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On the fence for AW again
- Thread starter mintakax
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Are push alerts from iPhone enabled? Check the Watch app on your phone. It's under Clock, at the bottom. States When this is on, Apple Watch will alert you of Timers and Alarms you've set on your iPhone...
I’m aware, and I don’t need technology to nag me about it.Sitting for too long is bad for your health and the alert is an easy way to realize you're doing it. It's the feature that initially sold me on the watch.
Why Sitting Too Much Is Bad for Your Health
Sit all day at the office? You might want to rethink that. Long hours in the chair are bad for your health. WebMD explains why it’s time to get up and stretch your legs.www.webmd.com
Fall detection seemed like an awesome feature until it false positived a ton. I eventually disabled it on my Series 5. Clap your hands? you fell. Use a hammer? yup. fell. Swat an insect with your hand? again, you must've fallen.
I hoped constantly telling it 'I did not fall' or 'I'm ok' before it inevitably tries to dial 911 via your phone would 'train it' but nope. It had to be turned off.
Ironically, the one time I did come crashing down after slipping on ice and caught myself with my left hand, yes, the one actually wearing the watch, it never triggered. I was ok, of course, but after that, I felt it wasn't effective when needed, and too often triggered for no reason.
Forget the ECG feature if you're the type who has an odd resting heart rate which is quite high, such as myself. Doctors tell me it's normal for me, but my resting rate is usually in the 90s. That tends to kill ECG because anything above 80 is considered 'inconclusive'. Also, if you don't fit the demographic of atrial fibrillation, it's useless, as that's really all it looks for. Even though the Series 3 lacked ECG, it could still detect Afib, so paying more for a broken feature for some people that looks for the same thing (but with pretty graphics) isn't worth the effort.
The Apple Watch is excellent otherwise. It lacks ability to really get third party faces, and most haven't been updated since the first Series 0 came out, so the selection can be limited. But it seems indestructable. I've abused my 5 (at work) and it shows no obvious signs of damage, unlike multiple Galaxy Watches. The 'radio' app has no equal on other watch brands, including Samsung. Only the Apple watch has that app, which beats Spotify and has offline playlists. If you're into 70s through 90s music, there's a playlist for you and with AirPods, it's quite nice during exercise. Apple Pay is faster than Samsung Pay (less steps). Notifications are quite customizable.
Just turn off the move goal at the end of the week challenge. I couldn't imagine what effect it would have on a 70 year-old, but I swear it's algorithm was trying to kill me. I'm a tiny guy weighing around 150 lb, and thin frame, and all I wanted to do was maintain my current weight. But it kept adding new move goals that were totally unrealistic for myself. It wanted me to do like 30,000 after a few weeks. That would have given me a heart attack. It's hard enough managing 8,000. That is at least 2.45 miles for me. I can't imagine beating 30,000. I think you can turn if off but I was unsuccessful (another in the list of Series 5 bugs for me). I just turned on DND all the time.
I hoped constantly telling it 'I did not fall' or 'I'm ok' before it inevitably tries to dial 911 via your phone would 'train it' but nope. It had to be turned off.
Ironically, the one time I did come crashing down after slipping on ice and caught myself with my left hand, yes, the one actually wearing the watch, it never triggered. I was ok, of course, but after that, I felt it wasn't effective when needed, and too often triggered for no reason.
Forget the ECG feature if you're the type who has an odd resting heart rate which is quite high, such as myself. Doctors tell me it's normal for me, but my resting rate is usually in the 90s. That tends to kill ECG because anything above 80 is considered 'inconclusive'. Also, if you don't fit the demographic of atrial fibrillation, it's useless, as that's really all it looks for. Even though the Series 3 lacked ECG, it could still detect Afib, so paying more for a broken feature for some people that looks for the same thing (but with pretty graphics) isn't worth the effort.
The Apple Watch is excellent otherwise. It lacks ability to really get third party faces, and most haven't been updated since the first Series 0 came out, so the selection can be limited. But it seems indestructable. I've abused my 5 (at work) and it shows no obvious signs of damage, unlike multiple Galaxy Watches. The 'radio' app has no equal on other watch brands, including Samsung. Only the Apple watch has that app, which beats Spotify and has offline playlists. If you're into 70s through 90s music, there's a playlist for you and with AirPods, it's quite nice during exercise. Apple Pay is faster than Samsung Pay (less steps). Notifications are quite customizable.
Just turn off the move goal at the end of the week challenge. I couldn't imagine what effect it would have on a 70 year-old, but I swear it's algorithm was trying to kill me. I'm a tiny guy weighing around 150 lb, and thin frame, and all I wanted to do was maintain my current weight. But it kept adding new move goals that were totally unrealistic for myself. It wanted me to do like 30,000 after a few weeks. That would have given me a heart attack. It's hard enough managing 8,000. That is at least 2.45 miles for me. I can't imagine beating 30,000. I think you can turn if off but I was unsuccessful (another in the list of Series 5 bugs for me). I just turned on DND all the time.
I’ve never had fall detection come up on my series 5 and I’ve done many of the things you’ve described there. The move goal thing you’re talking about is confusing too. I’ve not known it change itself at all? Mine is set by me and remains set until I decide to change it. You can set it as high or as low as you like.
As you’re giving this advice straight to the OP, I’d like to also suggest that I have used an AW daily for nearly 4 years and not had the issues you have.
So I purchased my first AW this year, the series 6 rather than the SE, and for me bizarrely (or not perhaps) it was the notifications that I loved the most initially, but alas I sent it back because I was hit twice in the first 48 hours by a freeze and then two crashes / reboots plus notifications behaving strangely (Dark Sky). Support took logs / dumps and suggested it was a software issue not just bad luck with the specific device I had. Which leads me to a question to those on the thread that are longer term, dare I say happy AW owners, is it something I'm doing differently (am I doing it wrong? 
), there has to be something different that makes the AW wearable for most folks. Is WatchOS sensitive to third party apps and I should invest time excluding everything and then adding them one at a time? Or watch WatchOS7 just flakey and subsequent updates have resolved the issues, it just doesn't get acknowledged by Apple, I know they typically don't talk about bugs until fixed, at least for macOS. I'd love to buy another AW if I knew it's okay / I just need to do something differently but currently I feel like it's possibly the definition of madness, doing something twice and expecting a different result.
), there has to be something different that makes the AW wearable for most folks. Is WatchOS sensitive to third party apps and I should invest time excluding everything and then adding them one at a time? Or watch WatchOS7 just flakey and subsequent updates have resolved the issues, it just doesn't get acknowledged by Apple, I know they typically don't talk about bugs until fixed, at least for macOS. I'd love to buy another AW if I knew it's okay / I just need to do something differently but currently I feel like it's possibly the definition of madness, doing something twice and expecting a different result.
Got my first AW S6 a few weeks ago and its the little things I love about it - For me the noiseless" alarm (where it just vibrates enough on your wrist to wake you up) is almost worth it alone as it doesn't wake hubby up for the odd early work start.
Pillow and fitness tracking has given me "scores" to try and beat and I love the way it defaults to a remote control for music in CarPlay. I delivery for a living and in a pinch the flashlight function has been invaluable at night.
I have found the speaker on it a billion times better than I thought it would be and generally its no issue to have a phone conversation on it. I also send a lot more messages as audio clips now..which my mum seems to love.
Like you even though I am probably an Apple fanboy I resisted up to now and even just before I bought it I was unsure - Never ever worn a watch before but now a few months in its pretty much the only thing I miss if I forget to put it on after a shower or charging (which is very rare).
Also its a nice piece of jewellery and I have a zillion bands now
Once the weather (and light) improves and I can start jogging again it will be nice to just head out with my Melomania earbuds and the watch which has a few favourite playlists on it too.
Pillow and fitness tracking has given me "scores" to try and beat and I love the way it defaults to a remote control for music in CarPlay. I delivery for a living and in a pinch the flashlight function has been invaluable at night.
I have found the speaker on it a billion times better than I thought it would be and generally its no issue to have a phone conversation on it. I also send a lot more messages as audio clips now..which my mum seems to love.
Like you even though I am probably an Apple fanboy I resisted up to now and even just before I bought it I was unsure - Never ever worn a watch before but now a few months in its pretty much the only thing I miss if I forget to put it on after a shower or charging (which is very rare).
Also its a nice piece of jewellery and I have a zillion bands now
Once the weather (and light) improves and I can start jogging again it will be nice to just head out with my Melomania earbuds and the watch which has a few favourite playlists on it too.
Maybe it's not the move goal itself. Whatever the red ring was. Every week, it gives you a summary, and 'suggests' a higher challenge (which is supposed to take your health stats, weight, info you plugged in during first-time setup) and for me, that challenge became so unrealistic I couldn't stand it. I just have to keep dialing it back every week.
I've had my Series 5 for at least a year. The Series 3 did the same 'suggestion' each week as well. Also, the way the exercise and stand rings are static and can't be adjusted kinda sucks too. The Apple Watch health algorithm must be meant for body builders or something. It's certainly not healthy to run yourself to an early grave just to 'fill your rings' (at least that notification can be disabled!)
'noiseless' alarms do nothing for me. That's not confined to Apple Watch either. I just sleep like a dead person and it takes a loud alarm or loud music to get me awake.
So I purchased my first AW this year, the series 6 rather than the SE, and for me bizarrely (or not perhaps) it was the notifications that I loved the most initially, but alas I sent it back because I was hit twice in the first 48 hours by a freeze and then two crashes / reboots plus notifications behaving strangely (Dark Sky). Support took logs / dumps and suggested it was a software issue not just bad luck with the specific device I had. Which leads me to a question to those on the thread that are longer term, dare I say happy AW owners, is it something I'm doing differently (am I doing it wrong?
I’ll admit I’m not the kind of AW user many are. I use mine mostly for basic stuff - telling time, notifications, timers, alarms, and occasionally Apple Pay. I do use the heart features, although I certainly don’t completely trust my health to the findings. ;-p
That being said, I’ve had every series so far, and I have never experienced that many issues in total.
I have several third party apps and haven't encountered any of that. The worst problem I had was with Calendars 5 but that was just the app crashing every time I tried to launch it.
Again I'll ask: Are push alerts from iPhone enabled? Check the Watch app on your phone. It's under Clock, at the bottom. States When this is on, Apple Watch will alert you of Timers and Alarms you've set on your iPhone...
I resisted the Apple Watch until sometime during the pandemic and working from home that I wanted to keep the phone away from where I was sitting to do work.
I use it mostly for timers, closing circles (just for fun and some motivation), standing reminder, Apple Fitness+ (loving it vs me using Youtube videos the past year). Everything else now is just a bonus. I like being able to set timers via Siri when my hands full (ie, cooking, doing dishes, playing with kids..).
Notifications are hit or miss for me..especially when I'm doing things like wash dishes or exercising, I seem to not feel and not heard the notifications.
I use it mostly for timers, closing circles (just for fun and some motivation), standing reminder, Apple Fitness+ (loving it vs me using Youtube videos the past year). Everything else now is just a bonus. I like being able to set timers via Siri when my hands full (ie, cooking, doing dishes, playing with kids..).
Notifications are hit or miss for me..especially when I'm doing things like wash dishes or exercising, I seem to not feel and not heard the notifications.
I've had people on here try to argue with me that using Apple Pay on a watch isn't any more convenient that using a credit card.
My wife loves it. She's into fitness things and thinks it's the bees knees.
Me? I'm a lazy programmer and don't see the point of it.
My daughter likes taking it and pressing the Minnie Mouse watch face and it'll say the time in Minnie Mouse's voice. She's 2, but she'll tell you to get one. And use the Minnie Mouse watch face
Me? I'm a lazy programmer and don't see the point of it.
My daughter likes taking it and pressing the Minnie Mouse watch face and it'll say the time in Minnie Mouse's voice. She's 2, but she'll tell you to get one. And use the Minnie Mouse watch face
Weird - I use the timer daily - (set using my iPhone) but my watch always goes off (unless I'm using my phone ie it is open, but I'd see the timer go off on my phone)
Yeah, I re-ran my test, but set the alarm, turned off my phone and set it down. At that point, my watch got the alarm.