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AI-generated summary
Initially, I was planning to write a piece expressing my frustration with the recent WatchOS update. But after thinking it over, I reconsidered the changes that had initially annoyed me and realised they were actually rather well thought out…
The Watch Face Swipe
Some of the ergonomic changes are baffling. Who hasn’t used the swipe gesture to switch from one watch face to another? Isn’t it more practical to have a dedicated face for each activity and be able to quickly switch between them? Apparently I’m the only one who thinks so, because the team at Cupertino has removed that feature… I don’t see the advantage of now having to press and swipe — it’s a real waste of time.
My Dock!
Another change that bothers me is the repurposing of the right button. Previously, it opened the dock, giving quick access to recent apps or ones you’d set yourself. Now it opens the control centre! Why? Who needs a dedicated button just for the control centre? It makes no sense… On one side you have the action button on the Ultra that you can configure for specific actions, but the button across from it becomes pointless…
The swipe-up gesture, which previously opened the control centre, has been changed to now show widgets instead. This aligns with the behaviour on iPhone, where swiping left shows them.
I used to use the right button to launch the Activity app. But I’ve found that accessing it through the widgets is just as effective. By keeping three apps in the dock-style widget, I can access them quickly without cluttering my watch face complications.
Similarly, I can add a widget for weather and sunrise, giving me that information at a glance instantly. In that context, I can see why swiping between watch faces might be seen as less necessary.
Let’s Talk About the New Snoopy Watch Face
I’ve never been particularly drawn to the Mickey Mouse watch faces, but I find the new Snoopy face absolutely charming. From what I’ve read , there seem to be around a hundred different animations.
The characters interact and play with the watch hands, react to local weather conditions, and start moving when you exercise.
I also took the opportunity to use this face to set up an automation that changes the watch face at a specific time. So when Snoopy appears on my wrist, it means my workday is over.
