la Counte - The Unofficial Guide to Using Apple Watch

The Unofficial Guide to Using Apple Watch

By Scott La Counte

2015. All Rights Reserved.

Please note, while every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, this book is not endorsed by Apple and should be consider unofficial.

The Apple Watch is like nothing Apple has ever offered; you know how to use an iPhone; you know how to use an iPad; you may even know how to use a Mac. But an Apple Watch will probably confuse you a littleat first. Its really not hard to figure out, but there is a learning curve. This book will make using it as easy as possible.

Whether you bought the watch and want to learn how to use it, or youre thinking about making the purchase and want to see what it is about, then this guide is for you! It will cover the basics, how to customize it, popular accessories and apps available, and everything else you need to know to get the most from the device.

Before seeing how the watch works, lets look at what makes it different from other smart watches on the market.

While it might seem like Apple invented the smart watch, theres actually several that came before itfor a significantly cheaper price. So why Apple Watch? In a nutshell, Apple didnt set the barthey are the bar. In terms of smart watches, theres nothing that comes close to what Apple has built. Its menus are fluid, its sleek, and, like other Apple products, it just works. But lets take a moment and look at how the other watches stack up against the Apple Watch.

If you have an Android phone, then Android Wear is the official watch for you. Apple Watch will not be supported by Android. Most Android Wear watches are $200 to $300 dollarsthough there are several cheaper options in the sub-$50 rangebut they are cheaper for a reasonthey dont work like they are promised to. Most Android watches have batteries that last a day...like the Apple Watch; and most, like the Apple Watch have sensors to track health and fitness. There are also plenty of apps to load onto your watch. So why is Apple Watch better than Android Wear? Opinions obviously vary, but many feel that Apple Apps work smoother and everything is more fluid. Unlike Android, Apple screens their apps to make sure apps that dont really do anything dont get on the app store.

In terms of price, Pebble is the best watch for your money. The basic version starts at $99.99 and a color model is coming soon. The Pebble watch is also one of the few watches compatible with both Android and iPhone smartphones. The Pebble is not a bad watch, but it is a limited one. There is no touchscreen, graphics are subpar, and notifications are not as fluid as Apple Watch. It also won't win any fashion awards.

Windows also has a watch called the Windows Band. Calling it a watch is a bit of a stretch, however. While it does tell time, its more of a high-end fitness band. At $199, most people will be left wondering why not just pay a little more for an Apple Watch or a little less for a Fibit or Jawbone (both of which cost about $120).

If you havent already bought the band, below is a quick rundown of all the different models.

The Apple Watch comes in three different models:

Apple Watch Sports ($349 for 38mm; $399 for 42mm) The cheapest Apple Watch is made of anodized aluminum that Apple claims is 60% stronger than standard aluminum (aluminum is also the medal used for the Apple iPhone). The touchscreen is made of aluminosilicate glass that's resistant to scratches.

Apple Watch (starting at $549 for 38mm; $599 for 42mm) made of 316L stainless steel that is less susceptible to scratches and corrosion. The touchscreen is sapphire crystal (perhaps the strongest screen on the market today).

Apple Watch Edition (starting at $10,000 for 38mm; $12,000 for 42mm) Jaws dropped when Apple announced its most expensive Apple Watch, which goes all the way up to $17,000 in price. The watch is made of 18-karat yellow or rose gold, which Apple says is twice as hard as standard gold. The cheapest models come with a sports band; if you want a leather band, then youll need to pay a few thousand more.

Which band is right for you? Unless you have an itching to spend 10k+ for a watch, then you are probably considering the Sports or steel model. Whats the difference? In terms of wear and tear, both watches will hold up pretty well; every watcheven the 10k onehas the same hardware. The steel and Edition models both have a stronger display that is slightly more scratch-resistant.

Unlike the iPhone or iPad, you arent paying more for more memoryyou are paying for the finishso its really a question of taste. The steel watch is slick, smooth and shiny. If you can afford it and want something a little classier, then the steel watch is a good option.

Also, if you already have the watch and dont like the band that you like, you are able to return the band (even if its opened) to any Apple store within 14 days for a band of equal value. (Note: this offer will not necessarily run forever, so check with your local store before going in for an exchange.)

When you think about the watch, you might have certain expectationsperhaps its watching Netflix from your wrist or FaceTime with your friends. So before continuing to how the watch works, let me cover really quickly the major things the watch cannot do (that some people think it can):

• Play videos.
• Type messages (there is no onboard keyboardjust a microphone).
• Play games while Apple Watch games do exist, the watch is a companion to the phone, and meant for viewing short messagesnot playing games. So yes, you can play games, but this is not what you want to get to meet your gaming needs.
• Sync with non-Apple phones; the Apple Watch will not work with any phone but iPhone.
• Work with older phones; the Apple Watch is for iPhone 5 and up
• Work with traditional headphones; theres no audio input on the Apple Watch; it does work with Bluetooth headphones, but these are not included with the watch.
• Take a photo; you can view photos on the watchyou can even use it as an external viewfinder to take a photo on your iPhonebut the watch has no built in camera.
• While the Apple Watch is water-resistant, it is not waterproof. What does that mean? It means that while you can use your watch in the rain and dont have to fret if you get it wet washing your hands, you do not want to take a shower with the watch or immerse it in water. Things like steam can build up and ruin the insides.

To be entirely clear, you must own an iPhone to use the Apple Watch. The watch is not compatible with Android or any other smart phone. But you dont have to take your iPhone everywhere to use the watch. Here are some of the things you can do if you dont have your phone nearby:

• Set the time.
• Play music (you can put up to 2 GB of songs on your watchto put it another way, thats about 500 songs).
• Track your run / exercise it will keep a record of things like calories burned, heart rate, and distance / pace, and then sync it to your phone when you have it nearby again.