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Apple Recruiting Specialized Engineer to Focus on Apple Watch Clock Faces

Wednesday February 10, 2016 6:15 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
A job description for a software engineer on Apple's "Clock Face Team" discovered yesterday points to the possibility of more robust Clock Face and Complications options in a future watchOS update. As discovered by AppleInsider, the listing is specifically seeking a software engineer with 3+ years of software development experience to join the Apple Watch team.

applewatch
Responsible for planning and implementing new Clock Faces and Complications for Apple Watch users, the software engineer will work in close proximity to the UI design, iOS Frameworks, and QA teams. Besides the expected timeliness and attention to detail stipulations, the rest of the description for the position at Apple includes the following:
Description

As a member of the team you will have many responsibilities relating to the design, development, and testing of the device software.
  • Collaborating closely with the design team to push the envelope on human-computer interactions.
  • Creating solutions tailored to the constraints of the software and the hardware of a small, low power device.
  • Working closely with the iOS Apps, iOS Frameworks and Hardware teams to create robust and maintainable systems that will stand the test of time.
  • Coordinating with the quality assurance teams to ensure full test coverage as well as to initiate focused testing on critical components.
New Apple Watch Clock Faces and Complications have been assumed to be in the cards for future watchOS updates, but what we still don't know is when they will be released. Last September, Apple released the first major public update for Apple Watch in watchOS 2, which introduced three new Clock Faces: two variations on Photo Album (one that shuffles through a set album, and one that sticks to a specific image) and Time-Lapse.

Currently on watchOS 2.1, the next update to the Apple Watch software (watchOS 2.2) is predicted to debut at a rumored March media event. Recent beta tests of 2.2 don't hint at the inclusion of new Clock Faces and Complications, so there's a possibility users will have to wait a little longer for these additions. The specific details for the event remain nebulous, but so far the "iPhone 5se," iPad Air 3, and new Apple Watch bands are all rumored to be included in next month's yet-to-be-announced Apple event.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5
Tag: Apple job listings
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
[ 103 comments ]


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Rogifan
38 months ago

I just hope the Apple Watch 2 has a more modern and elegant look. Currently looks like a toy IMO. Maybe tweaking the crown to something like this and making it thinner.

Maybe you just want a mechanical watch instead?
Rating: 18 Votes
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OllyW
38 months ago

Maybe you just want a mechanical watch instead?

Maybe they want a nicer looking Apple Watch instead? :p
Rating: 15 Votes
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The Doctor11
38 months ago
Can't complain about having more watch faces, the more the better. I just wish there was a better way to order them.
Rating: 8 Votes
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gabriel193755
38 months ago

I don't think we will ever be able to order or download faces. Like on the iphone, they control the UI. The best that we can get is the background - they added the ability to put pictures on the watch face like you can do on the phone.


I see the opposite. I think they will authorise developers to sell new watch faces like apps in the app store.
With rules to forbid copycats to sell a non-official rolex watch face or from any other brand.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Rogifan
38 months ago

The difference is iOS doesn't have any mechanism for changing themes, you can't select from a bunch of Apple's ones. WatchOS does support themes (ie faces) for you to switch between, and personalisation is part of it's appeal. I think (and hope) we will be able to download new faces in the future.

I think we'll see new faces, I'm just not convinced we'll get 3rd party faces via App Store.

Maybe they want a nicer looking Apple Watch instead? :p


But every "nicer looking Watch" post just attaches a photo of a high-end mechanical watch. If I want my Watch to look like a mechanical watch I'll just buy a mechanical watch. :)

Which other job listings are there? I'm interested!


Most of them are just generic engineering/QA positions but here's one for a software engineering fitness manager: https://jobs.apple.com/us/search#specs&ss=watch&t=1&sb=req_open_dt&so=1&pN=0&openJobId=44081273
Rating: 7 Votes
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OllyW
38 months ago

I do find it amusing that prior to Watch all we heard was how no one wears watches anymore, then Watch comes along and gets knocked for not looking like a traditional watch.

I think what you really mean is a lot of smartphone users on tech forums said they didn't need a watch anymore because they could use their phones instead. Strangely, a lot of them now find they need a smartwatch to access the functions of their smartphone. ;)

Lots of people still wear watches, you are only noticing them now because Apple has entered the market.
Rating: 6 Votes
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OllyW
38 months ago

But every "nicer looking Watch" post just attaches a photo of a high-end mechanical watch. If I want my Watch to look like a mechanical watch I'll just buy a mechanical watch. :)

But you wouldn't have a smartwatch then. I'm not sure why the Apple Watch must only have the single design? Surely it's possible to have a bit of variety in their cases and offer something slightly more traditional looking for those who don't like the current one.
Rating: 6 Votes
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gsmornot
38 months ago
I only use the Modular face. Modular was the face I most wanted to avoid at the start because it was the least watch like to me. It turns out though, its the most helpful with all of the info it provides. I'm not sure what I would ask for in the future other than maybe more space for more info at a glance. Then again, it could look bad with more info. I just don't know but happy someone is woking on more ideas.
Rating: 5 Votes
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nicho
38 months ago

I don't think we will ever be able to order or download faces. Like on the iphone, they control the UI. The best that we can get is the background - they added the ability to put pictures on the watch face like you can do on the phone.


I think you've taken the wrong meaning of order. I'm assuming he means arrange and not buy and there's no reason Apple couldn't create an interface in the phone app for that...
Rating: 5 Votes
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Popeye206
38 months ago

Apple has a lot of open positions for the Watch team. Not sure why this one is getting attention.


Slow news day. :-)
Rating: 4 Votes

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