You don't lose the ability to read the time, right? The time is always in the upper right corner when you're running an app as far as I know...
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One year later, I've come to the conclusion that apps are useless
- Thread starter Aluminum213
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You don't lose the ability to read the time, right? The time is always in the upper right corner when you're running an app as far as I know...
Yes you are right, I was trying to say lose the watch face with it's complications and so on in a simple way, but then confused myself.
I stopped using the apps because of the same reason everyone has mentioned - too slow to load. I also have the feeling that the battery drain is more severe after I open an app and it doesn't slow down until I do a warm boot of the watch. I am interested in how friedmud has been re-introduced to the apps and how the battery life is when using it in this matter. I might have to try that just to see if I use the apps more.
At the launch of the next watch Tim Cook will highlight how the new watch is 3x faster than the previous one. Sometimes I wonder if they actually tested the apps to see how they work. It takes longer to check stocks on the watch than pulling out your phone.
I haven't noticed any battery issues... but I don't pay attention to the battery. I don't have a battery complication or a battery glance at all. In the year I've used the Watch I've only run out of battery maybe once or twice.
I can remember that one of those times it was because I pulled an all-nighter working on a project. Even then... it lasted until the next afternoon when I was finally on my way home on the subway ;-)
It took you that long to discover?
I got one and returned it in a week realizing they were useless
I got one and returned it in a week realizing they were useless
I really think that 3rd party apps should have been saved for gen2, while 3rd party faces should have been there from the beginning (or at least watchOS 2). I dont download apps, music, or photos to my watch. Let me fill up its space with new faces!
I think by large, most of the apps, I have loaded on are not really worthwhile on the watch. I've not looked for watch specific apps in a long time, but I'm finding that most of the apps really don't cut it - at least for me.
Like I said earlier today in the Apple Watch 2 Wishlist thread when people were complaining about how it's hard to use Snapchat and Instagram on the wristwatch-sized AW:
I also agree that most apps are not worthwhile. The ones I use as a complication or glance are great and load very fast. However, what is that, 8 or so good apps out of thousands?
I do like the apps I use daily and love the speed and usage. Carrot, Fantastical, HeartWatch, WF, Drafts, Things and a few others are really good.
I kind of wish they just focused on their own software, kind of like the original iPod. The iPod didn't allow for any apps until it was actually able to make use of them.
I don't know... that probably works out to the same ratio of good to bad apps for the iPhone as well
Carrot Weather and Fantastical Calendar are my two most frequently used apps, and both have been fast and reliable. I was new to both of these apps after buying the Apple Watch in July. I chose Fantastical because my previous calendar app did not offer a watch app. I tried going back to the native Apple calendar, but didn't care for it. I tried Fantastical after reading reviews and it has been excellent. I tried Carrot Weather again because my previous weather app or iOS did not offer a watch app. First I tried Dark Sky, but they had some issues with their Watch app initially. I think those issues have been resolved, but Carrot has been so good that I haven't had any reason to switch to something else. Both of these apps represent the best in watch apps in my opinion: They load quickly and reliably, appear to have watch apps designed by people who actually wear the watch, and offer many options for large and small complications.
Things used to be my favorite task list app, but I switched to Swipes because I wanted something I could access from my iPhone and from my Windows desktop at work (it has a browser based app). The Swipes watch app is fine, but not as nice as what Things and 2Do offer. I gave the Things complication a try since I still have the app and it is nice to have.
The other apps I use daily (or almost daily) include: Due (Reminder app that I usually interact with on the watch via notifications), Activity Rings, the Now Playing glance for music, Bring (grocery list). I should be using Lose-It more consistently than I do. It has a complication that works well at providing feedback on your daily calorie budget. Bring is the only app giving me grief lately. It doesn't update as reliably as it once did ever since this latest watch OS update. Before that it just worked. I have reinstalled and reported the issue to the developer, so hopefully that will be resolved soon.
I believe all of these apps are great examples of why I am glad Apple has allowed third party apps from the beginning. Apps I use less frequently but have found to be useful on the watch include: Cloud Outliner, Evernote, OneNote, Slack, Yammer, Mint, Yelp, Hue (lights), Tide Graph, and a few others. Some things, like travel apps, I would use only as needed... but it's nice to have them.
I do have apps on my iPhone that offer watch apps that I have chosen not to install (or that I installed and later removed because I decided it wasn't needed on the watch). I don't really desire to have entertainment apps or games on the watch, although some might. I did try putting a few news apps and readers on the watch, but decided that if I have time to read a few headlines I might as well get my iPhone out. If the watch is to be a platform for quickly accessing brief snippets of information in the most convenient way possible, it helps to keep the clutter at a minimum. There are first tier apps that deserve space on the watch face via complications, my 2nd tier that get a Glance, 3rd tier are installed but accessed only as needed from the app screen or via Siri or notifications.
Sean
I gave up using 2Do since they still haven't released a complication. Things is great and works with Siri which I like a lot. Thought about Reminders Nano but I've gotten really good at using Siri for all my reminders including adding to many different lists. Things only works with one list in reminders. The iPhone app for Things is great.
Drafts is awesome for me because it also works with the microphone on the watch and takes down notes on anything I say. It's like a recorder that converts to notes. Love it.
WF on Hand is just an up to the minute balance of my checking account.
I do use several other apps but mostly the ones mentioned and the workout and alarm and a few others.
Drafts is awesome for me because it also works with the microphone on the watch and takes down notes on anything I say. It's like a recorder that converts to notes. Love it.
WF on Hand is just an up to the minute balance of my checking account.
I do use several other apps but mostly the ones mentioned and the workout and alarm and a few others.
There are several apps that I use on a regular basis, mostly weather and sports related but there are others. I certainly haven't found them useless! I use ESPN, MLB, Twitter, Carrot, Soundhound, Facebook messenger (which Facebook itself would make one), and CNN just to name a few.
The only problem I'm finding with leaving my watch face on an app is that I don't get the "red dot" to alert me of new notifications. I rely on that somewhat to tell me I need to check them. Just a minor quibble but something to think about.
I've had my watch for a year now and overall I'm very pleased with it. I use it to tell the time, receive basic phone and email notifications, and track my fitness, but that's about it. I'm okay with that. I could take advantage of the other apps but it's easier with my phone since I'm middle aged and don't see things that well close up anymore.
I usually don't "leave" my Watch on an App for extended periods of time. I leave the App open while I'm using it (which is typically way longer than one wrist raise!)... but then return to the main Watch Face when I'm finished.
I finally gave the Wake to previous activity setting a try and I really like it! I'm amazed it took me almost nine months to try it. I kind of forgot it was possible until your post. It's great at the grocery store, where I might check the grocery list on my watch a dozen times as I shop. I could see myself going back to the Wake to watch face for times when I don't need to keep going back to the same app, but it's an easy setting to change. It would be nice to have it as a setting you can toggle from the Connected glance. Then again maybe it's just easier to press the crown to go back for the face when I'm done with an app. Speaking of glances: I notice they don't count as a previous activity, so the watch wakes to the watch face. That makes since as you can always swipe up to access the same glance.
Sean
I'll disagree with the original thread comment about not being useful. I just think not a lot of things make sense to put on the watch and not everyone out there created compelling aps for it and maybe weren't that well written.
I just recently loaded Pcalc Lite on my phone so I could get a calculator on my watch. Seemed like a good use for the Watch app-wise. The app Requires Watch OS2. I have it set up as a Glance. Fast access. The 3rd watch screen allows for calculating tips or conversions using your crown to change the fields like when you customize your watch face. Thought that was well thought out. The Lite version is free and I'd recommend downloading to see if you like it. I decided to add the additional .99 conversion package which included Cooking measurements, currency and others. Several other packages available for engineers etc. Oh and it has a Watch complication as well altough I'm not crazy about the circle icon look on the watch. For now have it as both a Glance and complication to see which I'll keep.
Here's a link to the developer's page on it. It was just updated at end of March: http://www.pcalc.com/iphone/
I like that it's a universal build and I now have it on my phone, watch and iPad. Always missed a calculator on my iPad and the watch seemed like another natural location for it.
I just recently loaded Pcalc Lite on my phone so I could get a calculator on my watch. Seemed like a good use for the Watch app-wise. The app Requires Watch OS2. I have it set up as a Glance. Fast access. The 3rd watch screen allows for calculating tips or conversions using your crown to change the fields like when you customize your watch face. Thought that was well thought out. The Lite version is free and I'd recommend downloading to see if you like it. I decided to add the additional .99 conversion package which included Cooking measurements, currency and others. Several other packages available for engineers etc. Oh and it has a Watch complication as well altough I'm not crazy about the circle icon look on the watch. For now have it as both a Glance and complication to see which I'll keep.
Here's a link to the developer's page on it. It was just updated at end of March: http://www.pcalc.com/iphone/
I like that it's a universal build and I now have it on my phone, watch and iPad. Always missed a calculator on my iPad and the watch seemed like another natural location for it.
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all i can see so far is that its nice that you can get a notification on it when you get a text of call. bought one for my wife, she needed a watch, and she loves the watch, shes a school bus driver and the kids get a kick out of the Mickey Mouse dial. time will tell if it holds up as a watch, hope so because im wanting one for myself.
It's not apps that are useless, it's the watch. With its tiny display area, AW is simply a fun gadget for those who enjoy tinkering. Nothing wrong with a fun toy, it's Apples version of a Sci-Fi gadget. That's why it's got limited popularity.