Apple Watch 3 Wish List
I’ve been thinking this week about some stuff that I would like in the next version of the Apple Watch. I have an Apple Watch 1.0 now and its been my favorite watch in the last few years. That being said, I’ve never had anything nicer than a $35 sports watch from Walmart, but I really do enjoy the watch a lot. It is the first piece of tech I interact with in the morning and the last thing I interact with in the evening. I mainly use it as a watch with swappable bands, for fitness tracking, and notifications. My 3rd party app usuage is limited because of my Gen 1 constrained processor, maybe that will change when I upgrade to Apple Watch 3. With that in mind here is the list of things I would like to see my next Apple Watch have…..
Always-on Display
One thing that I wish the Apple Watch did better was be a watch. Right now, its OK, but I would like to not have to do the awkward Apple Watch jig or exaggerated wrist raise that I’ve trained myself to do the last year and a half. Some Android-Wear watches have been doing this for a while and the Apple Watch already has an AMOLED screen so this technology is not outside their reach. I would be willing to part with a bit of battery life to be able to more easily glance at my wrist.
Round Display
This one may be out there, but half of the Apple Watch being a fashion product. I would love to see what Apple would do with a circular watch app design. Yeah, I know it cuts off a lot of the screen for apps, but I would also argue that people do not really use 3rd party apps on smart watches anyway.
Better App Launcher
The nebulous cloud of round App icons looks fantastic on marketing material, but its an usability mess. I have had the watch for a year and a half and still only vague understand how it fills itself out. Maybe copying the Samsung Gear 2 scrolling list would be a good idea. The Apple Watch does have a digital crown after all that’s great for scrolling lists and is a little underutilized in WatchOS 3.0
Faster Siri
I have found Siri useful on the Apple Watch for reminders, timers, replying to text messages, issuing HomeKit commands, etc, but its still really slow. Hopefully with some updated silicon Apple can speed up this interaction.
Watch Face Store
I think that the big feature on WatchOS 4.0 needs to be a 3rd party watch face store. The Apple Watch launched with apps, but arguably those have been a flop. In survey after survey the #1 use of the Apple Watch beyond fitness and notifications is using it as a face watch. I think that Apple could have a Watch Face Store. Apple could still curate the store to make sure it stays up to their standards, but I after seeing the flood of fun iMessage sticker packs I want to see more custom watch faces from brands like Marvel, DC, movies, books, TV shows, etc. As much as physical band, I think the watch face would help make the Apple Watch Apple’s most personal product.
Health App Insights
The Apple Health App is a boring database of information on your iPhone. I think Apple should take the next step and try to help you make sense of all of this data you are collecting. I know it would require FDA approval to make any health recommendations, but being able to set fitness or healthy goals like Google Calendar does would be helpful. I would like the ability for Health to set a reminder to go running 3x a week or maybe set reminders every few hours to drink some water. I think the Health App should focus on helping set realistic goals and establish healthy habits.
Apple Heath Band
I think a cheaper, Apple Health Band would be a cool product to take on Fitbit and help Apple push the fitness lifestyle focus of their product range. They could be the Apple Watch’s version of the iPod Shuffle. Maybe sell for $100–150 and have a small display for displaying your Rings, the basic digital time, and provide some music controls. Have it feed into the Activity and Health app.
LTE, but not at the cost of thickness
Having an LTE option on the Apple Watch would be handy. If Apple could figure out a watch to include LTE without making the Watch the size of the LG Watch Sport or destroying the battery life (A tall order I know) I would welcome it. I would even pay a little every month to use it. Being able to stream podcasts via PocketCasts while I’m on a run or get iMessages, email, or phone calls while I’m away from the phone would be nice. The ability to be away from my iPhone more often I would welcome. Because of my job I have to be always connected, but being able to leave my iPhone behind when I go running or walking would be great. As phones have gotten bigger, so as their ability to get work done with them. I would be more willing to accept a bigger phone into my life if I could leave it behind when I go out or running. Big phones are nice until you try to go running with them. Having a more independent Apple Watch would be nice.
