Other than the Jet Black, Always On Seconds was the main reason I bought an S10. And...it's a good thing I like the jet black.
Always on second hands is one major differentiator from mechanical competitors. We almost got there with AOD, so at least your watch could appear like a watch while on your wrist. But it was always missing the second hand.
I use the second hand on my mechanical watches for simple tasks - rough cooking timers, coffee timers, etc. The ability to just look at your watch with no wrist raise, no taps, no pinches is an absolutely useful feature. And I thought we had finally got it in the S10, but alas, no.
Apple has done the absolute minimum effort with this feature. It works on three watch faces, two of them are new, and one of them I think was updated by pure accident, because I can see no reason why Activity Digital of all the other options was updated. And just today I found out even more how underbaked the feature is - Stopwatch doesn't even use it. An app that is literally built for precise timing of things, and if you put your arm down it goes back to only showing you the current minute.
I know Apple will eventually update the OS, especially once it comes to AWU3, and maybe a few more faces will use it, stopwatch will get an update, and in WatchOS 12 we'll get an API for apps to utilize it...but wow, Apple Intelligence must have really taken up all the resources at Apple that we get brand new hardware with completely underutilized new hardware level features. I guess it isn't surprising given Camera Control launched without half-press to focus, the most obvious camera shutter interaction for the button.
Always on second hands is one major differentiator from mechanical competitors. We almost got there with AOD, so at least your watch could appear like a watch while on your wrist. But it was always missing the second hand.
I use the second hand on my mechanical watches for simple tasks - rough cooking timers, coffee timers, etc. The ability to just look at your watch with no wrist raise, no taps, no pinches is an absolutely useful feature. And I thought we had finally got it in the S10, but alas, no.
Apple has done the absolute minimum effort with this feature. It works on three watch faces, two of them are new, and one of them I think was updated by pure accident, because I can see no reason why Activity Digital of all the other options was updated. And just today I found out even more how underbaked the feature is - Stopwatch doesn't even use it. An app that is literally built for precise timing of things, and if you put your arm down it goes back to only showing you the current minute.
I know Apple will eventually update the OS, especially once it comes to AWU3, and maybe a few more faces will use it, stopwatch will get an update, and in WatchOS 12 we'll get an API for apps to utilize it...but wow, Apple Intelligence must have really taken up all the resources at Apple that we get brand new hardware with completely underutilized new hardware level features. I guess it isn't surprising given Camera Control launched without half-press to focus, the most obvious camera shutter interaction for the button.
