Own and Apple Watch? Have an Opinion or Advice?

[mikezmac]

Ok, so some of you lucky dogs have gotten your paws on the new Apple Watch. . . .

Sooo.. for those of us still waiting we'd like to know what you think!??

• Is it working well?
  
• Did you buy the right watch/size and band for yourself? Recommendations?
  
• What Apps do you like best ? Which Apps suck ? Which apps are a MUST HAVE!?
  
• What's your advice for the first day when people get their Apple Watch? Prep work? Do or Do nots?
  
• What's your opinion of the Apple Watch now that You've had it for a week or more? Do you love it more? Like it less? Regret your purchase? Excited for new updates and features?

.....Let us know??

 

[brett_l]

• It works well
• I purchased the correct size and band for myself 42mm with link bracelet but the link bracelet is falling apart after only 2 months
• I am happy with all apps on watch. Mostly just default apps.
• Get Applecare+. You only have 60 days before you cannot get this. 60 days is roughly the time elapsed before the band started falling apart
• I like the watch. I regret getting the Link bracelet (the most expensive and apparently least suitable for normal use)

 

[The Game 161]

I'm thinking hard about getting one to go with my future phone..the 6 plus S

 

[Newtons Apple]

The Fitness aspects of the Apple Watch were not near as good as I expected. The heart rate sensor needs so work as it can be flakey and stop working for no reason sometimes. I am hoping Apple makes some software adjustments and get the HR sensor running better. I also would like them to work on the Fitness app.

Overall the watch is pretty nice

 

[sean000]

You will get much more detailed answers to individual questions searching the forums, but in a nutshell:

• Yes... it works really well. I usually have between 10% and 40% battery left at the end of the day, so battery life has not been an issue. I find the performance to be good and even my 3rd party apps usually don't take that long to load (occasionally they do, so looking for ward to native third party apps in Watch OS2).
• I bought the 38mm blue Sport, and I think it was the perfect choice for me. I have 170mm wrists, so I could have gone either way, but in the end the 38mm just felt right on my wrist while I kept adjusting and fiddling with the 42mm (unless you're sure about which size you want, I highly recommend visiting a store to try them on).
• I like "Due" for reminders, Fantastical for calendar (also does reminders though), Dark Sky for weather, Bring for groceries, Evernote, Yelp, Outlook for my work email, Swipes for my task list.
• The first day? Don't automatically allow all your available watch apps to install. If you do then any app you have on your iPhone that offers a watch app will end up on the watch. It's better to be selective about what you put on the watch so you don't clutter the interface, take up too much memory, or have too many apps syncing to your iPhone. Just play with it and maybe read the manual and some online tips so you know how things work. Some iPhone apps are pointless to have on the watch, while others are very useful. First update your iPhone apps to make sure you have the latest versions (some may have just released their watch apps), then add a few at a time to the watch so you can play around and see how well they work. I usually add the app as a Glance as well if it offers that feature, but then I remove it from glances if the glance view is not very useful to me (you want to be very selective with your glances). Other things: Try silent mode so you get silent notifications. You can crank up the haptics if you want a more prominent tap on the wrist. Be ruthless about your notifications on the watch. If you don't want notifications from a particular app, shut it down so you just get the stuff you care about. That said, don't just preemptively disable notifications. You might find some are more useful than you expected. Also... shop for third party bands. It's nice to have options. A charging stand is also nice to have if you keep losing the charging cable behind the nightstand. There are plenty of reviews of bands and stands on this site. Calibrate your steps. Change your watch face frequently (sometimes it's nice to have a lot of information and complications... like when you're at work, but it's also nice to have a minimalist face or one of the soothing motion faces enabled when you don't need a lot of info). I often use the Utility or Modular faces at work, and Motion, Solar or Astronomy at home.
• After a month of wearing the Apple Watch I can say it was exceeded my expectations from Day 1. I expected to like it, but I like it even more than I thought I would. It's not a device to sit there and play with for long periods (although it is fun to play with the different faces, and to watch the motion faces like the jellyfish and butterflies). The beauty of it is that it's there on your wrist when you need information or get a notification. Notifications can be silent (huge for me). Most interactions with the watch are just quick glances, but I have also found it useful to reply to texts, set reminders or appointments (using Siri), listen to voice mails, control music, even answer calls. Apple Pay is convenient (my grocery store accepts Apple Pay), but it's not widely accepted. Still, I like that I can use my watch to check things off my list as I shop for groceries, and then I can check out with the watch as well. My iPhone and my wallet can stay in my pocket. If I lost my Apple Watch I would immediately buy another one... and I don't have a lot of disposable income.

 

[kingc0bra]

The heart monitor is crap
The apps are SUPER SLOW to load
The watch's novelty wears off after the first week
The battery life is only 1 day, have to take it off to charge it every night
There is no sleep tracker in the watch like the fitbits and other fitness trackers (actually a very nice feature to have)

 

[rxd]

You will get much more detailed answers to individual questions searching the forums, but in a nutshell:

• Yes... it works really well. I usually have between 10% and 40% battery left at the end of the day, so battery life has not been an issue. I find the performance to be good and even my 3rd party apps usually don't take that long to load (occasionally they do, so looking for ward to native third party apps in Watch OS2).
• I bought the 38mm blue Sport, and I think it was the perfect choice for me. I have 170mm wrists, so I could have gone either way, but in the end the 38mm just felt right on my wrist while I kept adjusting and fiddling with the 42mm (unless you're sure about which size you want, I highly recommend visiting a store to try them on).
• I like "Due" for reminders, Fantastical for calendar (also does reminders though), Dark Sky for weather, Bring for groceries, Evernote, Yelp, Outlook for my work email, Swipes for my task list.
• The first day? Don't automatically allow all your available watch apps to install. If you do then any app you have on your iPhone that offers a watch app will end up on the watch. It's better to be selective about what you put on the watch so you don't clutter the interface, take up too much memory, or have too many apps syncing to your iPhone. Just play with it and maybe read the manual and some online tips so you know how things work. Some iPhone apps are pointless to have on the watch, while others are very useful. First update your iPhone apps to make sure you have the latest versions (some may have just released their watch apps), then add a few at a time to the watch so you can play around and see how well they work. I usually add the app as a Glance as well if it offers that feature, but then I remove it from glances if the glance view is not very useful to me (you want to be very selective with your glances). Other things: Try silent mode so you get silent notifications. You can crank up the haptics if you want a more prominent tap on the wrist. Be ruthless about your notifications on the watch. If you don't want notifications from a particular app, shut it down so you just get the stuff you care about. That said, don't just preemptively disable notifications. You might find some are more useful than you expected. Also... shop for third party bands. It's nice to have options. A charging stand is also nice to have if you keep losing the charging cable behind the nightstand. There are plenty of reviews of bands and stands on this site. Calibrate your steps. Change your watch face frequently (sometimes it's nice to have a lot of information and complications... like when you're at work, but it's also nice to have a minimalist face or one of the soothing motion faces enabled when you don't need a lot of info). I often use the Utility or Modular faces at work, and Motion, Solar or Astronomy at home.
• After a month of wearing the Apple Watch I can say it was exceeded my expectations from Day 1. I expected to like it, but I like it even more than I thought I would. It's not a device to sit there and play with for long periods (although it is fun to play with the different faces, and to watch the motion faces like the jellyfish and butterflies). The beauty of it is that it's there on your wrist when you need information or get a notification. Notifications can be silent (huge for me). Most interactions with the watch are just quick glances, but I have also found it useful to reply to texts, set reminders or appointments (using Siri), listen to voice mails, control music, even answer calls. Apple Pay is convenient (my grocery store accepts Apple Pay), but it's not widely accepted. Still, I like that I can use my watch to check things off my list as I shop for groceries, and then I can check out with the watch as well. My iPhone and my wallet can stay in my pocket. If I lost my Apple Watch I would immediately buy another one... and I don't have a lot of disposable income.

No need for me to say anything. This is exactly my experience also...

 

[jasonklee]

Is it working well?
For the most part. Animations such as Glances have some stutter, even with transparency turned off. And loading apps like Weather take too long for just a small snippet of information.

Did you buy the right watch/size and band for yourself? Recommendations?
My wrist size is about 175 mm and I got 42 mm stainless steel with Link Bracelet. Bold yet sleek. It's beginning to show signs of wear and use. Beautiful work of craftsmanship.

Girlfriend has the 32 mm stainless with Modern Buckle and Sport band. The Sport band is great. It has a silky feel to it and very comfortable and I value the tuck-in design. I've heard the leather texture on the Modern Buckle described as cheap, having the look and feel of glob that's been extruded. I don't share that opinion. It has a smooth finish and looks better without stitching. The clasp mechanism is simple and beautiful.

What Apps do you like best ? Which Apps suck ? Which apps are a MUST HAVE!?
I don't have third-party apps installed as they're painfully slow. Of the native apps: Workout and Activity are my favorite and a big selling point of the watch for me. And oddly enough I'm a fan of the time-based apps: Alarm, World Clock, Stopwatch, and Timer are used fairly often and I have them all as complications. Calendar is great for quick glances at your schedule. iMessage is surprisingly fun, and especially Digital Touch. Finally I get to send obnoxious messages to the girlfriend in the shower.

And not that I think these apps suck per se but I don't use Stocks, Music, Remote, Passbook, Camera, Photos, Mail, Maps.

What's your advice for the first day when people get their Apple Watch? Prep work? Do or Do nots?
I would suggest turning off notification sounds. Or muting the entire watch. While I'm sure the design group put in considerable effort into creating the watch sounds—and they do sound great—I couldn't get used to my watch emitting dings and bells 90 times a day, especially at the dinner table.

The only notable do not is do not baby the watch and worry over cosmetic blemishes. It's a watch. It's a tool designed for use. You wear the watch, don't let the watch wear you. You don't hear guitarists complaining about scuff marks or belt buckle dings on their $5,000 Les Paul.

What's your opinion of the Apple Watch now that You've had it for a week or more? Do you love it more? Like it less?

I get watch withdrawals more than phone withdrawals. It really is an intimate piece of hardware. It's pretty much everything Apple advertised it to be.

Regret your purchase? Excited for new updates and features?
Nope. Happy to be a first time first-gen user.

 

[maflynn]

• Is it working well?

Yes, very well

• Did you buy the right watch/size and band for yourself? Recommendations?

Yes, I visited an apple store a couple of times, after researching and determine which model best fits my needs and budget.

• What Apps do you like best ? Which Apps suck ? Which apps are a MUST HAVE!?

I'm still using the stock apps, I have run keeper, but that's about it for now.

• What's your advice for the first day when people get their Apple Watch? Prep work? Do or Do nots?

RTFM, definitely read the user guide that's available on PDF and iBooks. Unlike Apple's other products the UI and interactions can be a bit confusing.

• What's your opinion of the Apple Watch now that You've had it for a week or more? Do you love it more? Like it less? Regret your purchase? Excited for new updates and features?

I'm pretty impressed with how well it integrates into my life, making the little things easier. Its not a must have device like the iPhone, but it enhances the iPhone.

 

[5105973]

Ok, so some of you lucky dogs have gotten your paws on the new Apple Watch. . . .

Sooo.. for those of us still waiting we'd like to know what you think!??

• Is it working well?
  
• Did you buy the right watch/size and band for yourself? Recommendations?
  
• What Apps do you like best ? Which Apps suck ? Which apps are a MUST HAVE!?
  
• What's your advice for the first day when people get their Apple Watch? Prep work? Do or Do nots?
  
• What's your opinion of the Apple Watch now that You've had it for a week or more? Do you love it more? Like it less? Regret your purchase? Excited for new updates and features?

.....Let us know??

My iPhone was initially feeling neglected. But I hurt my hand and wrist and am not currently wearing the watch for a few weeks because it is causing shooting pains up and down my arm until everything heals up.

1. Yes it's working great. I do sometimes need to reboot it and my phone.

2. Yes, I bought the right band. Sports bands in all the colors for my 38 mm stainless steel. I'm petite so 38 mm was the way to go. Stainless steel is heavy but rugged because of the sapphire display. My stainless steel finish has some scratches on it, but I put in a lot of hard work at landscaping while wearing it. I do sometimes wish I'd gone for the lighter Sport model. Sometimes. I did need a rugged watch though and SS with sapphire is definitely rugged.

3. AP News is starting to drive me nuts with constantly breaking news, but at least I'm better informed. It works well for me. As does my Pill Reminder App for my allergy medicine.

4. Like someone else said, don't let all of your apps sync from your phone. Choose to do it manually so you have control over what ends up on your watch.

Rinsing with plain water seems to work for most of my watch cleaning needs. Soaps leave residues that will just irritate your wrist.

The sport band is the best all around band in my opinion. Start with that one. You can always upgrade to a more expensive band later.

5. It's a wonderful convenience and it is fun.

But it is heavy. Once you've got an injury involving nerves and cartilage like carpal tunnel flare up or a sprain don't wear the watch until you heal. Ouch.

I'm excited to see some health and fitness updates. Otherwise I'm happy with it the way it is. Someday I'd like to see a fully waterproof one. Oh and some new watch faces.

 

[DynaFXD]

I am a Day 0 owner & wearer

The heart monitor is crap

I kind of agree. If HR monitoring is a key thing to a potential user, invest is a chest strap and sync that to the watch or phone. Hopefully Apple will continue to dial this in. For casual s%^&s and grins, it is definitely passable.

The apps are SUPER SLOW to load

I think this should be third party apps that are slaved from the paired iPhone. I agree. However, I have never seriously considered adding a new app. I hear that there are some out there that are kind of useful. Everything built into the phone is all that I need and they are working fine for me. The next WatchOS in the fall will let others built native apps for the watch. (Though I still don't really care)

The watch's novelty wears off after the first week

Again, I agree. But, I am still wearing it. It has gone from 'gee-whiz, look at this!' to something that is just there and I use every day.

The battery life is only 1 day, have to take it off to charge it every night

True. I charge it right next to my iPhone, which also needs a daily charge.

There is no sleep tracker in the watch like the fitbits and other fitness trackers (actually a very nice feature to have)

I don't have sleep apnea, so I'll have to take your word for it. For those that want to wear electronics 24/7 or have a sleep tracking need, I'd say look elsewhere as well.

 

[sean000]

I am a Day 0 owner & wearer


I kind of agree. If HR monitoring is a key thing to a potential user, invest is a chest strap and sync that to the watch or phone. Hopefully Apple will continue to dial this in. For casual s%^&s and grins, it is definitely passable.

Actually many find the HR monitoring to be quite accurate when compared to chest straps or manual checks. Others find the Apple Watch is way off... especially when the heart rate increases into the upper range. It may depend on one's wrist anatomy, as well as how tightly the watch is worn. It works well enough for me, but I have no need to monitor my pulse so precisely. I could see some using it for reaching an average target heart rate for exercise or meditation. When I check my average heart rate after a bike ride, it is within a range that I would expect.

I think this should be third party apps that are slaved from the paired iPhone. I agree. However, I have never seriously considered adding a new app. I hear that there are some out there that are kind of useful. Everything built into the phone is all that I need and they are working fine for me. The next WatchOS in the fall will let others built native apps for the watch. (Though I still don't really care)

Again, I agree. But, I am still wearing it. It has gone from 'gee-whiz, look at this!' to something that is just there and I use every day.

Mine has also gone from "gee whiz" to just something I use every day. I do find a number of third party apps to be very useful on the watch: Fantastical is a much better calendar app on the iPhone and on the Watch in my opinion, and it also works with Apple's native reminders so you can use Siri to set a reminder. I also use a dedicated reminder app called Due that works well. Bring is a grocery app that I use every day to either add groceries to buy, or shop for groceries. A note-taking app like Evernote and OneNote are handy because they both have a Watch app that lets you access recent notes (or even add notes using dictation). I have tried some third party apps that are a little sluggish on the watch, but these are all pretty quick to refresh in my experience.

True. I charge it right next to my iPhone, which also needs a daily charge.

Yup... it's so easy to drop the watch onto the magnetic charging puck that charging the watch really has had no impact on my bedtime routine (which already including plugging in the iPhone). I am amazed at how much of an issue many people make about needing to charge it every night. It's really a non-issue unless you are camping. When I set it down to charge at bedtime my watch has between 10% and 40% battery left after 18 hours of being on my wrist.

I don't have sleep apnea, so I'll have to take your word for it. For those that want to wear electronics 24/7 or have a sleep tracking need, I'd say look elsewhere as well.

I have had a Fitbit One for almost two years. It has a soft wrist-wrap for wearing it to bed for sleep monitoring... I use it for monitoring my sleep. I just wish the Fitbit App and the Health App would talk to each other so I wouldn't have to manually enter my sleep hours into the Health App. Of course Fitbit is a major competitor to the Apple Watch, so I don't expect this to happen anytime soon (if it happens at all). There are also dedicated sleep monitoring tools out there, but a Fitbit can be purchased for as little as $80. It can tell when I get up to go to the bathroom, as well as when I am restlessly tossing and turning. I have found it to be helpful for encouraging me to get better sleep, but when it comes down to it a habit-app that encourages you to get into bed early enough to get 7 or 8 hours of sleep would work well enough for most.

Sean