There comes a point where it would be better to go and get your phone.
Ya think? Nobody has suggested that the phone never be used again for texts. Most people of room temperature IQ or better realize when that point comes for them.
Those same people also realize that up to that point, the ability to send a simple, quick one or two word text, in any language, from the Watch, is better than going and getting the phone. It's a choice.
I believe there's another word for "drawing one letter at a time". It's called "writing".
But seriously - I've been hoping for this feature for a while. Squished in a bus seat and can't get my phone out of my pocket when my wife texts asking when I'll be home...
I don't see this as iPhone messaging replacement, but rather a nice tool to complement the actual messaging. The use of this is situational such as when I just need a quick reply such as 'K'as in OK, '4' as in 4PM, 'X' as in no, etc., and knowing it's there is nice. A short quick answer 'no' of 'are you coming?' does not require 10 seconds of taking the phone out, unlock, and type 'no'.
Amazing. Now I can text in a much less efficient and slower way than I can with the phone that is in my pocket a few inches from my apple watch.
Actually not true. This is similar to the old Palm Graffitti which I loved and became so proficient with that I was writing almost as fast on the Palm as I was on paper.
I am so happy to see this come back.
Yes it really is, isn't it? Man can you imagine how much further ahead we would be if Palm had just gotten it together ...?
Not so fun fact: it does not work for all languages (because of "special" characters?)
When I write in French, I cannot use the scribbling feature, but when I switch the writing language to English, I can.
Ooooh! A return to the days of Palm Pilot text recognition, one letter at a time! I remember a colleague who kept pushing me to get one and I thought it was crazy to have to write into the square on the screen, one letter at a time. I ended up getting the first release of the Compaq iPaq, that allowed for more natural full word handwriting to digital conversion. The only negative was battery life sucked and the plastic screen eventually started scratching from the stylus tip. It was, however, a very well built device ahead of its time in my opinion.
I think a few of the screenshots are now old. Where the article says "The watchOS 3 Messages app adds a new writing option, identified by an icon with a letter and a hand with index finger extended," this is correct, but the screenshot with the 3 dark bubbles showing a smiley, the T in a circle and the heart with 2 fingers for Digital Touch is now 4 blue bubbles (for iMessage users, green for contacts that do not have an iDevice) that are a microphone to dictate, a smiley, the heart with 2 fingers for Digital Touch and a large button identified by an icon with a letter and a hand with index finger extended next to the word Scribble underneath these first three.
Personally, I find the Scribble feature quite handy and have been able to successfully and easily send replies with it several times.
I respect your opinion but feel exactly the opposite.
There are frequently situations where I get a text on my Watch and I want to respond with a brief custom answer... but pulling out my phone would be inappropriate or impossiblle (e.g., it's across the room or elsewhere in the house). I actually find this feature VERY interesting and useful, especially its ability to suggest word-completion via a picklist. Good job, Apple -- this is a good example of a feature that could have a very tangible impact on daily use of the Watch.
Amazing. Now I can text in a much less efficient and slower way than I can with the phone that is in my pocket a few inches from my apple watch.
Actually not true. This is similar to the old Palm Graffitti which I loved and became so proficient with that I was writing almost as fast on the Palm as I was on paper.
I am so happy to see this come back.
Yes it really is, isn't it? Man can you imagine how much further ahead we would be if Palm had just gotten it together ...?
Palm shmalm ... what about Newton?
Fun fact. Graffiti was originally an application for GEOS and Newton devices. The original Newton's recognizer wasn't very good (Egg Freckles!), so Palm released it there before they even made their own devices. Before long, other, even faster systems started showing up such as MessagEase.
I wonder if swype might be a good interface on the watch. It's very good at correcting lazy and drunk swiping so would probably be one of the best interfaces on a tiny screen
I too thought of Graffiti when I saw this. Based on owning a Watch, wearing it daily, and actually using this feature a few times, I find it to be a subtle but significant improvement. It's perfect for those times when taking out the phone is inconvenient to make a short reply that isn't among the preset responses. I'm hoping some form of this shows up in iOS as well.
Me: "I'm hoping some form of this shows up in iOS as well." Now that I bothered to check, it does on my iPhone. Shapes can be drawn and sent. Lawdy! Guess there's isn't a need for text recognition when there's a keyboard right there. More coffee...
Comments
Ya think? Nobody has suggested that the phone never be used again for texts. Most people of room temperature IQ or better realize when that point comes for them.
Those same people also realize that up to that point, the ability to send a simple, quick one or two word text, in any language, from the Watch, is better than going and getting the phone. It's a choice.
What is it with this crap all-or-nothing mindset.
But seriously - I've been hoping for this feature for a while. Squished in a bus seat and can't get my phone out of my pocket when my wife texts asking when I'll be home...
Personally, I find the Scribble feature quite handy and have been able to successfully and easily send replies with it several times.
There are frequently situations where I get a text on my Watch and I want to respond with a brief custom answer... but pulling out my phone would be inappropriate or impossiblle (e.g., it's across the room or elsewhere in the house). I actually find this feature VERY interesting and useful, especially its ability to suggest word-completion via a picklist. Good job, Apple -- this is a good example of a feature that could have a very tangible impact on daily use of the Watch.
Based on owning a Watch, wearing it daily, and actually using this feature a few times, I find it to be a subtle but significant improvement.
It's perfect for those times when taking out the phone is inconvenient to make a short reply that isn't among the preset responses.
I'm hoping some form of this shows up in iOS as well.
Now that I bothered to check, it does on my iPhone. Shapes can be drawn and sent. Lawdy! Guess there's isn't a need for text recognition when there's a keyboard right there.
More coffee...