Nadir series coming soon - with companion app!

I'm currently working on a new series of watch faces, which I'm naming "Nadir".  This is my favourite series so far, and better yet, there's going to be a companion app!

"Nadir" means the lowest point or level, and that is really what I'm aiming for with this series of watch face.  They are stripped back and minimalist, with a black background by default...

Classic

Combi

Graphe

However, you can use the companion app to change the background colour, choosing any colour you want.  It's not finished yet, but here's an early screenshot, showing the simplicity of the app...

You simply move the sliders, which updates the preview pane, and then when you're happy with the colour, click "Send to watch" to update the watch background.  There's also an exit button (the "X") and an about button (the "?"), the later of which gives you a similar brief description of "Nadir" and also a button which will take you to my apps on the Play store.

This app will work specifically for this new "Nadir" series of watch faces, but I plan to create companion apps for some of my other series' in the future. 

My first app!

The latest version of WatchMaker let's you convert your .watch file into a proper Android Installation Package (.apk) that can be uploaded to the Google Play app store.  It takes some developer skills and a copy of Android Studio (free to download), but I managed it in an evening.

So I've decided to release my next watch face there instead, to see how popular it is.  My first app!

Blue Bubbles for WatchMaker

This is a watch face which will only with WatchMaker (http://goo.gl/FMxUfY). It is circular, designed and tested on a Moto 360.

The background is blue with a bubble affect. The time is displayed in 24 hour digital format, with the hour of the day in the middle, pointing the correct way for the analog hour, and the minute of the hour displayed at the back.

I hope you like it!

New favourite app - Authenticator Plus

It's official, I have a new favourite app!

I think it's universally accepted that Two Factor Authentication (2FA) is a good idea.  In short, many sites allow you to add an extra later of authentication.  Typically this works by having a code that needs to be entered whilst logging into a new device, which is tied physically to the user in some way...

• SMS message to register mobile number
• One Time Password (OTP) created by an authenticator app
• One Time Password (OTP) created by a Yubikey

It is also common to have two factor authentication using additional information, such as a pin number or security question.  However, this is still something that can be guessed more easily, so I personally don't count these as proper two factor authentication.  And there's also biometrics, but we've all seen Minority Report!

With each of the options in the list above, you have to register your device in some way.  Once registered, you log in by entering your username and password as before, but then you are taken to a second screen.  This second screen insists that you enter a code, which only you can generate/retrieve using your registered device, thus proving that it is you who are logging in.  You usually get the option to make this a trusted device, which means you won't be asked for the two factor code on this device for a while, usually 30 days.

Initially I setup my main accounts (especially Google!) to use SMS authentication.  This is easy to setup, as all they need is your mobile number.  However, there can sometimes be a delay in the site sending your message, or it being delivered, especially if you're in an area with poor reception.  So I had to investigate other options.

I have a Yubikey and it is pretty cool, you plug it into a USB port and when required you put the cursor in the code field and click the button on the device - it is registered like a keyboard so it can generate and spit out a code directly into the field.  It even clicks enter for you, submitting the form - very cool!  Unfortunately, not many sites support them, and you then have to make sure that you have the Yubikey on you all the time.

The best option I've found is to use an authenticator app.  This is on your phone, and who doesn't have their phone on them all the time anyway?  There are a few options, but here are a couple of examples...

Google Authenticator                    Authenticator Plus

Originally I loved Google Authenticator, but now I prefer Authenticator Plus, and here's why...

1. It uses the Material Design - this is a Google thing, so I'm sure they'll catch up soon.
2. It shows the icons appropriate for the account, making them more easily distinguishable at a glance.
3. It can backup and restore the linked accounts from the cloud - mine is saved to Dropbox, which is also one of my linked accounts).
4. You can also see the codes on your smartwatch - no need to get your phone out of your pocket!

I find this so convenient, I love it.  I'm a big user of Dropbox, which means I'm often finding I want to grab a file on a public computer, and this means I often need to grab a new code.  The voice command is "Start Authenticator" and then you immediately have your first linked account on the screen, with the current code.  Swipe up and down to move between the linked accounts, simple as that.

If you don't have two factor authentication in your digital life, get it!  And if you don't have Authenticator Plus on your phone and watch to manage your linked accounts, get it!

Job one - the watch face

For me, the first job on getting the watch was to find a watch face that I liked.  And I've found way too many that I like, and not enough time to try them all!  But what I really like is designing and building my own.

There are two main apps for that; Facer and WatchMaker.  I've played with both, and I have to say that the later is my favourite.  There are many discussions online, with people arguing either way, but at the end of the day I think it comes down to personal preference.  However, here's my list of reasons...

1. WatchMaker can import Facer files (.face) as well as it's own (.watch) and Facer can only handle it's own
2. WatchMaker has many more customisation options than Facer
3. WatchMaker has Tasker integration (that's a whole other post in itself!)
4. WatchMaker has support for animated gif images

I'm sure there are more, but those are the main points for me at the moment.

There are lots of ways to get watch faces, included buying them from the Play store, but one of the best free repositories I've found is FaceRepo.  The site can filter on round/square faces and Facer or WatchMaker files, making it easy to find ones suitable for your watch.  It also allows you to create an account and upload your own watch faces.  

I love downloading watch faces, importing them into my WatchMaker app, and then customising them to suit my own needs.  Maybe I want the date formatted differently, or 24 hour time instead of 12 hour time, or whatever - easy!  

You can either view the site and download the files directly, or you can browse on your computer and then use a QR reader on your phone to quickly and easily download.  You can also get the .watch files from other sites and import them, as well as exporting your own creations as .watch files to upload and share.

Here are the top 3 watch faces that I've uploaded...

Zooper Dark - 258 downloads

Teal Hands - 122 downloads

Bar Mod - 111 downloads

 

I've done 16 so far, including a range of Ron Swanson ones, and some Andy Fairhurst ones as well... http://facerepo.com/app/faces/user/trixmoto/1 - I hope you like.  Feel free to provide feedback, either here or on the FaceRepo site (requires a Disqus account).

I've learned some interesting watching making tricks already, and I'm sure there's more to learn as well, so keep a look out for some future posts on this subject!