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Does the watch work without the iPhone?
- Thread starter McDaddio
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I would imagine time and the apps still work, minus the part where it needs data to download things.
It uses wifi to communicate directly to your iphone when the two are outside bluetooth range. It doesn't connect to your home wifi network. (Why not? Well for starters, it would require text input capability to enter network information, password and sometimes SSID if you hid that and so on), and would also require additional security precautions that could bog down the processor unnecessarily and burn additional power.
I doubt it will even tell the time until paired with a phone. If you stay in the same time zone and never need data then maybe it will work once initialized.
BUT, out of the box I have a feeling it is going to be set on Cupertino Time. Just no point to get it if you do not have a phone of the correct level to pair it to.
BUT, out of the box I have a feeling it is going to be set on Cupertino Time. Just no point to get it if you do not have a phone of the correct level to pair it to.
My friend is a nurse and asked if she put her phone in her locker at work and both were paired to the same wifi network, would her watch still function so long as connected to wifi? She hates carrying her phone and a watch for important notifications and reminders would be super useful thoughout her day. I told her yes, I hope I was right lol.
Only if she works close to the locker.
Once the 
Watch loses connection to the iPhone all external connections are lost. The iPhone is the internet portal for the Watch.
Only if she works close to the locker.
The Apple watch uses both Bluetooth and Wifi. If you are on the same Wifi network you don't need to be within Bluetooth range for it to work properly.
The
Watch uses a combination point to point BT/WiFi (AirPlay like) to connect to your iPhone. The Watch ONLY connects to the iPhone and there is no way to see, connect or access the Watch WiFi because it is an invisible part of the BT iPhone AirPlay type connection. In order for the
Watch to connect to the internet it MUST be BT/WiFi point to point paired with your iPhone. Then your iPhone must be connected to the internet by cell service or to a WiFi.Your
Watch can't connect to any WiFi network nor can any WiFi network see an Watch. Your iPhone IS the internet portal for your Watch.Apple said:
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Thanks everyone.
My only concern was what happens when your phone runs out of battery, or you forget it. I know it needs to initially be paired, etc, but was wondering it has any utility (e.g. telling time) is your phone is not available.
My only concern was what happens when your phone runs out of battery, or you forget it. I know it needs to initially be paired, etc, but was wondering it has any utility (e.g. telling time) is your phone is not available.
Yes to time, timer, alarm and you can use several of the native Apps. You can play music (2GB limit and BT headphones), look at pics, count steeps and calories and use
Pay without your iPhone.Some are saying and it may be correct that in order to setup a new
Watch you may need an iPhone.It is invisible and you will have no idea if it's using WiFi or BT or a combination of both just like you don't see how AirPlay works. I don't think having WiFi will extend the range much since WiFi and BT are close in frequency and the WiFi will be limited by the output power and sensitivity of the iPhone and
Watch. It is not a detected router plugged into the wall.I think the main advantage to having both is redundancy, reliability and extended bandwidth at a greater range.
It would depend entirely on local conditions, including thickness and composition of walls in the building you're in, amount of other wireless activity around you and so on. Put your iphone in wireless hotspot mode and connect to it with another (mobile) device and you might get some sort of idea. As Julien mentions, you'd be somewhat limited by power output and sensitivity of the respective transcievers involved, and these things run on (in the watch's case rather tiny) batteries... However, modern wifi tech is quite amazing, so it'll probably be enough for most users.
So what can the Apple Watch do WITHOUT the iPhone?
Seems to be common that so many smart watches are tethered to their respective phones.
However, I'm curious as to what features will work on the Apple Watch without the iPhone? I know the Music app, but is that the only one? What if I want to stream Pandora, can I connect to a wifi network? Does it essentially become a brick? Any ideas?
Seems to be common that so many smart watches are tethered to their respective phones.
However, I'm curious as to what features will work on the Apple Watch without the iPhone? I know the Music app, but is that the only one? What if I want to stream Pandora, can I connect to a wifi network? Does it essentially become a brick? Any ideas?