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Because it would sound like crap and kill the battery in a matter of minutes probably.
 
I am guessing battery life. But I'm with you on this. If I am given the option to kill the battery with phone calls, I should be given the option to kill the battery with podcasts. And the speaker is plenty loud enough, at least Series 5 or later.
 
Because it would sound like crap and kill the battery in a matter of minutes probably.
I doubt it. You can make a call using the speaker and the watch isn't dead after a few mins.

Apple has done it by design. Maybe because they want to sell AirPods.
 
I doubt it. You can make a call using the speaker and the watch isn't dead after a few mins.

Apple has done it by design. Maybe because they want to sell AirPods.
Whilst the Apple Watch is a powerful device, with many features, it surprises me how Apple restrict how you can use a device that you have bought.

It’s even stranger how people on this website are happy for features they don’t wish to use, to be denied to others, for whom they maybe most useful.

Many features on the Watch and iPhone, are substandard when compared to a dedicated (often larger) device, but are incredibly useful (and cost efficient).

There are a few Watch apps, that allow audio files (and some that allow video files), to be played on the watch speaker.
 
Whilst the Apple Watch is a powerful device, with many features, it surprises me how Apple restrict how you can use a device that you have bought.

It’s even stranger how people on this website are happy for features they don’t wish to use, to be denied to others, for whom they maybe most useful.

Many features on the Watch and iPhone, are substandard when compared to a dedicated (often larger) device, but are incredibly useful (and cost efficient).

There are a few Watch apps, that allow audio files (and some that allow video files), to be played on the watch speaker.
I agree. It's such a basic thing, Apple could enable it quite easily, but I honestly think using the speaker for podcasts, may affect their AirPod sales.

I feel people defend Apple's decisions on implementing certain features, which
Because it would sound like crap and kill the battery in a matter of minutes probably.
Straight from Apple:

Up to 1.5 hours connected to 4G LTE
Tested with call made from Apple Watch. Up to 1.5 hours of talk time while connected directly to 4G LTE.
 
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I found one App that does play music through the Watch speaker (Streamlets). I have AirPods and would never have the need to play music via the internal speaker….but thought it was interesting to know this App had that capability….not sure I’ve seen another music App do that.
 
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I found one App that does play music through the Watch speaker (Streamlets). I have AirPods and would never have the need to play music via the internal speaker….but thought it was interesting to know this App had that capability….not sure I’ve seen another music App do that.
Fascinating thx
 
The watch is on my wrist. Why would I need an additional device when my watch has a speaker built in?
Get a small speaker that has bluetooth and hang it from a neck chain. China makes stuff incredibly small and will probably look like jewelry. Use that instead of the watch speaker that doesn’t work for your use case.
 
I wish we could as well - Shazam can playback short clips; would love this for podcasts and would be willing to take the battery hit when I choose to!
 
I wish we could as well - Shazam can playback short clips; would love this for podcasts and would be willing to take the battery hit when I choose to!
Um. I was able to play music directly from my watch yesterday! I wasn’t trying to do that, I was searching for my Bluetooth earbuds and fiddling around withe the output devices…and suddenly the music which was playing on my earbuds came out of the Watch speaker! It was insane. ? I’m not even sure it is repeatable, I was just very surprised. And, yes, it was tinny—though still recognizable, and not horrendous. Definitely not something anyone would want though. And, I’m sure it would consume massive battery power.
 
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if you REALLY wants to play music through the speaker, there is iCatcher, it's paid and a podcast/audiobook focused app, but nothing prevents you from uploading some mp3s to the watch and playing it on the app. just noticed it while trying to figure out if id did some other functions from another post.
 
I really didn’t want to start a new thread for a speaker related issue, so here goes:

Watch 7, watchOS 8.3 beta, iPhone and Watch connected to same WiFi.

From another phone, I call my iPhone to test calling. I pick the call on the Watch.

I speak something once on the other phone. My voice comes out as echo from the Watch speaker. Seriously, comes out thrice!

First Watch ever. Any thoughts why is this echo occurring?
 
Siri works and facetime audio calls work over the built-in speaker, so why can't we listen to our music? Makes no sense. I would love to be able to do this. Especially during work, where they don't allow us to bring out phones inside.

Hey I can hardly stand people who use their iPhones on speakerphone in public, especially in transit, I’d have the same feelings towards someone blasting whatever they think is good music through that tinny watch speaker.
 
I really didn’t want to start a new thread for a speaker related issue, so here goes:

Watch 7, watchOS 8.3 beta, iPhone and Watch connected to same WiFi.

From another phone, I call my iPhone to test calling. I pick the call on the Watch.

I speak something once on the other phone. My voice comes out as echo from the Watch speaker. Seriously, comes out thrice!

First Watch ever. Any thoughts why is this echo occurring?
Is your watch close enough to the phone you're calling from that it could be picking it up?
 
Is your watch close enough to the phone you're calling from that it could be picking it up?

Well, I did try to mitigate the proximity the way I do with phones.. Watch on my left wrist, and the calling phone was kept at the farthest distance to the right hand I could, give or take 4 ft. between the two.

Such testing between phones never gave an echo, an echo on the Watch spooked me that I might be looking at some hardware defect. I will likely test it between rooms.
 
So get a pair of AirPods and use them with your watch ?
Ugh. I really hate responses like this on forums and the like. The original post wasn’t asking how to listen to any media through their Apple Watch, I’m sure they’re not stupid and are perfectly aware you can pair listening devices with it. They specifically asked about listening through the Apple Watch speaker.

And yes, I do realize how ridiculous it is to take the time to post such long thoughts about your 3yo response. But I see this sh*t all the time all over social media and forums, people that just want to pop off some smart*ss reply without taking time to actually consider what the original question was asking. Straw that broke the camels back ya know?

Thaaaanks have a nice day 🙃
 
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Hey I can hardly stand people who use their iPhones on speakerphone in public, especially in transit, I’d have the same feelings towards someone blasting whatever they think is good music through that tinny watch speaker.
Me too. I saw a guy yesterday guying a portal speaker (half the size of him). It was ridiculously loud and annoying!
 
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