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Real-world usage of Apple Watch

B

boogermin

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 8, 2015
3
0
I've been wearing my Apple Watch for nearly a week, and I'm finding myself using it as an ordinary watch, which, presumably, defeats the purpose. Aside from checking the time, I view texts/emails without having to take out my phone (which is convenient), and monitor my activity progress, but I'm getting the feeling that if I'm primarily using the Apple Watch as a watch, I'm grossly under-utilizing it. Just wondering how other new owners are utilizing the watch to see if there's anything that I can incorporate into my daily routine.

Thanks in advance.
 
You probably do not realize how much you are actually using it. You said it yourself...you are using it as a watch, to get text/email, and track activity. Put the watch away for a day and I bet you miss all of these thing being a glance away.
 
I do what you do, plus I make and answer calls, and reply to texts by talking to it. I find it translates me pretty well, but if it doesn't, I just send the audio :)

I also use the calendar a lot, and tell it to remind me of things to do.

Oh yeah, and ApplePay.
 
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Today's my first day wearing it. I paid for Starbucks and lunch with it, quick replied to some texts, looked up the fastest bus route, scheduled an appointment, and made a phone call with my phone in my pocket. I'm sure I'll find more uses as time goes on.
 
I love it while cooking. Easily setting timers… getting notifications from my phone without having to use my greasy hands… getting step by step instructions. I love it.
 
boogermin said:
I've been wearing my Apple Watch for nearly a week, and I'm finding myself using it as an ordinary watch, which, presumably, defeats the purpose. Aside from checking the time, I view texts/emails without having to take out my phone (which is convenient), and monitor my activity progress, but I'm getting the feeling that if I'm primarily using the Apple Watch as a watch, I'm grossly under-utilizing it. Just wondering how other new owners are utilizing the watch to see if there's anything that I can incorporate into my daily routine.



Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...


That's exactly how you should be using it. If you try to do too much you'll become unhappy with its performance. Start small and add little things as you go. That's perfect.
 
I'm not sure if I'm underutilising it. It isn't an essential part of my daily routine though, and although I lightly use a lot of the features, most of the time I'm using it just to check time or set timers so I know when to take the tea bag out:p
 
I have been using mostly for looking at the time (gasp!!), notifications, and Apple Pay.

If I get the watch a little wet or dirty while cooking or cleaning it isn't a big deal because it's IPX7. Rather that than my phone.
 
i've stopped keeping track of how much i use it because i found that it is blending into my life so quickly that its just there and i use it for a variety of things.

I abs. love this thing.
 
It's a watch, I've owned enough new gadgets to realise they are what they are for and you should think about what they are supposed to do.

Mostly, in order of use...

1. I get notifications - text, email, facebook and apps like Dark Sky. I lump app notifications as inconsequential as notifications is the thing.
2. Getting calendar alerts or reminder alerts, particularly for meetings.
3. Checking the time.
4. Reminder to be active and an occasional notification and tracking.
5. Occasional app use.. probably mostly because it's a new gadget and I feel inclined to play.

In terms of importance I stick with my order of use.

I don't actually want the watch to sing and dance, it does the important things for me in the order I mentioned and I think the current model serves it well. The notifications, particularly when I only get tapped and notified on VIP emails (due to the setup on the phone), are perfect and cut down on a lot of distraction from getting the phone out.

FWIW: I leave the sounds ON with the watch so that folks aren't offended if I look at the watch and otherwise might think I'm impatient and/or don't have time for them.
 
I like my notifications to be silent on my phone, so the tap I get on my watch is perfect. I also almost always just leave my phone somewhere, ie on my desk at home, or at my desk at the office. Now I know when people are trying to reach me without having to carry my 6+ around the home/office. When I'm out, I usually put the phone in my gf's purse. Same idea, now I know when people are trying to reach me.

Maybe what this is saying is that the 6+ is a bit large lol. If Apple can get battery life in their normal sized phone that matches this 6+ battery life, I may consider going back to that size.
 
boogermin said:
I've been wearing my Apple Watch for nearly a week, and I'm finding myself using it as an ordinary watch, which, presumably, defeats the purpose. Aside from checking the time, I view texts/emails without having to take out my phone (which is convenient), and monitor my activity progress, but I'm getting the feeling that if I'm primarily using the Apple Watch as a watch, I'm grossly under-utilizing it. Just wondering how other new owners are utilizing the watch to see if there's anything that I can incorporate into my daily routine.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

1. Checking the time
2. Counting my burned calories. Current daily goal is 500. Being able to see my calories burned motivates me to meet the goal when I workout.
3. I like the Bodbot app because it gives me a daily workout plan. Now I don't go into the gym without a plan.
4. It's 7:00pm here on the east coast and my phone still has 70% battery left. I woke up at 8:30 this morning. Being able to receive and reply to notifications from the watch is literally life changing.
5. Downloaded the "pennies" app today. I love the simple concept of it. Really hoping it affects my mental psyche the way the activity rings have.
 
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I of course use it as a regular watch, and I felt the same as OP until today when I got a call and answered it on my wrist and never even looked for my phone. I realized then that it's changed the way I use my phone. Later this evening my husband asked me to look up something on the Internet and my phone was upstairs in my bedroom. This might be the first time in years my phone has not been glued to me. I realized then that for the whole day I read emails, texted a few people and was still connected, without my phone. i rely on the watch a lot.
 
Time
Instant Kik and text notifications
Activity tracker, love it now
McDonald's payments. :)
Music for workouts with Bluetooth wireless headphones. Very convenient.

That's about it really.

Phone calls it keep dropping out when via Watch so stopped using it.
 
FWIW: I leave the sounds ON with the watch so that folks aren't offended if I look at the watch and otherwise might think I'm impatient and/or don't have time for them.[/QUOTE]

That's a very good point ‼️
 
-Time
-Notifications
-Siri
-Phone calls
-Timer
-Remote Music/Apple tv
-Unlock my Macbook air
 
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