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Weak Taptic Engine?
- Thread starter Steven Jackson
- Start date
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I definitely think something is different based on the app and the type of notification or something. Or maybe it's the newness of the watch and it just needs some software updates.
Mail, Messages and even AP notifications always tap and sound. However, I can get 10 Instagram notifications in a row, and I look at the watch to see a red dot that they're listed in the Notification Center, but they didn't sound or tap. I purposely have been looking out for them all day and had friends send me messages or like my images to test, and none of them made a sound or vibrated the watch. Meanwhile my PlayStation app notifies just fine even though it's not even a Watch compatible app and is just mimicking the notifications I allow on my phone.
I'm guessing there are discrepancies because of the newness of the watch. But it's definitely not always because the tap and sound are subtle. Some just don't sound/tap.
I even have had a couple issues with Glances. They've stopped updating a couple times and I had to restart the watch to get them working again. FYI, I ADORE my watch. It's already been awesome at liking my friend's Instagram images, I paid for extra parking today with Pay by Phone, and I was even alerted that the shoes I ordered are coming tomorrow thanks to Deliveries. Nevermind the fun and quick glances at messages or even my credit card getting charged.
But all that said, there are definitely still more things that need to be ironed out lol.
Mail, Messages and even AP notifications always tap and sound. However, I can get 10 Instagram notifications in a row, and I look at the watch to see a red dot that they're listed in the Notification Center, but they didn't sound or tap. I purposely have been looking out for them all day and had friends send me messages or like my images to test, and none of them made a sound or vibrated the watch. Meanwhile my PlayStation app notifies just fine even though it's not even a Watch compatible app and is just mimicking the notifications I allow on my phone.
I'm guessing there are discrepancies because of the newness of the watch. But it's definitely not always because the tap and sound are subtle. Some just don't sound/tap.
I even have had a couple issues with Glances. They've stopped updating a couple times and I had to restart the watch to get them working again. FYI, I ADORE my watch. It's already been awesome at liking my friend's Instagram images, I paid for extra parking today with Pay by Phone, and I was even alerted that the shoes I ordered are coming tomorrow thanks to Deliveries. Nevermind the fun and quick glances at messages or even my credit card getting charged.
But all that said, there are definitely still more things that need to be ironed out lol.
Yeah that's my problem. I was assuming that all notifications would alert me with taptic feedback. Perhaps, taptic feedback only happens if there's a watch app extension?
Feel free to stop ******** in everyone's threads anytime now. Also, linear actuators are hardly new, just new to apple.
I also agree. I was so excited about finally stopping the constant obnoxious tone alerts, but the vibrations turned out very weak for my lifestyle, when I'm moving and being very active. I only notice them when I'm relaxing.
Hopefully an update can improve it.
38mm SS WSB
Hopefully an update can improve it.
38mm SS WSB
To me the prominent feedback feels like a bubble being inflated and trembling just before it pops in time with the ping sound of the message. Its pretty cool
I've discovered that the default apps already on the Watch are sending me alerts on my watch, but not the third party apps I've downloaded.
I've come from using both Pebble watches and can't get used to the very light taps.
I've come from using both Pebble watches and can't get used to the very light taps.
I also thought initially that I might have gotten a unit with a weak Taptic Engine as I am sometimes missing notifications if I'm moving around. But I now think that they might have designed it to be very subtle on purpose. They team at Apple was probably worried about vibrations being too intense and becoming annoying / intrusive for most people.
I do wish however that they had an option to turn up the vibration a bit because I would probably set it higher.
Tuck
P.S. I'm also coming from a Pebble- which has very noticeable (and also loud) vibrations.
I do wish however that they had an option to turn up the vibration a bit because I would probably set it higher.
Tuck
P.S. I'm also coming from a Pebble- which has very noticeable (and also loud) vibrations.
Maybe us former Pebble users are desensitized to the weaker taps. Like when I drink a Bud Light when I normally drink Scotch. My wife freaked out every time it vibrated for her. I can barely feel it. I'll try the prominent setting.
I wonder if its possible there's a difference between the two case sizes? I have a 38mm, but maybe 42mm people are ok? Could also be how it sits on the wrist. People with skinnier wrists may not feel it as much as people with fatter wrists.
But yeah, Apple marketing really sure knows how to do their thing. They gave the taptic engine a lot of attention for something that's basically just a different style vibration.
I wonder if its possible there's a difference between the two case sizes? I have a 38mm, but maybe 42mm people are ok? Could also be how it sits on the wrist. People with skinnier wrists may not feel it as much as people with fatter wrists.
But yeah, Apple marketing really sure knows how to do their thing. They gave the taptic engine a lot of attention for something that's basically just a different style vibration.
Seems like all notifications can't get haptic feedback (like instagram likes for example). I had to manually turn it on for mails and messages. It was mirrored from the phone by default, which doesn't include haptic for some reason.
I just got my Stainless Steel Sport Band model today and the haptic seemed weak. I had a co-worker of mine who has a Sport Model (but didn't bring it today). He tried mine on and I fired off the taptic. Even at the strongest setting he said it was half as strong as his notifications even at the strongest setting. Not sure what's up, but it seems like mine might be defective? If you're having the same issue it might be worth stopping by an Apple Store to try a different watch, especially the sport model.
I an experiencing the same issue. (Too?) weak tactic feedback, even at the strongest settings. I have a SS WSB, and even wearing the band very tight, it is so weak on the strongest setting that I miss a lot of notifications. Like if I'm relaxing on the sofa or am very quiet at a desk I'll feel it but as soon as there's a little bit of action around me or if I walk, drive or else, forget it, there's no way I could feel that tap.
BTW contacted apple support, they did send me another watch (came in as an express replacement the next day) just to find out that the swapped unit does exactly the same thing. Even restoring and setting it up as a new watch doesn't change a thing.
I brought both units to my local Apple Store, and geniuses agreed that the tactic is very weak. But they don't know what to do..
So I ended up returning the replacement watch, turned on the prominent feedback and rely mostly on the sound of the notification.
How can a feature as cool as this be so weak that it's almost non-existent?
That's very sad for a product as fantastic as the apple watch.
BTW contacted apple support, they did send me another watch (came in as an express replacement the next day) just to find out that the swapped unit does exactly the same thing. Even restoring and setting it up as a new watch doesn't change a thing.
I brought both units to my local Apple Store, and geniuses agreed that the tactic is very weak. But they don't know what to do..
So I ended up returning the replacement watch, turned on the prominent feedback and rely mostly on the sound of the notification.
How can a feature as cool as this be so weak that it's almost non-existent?
That's very sad for a product as fantastic as the apple watch.
My taptic went completely dead two nights ago. It started working again after shutting down and restarting the watch, but the haptic feedback is now much weaker than before. I miss most notifications.
I have a genius appointment today, hopefully they will replace it.
I have a genius appointment today, hopefully they will replace it.
Glad to hear I am not alone! I have to wear my 42mm SS so tight that my hand tingles to notice the taptic notifications. In a meeting at work when I don't move it works great. But if move at all, even just working at my computer, I miss a lot of notifications. I fear this is a SS issue as steel is much heavier than aluminum. I heard in a podcast from Myke Hurley that he can see his Sport physically move when someone sends him a heartbeat. And if his watch touches a hard object while vibrating it makes a LOUD sound. No way my SS watch would do that! I will go to an Apple Store and compare my watch to other SS and Sport models. I am seriously considering switching out my SS for a sport. The taptic feedback is the most important feature to me and perhaps the Sport is just the better watch then?
YOU CAN TURN up the vibration. Mine is so strong that it feels like someone is poking me. The default is set to low when the watch arrives.
I set mine to medium and while it is subtle, I do feel it. I feel it better when my watch isn't strapped too tightly... that seems to deaden the feel, somehow.
I did have it on high, but I decided I wanted to train myself to a lighter tap. So far, so good. I do not have Prominent turned on.
I did have it on high, but I decided I wanted to train myself to a lighter tap. So far, so good. I do not have Prominent turned on.
I'm still unsure if my 42mm stainless is normal or not, and I've never used another watch to compare, but it sure doesn't seem as strong as what people have described. That said, I do feel like I'm getting a little more sensitive to the tapping sensation after a week or so.
To me the prominent feedback feels like a bubble being inflated and trembling just before it pops in time with the ping sound of the message. Its pretty cool
That's a very good description of it. I just turned it on to try it, and it went exactly the way you said it lol
I've started to notice just today that phone calls are nowhere near as strong as they were on day one.
coming from a pebble at first I felt like the taptic engine was very weak; however, after a few weeks I am totally use to the way it feels and never miss a notification.
I've been debating going to the Apple Store and try a demo watch. Mine feels pretty weak and I have it up all the way with prominent on. I can feel it if I am just sitting, but if I walk or run or move around, I miss every notification and don't feel a thing.