate]. After a photo is selected the sheet gives the option to "Create Watch Face," then users have to choose which face they prefer: a typical photo face where the image is presented as normal, or they can turn the image into one of Apple Watch's new kaleidoscope faces.

For the Photos face, users can now also select 10 custom images directly within the Watch app to add into the photo rotation of the watch face. This should make creating a custom Photos watch face much easier than the current method in iOS 10, where users either have to choose from one of the pre-set albums in iOS, or go into the Photos app to build a custom one with the images they want to see on their Apple Watch face.

For the kaleidoscope watch face, Apple appears to have multiple pre-set images to choose from that result in the distorted images seen at WWDC this week, including a flower and a few of the colorful exploding sand imagery already available as iOS wallpaper options. When users add in a custom image, it'll appear at the end of this list. There are also custom styles of kaleidoscope to choose from, including one that distorts images with triangular geometry ("Facet") and one with softer circles ("Radial").

Check out previous MacRumors coverage from WWDC week for more iOS 11 tidbits, including easier Wi-Fi password sharing, new AirPods controls, Control Center customization, QR code support in Camera, and more. There's also our hands-on video with the new iOS that walks through a few of the biggest additions to the iPhone software, which will launch for everyone sometime this fall.

Article Link: iOS 11 Streamlines Creation of Custom Apple Watch Faces With New Share Sheet Option in Photos

 

[44267547]

This is interesting. But what the Apple Watch really needs, is its own watch face store with an array of watch faces that the user can choose from. And allow a developer kit that the developers can have access to and create hundreds of watch faces to expand on the ones they have currently .

 

[576316]

Not good enough. Why aren't Faces open to developers yet? This is the killer customisation feature that the Watch really needs. Keeping a tight control over it is garbage.

 

[LordQ]

Users: We want to be able to customize the hands, the minute and hour marks, and add the Monogram to more faces!
Apple: Here's the Kaleidoscope face!

 

[MrGimper]

The new watch faces are only useful to 5-year-olds or people who want to relive their LSD experiences of the 60s. Everyone else is out of luck.

 

[69Mustang]

This is interesting. But what the Apple Watch really needs, is its own watch face store with an array of watch faces that the user can choose from. And allow a developer kit that the developers can have access to and create hundreds of watch faces to expand on the ones they have currently .

This. It seems like a no brainer. People like having the ability to personalize. If anything the sheer amount of watch bands on offer, OEM and 3rd part, should give Apple an indication that personalized watch faces is a good idea that would be nearly universally appreciated by AW owners.

 

[Vanilla35]

While I think it's great that they're continuing to add to customization...at least let devs create watch faces. I would think that would be one of the top 5 features of a smart watch before it's released, not something that's still being tinkered with 3 generations in and 4 watch OS's later.

What harm could it do?

 

[44267547]

This. It seems like a no brainer. People like having the ability to personalize. If anything the sheer amount of watch bands on offer, OEM and 3rd part, should give Apple an indication that personalized watch faces is a good idea that would be nearly universally appreciated by AW owners.

Exactly. If Apple can release several versions of watchbands a year, it would be nice if we had more options for additional watch faces through various updates throughout the year as well. This is something They need to expand upon.

 

[Vjosullivan]

It seems like a no brainer.

But then you'd have every Tom, Dick and Harry knocking out "Herpes" or "Mucky Mouse" watch faces and selling the for fifty cents. Can't have that.

 

[sflagel]

But then you'd have every Tom, Dick and Harry knocking out "Herpes" or "Mucky Mouse" watch faces and selling the for fifty cents. Can't have that.

Absolutely correct. Apple apparently wishes to allow further customization (fonts, hands, etc) only to authorized partners such as Hermes and Nike. I actually agree with that approach, it makes Apple a movement manufacturer and can add real desirability for more expensive Apple Watches by luxury brands (the Edition series are purely a marketing tool to show the premium brands how much can be charged).

But then if that is what they want to achieve, they need to get more partners on board. I want to be able to buy a watch that has a proper watch face design, and at the moment, Hermes is the only one that offers it. They need to sign up Mont Blanc, TagHeuer, Omega and Cartier, pronto!

 

[pilot370]

This is why I switched to the Garmin Bravo D2 watch. They have a custom watch face store, most are free and if you want to get the one with more features you can get it for .99 or so.

 

[69Mustang]

But then you'd have every Tom, Dick and Harry knocking out "Herpes" or "Mucky Mouse" watch faces and selling the for fifty cents. Can't have that.

I'd say so what? No different different than the App Store now. The market dictates what's successful and what's not.

 

[JungeQuex]

They won't open up watch faces yet because then theres no justification whatsoever for the Hermes line. Custom bands, yeah, ok. The square watch face is the big premium that nobody really wants to pay.

 

[err404]

I guess a watch face store would be popular, but I feel they have a good selection of highly customizable faces already. Personally I use three instances of Modular. One for work, one for home and one minimal.

 

[jhfenton]

I'd say so what? No different different than the App Store now. The market dictates what's successful and what's not.

Agreed. I don't see any reason they couldn't have watch face submissions go through the App Store for trademark and functionality checks.

 

[DevNull0]

This is interesting. But what the Apple Watch really needs, is its own watch face store with an array of watch faces that the user can choose from. And allow a developer kit that the developers can have access to and create hundreds of watch faces to expand on the ones they have currently .

Yes, that would definitely fit in well with Timmy's Apple. Profit from watch bands *and* faces. Now there's innovation for the 21st century.

 

[satchmo]

Apple will allow developers to create watch faces but only for Series 3...just watch.

 

[Debauch]

I wonder if the right image put into a kaleidoscope face could be made to look like an attractive analog face ... some of you pshot gurus should look into this.

 

[meaning-matters]

This is interesting. But what the Apple Watch really needs, is its own watch face store with an array of watch faces that the user can choose from. And allow a developer kit that the developers can have access to and create hundreds of watch faces to expand on the ones they have currently .

Apple's way to guarantee that date/time are always correct. It's a watch after all.

 

[hortod1]

Seems like more of a customizable watch background than a watch face.

 

[Hoosier317]

My guess is that Apple wants to guarantee that the indicated time/date/timezone/... are correct. It's a watch after all.

I think this is a good choice from Apple.

...there is very little reason to believe that watch face development would gave shy impact at all on such things. Seems like an incredible reach.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

But then you'd have every Tom, Dick and Harry knocking out "Herpes" or "Mucky Mouse" watch faces and selling the for fifty cents. Can't have that.

That's what the App Store approval process is for.

 

[44267547]

My guess is that Apple wants to guarantee that the indicated time/date/timezone/... are correct. It's a watch after all.

I think this is a good choice from Apple.

No. I think Apple wants control of the watch as much as they can and this is their typical fashion with having it their way. This would be a huge advantage to allow developers have access to Watch Kit and what not a better way if they could have introduced this during WWDC to the developers.

 

[blacktape242]

eh, ill probably do it once and see that its not all that cool.

 

[macfacts]

So many people are wishing for developers being able to make watch faces .... Why not let the user make watch faces. This customization is like asking to be able to set your own background/wallpaper. Such a simple request and Apple is denying that request for what reason?