Apple Recruiting Specialized Engineer to Focus on Apple Watch Clock Faces

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 Roundup: Apple Watch Series 9
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

Rogifan Avatar
107 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?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OllyW Avatar
107 months ago
Maybe you just want a mechanical watch instead?
Maybe they want a nicer looking Apple Watch instead? :p
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Doctor11 Avatar
107 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.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
107 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
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gabriel193755 Avatar
107 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.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OllyW Avatar
107 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.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Delta Feature

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

Wednesday April 17, 2024 9:58 am PDT by
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of...
iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Translate

All iPhone 16 Models to Feature Action Button, But Usefulness Debated

Tuesday April 16, 2024 6:54 am PDT by
Last September, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch ...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With the New App Store Delta Game Emulator

Wednesday April 17, 2024 12:19 pm PDT by
A decade ago, developer Riley Testut released the GBA4iOS emulator for iOS, and since it was against the rules at the time, Apple put a stop to downloads. Emulators have been a violation of the App Store rules for years, but that changed on April 5 when Apple suddenly reversed course and said that it was allowing retro game emulators on the App Store. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
Provenance Emulator

PlayStation, GameCube, Wii, and SEGA Emulator for iPhone and Apple TV Coming to App Store

Friday April 19, 2024 8:29 am PDT by
The lead developer of the multi-emulator app Provenance has told iMore that his team is working towards releasing the app on the App Store, but he did not provide a timeframe. Provenance is a frontend for many existing emulators, and it would allow iPhone and Apple TV users to emulate games released for a wide variety of classic game consoles, including the original PlayStation, GameCube, Wii,...
iOS NES Emulator Bimmy Feature

NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]

Tuesday April 16, 2024 11:33 am PDT by
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple's rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/"homebrew" games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any...