The Quest for Quality: Five of the Most Useful Apple Watch Apps

[Lictor]

Damn, where did you learn math? That was just sad and pathetic.

In engineering school... See, that's why people really need a calculator on their watch...
Well, I guess that's what I get from relaxing with some posts after finishing work at 3am, brain was fried...

 

[Antiloop]

I have attached PSD and PNG files for 38mm and 42mm bezels.

Thanks Joe! That is very appreciated.

 

[mitty]

I had a Calculator watch in 1981. Just sayin'.

 

[rowspaxe]

At this point it seems not essential and not especially useful....especially these 5 items are the 'most useful' things that can be drummed up besides notifications, weather and a second rate fitness tracker.

So much for "developer magic" -- this iis a sad collection of garbage apps. But really--in fairness -- can we expect more from a postage stamp interface. The watch is sort of a one trick device, and that trick is notifications.

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"Sounds so useless" so you have no personal use or knowledge of what is can do. Your opinion=useless in that case.

Clearly you weren't invited to the party so you need to dis it to make your poor self feel better. There, there, you'll get over it.

So anyone who finds the watch useless doesn't understand it? You admit novalidity to any contrary opinion?

What does it mean to be invited to watch "party"? Your just buying something. Cant you see how delusional your brand participation fantasy is?

 

[winston1236]

So much for "developer magic" -- this iis a sad collection of garbage apps. But really--in fairness -- can we expect more from a postage stamp interface. The watch is sort of a one trick device, and that trick is notifications.

Not much different than any app store, largely they are full of junk.

 

[Lictor]

So much for "developer magic"

You realize that the vast majority of developers are still waiting for their watches ? Currently, you only have apps that were developed blindly, by reading the specs, doing tests in the simulator and, if you're lucky and americain, being invited by Apple to do some short tests on the real device.
Currently, most developers have not used an Apple Watch for real, they're not used to the user experience and the possibilities of the hardware.
Moreover, the WWDC has not even happened yet. Currently, the Watch Kit is very very limited and we can expect/hope that Apple will allow developers to interact more deeply with the watch.

So, I guess you will have to learn some patience rather than expect "developer" magic even before the product has reached them...

"this iis a sad collection of garbage apps"

Well, this is the selection from MacRumers... I have already spotted lots of apps that will be much more useful to me.

"But really--in fairness -- can we expect more from a postage stamp interface."

You might be surprised... People said the same thing for smartphones, and now people use them more than their computers...
To put that into perspective, the 42mm Apple watch has a resolution of 312 x 390 pixels in million colors. The original display of the Apple II was 280×192 in 6 color - yet, people learned to program with it, the spreadsheet was invented on this computer and people still have memories of playing Ultima on it.
So, that tiny screen on your wrist can display a lot more information than the original Apple... I wish Apple had made the watch bigger, because 42mm feel small on my wrist, but you can do plenty with that display. Just like with the iPhone, the developers just have to rethink new UX that work with the screen size.

 

[RogerWilco]

I'm able to more efficiently digest the hundreds of notifications I get each day, which ultimately results in me getting to spend less time glued to my phone (and, funny enough, less time staring at ANY screen overall).

Really? Hundreds of notifications each day? Hate to say it - you're living wrong.

 

[rcouter]

Got mine yesterday.

I still haven't got my Apple Watch. FML.

Was it worth the wait....in one word...Yes! I am very happy with my 42mm Space Grey Apple Watch Sport. I played with it yesterday a little bit, Charged all night last night, I have been using it for over 11 hours (casual use because it's the weekend) and still have 63% battery left. I think it will last me all day on a business day as well.

 

[C DM]

Really? Hundreds of notifications each day? Hate to say it - you're living wrong.

Yeah, different people totally live life the same way.

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So much for "developer magic" -- this iis a sad collection of garbage apps. But really--in fairness -- can we expect more from a postage stamp interface. The watch is sort of a one trick device, and that trick is notifications.

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So anyone who finds the watch useless doesn't understand it? You admit novalidity to any contrary opinion?

What does it mean to be invited to watch "party"? Your just buying something. Cant you see how delusional your brand participation fantasy is?

Sometimes people don't understand it, sometimes they don't want to understand it, and other times they just don't care about it or don't need what it offers. In any of those instances nothing meaningful really arises.

 

[laurim]

Sure, 10% or 30% of a bill is so hard to do without a calculator...

After a glass of wine or two I second guess my head math abilities.

 

[iBlazed]

Watch sounds so useless and the apps comical. Wonder when this fad will fade away

Maybe around the same time the smartphone and tablet "fads" will. You luddites never learn, do you? Who needs internet on a phone? I have a computer at home!

 

[C DM]

Maybe around the same time the smartphone and tablet "fads" will. You luddites never learn, do you? Who needs internet on a phone? I have a computer at home!

Who needs a computer at home when the library and its reference materials are somewhere in town.

 

[iBlazed]

We like to promote our MacRumors sister website AppShopper where possible.



I have attached PSD and PNG files for 38mm and 42mm bezels.

Aren't those backwards? The larger one says 38mm and the smaller one says 42mm

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Who needs a computer at home when the library and its reference materials are somewhere in town.

I always wonder how people with so little vision or imagination end up on tech forums. Furthermore, not every piece of new technology has to be a huge advancement for the human race. Sometimes we create things to make our lives a little easier, convenience, or just purely for entertainment. This seems to deeply anger the luddites.

 

[BD1]

I always wonder how people with so little vision or imagination end up on tech forums. Furthermore, not every piece of new technology has to be a huge advancement for the human race. Sometimes we create things to make our lives a little easier, convenience, or just purely for entertainment. This seems to deeply anger the luddites.

I agree.

 

[RobertMartens]

Wife and I have incredibly busy and complex schedules. I'm also very forgetful so the little reminders help me a lot.

I hope she's working on the Alzheimers cure and you are working on the balancing the federal budget and not the other way around.

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After a glass of wine or two I second guess my head math abilities.

And don't forget how cheap women are when they go out together and also they are not that good at math to begin with. Just saying...

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Y Currently, you only have apps that were developed blindly, by reading the specs, doing tests in the simulator and, if you're lucky and americain, being invited by Apple to do some short tests on the real device.

Did you just say 'americain'? That is adorable. What country are you from? I want to visit it.

 

[arnette]

None of these apps look useful. At least, not in a way where a watch interface prevails.

The more and more I investigate Apple Watch, the more I think Android Wear has a better philosophy... a tiny screen like that is great for notifications, simple reminders, and text messages. Pushing it beyond that is just a waste of time.

 

[rowspaxe]

You might be surprised... People said the same thing for smartphones, and now people use them more than their computers...

To put that into perspective, the 42mm Apple watch has a resolution of 312 x 390 pixels in million colors. The original display of the Apple II was 280×192 in 6 color - yet, people learned to program with it, the spreadsheet was invented on this computer and people still have memories of playing Ultima on it.

I think there is a yet to be determined factor in the smartwatch world--how do people feel about nooding around with a tiny wrist interface? The examples you provide seem like somewhat deparate attempts at reason by analogy. The apple II had a low pixel density density--but it was attached to a keyboard and so interaction with the device was traditional. And secondly, that smartphones have suceeded says little about the prospects for the much smaller watch. And the trend in phones toward larger screens suggests the opposite.

 

[C DM]

None of these apps look useful. At least, not in a way where a watch interface prevails.

The more and more I investigate Apple Watch, the more I think Android Wear has a better philosophy... a tiny screen like that is great for notifications, simple reminders, and text messages. Pushing it beyond that is just a waste of time.

For some, while it's not for others.

 

[rowspaxe]

always wonder how people with so little vision or imagination end up on tech forums. Furthermore, not every piece of new technology has to be a huge advancement for the human race. Sometimes we create things to make our lives a little easier, convenience, or just purely for entertainment. This seems to deeply anger the luddites.

But Tim Cook said it was "life changing". No one begrudges you your tech purchase for convenience or entertainment--people are contesting the claimed utility and potential of this technoiogy. Seems to me that what tech forums should be about.

 

[El Cabong]

Still waiting for something to compel me to want an Apple Watch.

I personally don't get enough notifications for it to be a significant time-saver versus pulling out my phone, and so far, none of the apps that I've seen seem overly necessary for my own use.

I can sort of see the overall appeal, as it's definitely a fun gadget, but it doesn't seem as essential to me as past Apple products have been. Guess I'm getting old

 

[C DM]

But Tim Cook said it was "life changing". No one begrudges you your tech purchase for convenience or entertainment--people are contesting the claimed utility and potential of this technoiogy. Seems to me that what tech forums should be about.

And for some it might just be.

 

[thisisdallas]

Thanks! What's better, Lifesum or Lark? Seems redundant to use both.

It really depends. I use both because lark is good for tracking sleep data into the health app. It's sort of like a personal trainer-esque experience too, versus just a tracker that tells you when to stop eating.

If you find yourself never sticking with food/fitness tracking apps, I'd go with Lark since it does a good job of just surface-level tracking. i.e. Instead of calculating how many calories you're eating, it just asks what you ate and tells you "good job on the healthy choice!" or "that has sugar...". It's very automated feeling.

Lifesum is pretty much like Myfitnesspal or whatever the popular calorie tracker is. It tracks things specifically, but the UI is really straightforward and simple to use. It only takes a few seconds to track food really well. The apple watch app doesn't try to use fancy voice input or long lists of foods, you just put "small, medium, or large meal" and then later when you have a chance, you can enter it in on your phone specifically.

It's also a good water tracker.

Both great apps and they work pretty well together imo

 

[EightyTwenty]

So now we can "fumble around" with a tiny watch screen instead of "fumbling around" with a phone?

I truly don't see the use in this thing... at all. What purpose does it serve? Why does it exist? I really don't get it.

 

[shimy1984]

I actually cancelled my AppleWatch order today. I was ambivalent about it anyway and the more I learn the less compelled I am to get one. I may change my mind later....maybe they'll show up in the refurb store later this year. Or better yet, wait till the second generation. Disappointed the heart rate monitor doesn't integrate with non Apple fitness apps and in fact it suggests pairing with a Bluetooth heart rate monitor for better results. That's what I currently use with my phone anyway, so it's not at all clear to me how the watch will add much. I have a 6+ and I usually carry it in my hand rather than my pocket, so accessing it is nearly as convenient as the watch is. The watch will be better if I can start leaving the phone behind.

Technically speaking, the heart rate monitor does work with 3rd party apps via HealthKit.

 

[Mobster1983]

I agree. While there have been a lot of tear-down articles on the watch. What hasn't been talked about a lot in public is the wireless traffic analysis between the watch and the iPhone as an app runs.

Many of the best WiFi and Bluetooth network houses have placed an Apple watch and iPhone in a Faraday cage with a wireless network analyzer to see exactly what's going on. From what I can say, the current WatchKit API is an insult to the capability of the Apple Watch's hardware.


I'm sure a "native" API for third party developers are in the works as soon as they get the sand-boxing together. Til then, we have static view apps with "flip book" graphics.

I know a lot of projects that are on hold due to this. The watch face API is inevitable with Hello Kitty, KITT and steampunk watch faces out soon after that.

Great info. Thanks for posting. I figured it was the developers needing to optimize their apps after getting their hands on an actual watch, but this makes more sense. Unfortunately it may mean we have to wait longer for third party apps to get much better.

I assume that Apple held off opening a lot of the watch capabilities from third party developers while it analyzes actual usage statistics on a large scale. One they see that battery life (obviously the primary concern) is not as much of an issue, then they will open up further capabilities to third parties.

By battery life not being an issue, it seems most people are still at 45-50% by the end of the day. This is what I am getting, and even got 2 full days out of mine when I accidently forgot to charge it (including 30 minutes of working out each day).