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From Accessory To Device

The Watch has been on my wrist for three years now, and it has been a valuable asset since the beginning. That value has increased over the years as the software has gotten better, and the hardware has steadily improved, culminating in the significant hardware update in Series 4.

When I think of my MacBook, iPad, or even iPhone, I consider them "devices" that I actively accomplish tasks with. So far, the Watch has been more of an accessory to my iPhone than a standalone device. This began to change with the introduction of cellular connectivity in Series 3 and took a huge leap forward with the introduction of the series 4 watch and watchOS 5. This refreshed combination has pushed the Watch from simple Accessory to great Device.

I have found myself accomplishing more tasks with my Watch alone lately. There is, of course, a fundamental difference between performing something on the watch vs. something like the iPhone, so you have to understand that going in.

To get the maximum amount of utilization from the watch, I have split tasks into three interaction types.

  1. Glanceable Items - Complications that require only a glance.
  2. Short Interaction - Complications that are tappable for quick daily data input.
  3. Medium Interaction - Applications that live in the dock for quick data entry that occurs every few days or weekly.
    *Anything that would be considered a more extensive interaction that this should be done on another device.

So what do I have in these categories?

Category 1

  • Calendar
  • Weather
  • Sunset / Sunset
  • Activity

Category 2

  • WaterMinder
  • OmniFocus

Category 3

  • Workout
  • Timer
  • Music
  • Now Playing
  • Overcast
  • Messages
  • Walkie Talkie

I truly believe in the Watch platform and genuinely can’t wait to see what it does for us in the coming years. ⌚️