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'Theater Mode' Coming to Apple Watch
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Such is this an indictment of our sad and needy times that we cannot keep off our electronic twerp-devices for more than five minutes to find a need for a 'feature' not to annoy our fellow cinema goers quite as much as similarly device-dependent peers 
Here's an idea. If you can't do without your iPhone long enough until the theatre interval and your concentration will definitely drop during that time then maybe best you didn't go there in the first place.
Cheers!
Here's an idea. If you can't do without your iPhone long enough until the theatre interval and your concentration will definitely drop during that time then maybe best you didn't go there in the first place.
Cheers!
Been waiting for this for nearly two years now!.. great add. should save me about five minutes a day that it takes me to turn OFF raise to wake, LOWER brightness, change screen layout to simple UI, and then change it all back again in the AM (after tracking sleep!)
ever second counts!
ever second counts!
Why would it be limited to Series 2? It's a general update for all Apple Watches alike.
All I want from my Apple Watch is for them to add the now playing functionality into control center. So I can swipe up to pause, play, skip etc, like Watch OS 2. After notifications, this was my number one use for the watch. I never use the apps, as they are still too slow. Now we have AirPods with no controls on them, being able to quickly access controls somewhere else is more important than ever.
Whoa, hang on.
We still need this for phones... I'm not nearly as upset if someone's tiny watch lights up (and it's OLED, so it's not giving off THAT much light) in a theater or concert.
But someone opening bright iMessage on their 5.5" phone with the brightness maxed? Make theater mode on iOS as speculated, limit the screen brightness and mute the ringer. It's the new "silence your cellphone."
We still need this for phones... I'm not nearly as upset if someone's tiny watch lights up (and it's OLED, so it's not giving off THAT much light) in a theater or concert.
But someone opening bright iMessage on their 5.5" phone with the brightness maxed? Make theater mode on iOS as speculated, limit the screen brightness and mute the ringer. It's the new "silence your cellphone."
I just browsed the assets of the watchOS 3.2 SDK, and it turned out that the Theater Mode icon will actually be shaped like a comedy mask.
Attachments
It wouldn't be the first time Apple limited a feature to a specific device
What gets me is when I'm sitting at home watching a movie and I hear dogs barking outside, loud trucks idling, and people talking. This is unacceptable and has to end. And BTW, when I'm going to drive on the freeway at rush hour, I want all those other cars off the freeway!
Set now playing as a dockable app. One click on the side button and you're there.
Theater Mode is a welcome improvement for the watch. The few times I've worn my watch to bed, I've disabled Raise to Wake to save battery; but the toggle for Raise to Wake is buried way too deep in the menus.
Now, I think we may know why they removed the "Lock" button in Control Center in watchOS. It will likely be replaced by the Theater Mode button.
Now, I think we may know why they removed the "Lock" button in Control Center in watchOS. It will likely be replaced by the Theater Mode button.
I have actually disabled the raise to wake feature on my Apple Watch. I found that throughout the day, typing at work, the screen would come on constantly which would drain the battery. I don't really miss it too much. I much prefer the preservation of battery life.
This does make a lot of sense. I'm surprised that I didn't make the connection since I've been annoyed at my Watch lighting up in the theatre before, and you don't necessarily want to have to put it in your pocket either. A solid change, but nothing groundbreaking. Here's to hoping we can get a legit dark mode in iOS 11, but considering the next iPhone might be OLED, I wouldn't hold my breath for a June WWDC announcement. It could be a "new iPhone only" feature. Hopefully not—best case it's just unveiled for all iPhones, but gives the greatest benefit for the new iPhone. Kinda tricky because if they announce it at WWDC, it gives devs time to update their apps.
The "Wake Screen on Wrist Raise" ON/OFF control panel is only three levels deep (Settings/General/Wake Screen).
How many less steps is going to take to put the watch in "Theatre Mode"?
It's not that I'm against making it easier for people to turn off their device screens in movies, but I also never have the sound turned on my watch - so I guess a single control for those who do, would be faster than accessing 2 control panel settings.
How many less steps is going to take to put the watch in "Theatre Mode"?
It's not that I'm against making it easier for people to turn off their device screens in movies, but I also never have the sound turned on my watch - so I guess a single control for those who do, would be faster than accessing 2 control panel settings.
Honestly, all they should do is make it so that "Do Not Disturb" mode can also allow for no display on wrist raise, etc. I wear my watch to bed every night, and probably a couple of times per week I've turned over and had bright light shining in my eyes in the darkened room.
Apple's solution will help, but it's not the best option.
Apple's solution will help, but it's not the best option.
I keep my watch on power reserve all night. That way, even if I do press the crown to see the time, it isn't nearly as bright. I wind up doing the same in the theater.
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The Now Playing dock app is the closest I've gotten. It still takes a lot of fiddling to get there though.
Among other things, I'm not sure why I can't wake the watch straight to the dock by pressing the not-crown button on the side. When I try, it just vibrates and makes a "nope" sound.
I like the idea of the dock like they did, but I miss glances, especially the now playing glance.
I do have this, but for some reason doesn't feel as quick to get to. Obviously just my opinion, but I would have loved now playing section within control center, similar to how iOS has multiple panes when you swipe up.
The solution to that problem is to keep your friggen phone in your pocket or bag during movies. That feature should be fully implemented in your personal software. The watch is a different problem. I am forever pulling my sleeve down to keep it covered in movie theaters. A display shutoff is a no-brainer solution.
Actually more than three, since (chances are) you’ll need to leave the clock face, then go to Settings.
This would almost put a toggle in the watchOS Control Center, which means you wouldn't even need to leave the clock face.
Nice find. Thanks for sharing.
I guess this theatre mode / mask icon is going to be another icon added to the grid within control center (which already has 8). Feels like it's going to get a bit tedious with all these icons in there.
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Would love for Overcast to be able to store podcasts right on the watch. I'm sure Arment pays close attention to each of these betas to see if that becomes possible.
Highly doubt Apple will talk about an iPhone 8 exclusive feature 3 months before it's announced.