New First Apple Watch Owner

[Claudia P]

I never had any interest in a smart watch and then disaster struck and the short version is, After full cardiac arrest and 7 weeks total between hospital and rehab facility I changed my mind. Now I have a ton of questions to go with my shiny new series 8 45mm watch, LOL.

First is I have noticed that all or nearly all of the apps have in app purchases, are these charges for apps like weather and watch faces enough to render the app useless? I much prefer to pay a price up front and have full functionality.

I have been reading all week so far trying to learn as much as my 74 year old brain can retain in a short time but I've read enough to know that very little of my decades of computer, smart phone and iPad experience is going to be much help here. LOL
I've spent enough time on this in 3 days to know that I'm going to love it, and also that I am completely lost in many areas.

 

[Howard2k]

I don't use any third party apps.

I'm sure there's a third party app with purchases but none of them get any money from me. It's just a matter of deciding whether it's a worthwhile cost. For me it's not.

 

[rmw49]

First is I have noticed that all or nearly all of the apps have in app purchases, are these charges for apps like weather and watch faces enough to render the app useless

All the watch faces and weather app are free, as are all the Apple health apps. You can buy different ones if you wish but you'll find that the Apple Watch covers most of what you need without any outside app payments. I'm also 74 but have been an Apple Watch user for the last 6 years and now have the Ultra which I love because I can go cycling or walking and leave my iPhone at home, which I do most of the time. I've also done that with my other Apple watches.

 

[macsound1]

I have family that automatically goes to the app store instead of looking at what's already installed on their phone.
Using the built in apps for weather, health etc. is a huge quality of life improvement over whatever random thing found on the app store.
There are, of course, great apps on the app store, but start with the built in ones, see how they suit you, and then look for a specific feature on a well reviewed app.
I often use the TWiT MacBreak Weekly or iOS today app recommendations as a starting point, because someone else has already test driven it for me, instead of blindly searching and getting burned.

I also, on my personal iPhone, have parental controls turned on to disallow in-app purchases, so I don't do it accidentally.

 

[Claudia P]

Thank you all, like I said I'm so new to this that I really don't know what I'm doing, I am very familiar with the App store but my favorite weather app isn't there so I was looking to see what they have and they all say in app purchases. I use the local 3 weather app on my phone and they don't have a watch app yet.

 

[Claudia P]

I have family that automatically goes to the app store instead of looking at what's already installed on their phone.
Using the built in apps for weather, health etc. is a huge quality of life improvement over whatever random thing found on the app store.
There are, of course, great apps on the app store, but start with the built in ones, see how they suit you, and then look for a specific feature on a well reviewed app.
I often use the TWiT MacBreak Weekly or iOS today app recommendations as a starting point, because someone else has already test driven it for me, instead of blindly searching and getting burned.

I also, on my personal iPhone, have parental controls turned on to disallow in-app purchases, so I don't do it accidentally.

I always try the existing apps except when I have a long time favorite, I guess I'll just try to figure out how to work the one that is already on there. The plus to using a familiar one is not having to learn how to use it. I'm not familiar with either of the sites you mention.

 

[ArchEtech]

There are a lot of apps that are free, so don't be afraid to try a few of those first. You can get by with only the apple apps if you want.

I have a cardiologist friend, and when I thought I might be having some heart issues, I had the watch sent readings via email/pdf. That was kind of useful. It might not be medical grade and has all of the disclaimers, but is seems readable enough!

 

[Claudia P]

That is what changed my mind about a smart watch. I was having heart rhythm issues and they did a coronary ablation to try to fix it, but it failed and then I went into a full arrest, had a defribulator put in , and spent 7 weeks in hospital and rehab. I have problems with panic attacks as well and I thought this might help me to get past the panic attacks, which it has done a couple of times already. I haven't tried to learn how to use the heart stuff yet, but just being able to doublecheck my heart rate is a huge help at reassuring me that I'm just having anxiety.
Honestly I love tech gadgets anyway so any excuse will work to justify a new tech purchase. lol

 

[Mikeske]

I just going to say I have a series 8 Apple Watch that I got in November. I have coronary issues that were caught by a sharp doctor before I had any serious issues. When I purchased the watch I ordered it online and had it delivered to my home. I had a lot of the same questions as you do so I made an appointment at the nearest Apple Store and wanted instructions on using the built in apps. I highly suggest that if it is possible to make an appointment at your nearest Apple store and get instructed on the apps in the Apple Watch. If that is not possible maybe a younger family member that has an Apple Watch might be able to also help you.

I have been using the Apple installed apps for heart monitoring and not any of the apps that are offered in the App Store. I find that the Apple installed apps are just fine for what I need. Being that I we are all aging and we have made it this far that asking for assistance in using these more modern devices. I also use the watch to monitor my sleep havbits and have built a good data base on my sleep habits. Sleep monitoring is also a built in app in the watch.

 

[GlenK]

Someone on here recommended a 3rd party app called Heart Analyzer: Cardio Monitor. I tried it and would highly recommend it. It takes a while to learn using it but it has everything I wanted. I got an Apple watch just over a hear ago for the same reason. It has made a major difference in helping me deal with this heart stuff!!

 

[calliex]

I use app called heart reports. It produces a heart rate, bp , activity, sugar, O2 and sleep report. Some info like bp and sugar have to be hand entered unless you have a 3rd party sensor for those. I give my doctor a printed report every time I see him. I am 73 and have high BP and low heart rate. My wife has super ventricular tachycardia (SVT) and can send her doctor ECGs from the ECG app when she has a problem.

 

[Claudia P]

I just going to say I have a series 8 Apple Watch that I got in November. I have coronary issues that were caught by a sharp doctor before I had any serious issues. When I purchased the watch I ordered it online and had it delivered to my home. I had a lot of the same questions as you do so I made an appointment at the nearest Apple Store and wanted instructions on using the built in apps. I highly suggest that if it is possible to make an appointment at your nearest Apple store and get instructed on the apps in the Apple Watch. If that is not possible maybe a younger family member that has an Apple Watch might be able to also help you.

I have been using the Apple installed apps for heart monitoring and not any of the apps that are offered in the App Store. I find that the Apple installed apps are just fine for what I need. Being that I we are all aging and we have made it this far that asking for assistance in using these more modern devices. I also use the watch to monitor my sleep havbits and have built a good data base on my sleep habits. Sleep monitoring is also a built in app in the watch.

That is great advice and probably what I would have done if it were possible. I believe the closest Apple store is 1 to 2 hours drive away and most definitely outside my driving range so I'll have to stick to learning online. My family is all in California and I am 2000 miles from there. I am looking for an Apple watch, user group online.

 

[Claudia P]

I use app called heart reports. It produces a heart rate, bp , activity, sugar, O2 and sleep report. Some info like bp and sugar have to be hand entered unless you have a 3rd party sensor for those. I give my doctor a printed report every time I see him. I am 73 and have high BP and low heart rate. My wife has super ventricular tachycardia (SVT) and can send her doctor ECGs from the ECG app when she has a problem.

This kind of information is invaluable, Thank you!