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WuMing2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 16, 2023
59
25
Disabling passcode also disables Apple Pay. And in a pocket most sensors will become redundant. That’s fine. Anything else I will be missing?
 

NightfallOrchid

macrumors member
Feb 19, 2019
48
82
Disabling passcode also disables Apple Pay. And in a pocket most sensors will become redundant. That’s fine. Anything else I will be missing?
Without Apple Pay, not making use of the sensors, and having to take it out of the pocket to look at the time or notifications (instead of doing the same with your iPhone), you would lose pretty much all functionality and utility of the Apple Watch...
 

FreakinEurekan

macrumors 603
Sep 8, 2011
6,456
3,332
What features of the watch do you want? A few that I use mine for:
  • Apple Pay (you mentioned this one)
  • Notifications & previews (know if I have to get phone out of pocket)
  • Taps on wrist for turns coming up while driving
  • Set quick timers for lunch, break, cooking, etc.
  • Use Siri to add things to grocery list, etc.
All of these would be considerably impacted if the watch were in my pocket. And since my phone is in my pocket anyway… I see no point in carrying a watch that way, unless it’s an alternative to carrying a phone perhaps? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
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G5isAlive

Contributor
Aug 28, 2003
2,832
4,875
Disabling passcode also disables Apple Pay. And in a pocket most sensors will become redundant. That’s fine. Anything else I will be missing?

It won’t alert you to messages, notifications, or anything that enables communication from your phone. It will essentially be a slightly prettier version of a $12 dumb Casio, but with much shorter battery life. A conversation piece sure but feels like a reach. Must be better ways to advertise one is an eccentric nerd?
 

izzy0242mr

macrumors 6502a
Jul 24, 2009
689
489
Disabling passcode also disables Apple Pay. And in a pocket most sensors will become redundant. That’s fine. Anything else I will be missing?
Other than the obvious that everyone else has said (aka you have to pull out the watch to see notifications vs looking at your wrist), Apple Pay and heart rate tracking is really all you miss otherwise.

Amazon reviewers who use pocket watch chains on the Apple Watch have said it still works for step tracking.
 
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Supermallet

macrumors 68000
Sep 19, 2014
1,975
2,174
I’m confused, if you have to take it out of your pocket every time you need to use it, why not just use a phone? The whole point of the watch is the convenience of having it on your wrist.
 

jz0309

Contributor
Sep 25, 2018
11,318
29,878
SoCal
Disabling passcode also disables Apple Pay. And in a pocket most sensors will become redundant. That’s fine. Anything else I will be missing?
you basically miss the entire AW experience, it's meant to be worn on your wrist ... but whatever works for you
 

WuMing2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 16, 2023
59
25
As someone figured my purpose is to avoid carrying the iPhone in pockets. Store it in my knapsack instead. Wristwatches are not for me, last one was decades ago, and Watch may supply non urgent notifications and replies capabilities. From a much smaller and lighter package. I will remove both straps since not necessary for the purpose. Anyone with experience of the unusual configuration? Does it vibrate even if off a wrist?
 

FreakinEurekan

macrumors 603
Sep 8, 2011
6,456
3,332
As someone figured my purpose is to avoid carrying the iPhone in pockets. Store it in my knapsack instead. Wristwatches are not for me, last one was decades ago, and Watch may supply non urgent notifications and replies capabilities. From a much smaller and lighter package. I will remove both straps since not necessary for the purpose. Anyone with experience of the unusual configuration? Does it vibrate even if off a wrist?
You’ll lose out on some of the benefits of the watch, and I’m not convinced that the remaining utility juice would worth the squeeze for me, but we’re all different so if you’re happy with it the Vaya con Dios.

As long as the skin sensor is disabled, I’m sure the Taptic would work off-wrist. Whether you'd feel it or not, I don’t know.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,858
8,036
As someone figured my purpose is to avoid carrying the iPhone in pockets. Store it in my knapsack instead. Wristwatches are not for me, last one was decades ago, and Watch may supply non urgent notifications and replies capabilities. From a much smaller and lighter package. I will remove both straps since not necessary for the purpose. Anyone with experience of the unusual configuration? Does it vibrate even if off a wrist?
It does vibrate, but you are unlikely to feel it if it's in your pocket. Vibrations for notifications are short, and not very prominent. I often miss them even with the watch on my wrist. Alarms and timers are stronger and keep going for some minutes, so those I feel even when the watch is in my pocket (I sometimes tuck it into my pocket when it gets wet and I'm waiting for it to dry).
 

WuMing2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 16, 2023
59
25
Contactless payment with Express Transit Card. Doesn’t require passcode I just discovered. Another function I will be able to offload together with showing time and notifications. Looking ever more appealing.
 
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WuMing2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 16, 2023
59
25
Bought it. Stripped of bands. Deactivated wrist detection and passcode. Deactivated background app refresh. It’s glorious.

Almost weightless, disappears in my pocket without revealing itself with a bulge.

Notifications. Siri dictation. Maps POI details. Messages. Emails. Alarm. Discovering more. It picked up the majority of my iPhone interactions already. As I was hoping it would.

It may even be able to replace my physical transit card. Asking Apple support if Express Transit works with the configuration.
 

WuMing2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 16, 2023
59
25
With surprise discovered Express Mode function for transit cards in Apple Wallet require a passcode being set on device. Passcode is not requested during transit but without it function is not available.

This quite different from how a transit card works. And clearly not compatible with Watch used as pocket watch. Oh well, still useful in many other ways.
 

PatrickNSF

macrumors 6502a
Jan 24, 2011
764
447
Bought it. Stripped of bands. Deactivated wrist detection and passcode. Deactivated background app refresh. It’s glorious.

Almost weightless, disappears in my pocket without revealing itself with a bulge.

Notifications. Siri dictation. Maps POI details. Messages. Emails. Alarm. Discovering more. It picked up the majority of my iPhone interactions already. As I was hoping it would.

It may even be able to replace my physical transit card. Asking Apple support if Express Transit works with the configuration.
Which lanyard did you purchase?
 

Howard2k

macrumors 603
Mar 10, 2016
5,671
5,587
With surprise discovered Express Mode function for transit cards in Apple Wallet require a passcode being set on device. Passcode is not requested during transit but without it function is not available.

This quite different from how a transit card works. And clearly not compatible with Watch used as pocket watch. Oh well, still useful in many other ways.


Which makes sense. Apple’s intent is obviously that you use the watch as a watch.
 
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Howard2k

macrumors 603
Mar 10, 2016
5,671
5,587
Which I do. Just not from the wrist.

Apologies. Apple and I both meant as a wrist watch specially, not a pocket watch.

That’s why there all of Apple’s promotional material shows it being used in that fashion, and there are zero instances of Apple suggesting that it’s used as a pocket watch.
 

WuMing2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 16, 2023
59
25
Apologies. Apple and I both meant as a wrist watch specially, not a pocket watch.

That’s why there all of Apple’s promotional material shows it being used in that fashion, and there are zero instances of Apple suggesting that it’s used as a pocket watch.
I see. Clearly you don’t know the history of Apple Watch.
 

Howard2k

macrumors 603
Mar 10, 2016
5,671
5,587
Whatever floats your boat. I've heard the iPad makes a terrific cutting board for chopping vegetables. 🤣

I tried using an AirTag as a razor. It was terrible. Apple really needs to make it easier to sharpen or just release a version with sharp edges.
 
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waw74

macrumors 601
May 27, 2008
4,767
1,001
With surprise discovered Express Mode function for transit cards in Apple Wallet require a passcode being set on device. Passcode is not requested during transit but without it function is not available.

This quite different from how a transit card works. And clearly not compatible with Watch used as pocket watch. Oh well, still useful in many other ways.

I didn't think you could even add a card to Apple Pay on the watch if you don't have a passcode set.

If you could, anyone who got your watch would have unlimited access to the card for any place you can use Apple Pay, not just transit.

I'm also not sure if the watch has to be unlocked for express transit, You don't have to tap the side button like you have to do at a store. Tapping the side button prevents people from being able to just swipe at your wrist with any charge. The watch is already unlocked, so you just need to confirm that you really want to use Apple Pay.

technically you don't have to enter a passcode any time you use it, even at retail. But it assumes it's still with you, since you unlocked it after putting it on. and it will auto lock after taking it off


I highly suggest trying it out worn on your wrist, even though you're "not a watch person" cause if you think the 10% usage of it that you're currently doing is "glorious" you should try it as the people who made it designed it.
 
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WuMing2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 16, 2023
59
25
It is giving me a bit of a surprise every time someone tries passionately, or not, to push me using in a certain way an item I own. Surprise because most of times I thought I have explained my reasons in details already. And someone seems to have skipped reading and understanding them altogether. Such disregard for someone’s else needs and preferences is unfortunate. But after all this is just a sub forum, topic specific, on the internet. By parting from this discussion I wish everyone a productive week coming ahead.
 
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