watchOS 5 Wishlist: Features MacRumors Readers Want to See Introduced in the Next Apple Watch Software Update

tomsop said:
Wow- this list is missing the biggest failure: no WiFi access. If you have WiFi at home you can get iMessages and take calls from your iPhone to your iPad but if your watch is not in the same room, forget it. I hate the fact the I watch can’t get notifications or calls or imessages on my watch if my phone was left in the other room and it can’t take advantage of WiFi.
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I get and make calls (via WiFi calling) and notifications when my watch is on WiFi...
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zantafio said:
I want the remote app to work properly: currently it's missing the TV and Siri buttons! And you can't adjust the volume with the crown like you'd do with the music app.
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YES PLEASE - update the Remote app!
 
I'd like to see a (at least) 50mm watch face. The 42mm looks like a girls watch on my fat arms.
 
MacRumors said:



The Worldwide Developers Conference is just about a week and a half away, and while we've heard some rumors on what we might see in iOS 12 and macOS 10.14, watchOS 5, the next-generation software update for the Apple Watch, remains a total mystery.

With no idea what to expect, we asked MacRumors readers what new features and tweaks they would most like to see in the watchOS 5 update.

watchos5-800x395.jpg


[*]Live step count complication - MacRumors reader Breezygirl would like to see Apple add a live step complication that lets you see how many steps you've completed at a glance, rather than just a complication that lets you know how close you've come to hitting your activity ring goal.
[*]Third-party watch faces - Third-party watch faces are highly desired by most Apple Watch owners on the forums, but so far, Apple has kept the Apple Watch locked down to control the design and interface of the device. As MacRumors reader Relentless Power suggests, a watch face store that includes a variety of watch faces from third-party developers and companies would be great.
[*]Activity app improvements - Right now, the Activity app requires you to hit your goals each and every day to keep a streak going, which can be difficult at times and allows for no rest. MacRumors reader SoYoung would like to be able to set rest days.
[*]Workout app improvements - In the same vein, MacRumors reader Rbart is hoping for a better workout app for running that's closer in design to Strava with additional statistics, a complete history, best performances, and more. Honglong1976, meanwhile, would like to see automatic activity detection to alleviate the need to start a workout.
[*]Podcasts for Apple Watch - Multiple MacRumors readers would like to see a dedicated Podcasts app on the Apple Watch for listening to podcasts on the wrist-worn device.
[*]Off-wrist Notifications indicator - MacRumors reader Lennyvalentin would like to see the Apple Watch better able to keep track of incoming notifications even when off the wrist, with those notifications still showing up but with an indication to note that they were received while the Apple Watch was idle.
[*]Proximity notifications - There's no way to set the Apple Watch to ping when it goes out of range of the iPhone, a feature MacRumors reader Justiny would like to see as a way to keep track of the iPhone and get a reminder if it's left behind.
[*]Sleep tracking - This one is probably a long shot given that Apple suggests people charge their Apple Watches at night, but MacRumors readers would like to see native sleep tracking capabilities.
[*]Always-on display - Given battery constraints, Apple has never implemented an always-on display for the Apple Watch, which is another highly desired feature. The Apple Watch display comes on when the wrist is raised, but it would be nice to have always-on access to the time as is possible with a traditional watch.
[*]Better health analysis and suggestions - MacRumors reader Bluecoast would like to see Apple better take advantage of the health information it collects with the watch to add recommendations and coaching for those who are aiming to meet health goals, as well as deeper analysis.

Is there something you're hoping to see in watchOS 5 that didn't make it on our list? Make sure to let us know in the comments.

Article Link: watchOS 5 Wishlist: Features MacRumors Readers Want to See Introduced in the Next Apple Watch Software Update
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[doublepost=1527308434][/doublepost]How about allowing the Series 3 connecting to carplay without the phone to play music via bluetooth?
 
tomsop said:
Wow- this list is missing the biggest failure: no WiFi access. If you have WiFi at home you can get iMessages and take calls from your iPhone to your iPad but if your watch is not in the same room, forget it. I hate the fact the I watch can’t get notifications or calls or imessages on my watch if my phone was left in the other room and it can’t take advantage of WiFi.
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Uh, what?
Apple.com said:
Your Apple Watch uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to communicate with your paired iPhone, switching between connections as needed:
  • Your Apple Watch uses Bluetooth when your iPhone is near, which conserves power.
  • If Bluetooth isn’t available, your Apple Watch will try to use Wi-Fi. For example, if compatible Wi-Fi is available and your iPhone isn't in Bluetooth range, your Apple Watch uses Wi-Fi.
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https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204562

Always on display is the big one for me, especially during an activity. Failing that, proper function of raise to wake if the watch is worn on the inside of the wrist. Also, allow running/workout apps to take control of the physical buttons. I need a lap button on a run... Apple Pay or Siri, less so.
 
redscull said:
What? This feature has existed for a long time. Since the very beginning of the Apple Watch I'm pretty sure (I only got one at Series 2 so at least since then).

Something is wrong with your watch if it isn't jumping on wifi. When you're at home, it is supposed to use wifi to extend its range so you can leave your phone on your desk and just use the watch. I do this every day. It's also nice if you want to go to the gym or something without your phone. Watch hops on wifi at the gym so you can get iMessages even though you left the phone at home.
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Isn't that just spotify's own fault? What's stopping them from making a watch app?
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The second to last update broke WiFi for a lot of people. The solution is to forget and reconnect to WiFi routers from the paired iPhone. Then the watch can find them again.
 
Apple needs to focus more on the watch than OS. Quit making them look like you are wearing a loaf of bread on your wrist. My god, they look hideous.
 
farewelwilliams said:
lots of these aren't really great ideas.

Activity app improvements
Watch is about tracking stuff. If you already know your rest day, there's no point in setting it. Just don't work out that way.

Off-wrist Notifications indicator
That's what your phone is for.

Proximity notifications
I think a lot of people occasionally step away from their phone a lot which could be annoying if everyone turned it on.

Sleep tracking
Super obvious since Apple bought that smart sleeping company.

Always-on display
Current and past watches will never have this. Future hardware will probably have it.
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[doublepost=1527314583][/doublepost]Always on would make it a Watch

Smart is something else

I use it but i would not recommend it
 
I want the nightstand mode to be red instead of green.

Green lights up the room and hurts my eyes when I look at it in the dead of morning.

Red is a much easier colour for nighttime. It Is a lot easier to look at. I believe it’s because red has a shorter wavelength or something? It’s why alarm clocks are red. They can stay on without illuminating the room.

So I would like a choice when it comes to nightstand mode. Brightness and colour.

And it should show an indicator orb for any notifications.
 
Waiting for more sports in the workout list: Rowing, (as outdoor distance, strokes per minute, as well as indoor strokes per minute. Also add all the missing Olympic sports. Not only individual sports but also teamsports.
 
I’m gonna be in the minority but step counting is now thought to be largely useless to overall health. So I doubt this will be added, it’s just a bit misleading.

And about rest days... nah... I appreciate you may want to have a reduced goal on the move ring and maybe exercise ring but consist exercise is needed. So let’s call it reduced days instead of rest.
 
Podcasts! Podcasts! Podcasts!

And not just overnight. There could be heart or watch icon that you set to the ones you like to listen to on a walk etc and they update over Bluetooth during the day.
 
I’ve always thought that for a device called a “watch,” it should excel at telling the time. The Apple Watch does not excel in this regard, no matter how much Jony Ive wants to bang on about horology.
 
Custom watch faces built by 3rd party developers for goodness sake.
[doublepost=1527322240][/doublepost]Two new exercises... mowing the lawn and playing with kids. Haha.
 
I'm not sure if always-on can be implemented on previous watches, but I'll take it that when the watch is not unlocked, it'll change the time face to just a black background with white text showing the time. That to me seems the best compromise as it'll not use much power at all since the display is OLED
 
wbeasley said:
How about getting rid of the word "Complication"?

Apple used to pride itself on making difficult easy. Complicated runs counter that aim.

Surely there is a better descriptive word than that?
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I think the word ‘complication’ is a very different type of term for marketing purposes, but I do understand what Apple was executing here, because you can technically “complicate” the watch face the way you want to, Even though ‘customize’ would have been the more obvious term, but I’m sure they wanted to make it unique so the user recognizes what the function intends to do. But the reality is, complications with the Apple Watch is an easy and seamless function after you first experience if. It’s still executes what it’s intended to do, it just may not sound appealing.
 
Krayzkat said:
I'd like the heart monitor to actually monitor at a higher frequency during workouts (i think it's once per minute atm). I'm fed up having no heart rate for the first minute of a cycle when i'm cycling hard to build up a sweat.

Would also be good to have an always on display during workouts (not bothered about any other time as it would be a battery killer) so no more having to tap on the watch during an Insanity workout to find out if i'm about to have a heart attack or not.
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There is Cardiogram.

On the AW swipe left and you get offered continuous recording.

hth
 
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