The button below the digital crown

[Rogifan]

OK I've heard Apple marketing refer to it as "the button below the digital crown" or "the button next to the digital crown". That's a mouthful. Apple needs to come up with a name for this button. I'm not sure what to call it if it's multipurpose but their crack product team should be able to come up with something, no?

 

[Julien]

OK I've heard Apple marketing refer to it as "the button below the digital crown" or "the button next to the digital crown". That's a mouthful. Apple needs to come up with a name for this button. I'm not sure what to call it if it's multipurpose but their crack product team should be able to come up with something, no?

One tap is Contacts and 2 is Apple Pay. Seems like Apple should just call it the Contacts button and be done with it. Also if a southpaw it will be "the button above the digital crown"

 

[matrix07]

I'm not sure anyone has thought of this but the fact that Watch has 2 buttons instead of one, is it for a purpose that we can click both buttons at once.. to take a screen cap?
I think screen caption is a feature Apple wouldn't want to do without. Thinks about all the publicity it will get from this feature.

 

[dylman]

The phrasing is awkward, and it sticks out like a sore thumb. It might be wishful thinking on my part, but there could be a feature tied to the button below the Digital Crown that we don't know about yet.

 

[Julien]

...but there could be a feature tied to the button below the Digital Crown that we don't know about yet.

Since push once and push twice are already taken what other way is there to use it? Push 3 times seem excessive for a 'special' feature and a name for it. Also push and hold can be a little awkward on a side button of a watch.

The most logical choice is Contacts..

'You push the Contacts button once to view your friends.'
'You push the Contacts button twice to activate Apple Pay.'

 

[Tycho24]

One tap is Contacts and 2 is Apple Pay. Seems like Apple should just call it the Contacts button and be done with it. Also if a southpaw it will be "the button above the digital crown"

No.
I'm left handed. I'd never wear a watch upside down.
It's insulting when right handed people assume we want everything backwards... Like when Windows PCs used to ask if we were too stupid to left click & maybe wanted to switch right & left click? Lol. I've worked with literally dozens and dozens of left handed computer users over the years and have NEVER came across one that used a mouse opposite.
I know you didn't mean offense, but please- in the future, at least talk to a member of a group before you post about them.

 

[bransoj]

Also push and hold can be a little awkward on a side button of a watch.

The two digital watches i have use a press and hold already for setting the time etc and its not that difficult to do.

No.
I'm left handed. I'd never wear a watch upside down.

I think he means that the software is programmed so that left handed users can wear on the other wrist and the watch software is clever enough to rotate everything round so stuff is the right way up but it means the buttons are the other way around.

 

[Julien]

No.
I'm left handed. I'd never wear a watch upside down.....

It has software to flip the screen so it won't be upside down or the Crown on the inside. Also the bands are easy to swap too so the strap works the same. The only caveat is the Crown will be below the Contacts button for a southpaw.

 

[Trius]

Since push once and push twice are already taken what other way is there to use it? Push 3 times seem excessive for a 'special' feature and a name for it. Also push and hold can be a little awkward on a side button of a watch.

The most logical choice is Contacts..

'You push the Contacts button once to view your friends.'
'You push the Contacts button twice to activate Apple Pay.'

Maybe he meant there could be a software service that is unannounced that will better define this button's core function.

 

[Julien]

Maybe he meant there could be a software service that is unannounced that will better define this button's core function.

It's core function has been defined by Apple and it's Contacts.

...Press the button next to the Digital Crown to access Friends...

 

[Trius]

It's core function has been defined by Apple and it's Contacts.

Cool, tell me more about it. Do you have some pictures you can post? I wasn't aware the Apple Watch had been released.........

 

[Julien]

Cool, tell me more about it. Do you have some pictures you can post? I wasn't aware the Apple Watch had been released.........

The aWatch has not been released yet. Announced ETA is first of the year and expected to ship by spring. There is lots of informative info on the Apple site. You should also watch the films, they also contain some interesting tidbits plus more info about Friends (Contacts) and Apple Pay using the button.

EDIT: In the film [Introducing the Apple Watch] time code 2:30 narrated by Jony Ive he says and it's demonstrated.

Pressing the button below the Digital Crown instantly shows you friends you can contact in just seconds.

 

[dylman]

The phrasing is still very awkward though. The "Friends" button, or the "Contacts" button would sound a bit better. Oh well. Jony knows best I suppose.

 

[Julien]

The phrasing is still very awkward though. The "Friends" button, or the "Contacts" button would sound a bit better. Oh well. Jony knows best I suppose.

Agreed, and from my 1st post (2ed post) in this thread.

...Seems like Apple should just call it the Contacts button and be done with it. ....

 

[Rogifan]

The phrasing is still very awkward though. The "Friends" button, or the "Contacts" button would sound a bit better. Oh well. Jony knows best I suppose.

This is where marketing is supposed to come in and give it a clever name.

 

[samiznaetekto]

Useless Button.

That's the proper name for it. It's strange that , known for their minimalism, put a rather big and ugly button on a watch where real estate is at such a premium, also shifting the crown from its natural center position.

When not tethered to iPhone, this button will be completely useless, because you can't contact your friends anyway.

 

[Julien]

....When not tethered to iPhone, this button will be completely useless, because you can't contact your friends anyway.

You can use Apple Pay.

 

[samiznaetekto]

You can use Apple Pay.

Is it too much work to press the crown and launch Pay? Why there's no button like this on iPhone?

 

[Mascots]

Is it too much work to press the crown and launch Pay? Why there's no button like this on iPhone?

That's actually a really good question.

I would assume that like the iPhone, the  Watch will prompt you for NFC when the time comes. Why include  Pay functionality when you can enable it via a notification.

I think they needed an additional button for hardware interfacing (functions like putting into DFU), but I think there may be better general uses for it - like shifting back to the watch UI from anywhere in the OS.

 

[samiznaetekto]

That's actually a really good question.

I would assume that like the iPhone, the  Watch will prompt you for NFC when the time comes. Why include  Pay functionality when you can enable it via a notification.

I think they needed an additional button for hardware interfacing (functions like putting into DFU), but I think there may be better general uses for it - like shifting back to the watch UI from anywhere in the OS.

Pressing the crown would be a natural Home button. Gear S has only one button and it's totally enough. An analog of both crown and Useless Button Below Crown on iPhone would be a miniature joystick next to Home button on the front panel, to control mouse pointer.

 

[Julien]

That's actually a really good question.

I would assume that like the iPhone, the  Watch will prompt you for NFC when the time comes. Why include  Pay functionality when you can enable it via a notification.....

I think the reason is security. With the iPhone it wakes up but you must use touch ID to confirm a purchase. The aWatch doesn't have touch ID and aPay is active as long as skin contact is maintained. So you could easily activate aPay on someone's aWatch by moving a NFC close. This is why you MUST push the button twice to be sure you are not being robbed.