An image of Apple’s next wearable leaked today, revealing an impractical new Apple Watch face that crams in every possible type of notification all at once.
It has no less than nine different complications. And, oh yes, the time.
Apple managed to increase the size of the display by 15 percent without enlarging the overall device, according to 9to5mac. It did so by shrinking the bezels.
In the leaked image, the additional screen real estate is packed, absolutely packed, with notifications.
Nine (9) Apple Watch face complications
If this image turns out to be real, it means Apple will offer an analogue Watch face that simultaneously displays:
- A timer in the upper left hand corner
- The temperature in the upper right
- The next calendar event in an arc
- Day and Date
- Activity rings
- Visual representation of where the Sun is shining on the Earth
- Music playback status
- The current UV Index in the lower left corner
- The time until sunset in the lower right.
All of this appears behind and around a standard set of clock hands.
There’s real cause to question whether that much detail all at once is practical. The screen is slightly larger than any of its predecessors’, but a couple of square inches is still a very small space to cram in that many notifications.
When I say everything, I mean everything
This Watch face is reminiscent of the White Knight in Through the Looking Glass explaining to Alice why he carries a mouse-trap on his horse:
“I was wondering what the mouse-trap was for,’ said Alice. “It isn’t very likely there would be any mice on the horse’s back.”
“Not very likely, perhaps,” said the Knight: “but if they do come, I don’t choose to have them running all about.”
“You see,” he went on after a pause, “it’s as well to be provided for everything.”
So this Watch face is going to display everything. Whether or not someone needs to be simultaneously told that their song is about to end, it’s hot, they aren’t getting enough exercise, they’re late to a meeting, it’s noon in Mumbai, and they should stay out of the Sun.
It’s a little surprising that Apple didn’t also find room on the Watch face for the distance to the nearest airport. And the time to the next eclipse. What about Tim Cook’s current net worth? And why not include shark repellant? The White Knight would understand.
