Apple Watch Virgin - What can I do?

[cosmichobo]

Eek!

I've been an Apple consumer since 1992, but I don't think I've felt this "newbie" since getting my first iPhone in 2010... (How embarrassing - I had to look up how to turn the iPhone 3GS on!)

The Apple Watch was something that I looked at when it first arrived, and thought - Nope, never going to need that - gave up wearing a watch when I got my first smart phone. (Reminds me, gotta find that Citizen Eco; probably worth $200 on eBay).

I have however just purchased a Series 3 Apple Watch on eBay for AU$137. From my minimal research, I gathered that this series was still reasonably functional, and not too slow, but also has things like heart rate monitoring (seems like a good idea) and also has ApplePay which I currently use regularly with my iPhone 8.

But honestly other than that, I know little about the Watch...

Will I be talking into my Watch like Michael Knight?



Do I still need to use finger print ID on my iPhone to complete an Apple Pay transaction with the Watch?

What are some things that I can use this piece of kitt for?

Cheers and thanks

old-feeling cosmic

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Apple Watch User Guide

Here’s everything you need to know about Apple Watch and the Apple Watch app on iPhone, straight from Apple. This definitive guide helps you get started using Apple Watch and discover all the amazing things it can do.

support.apple.com

 

[NoBoMac]

No, will not need finger print or FaceID for Apple Pay: just double tap side button of watch.

I was in pretty much a similar boat in 2019 when I bought the 3, when they became the gateway cheapskate watch. Bought primarily for fitness tracking, heart monitor. Since then...

Only used the watch once for a phone call (answering). Not a fan of talking in public, even more hate where strangers can hear both sides of a conversatio

Like that the watch is a second screen to the phone. Can leave the phone in a different room yet get notifications for email, messages, calendar, etc. And read said emails, messages.

When working out, use the watch to control audio playback (select new track, fast forward over ads in podcasts).

Back to Apple Pay, just leave the phone in your pocket.

I'm not a big app user on the watch, but, there is that option. For example, my password manager has a corresponding AW app. Ditto 2FA app I have. I use the AW app for my 3rd party calendar & reminders app instead of Apple's stock apps.

Oh And Edit: If you have a Mac, unlock with Apple Watch is sweet.

 

[MacDevil7334]

Though the S3 is starting to get a little long in the tooth, it’s a great way to dip you toe in the water if you‘re not sure you are a watch person yet. Its uses aren’t quite as obvious as an iPhone. But, you will find several as you explore a bit. Here are some of my uses:

• Notifications: I am able to get important notifications on my wrist. This lets me leave my phone in a completely different room during the workday and helps me avoid distractions. I recommend you take some time to actively curate which notifications get forwarded from your phone to your wrist though. If you leave everything turned on, you can find yourself getting tapped on the wrist constantly.
• Information at a Glance: The killer app for the Apple Watch (IMHO) is not an app at all but rather complications on the watch face. Being able to see small bits of information (weather, calendar, reminders, etc) at a glance when I raise my wrist and then having more detail be a tap away is huge. You won’t be able to use the newer faces with rich complications since you have an S3. But, faces like Modular, Simple, and Utility will give you a flavor of what is possible. Any watch from an S4 on will supercharge the experience of complications.
• Fitness: Apple Watch has proven to be a pretty good motivator for me. I want to close my rings every day and the watch gives me gentle reminders when I need to get moving. I have seen my fitness improve over time, which has been nice.
• Music while Working Out: The Apple Watch lets you track your workout (including your route using GPS) and listen to music WITHOUT your phone. If you like to run or walk, that alone is worth the price of admission I think.
• Control Music on Phone/AirPods/HomePods: Another feature that helps me leave my phone in another room is the ability to control music (play/pause/forward/back/volume) on other devices with my watch.
• Siri: Using raise to speak lets me summon Siri very easily. Great for controlling HomeKit accessories or setting a timer.
• Apps: Apps are not a big thing on AW like they are on iPhone. But there are a few good ones that I use: Carrot Weather is a supercharged version of the default weather app. It’s a subscription but worth it for me. Watherminder is my other heavily used app.

Ultimately, I see my Apple Watch as a way to free me from my iPhone a bit. I still get the information I actually need and can have short interactions like sending a quick text, checking my calendar or the weather, or controlling music. But, there is not the temptation to get on social media and waste time like with my iPhone. The fitness features are just an added bonus for me. Hope you enjoy your new watch!

 

[BugeyeSTI]

If you bought a GPS only Series 3 watch (8gb storage) you'll be having to go through a frustrating prosess to update the watch everytime an update is released, so prepare yourself:

Apple isn’t serious about Series 3 updates…

What the heck? Two months ago I was frustrated by the fact that I couldn’t do anything to update my Series 3 Watch. I had to erease everything and then it finally updated. Since then it spent all this time on the charger. I didn’t restore the backup, didn’t set anything up, it was just erased...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Okta]

I have the Series 3, you got it for a great price but be prepared for a frustrating experience. When it works, its fine but the update process is a royal PITA.

 

[cosmichobo]

Thanks for all the replies!

Yes, it's the GPS only model. Maybe why it went so cheap? (Well - not all that cheap really looking at eBay trends)

As noted - I really didn't see myself wearing a watch again after I had a Samsung "smart" flip phone *haha* phone with the time displayed on the front face of the phone - and then of course the iPhone. Why wear a watch when in 2 seconds you can pull the phone out and see the time.

But - I see more and more people using the Apple Watch... and... ok, maybe it's the Apple addict in me...

When it arrives I'll be sure to re-read the comments above and see what will work for me.

 

[Seamaster]

See comments above about updating an S3. Get ready to hate the bloody thing.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Thanks for all the replies!

Yes, it's the GPS only model. Maybe why it went so cheap? (Well - not all that cheap really looking at eBay trends)

As noted - I really didn't see myself wearing a watch again after I had a Samsung "smart" flip phone *haha* phone with the time displayed on the front face of the phone - and then of course the iPhone. Why wear a watch when in 2 seconds you can pull the phone out and see the time.

But - I see more and more people using the Apple Watch... and... ok, maybe it's the Apple addict in me...

When it arrives I'll be sure to re-read the comments above and see what will work for me.

Have you considered cancelling the sale and upgrading to at least a series 4? The base model 3 may not give you a fair and pleasant introduction to the world of AW.

 

[cosmichobo]

It’s already posted. Not going to cancel.

Hopefully it’s already updated to a reasonable level.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Hopefully. Please let us know how things go.

 

[mj_]

Even if it's not it will automatically update to the latest version of watchOS supported by the version of iOS running on the iPhone you are pairing it with. If your iPhone is up to date it will thus automatically install watchOS 7.4.1 on your watch.

 

[Seamaster]

“Automatically update”, LOL.

 

[cosmichobo]

Just FYI.. On average the Series 4 sells on eBay for AUD$275 - compared to the $137 I paid for the Series 3... So - a fair step up for something I'm still unsure of.

(And... bearing in mind for comparison - my desktop is a 2010 MacPro... Laptop is a 2014 MacBookAir... both purchased 2nd hand. Whilst I enjoy a lot of Apple's tech, it's bloody expensive, and I'm not cash rich.)

RE the OS... will be interesting to see what is on it. Typically my iPhone has been several versions old, although for the first time in ages I actually did upgrade just a few months ago, so it's running 14.4.2 at the moment...

Hopefully it wont cause me major issues.

 

[cosmichobo]

Watch arrived! Good condition, no damage as advertised, has a spare wrist-band section (the half with the holes in it), charger seems to be in good condition, no fraying or anything, all in original box as well.

No idea what OS version it's running, but when I tried to pair to my iPhone, my phone said it needs to be updated - But, didn't offer any steps to perform the update.

Found a "reset to default" option on the Watch, so did that. Also put the Watch on its charging dock as I see it needs at least 50% to perform a software update, and have no idea what it's on.

---
Phone now offers to update the Watch, starts to think about it, but then says - iOS is not up to date; need to update before it can update the Watch.

So looks like I'll have to update the Phone first... Will advise how I go.

---
Well, all updated no dramas whatsoever. The iPhone took longer to update than the Watch did.

Now just getting used to typing with a watch on my wrist again after a decade + without one.

 

[jr866gooner]

Watch arrived! Good condition, no damage as advertised, has a spare wrist-band section (the half with the holes in it), charger seems to be in good condition, no fraying or anything, all in original box as well.

No idea what OS version it's running, but when I tried to pair to my iPhone, my phone said it needs to be updated - But, didn't offer any steps to perform the update.

Found a "reset to default" option on the Watch, so did that. Also put the Watch on its charging dock as I see it needs at least 50% to perform a software update, and have no idea what it's on.

---
Phone now offers to update the Watch, starts to think about it, but then says - iOS is not up to date; need to update before it can update the Watch.

So looks like I'll have to update the Phone first... Will advise how I go.

---
Well, all updated no dramas whatsoever. The iPhone took longer to update than the Watch did.

Now just getting used to typing with a watch on my wrist again after a decade + without one.

It’s all new to me too this Apple Watch thing! Lol

 

[cosmichobo]

It’s all new to me too this Apple Watch thing! Lol

I've had mine for a few weeks now... and thus far:

Am loving the heart rate, and "health" aspect (ie encouraging me to exercise, meet goals).

Need to find a better Weather app - not liking the built in feature...

Find Siri to be less reliable than on iPhone... but useful for in the car, as I don't have a proper hands-free kit

Apple Pay has been a big miss so far. Apple Wallet works ok, but when I've tried to pay, it either didn't show up on the EFTPOS machine, or - maybe ? - RESET the EFTPOS machine! (Lady said it seemed to be a power failure that rebooted it, but all the other machines in the area were fine...)

I am however now looking for another cheapo Series 3 on eBay for my wife...