Apple Watch — Watch Faces

Frequently, I get asked, “what do you use your Apple Watch for?” It is a hard question to answer because it is such a powerful device with so much capability but also because it is very personal and everyone will use it differently.

Wanting to answer this question better, I with something simple: Watch faces. It is the first thing you see when you raise your wrist and there are many different styles, designs, and functions. Some are very simple like Solar, showing time based on the position of the sun, or complex, like Modular, with many places for complications such as weather, calendar information, and fitness details.

Solar watch face with Date and Time

Modular: Date, Time, Calendar, Wunderground, OTP Auth, Things

Below are some of my favorite and most commonly used watch faces for Apple Watch.

Watch faces

Modular

Modular is a simple design but powerful watch face. With five positions for complications, a lot of data can be viewed from one's wrist. It is a favorite for daily use and many colors available—Modular matches just about any watch band or outfit.

I typically will have this watch face active when on set or at Apple. I might replace Activity (bottom middle) with OTP Auth for two factor authentication and Deliveries (package tracking, bottom right), with a task manager app, Things. Color will depend on what band I have on that day.

Complications on this watch face:
Date
Time
Calendar
Wunderground (weather)
Activity
Deliveries

Activity Digital

Activity Digital has likely spend the most time active on my Apple Watch. Three complications and a bold representation of Activity for the day, one of the most important features of Apple Watch, fitness, is promoted to the centerpiece of this watch face. Move (red) shows your progress toward your active calories goal. Exercise (green) gauges how many minutes one has achieved out of one's thirty minute daily goal. Stand (blue) counts the number of times one stands and moves toward a daily goal of twelve.

Complications
Wunderground (weather)
Date
Time
Activity
Calendar

Siri

Siri is not only the best way to control Apple Watch, it also is a watch face that anticipates the one's needs and upcoming information such as weather, calendar, news, music, stocks, home automation, and more. Siri becomes one big complication what dynamically changes.

Using the Digital Crown, one can scroll through these items from various data sources, tapping on them for more control or information, and one can narrow the focus of this date from Watch, the app on iPhone that controls Apple Watch settings.

Complications
Siri (voice control)
Date
Time
Siri (date sources)

Simple

Simple is simple. Like a classic wristwatch, the face has little to no information on it other than analog time. However, there are in fact five positions for complications (all corners and Date). However, being the minimalist I am, I keep this watch face strictly Time and Date. Especially on Apple Watch Space Black, it makes for a very sexy look as the OLED screen and black stainless steel case become one.

Complications
Date

Pride

Every so often Apple will release something special and timely to Apple Watch. For example, Pride, a watch face to match the Pride Band 2018, was released with watchOS 4.3.1 to celebrate Pride month. Both a slick watch band and cool watch face, Pride has an animated rainbow background, two complications, and Time.

Complications
Date
Activity (numeric representation)

Design is one of the most important part of Apple Watch so it is worth noting that I will sometimes change my watch face just because one looks better with a different band. Solar and Simple both look really amazing on a Apple Watch Space Black with Black Sport Band while Modular in Flash (color) looks great with Flash Sport band.

There are so many more styles—millions of combinations and designs. Mix and match watch faces and bands with one mood or outfit and check out all the different watch faces in the Face Gallery found in the Watch app on iPhone.

#TodayatApple — This is what I do

Programming Expert belies the role and impact in Apple Retail. There are only double digits of us... lower double digits, but myself and my Programming Expert friends are the boots on the ground making Today at Apple a reality.

Apple Michigan Avenue has been a jewel for our daily programming and high profile events alike. It is just the beginning of what we can do.

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SIGG Traveller Alu .6L — Minimal Water Bottle

No surprise that I dig SIGG water bottles. They are minimalist, aluminum, simply, and durable. 

Made in Sweden, the bottles are BPA-free bottle is extruded from a single piece of pure aluminium, no seams, highest stability with lowest weight, 100% recyclable, guaranteed to be taste-neutral and resistant to fruit acids and isotonic drinks according to an independent testing institute (Nehring, Germany), fulfills FDA requirements (Food & Drug Administration USA), elastic and unbreakable, and a coating that will not peel off, even if dented on the outside. That’s a lot to write but the moral of the story is that they are great bottles.

This particular one is a favorite. While many come in fancy patterns, various stamps, and decorative items attached, this is raw aluminum. Almost as if it were something from the military, the only printing on it is the SIGG logo and the Made in Sweden stamp.

The raw aluminum look, however, is deceiving. There is a high gloss coating to protect the bottle—it is almost glass on the exterior giving it a pleasing touch but also a good grip.

The cap is designed to be used with a carabiner but also is perfect for a single finger. At .6L, it is perfect size for just about any backpack or bag. And the lip on the bottle opening is smooth an comfortable on against one’s lips.

While this is definitely an Adrian’s Gear post, it is also about design. Some water bottles might have more frills and such but as I will admit to every time, design is of utmost importance. SIGG brings something to the table that most water bottles don’t—looks. A lot are just too technical looking, over designed, trying-too-hard details and it turns me off. Sigg, like Apple, keeps it simple and that’s what I really love about it.

As the oceans fill up with trash from humans, I had a personal goal this year—a resolution to us less disposable materials. My EDC spork (Light My Fire), goes with me everywhere to reduce how many plastic forks and such I use. I try to avoid straws and plastic bags, and I keep some reusable produce bags on hand for when I head to the grocery story.

On the other hand, plastic bottles are one of the most common trash items found in the ocean and I try my best to reduce my usage of such items. Carrying a water bottle is great and SIGG bottles last for a very long time. After they have lived out their usefulness, one can easily recycle.

Saving the planet and looking good doing it, if one wants a great water bottle, this is one I’d highly recommend. And if you do want something little more bold than raw aluminum, they come in dozens of colors: white, black, smokey pearl, turquoise, green, royal blue, etc. Check them out and pick one up.

Price: $18