How many of you have been to the class? Is it worth it? Did you learn anything you didn't already know?
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Apple watch basics class- is it worth it?
- Thread starter Angeybabey
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yeah, I'd like to know this too. I had scheduled a class next weekend (earliest I could get) but then cancelled it yesterday. However, if people think it's useful or they learn things they didn't know otherwise, I'll go!
I went Friday afternoon to a class in Louisville. I had actually signed up for both the basic and the other class. Evidently there was only two people scheduled for the class and the second did not show up.
We ended up just going over the watch from beginning to end, including the apple watch app on the phone. I have researched quite a bit but the person putting on the class showed me a few things I did not even realize. So I went to the class but we didn't really do the class per se.
We ended up just going over the watch from beginning to end, including the apple watch app on the phone. I have researched quite a bit but the person putting on the class showed me a few things I did not even realize. So I went to the class but we didn't really do the class per se.
So I went today. It was not awesome. I was the only one there - he said that my watch was the first real watch he had seen. And then he asked what I wanted help with - I mentioned that I could use help swapping out my band. He said he would look up the instructions do it. Bottom line, he couldn't tell me anything I didn't already know. He was rushed and spent a total of 7 minutes with me.
After receiving my watch and playing with it Friday evening, I debated not going to the class on Saturday, but did end up going.
There were 5 people at the class, 4 with watches. They had a demo watch Avila le for the one who showed up without one.
Our class had a main instructor + a helper. They were both model Apple employees - very enthusiastic, engaged and positive. They did know the watch pretty well. None of the questions asked really stumped them. They tried hard to be helpful.
I did learn a few things I hadn't picked up yet, and they did point out some things that may have taken me a few more days to find.
Overall, I'd say that if you're fairly tech savvy, pick up quickly and want to google "how do I...?" For the things you don't know, the basics class may not be very helpful to you. Or if you've played with it for a week, then take the class, probably the same.
But if you value in person learning, want to catch up quickly, and like meeting/bonding with other Apple watch folk, the class may be for you.
There were 5 people at the class, 4 with watches. They had a demo watch Avila le for the one who showed up without one.
Our class had a main instructor + a helper. They were both model Apple employees - very enthusiastic, engaged and positive. They did know the watch pretty well. None of the questions asked really stumped them. They tried hard to be helpful.
I did learn a few things I hadn't picked up yet, and they did point out some things that may have taken me a few more days to find.
Overall, I'd say that if you're fairly tech savvy, pick up quickly and want to google "how do I...?" For the things you don't know, the basics class may not be very helpful to you. Or if you've played with it for a week, then take the class, probably the same.
But if you value in person learning, want to catch up quickly, and like meeting/bonding with other Apple watch folk, the class may be for you.
What did you learn that you hadn't picked up yet, or that might have taken a few days to find?
New to me even though I researched. Maybe not new to others.
One of which is throwing your iPhone on power reserve mode when in a meeting or something where you won't even check your watch. I have several meetings a week where I should not even check my watch for notifications so by manually throwing my watch in reserve mode, I am saving battery which may be needed at the end of the day. Nothing ground breaking but smart none the less.
Second was double clicking the crown to go back to the last opened application. This may have been discussed before but I never realized until my workshop.
There were other minor things he showed me that I myself did not know.
The two things I learned that stood out were how to update your monogram and how to manipulate the app icon layout via the phone.
He also mentioned how to do a handoff of a call to your phone which I hadn't figured out yet.
If I had Google'd these things I would have found them... but I appreciated learning them quickly in the workshop.
If I'd had my watch for a few more days I probably wouldn't have gone. But since I was scheduled for the morning after I received the watch I went.
The best way to see if you want it is to see what it can do for you. Check out the apps (note some mat suck but many won't)
Here is the stock apps : http://www.apple.com/watch/built-in-apps/
Here is the best list of 3rd party apps I now of : http://watchaware.com/watch-apps
Also it's a great looking watch.
good, okay
So, we went on Saturday afternoon to the Stanford shopping center store.
Originally I had made the appt on Thursday last week, this was the ONLY time available and after I booked it, it was gone. I thought I was the only one.
When we got there (it was really just a booking for me, but GF came) we were the ONLY ONES.
Not sure if there others or if it was truly meant to be a ONE ON ONE..
There wasn't a lot of download, just went over stuff and then walked us through a bunch of settings, then showed us some stuff we didn't know (like the REMOTE CAMERA viewer and shutter release - neato)
It really ended up being more of a Q&A about questions we had, how to do X, what should we expect from Y, why didn't the map really update in real time when navigating somewhere (didn't know)
Why doesn't the phone ring the watch in the house (didn't know)
but it was nice, friendly, good information probably for someone who hadn't already spent a solid 30 hours with the watch trying things out (or a adopter like me)
Should have been 1 hour, but we really only needed 30-35 minutes and then I ran out of questions and let him free.
Very nice store employee, they always are.
So, we went on Saturday afternoon to the Stanford shopping center store.
Originally I had made the appt on Thursday last week, this was the ONLY time available and after I booked it, it was gone. I thought I was the only one.
When we got there (it was really just a booking for me, but GF came) we were the ONLY ONES.
Not sure if there others or if it was truly meant to be a ONE ON ONE..
There wasn't a lot of download, just went over stuff and then walked us through a bunch of settings, then showed us some stuff we didn't know (like the REMOTE CAMERA viewer and shutter release - neato)
It really ended up being more of a Q&A about questions we had, how to do X, what should we expect from Y, why didn't the map really update in real time when navigating somewhere (didn't know)
Why doesn't the phone ring the watch in the house (didn't know)
but it was nice, friendly, good information probably for someone who hadn't already spent a solid 30 hours with the watch trying things out (or a adopter like me)
Should have been 1 hour, but we really only needed 30-35 minutes and then I ran out of questions and let him free.
Very nice store employee, they always are.
This is one of the things I was looking forward to, and really like the way it works - I'm surprised not to see more informing people about it
one of the other tricks was
laying your hand on the face to MUTE the watch, for a call or notifications..
Surely someone will put together a field guide soon.
this flowchart is also helpful, but it wasn't provided by apple
http://i.imgur.com/FnNZzUG.jpg
I did the class yesterday at Fashion Island. There were 3 of us, all waiting for our watch deliveries. We got to play with their display watches for half an hour while the instructor shows us how his worked, including the iPhone settings. He was fairly knowledgeable. If you have been reading everything out there, you probably won't learn anything new. But it was pleasant and harmless. I may back for the advanced class later.
When you have an incoming call, you scroll the crown and one of the options is to send it to your phone.