Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Watch Faces Complaint

jozeppy26

jozeppy26

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 8, 2008
536
85
St. Louis
I too am in the group of users fairly ticked off at the lack of third party watch faces allowed on the Apple Watch. I really think the "Apple is protecting the style and class of the watch" argument is ridiculous given the super ugly and horrifically unstylish "Chronograph"and "Mickey & Minnie Mouse" watch faces Apple created (I mean seriously, so freaking ugly and childish). It's not that I have a problem with those watch faces, but they certainly weren't included for style. The other faces are fine and even the new activity watch faces are pretty and useful at the same time, however there are so many classy and modern possibilities still lacking.

To be honest I'm really upset because I just cannot use an analog watch face that lacks hour labels, I must be stupid or lazy because it takes me significantly longer (5-10 seconds) to tell the exact time compared to an analog watch face with hour labels. Apple only allows labels for the "Utility", "Chronograph", and "Mickey and Minnie Mouse" watch faces. Would it have really killed them to give the option in "Simple", "Color", and "Activity" watch faces? I basically still forced to either only ever use the "Utility" face, look like I'm 5 years old rocking Minnie Mouse, or look like i'm 85 using "Chronograph".


TLDR: Does anyone think we will ever get third party watch faces? Maybe it's like a "Jobs moment" like when Apple thought HTML5 web-based Apps were good enough for third party apps on the iPhone (rolls eyes).
 
  • Like
Reactions: fabrini, AtheistP3ace, 5105973 and 2 others
I can understand the call for more watch faces and think the new ones in OS3 are a step forward. However, it's pretty common knowledge that Apple devices and customisation don't really belong in the same sentence.

Maybe it's time to sell your watch. Did you not try it out to understand what you can and cannot change on the faces?
 
jozeppy26 said:
I too am in the group of users fairly ticked off at the lack of third party watch faces allowed on the Apple Watch. I really think the "Apple is protecting the style and class of the watch" argument is ridiculous given the super ugly and horrifically unstylish "Chronograph"and "Mickey & Minnie Mouse" watch faces Apple created (I mean seriously, so freaking ugly and childish). It's not that I have a problem with those watch faces, but they certainly weren't included for style. The other faces are fine and even the new activity watch faces are pretty and useful at the same time, however there are so many classy and modern possibilities still lacking.

To be honest I'm really upset because I just cannot use an analog watch face that lacks hour labels, I must be stupid or lazy because it takes me significantly longer (5-10 seconds) to tell the exact time compared to an analog watch face with hour labels. Apple only allows labels for the "Utility", "Chronograph", and "Mickey and Minnie Mouse" watch faces. Would it have really killed them to give the option in "Simple", "Color", and "Activity" watch faces? I basically still forced to either only ever use the "Utility" face, look like I'm 5 years old rocking Minnie Mouse, or look like i'm 85 using "Chronograph".


TLDR: Does anyone think we will ever get third party watch faces? Maybe it's like a "Jobs moment" like when Apple thought HTML5 web-based Apps were good enough for third party apps on the iPhone (rolls eyes).
Click to expand...


I think the style and class argument is silly too, because by following that, they're handing an advantage to their competition. It's completely unnecessary. I don't think there's anything wrong with the faces you mentioned. Seems it'd be extremely judgmental to assume you're immature for having a dancing Mickey Mouse watch face. What I don't understand is that Numerals face they've just released. It's a Simple face, with a number thrown in the corner. Seems like such a waste of a newly released face. Wish they'd released something completely new.


I think it's coming. What does the watch face gallery look like to you? I see a place for many faces to be neatly organized...
 
  • Like
Reactions: jozeppy26
I've argued this point many times - Apple should add watch faces or setup a store - even if they are the only ones allowed to sell. Just think about the money they could make or allow their developers to make some money. If there are currently 10-15mm watches as many have guessed, Apple could add new watch faces at $.99 - $2.99 that don't infringe on patents and add several million or more in revenue.

How many here would have paid $.99 for the new analog/digital watch face? I would have...
 
Yup, one of Apple's biggest appeal and strongest reason for the Apple Watch and they don't levegage it. Quite disappointing.

Yes, watchOS 3 is a tiny step in the right direction, but I can't even say its incremental because they're only allowing a small number of complications on photo watch faces. I'd like to see the ability to buy/get new watch faces, much like an app.

Apps on the watch are abysmal, there's some nice ones, to be sure but mostly its about measuring a workout. I think custom watch faces could be the killer app (so to speak) that Apple needs to really make the Apple watch a resounding success, but for some unfathomable reason, we get bupkis.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrodieApple and jozeppy26
spriter said:
Maybe it's time to sell your watch. Did you not try it out to understand what you can and cannot change on the faces?
Click to expand...

Why is it that whenever anyone dares to criticise Apple the stock response is to tell people to get out and blame them for being dumb enough for getting in in the first place?

Apple products are not perfect, flawless and above criticism.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lugworm, jozeppy26 and Breezygirl
jozeppy26 said:
I too am in the group of users fairly ticked off at the lack of third party watch faces allowed on the Apple Watch. I really think the "Apple is protecting the style and class of the watch" argument is ridiculous given the super ugly and horrifically unstylish "Chronograph"and "Mickey & Minnie Mouse" watch faces Apple created (I mean seriously, so freaking ugly and childish). It's not that I have a problem with those watch faces, but they certainly weren't included for style. The other faces are fine and even the new activity watch faces are pretty and useful at the same time, however there are so many classy and modern possibilities still lacking.

To be honest I'm really upset because I just cannot use an analog watch face that lacks hour labels, I must be stupid or lazy because it takes me significantly longer (5-10 seconds) to tell the exact time compared to an analog watch face with hour labels. Apple only allows labels for the "Utility", "Chronograph", and "Mickey and Minnie Mouse" watch faces. Would it have really killed them to give the option in "Simple", "Color", and "Activity" watch faces? I basically still forced to either only ever use the "Utility" face, look like I'm 5 years old rocking Minnie Mouse, or look like i'm 85 using "Chronograph".


TLDR: Does anyone think we will ever get third party watch faces? Maybe it's like a "Jobs moment" like when Apple thought HTML5 web-based Apps were good enough for third party apps on the iPhone (rolls eyes).
Click to expand...

Add the current time as a digital complication to any analog watch face. Follow these steps.

1. Add your location to the world clock on your iPhone (for example if you live in Los Angeles, add Los Angeles as a work clock)
2. In the Apple watch app on your iPhone go to clock > City Abberviations. Find the location you added in step 1 and erase the entire abbreviations and just press space.
3. Go to any watch face on your Apple watch and add the world clock with no name next to it.

End result should be like this. (8:52 is the current time of your current location).

upload_2016-6-19_16-57-5.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrodieApple and Laserducky
You can set any app as you "watch face" if you change the default setting to "back to previous operation". Then you can double tapping the crown to switch between the app and the watch face you normally use.
 
I like to think that the new Activity watch faces are a sign of things to come. You could as well call them "Activity app watch faces". Pretty sure it will be opened up for third party developers some time down the road.
 
jozeppy26 said:

To be honest I'm really upset because I just cannot use an analog watch face that lacks hour labels, I must be stupid or lazy because it takes me significantly longer (5-10 seconds) to tell the exact time compared to an analog watch face with hour labels. Apple only allows labels for the "Utility", "Chronograph", and "Mickey and Minnie Mouse" watch faces. Would it have really killed them to give the option in "Simple", "Color", and "Activity" watch faces? I basically still forced to either only ever use the "Utility" face, look like I'm 5 years old rocking Minnie Mouse, or look like i'm 85 using "Chronograph".
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this. I want that Hermes watch face so badly. It's the only one that looks elegant and takes up the whole screen, thus being the most readable.
I got a nice knockoff leather strap set consisting of the cuff and double tour all packed into one but none of the watch faces really look the part even with a knock off.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jozeppy26 and naasrd
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't care about third party faces, I just want more faces. I was really hoping Apple was going to give us something like a dozen new faces this release. I mean they gave us Minnie, is it really that hard to also give us Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy, etc? Even if they had given us more variations on the existing themes I would have been happy. For example, I dislike the design of the hands on the analog faces. I wish they had given us the ability to choose the hand design.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jozeppy26
parseckadet said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't care about third party faces, I just want more faces. I was really hoping Apple was going to give us something like a dozen new faces this release. I mean they gave us Minnie, is it really that hard to also give us Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy, etc? Even if they had given us more variations on the existing themes I would have been happy. For example, I dislike the design of the hands on the analog faces. I wish they had given us the ability to choose the hand design.
Click to expand...

Same here, I would have put money on it that we were getting a new line up of faces and complications.
 
For me, now that Apple allows us to use our own photos as a watch face, it's an easy choice -- I set the watch to pick up my photos from a gallery (folder) on my iPhone and I'm good to go. Photos change each time I look at the watch and it's really cool and fun. Forget Mickey: I'm much happier seeing my own unique images as watch faces.
 
profmatt said:
Why is it that whenever anyone dares to criticise Apple the stock response is to tell people to get out and blame them for being dumb enough for getting in in the first place?

Apple products are not perfect, flawless and above criticism.
Click to expand...

Apple never stated that the Apple Watch would support 3rd party watch faces. For someone to be "pissed off" about a a feature that was never promised is ridiculous.

People need to stop accepting tech site rumors as official Apple press. One tech site mentions 3rd party watch faces and all of a sudden the other sites are all regurgitating the same rumors and people reading these things start to believe that 3rd party watch faces are coming.

Apple makes it's official announcement and the same tech sites post "disappointment" and "lack of" type BS articles related to the rumors they started to begin with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sflomenb, BarracksSi and lagwagon
The last thing Apple needs to worry about right now is maintaining a 3rd party watch face store.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BarracksSi
Don't even get my started. Its PATHETIC we don't have a better watch face selection. PATHETIC
[doublepost=1466474876][/doublepost]
Clix Pix said:
For me, now that Apple allows us to use our own photos as a watch face, it's an easy choice -- I set the watch to pick up my photos from a gallery (folder) on my iPhone and I'm good to go. Photos change each time I look at the watch and it's really cool and fun. Forget Mickey: I'm much happier seeing my own unique images as watch faces.
Click to expand...

That would be good if you could have more than just the time on it. Weather, activity app, moon phase etc would be nice for the photos.
 
Over on a wristwatch forum, there's a subform for smartwatches. In there is a "what are you wearing today?" thread for whatever smartwatches members are showing off.

Most of the faces on the Android Wear smartwatches are ripoffs of other brands' traditional watches. Many of the original faces are just plain ugly.

Early in watchOS segment of the WWDC keynote, when introducing the new faces at about the 12:15 mark, Kevin Lynch briefly mentions that faces are the character of the watch. I don't want my Watch to look like a "Fauxlex", a "Feiko", or, God forbid, a Hublot (vomit), so I'm perfectly happy with how it looks different from my other watches.

Now, saying all that, I think Apple's leaving open a way to select an even greater variety of faces via the new picker in the Watch app on the phone. Third-party faces would be loaded through here instead of being selectable only on the watch.

Still, I'm disappointed by one new Apple-designed face -- the Numerals face. It's uncharacteristically, un-Apple-ey clumsy, at least how it appears in online pictures. Some traditional watches have large numerals, too, and I never liked them much, either. But, I guess other people buy these other watches, so they'll probably enjoy the Numerals face.
 
skywalkerr69 said:
Don't even get my started. Its PATHETIC we don't have a better watch face selection. PATHETIC
[doublepost=1466474876][/doublepost]

That would be good if you could have more than just the time on it. Weather, activity app, moon phase etc would be nice for the photos.
Click to expand...

You CAN have more than just time on the Photo Face now (watchOS 3.) Two complications to be exact.

Here is a link to two screenshots I posted. (One showing the settings from within the iPhone Watch app and one a screenshot of the actual face from my watch.)

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/watchos-3-0-native-complications-list.1978730/#post-23037206
 
  • Like
Reactions: ladytonya and Armen
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back