The side button is useless

[blonko]

With the action button seemingly coming to iPhones and already on the Ultra if you like ugly watches, why can't the useless side button on the normal Apple Watch be given the same treatment? I double tap it a lot for Apple Pay but the single tap is useless - takes you to apps. You press the crown and get the to almost the exact same thing. Would be great if you could customise it - for example I'd use it every morning and night if you could assign it to cinema mode.

 

[tucogovinda]

I guess I like ugly watches because I absolutely love my Ultra and its unapologetically rugged design. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But insults aside, have you seen the watchOS 10 preview? Apple is reassigning the side button to open Control Center and moving the Dock to a double-press of the Digital Crown. Also, the new behavior scroll up from the clock face to open widgets should allow you to quickly surface many, if not all, of the same things the Action button can be assigned. None of this is a customizable Action button, but all these changes should come close to addressing your concerns of making actions on the Watch more accessible. Hope this helps.

 

[iStorm]

I'd use it every morning and night if you could assign it to cinema mode.

Just an idea... For repetitive things like this, you could automate it. Create a personal automation to turn Cinema/Theater mode on at night, and turn it off in the morning. I have something similar set up to turn off the always on display at night, and back on in the morning.