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The 'friends' button is useless...here's how it SHOULD work

A MacBook lover

A MacBook lover

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Original poster
May 22, 2009
2,011
4,581
D.C.
Delete friends. It's so stupid. Even more that it has its own button.

Instead make this button the screen on off button. It would mimic the function of the wake button works on the iPhone. Heck it even looks like it. Why not be the same function?

When I'm not using wrist raise, it would be nice to have a way to put the watch to sleep manually, much like the sleep wake button in the iPhone. Great for movie theaters ya know?

Make pushing the digital crown take you back to the app screen (or watch face changeable in options)
 
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Amacfa said:
Delete friends. It's so stupid. Even more that it has its own button.

Instead make this button the screen on off button. It would mimic the function of the wake button works on the iPhone. Heck it even looks like it. Why not be the same function?

When I'm not using wrist raise, it would be nice to have a way to turn the watch off manually, much like the sleep wake button.

Make pushing the digital crown take you back to the app screen (or watch face changeable in options)
Click to expand...

tap the screen with a finger to wake it up and tap your palm on the screen to sleep it. I do this countless times every day. I don't use the raise to wake feature.
 
jjlannoo said:
touch the screen to wake it up and place your palm on the screen to sleep it. I do this countless time every day. I don't use the raise to wake feature.
Click to expand...
Oh sweet, well great. But the placement of friends is awkward don't you agree? It mimics the sleep/wake button in design and function except that it doesn't sleep, but it does wake and holding it down gives you further power options.
 
the friends button is useless. plus no camera which seems really useful
 
I completely disagree. I use the friends button quite a bit as a shortcut for contacts. It also functions as the Apple Pay button and power button, so I think it 100% belongs on the device. I really can't think of a better way to bring up Apple Pay than having a dedicated button for it.
 
Bbqthis said:
I completely disagree. I use the friends button quite a bit as a shortcut for contacts. It also functions as the Apple Pay button and power button, so I think it 100% belongs on the device. I really can't think of a better way to bring up Apple Pay than having a dedicated button for it.
Click to expand...

Can't they coexist like the home button and multitasking?

If anything - friends should have a dedicated complication or glance...not a physical button
 
I do not use it frequently, but when I have, I have been thankful for its incredibly quick and easy access, more so than other apps. I cannot think of something I'd honestly want it replaced with.
 
Amacfa said:
Oh sweet, well great. But the placement of friends is awkward don't you agree? It mimics the sleep/wake button in design and function except that it doesn't sleep, but it does wake and holding it down gives you further power options.
Click to expand...

Well since you don't start calls too often from the watch in a way I agree. I do use the button to start new text threads with people. I use the watch a lot for texting. My bank doesn't support it but many use the button for apple pay
 
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As someone said before, you don't need a button to wake or sleep the watch -- even if the wake on raise function doesn't work.

Having a lock/unlock button is unnecessary. Considering that messaging people is one of the three tentpole features of the watch, it makes more sense that this is what the button is used for.
 
J.gerbes said:
As someone said before, you don't need a button to wake or sleep the watch -- even if the wake on raise function doesn't work.

Having a lock/unlock button is unnecessary. Considering that messaging people is one of the three tentpole features of the watch, it makes more sense that this is what the button is used for.
Click to expand...

And you can still use this feature, but a physical button for it is unnecessary. I use my watch to text, I text ALOT. But usually from 1-5 unique people a day. Some of them I'll never talk to.


Even the ones I text frequently, it's just easier to go to the messaging app rather than use the friends 'button' and 'scroll' to the right person, then tap the message icon. Heck, doing it this way doesn't bring up the previous messaging thread!
 
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Amacfa said:
Can't they coexist like the home button and multitasking?

If anything - friends should have a dedicated complication or glance...not a physical button
Click to expand...

I'm confused by what you mean by 'coexisting'. The digital crown already has 3 functions associated with it. I don't think it should have any more function or it starts to become a cumbersome laundry list of clicks to memorize.
 
Bbqthis said:
I'm confused by what you mean by 'coexisting'. The digital crown already has 3 functions associated with it. I don't think it should have any more function or it starts to become a cumbersome laundry list of clicks to memorize.
Click to expand...

Apple pay stays the way it it is. One tap wakes, one tap sleeps, two taps Apple Pay.

Friends can go hide in a complication or a glance.
 
Bbqthis said:
Multitasking/ Quick app switching. Whatever you want to call it.
Click to expand...

Please educate me. As far as I know, it's only function is to bring up the friends ring, pressing it again returns to whatever app you were using.

This would make sense of you could see the conversation thread from the friends ring, but since you can't - I find myself going back to the messaging app to read conversations before replying to them
 
Amacfa said:
Please educate me. As far as I know, it's only function is to bring up the friends ring, pressing it again returns to whatever app you were using.

This would make sense of you could see the conversation thread from the friends ring, but since you can't - I find myself going back to the messaging app to read conversations before replying to them
Click to expand...

Double tapping the digital crown switches back to the most recent app.
 
I feel the button should be your favorite. Assign it to what you want it to be, whether it's Friends, App, etc. I never use the button and use apps or glances 25 times more. I feel Apple got this one wrong, but luckily, this can be fixed with a software update. Most of time when you use it for the phone or messaging, it's when someone is contacting you.
 
Bbqthis said:
I completely disagree. I use the friends button quite a bit as a shortcut for contacts. It also functions as the Apple Pay button and power button, so I think it 100% belongs on the device. I really can't think of a better way to bring up Apple Pay than having a dedicated button for it.
Click to expand...
Of course, for the vast majority of Apple Watch users (those of us who don't live in the U.S.), ApplePay doesn't work, so 1/3 of that button's functionality is completely wasted.
 
mavis said:
Of course, for the vast majority of Apple Watch users (those of us who don't live in the U.S.), ApplePay doesn't work, so 1/3 of that button's functionality is completely wasted.
Click to expand...

But when Apple Pay comes to Japan, you'll be ready and とても嬉しい right?
 
I think the button is good as it is. I use it to initiate texts all of the time though. Actually, I don't think I have sent more than 3-4 texts from my phone in the past week. The dictation is that convienint.

With that said, I think the option to assign the button a certain function should be available. I personally do just fine putting my arm back to my side to shut off the screen.
 
Bbqthis said:
But when Apple Pay comes to Japan, you'll be ready and とても嬉しい right?
Click to expand...

Sure, I'd love to be able to use ApplePay, but 1) I'm not holding my breath - I doubt it will ever be allowed here and 2) in the meantime, that button's functionality is largely wasted for the vast majority of Apple Watch wearers.
 
It still baffles me how Apple ended up putting a giant (for a watch) button on it. None of other smartwatches have such a big button, even the ugliest ones like Pebble/Time.

They must have a huge surplus of these buttons from other devices and decided to find use for them. :D
 
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