Personal Watch Faces - Will Apple Allow this?

[Piggie]

I'm very surprised no one has asked this yet, as this must be 'ONE' of the most important aspects of a watch. The Design/Style/Appearance of the actual watch face.

The watch face plays a MASSIVE role in selecting a normal watch.
Millions of different normal watch faces out there, both Analog and Digital to cater for all tastes.

Those who want a silver/gold plain classical dress watch style, right thru the range to those who want dials and information all over the face.

Watching and listening to the keynote, and from all I've read so far.
This is not possible.

All I have seen is, you can select from the various Apple designed watch faces, and customize aspects of them.

This is great, and what one would expect for the launch. A built in range of faces, and the ability to customize them to an extent.

However........................................

At no point in time did I see ANY mention of 'User or 3rd Party Created Watch Faces'

At it's most basic level, one would assume you could select and photo from your photo collection on the watch, and use that as a background for your watch face.

But, part of me thinks Apple will not allow this.
They will want to only offer their own watch faces.

What do you think?

I would say, being able to use, AT LEAST your own background image would be the minimum in allowing you to personalize your Apple Watch.

Do you think I'm right and Apple will not allow this?

I hope I'm wrong. If I'm wrong, please tell me I'm wrong.

 

[Pistol Peto]

I wouldn't be surprised if it's like the iPhone's keyboard.

At first you use Apple's, but later you'll import watch faces from 3rd parties.

 

[Piggie]

I wouldn't be surprised if it's like the iPhone's keyboard.

At first you use Apple's, but later you'll import watch faces from 3rd parties.

Yes, I can see this happening.

The annoyance, for users, will be that any 3rd party face/design, will have to be officially approved by Apple.

If Apple don't like the look of the watch face, then we can't have it.

I can totally see that happening.

Quite amazing if this is the case. Can you imagine Apple wanting to approve your background wallpaper on your iMac, Macbook, iPad or iPhone.

Users willl want to have a photo of their Husband, Wife, Girl/Boy friend, Cat, Dog etc etc, with a watch face over the front of the image.

Be interesting if Apple don't allow this. At the moment, looking at the keynote, they don't.

 

[FatMax]

Mr. Ive himself said in a interview that between the different editions, straps and watch faces there could be millions of unique Apple Watches out there...

I doubt apples 12 faces makes all this go into the millions..

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Users willl want to have a photo of their Husband, Wife, Girl/Boy friend, Cat, Dog etc etc, with a watch face over the front of the image.

Be interesting if Apple don't allow this. At the moment, looking at the keynote, they don't.

I don't see why not as there's an option to use a photo and they're already allowing this on the iPhone, etc.

 

[Piggie]

Mr. Ive himself said in a interview that between the different editions, straps and watch faces there could be millions of unique Apple Watches out there...

I doubt apples 12 faces makes all this go into the millions..

To be honest, I think Mr Ive was playing with numbers a bit.....

2 watch sizes
3 case materials
6 Straps in a range of colors
I'm guessing here, so let's say 10 official watch faces
Let's also guess that each face has say 4 on average customisable zones.

Just with that alone, you, if you wanted to, say there are millions probably of combinations.

Even if, in actual reality, there are only (guessing) 10 watch faces.

----------

I don't see why not as there's an option to use a photo and they're already allowing this on the iPhone, etc.

I hope this is correct.

Your own background image, overlayed by a selection of different Apple designed Analog or Digital hand/number layouts.

I may of missed it.
But I don't remember in the Keynote, then saying anything about using a photo you have taken as a background for a watch face.

Perhaps I did miss it?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Your own background image, overlayed by a selection of different Apple designed Analog or Digital hand/number layouts.

I'm not sure about a selection of different hand/number layouts but we at least know of one digital layout seen in the clipping above.

I may of missed it.
But I don't remember in the Keynote, then saying anything about using a photo you have taken as a background for a watch face.

Perhaps I did miss it?

It was only a preview and they were pressed for time given the volume of material, but I'm 99% sure they'll allow your own photo as the home screen for at least that one digital layout with the time in the upper right hand corner. After all, they made a big deal on how personalized the Watch is.

 

[StoneJack]

I d like to have such face

its my watch now

 

[Rogifan]

Yes, I can see this happening.

The annoyance, for users, will be that any 3rd party face/design, will have to be officially approved by Apple.

If Apple don't like the look of the watch face, then we can't have it.

I can totally see that happening.

Quite amazing if this is the case. Can you imagine Apple wanting to approve your background wallpaper on your iMac, Macbook, iPad or iPhone.

Users willl want to have a photo of their Husband, Wife, Girl/Boy friend, Cat, Dog etc etc, with a watch face over the front of the image.

Be interesting if Apple don't allow this. At the moment, looking at the keynote, they don't.

How do you know Apple won't allow this? There's a photos app on the watch. Apple doesn't restrict the wallpaper you put on your iOS or Mac devices so why would they limit watch faces when one of their big selling points for this device is personalization?

 

[kmj2318]

I think they will. You'll probably be able to have a photo with the digital clock. maybe eventually it'll be open to developers that want to sell watch faces.

 

[Piggie]

How do you know Apple won't allow this? There's a photos app on the watch. Apple doesn't restrict the wallpaper you put on your iOS or Mac devices so why would they limit watch faces when one of their big selling points for this device is personalization?

Ok, you asked to here is my thoughts on why Apple 'Might' Not allow this.

So you have your Apple watch showing off to your friends, with a ripped off Burberry screen for your watch.

Copies of Disney Characters, on your watch face.

Naked Girls, Penis, Vagina screen shots, on your Apple watch face.

Screen shots of other brands of watches, Rolex etc, photoshopped into nice backgrounds.

Apple not wishing to have their watch be seen with Porn, and ripped off copyright images on 'Their' device.

This is the reason I feel Apple may not allow it.

 

[Rogifan]

Ok, you asked to here is my thoughts on why Apple 'Might' Not allow this.

So you have your Apple watch showing off to your friends, with a ripped off Burberry screen for your watch.

Copies of Disney Characters, on your watch face.

Naked Girls, Penis, Vagina screen shots, on your Apple watch face.

Screen shots of other brands of watches, Rolex etc, photoshopped into nice backgrounds.

Apple not wishing to have their watch be seen with Porn, and ripped off copyright images on 'Their' device.

This is the reason I feel Apple may not allow it.

But I could put any of that on my iPhone or iPad as wallpaper. Apple doesn't prevent me from doing that. Anything I save to the camera roll can be wallpaper on my device. I will be very surprised if Apple doesn't allow developers the ability to make custom watch faces. Especially since they made such a big deal about personalization.

 

[Piggie]

But I could put any of that on my iPhone or iPad as wallpaper. Apple doesn't prevent me from doing that. Anything I save to the camera roll can be wallpaper on my device. I will be very surprised if Apple doesn't allow developers the ability to make custom watch faces. Especially since they made such a big deal about personalization.

Yes, I agree and I hope I am totally wrong

What I would love it for Apple to make a Face App for the iPhone, like a watch face construction kit, so you can pull in various separate elements, and send them to your Watch for your own totally personal face.

 

[Rogifan]

Yes, I agree and I hope I am totally wrong

What I would love it for Apple to make a Face App for the iPhone, like a watch face construction kit, so you can pull in various separate elements, and send them to your Watch for your own totally personal face.

That would be cool. I hope Apple pushes customization with this device. I hope they're working with 3rd parties on bands so people can chose bands outside of what Apple announced. Push customization + digital touch/intimate communication + integration with HealthKit and HomeKit. I actually thought the special effects when drawing on the screen was cool. And then poof whatever you draw is gone. It's just a short burst of instant communication. Apple showed off sending a heartbeat but who knows what others will come up with.

 

[shanson27]

Some watch faces from the dribble

https://dribbble.com/shots/1719259-Apple-Watch?list=searches&tag=apple_watch&offset=5

https://dribbble.com/shots/1720335-Watch-Face-Concept?list=searches&tag=apple_watch&offset=34

https://dribbble.com/shots/1719472-Apple-watch-clock?list=searches&tag=apple_watch&offset=38

https://dribbble.com/shots/1719572-Apple-watch-clock-2nd?list=searches&tag=apple_watch&offset=61

https://dribbble.com/shots/1725443-Classy-Apple-Watch-Face?list=searches&offset=1
https://dribbble.com/shots/1723452-Braun-BN0042?list=searches&offset=26

 

[Piggie]

Some nice face ideas there.

You know, I STILL think Apple are going to be funny over Watch Face Design.

I STILL feel they are going to have to "Approve" a watch face, like they control iOS Keyboards and Safari being the default browser (Both bloody annoyances on iOS devices)

Hope I'm wrong, but...

We have a Mickey Mouse official watch face from Apple that we've seen. I assume with full approval (royalty for use of Disney character)

Can I REALLY see Apple just letting people make a Goofy, Donald Duck, Lion King etc etc watch face and get away with it?

No I struggle to see them allowing this to happen.
I still worry they are going to want to have full control over watch face design.
Will be sad, and I hope I'm wrong. But I can see it happening.

 

[FatMax]

Some nice face ideas there.

You know, I STILL think Apple are going to be funny over Watch Face Design.

I STILL feel they are going to have to "Approve" a watch face, like they control iOS Keyboards and Safari being the default browser (Both bloody annoyances on iOS devices)

Hope I'm wrong, but...

We have a Mickey Mouse official watch face from Apple that we've seen. I assume with full approval (royalty for use of Disney character)

Can I REALLY see Apple just letting people make a Goofy, Donald Duck, Lion King etc etc watch face and get away with it?

No I struggle to see them allowing this to happen.
I still worry they are going to want to have full control over watch face design.
Will be sad, and I hope I'm wrong. But I can see it happening.

With that in mind, would it be bad if Disney released those faces and sold them through Apple?

 

[Rogifan]

Some nice face ideas there.

You know, I STILL think Apple are going to be funny over Watch Face Design.

I STILL feel they are going to have to "Approve" a watch face, like they control iOS Keyboards and Safari being the default browser (Both bloody annoyances on iOS devices)

Hope I'm wrong, but...

We have a Mickey Mouse official watch face from Apple that we've seen. I assume with full approval (royalty for use of Disney character)

Can I REALLY see Apple just letting people make a Goofy, Donald Duck, Lion King etc etc watch face and get away with it?

No I struggle to see them allowing this to happen.
I still worry they are going to want to have full control over watch face design.
Will be sad, and I hope I'm wrong. But I can see it happening.

I wouldn't be surprised if they allow 3rd party apps that offer different watch faces. Jony Ive said millions of combinations. You don't get that with just the 12 faces Apple designed.

 

[Kiju]

I hope so. With all of Apple's emphasis on this being their most 'personal' product ever, you'd think it would have a higher level of customization than they usually allow.

 

[Piggie]

With that in mind, would it be bad if Disney released those faces and sold them through Apple?

Oh yes indeed.

I totally can see Large brand name companies such as Disney, Nike, etc etc all being more than happy to sell you custom designed watch faces.

 

[Piggie]

I wouldn't be surprised if they allow 3rd party apps that offer different watch faces. Jony Ive said millions of combinations. You don't get that with just the 12 faces Apple designed.

Yes, I agree, I'm sure Apple will be super happy to sell us all 'Officially Approved' Watch face designs.

That's my fear.

My fear is Apple will vet any watch faces, like they do apps, and block/reject any that they don't like for whatever reason.

Someone may want this:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/RP4AAOxyoA1RTtHQ/$T2eC16FHJGwE9n)ySdSDBRTtHQDf3w~~60_35.JPG

No way would that get thru.

On the 'Millions' front, if you see when he's saying that.

12 faces
3 case metals
7 straps is it ?

That alone, 12 to the power of 3, then to the power of 7

Now mix in say a range of options for each of the 12 faces, and that alone could get into millions.

But in reality not what you are currently thinking.

 

[rcp27]

I hope they licence the SBB clock face. But only if they include the 2 second pause for the second hand.

 

[Rogifan]

Yes, I agree, I'm sure Apple will be super happy to sell us all 'Officially Approved' Watch face designs.

That's my fear.

My fear is Apple will vet any watch faces, like they do apps, and block/reject any that they don't like for whatever reason.

The App Store has lots of wallpaper apps that offer all different kinds of wallpapers for your iOS device. I would imagine something similar for watch faces. And then people will complain that Steve Jobs would never have allowed custom watch faces; that he would have designed the best most beautiful watch face you'd ever seen and that would be good enough for everyone.

 

[X-Ravin]

Yes, I agree, I'm sure Apple will be super happy to sell us all 'Officially Approved' Watch face designs.

That's my fear.

My fear is Apple will vet any watch faces, like they do apps, and block/reject any that they don't like for whatever reason.

Someone may want this:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/RP4AAOxyoA1RTtHQ/$T2eC16FHJGwE9n)ySdSDBRTtHQDf3w~~60_35.JPG

No way would that get thru.

On the 'Millions' front, if you see when he's saying that.

12 faces
3 case metals
7 straps is it ?

That alone, 12 to the power of 3, then to the power of 7

Now mix in say a range of options for each of the 12 faces, and that alone could get into millions.

But in reality not what you are currently thinking.

No, it would be 12 * 3 * 7, and there are 2 face sizes so that would be 504 combinations. You're thinking of the math involved when say determining how many combinations of letters there are with n characters which would be 26^n.

 

[Andropov]

Actually, there are 6 different cases (aluminum, space-grey aluminum, stainless steel, space-grey stainless steel, gold and rose gold), effectively doubling the combinations to 1008. And as there are 38 and 42mm sizes, with different (in size) straps for each size, there are 2016 combinations.

Still far from millions, unless we count the change in the color of the time/date font (some faces allow this) as well as the option to rearrange some "modules" in some watch faces...