Series 3 LTE Owners - Are you leaving your phone at home?

[oghowie]

Still on the fence about the Series 3 and whether to get LTE or not. For people that have gotten it with LTE, are you really able to leave your phone at home or are you still taking it with you? I run 3x a week and would like to run without my phone, but I always listen to podcasts while I run. How reliable has messages and other apps been when away from your phone?

Any experiences would be appreciated.

 

[Leica Dad]

Still on the fence about the Series 3 and whether to get LTE or not. For people that have gotten it with LTE, are you really able to leave your phone at home or are you still taking it with you? I run 3x a week and would like to run without my phone, but I always listen to podcasts while I run. How reliable has messages and other apps been when away from your phone?

Any experiences would be appreciated.

I think the best way is to get one with LTE and try it out on your usual route, you might have reception on your phone but it does not mean the Watch will too, at least that's what I found out. Then you can decide if you want a LTE one or not.

 

[oghowie]

I think the best way is to get one with LTE and try it out on your usual route, you might have reception on your phone but it does not mean the Watch will too, at least that's what I found out. Then you can decide if you want a LTE one or not.

Good point. I guess I would have 14 days to try it out and make sure.

 

[Leica Dad]

Good point. I guess I would have 14 days to try it out and make sure.

Yes, and most carriers offers first 3 months free for the watch plan, so no risk here!

 

[loplop]

Still on the fence about the Series 3 and whether to get LTE or not. For people that have gotten it with LTE, are you really able to leave your phone at home or are you still taking it with you? I run 3x a week and would like to run without my phone, but I always listen to podcasts while I run. How reliable has messages and other apps been when away from your phone?

Any experiences would be appreciated.

I've only had my S3 since Tuesday, but I've been very impressed so far. It's nice to go to meetings without my phone but know I'm still in touch, and being at dinner without your phone more fully immerses you in the moment. Running and cycling without the phone has gone very well; I've had the opportunity to receive unexpected messages and phone calls, all worked without a hitch. No problems with connectivity around skyscrapers, suburbia, or between. My city is well-covered, though, I didn't expect issues.

Just a warning--currently there is no podcast support on AW3. Like you, I often listen to podcasts when I run/cycle, so I'm really hoping this is added later. For now, I'm just using music loaded directly onto the watch (until the Apple Music over the air update coming soon), or carrying my phone when I want to listen to a podcast.

HTH

 

[profets]

I've left my phone at home a few times when going to work.

I run 3-4 times per week, and it's been very nice to leave the phone at home for these runs. I definitely miss being able to listen to podcasts though for the longer runs. For a few of the runs I had quite a lot of messages coming through, and using Siri/dictation to reply to them was very fast. I also really liked having Siri available for setting quick reminders and notes when my mind wanders during a run.

 

[musicpenguy]

I am doing this a ton, I use the WatchCast app to listen to podcasts(the one with the green icon, not a fan of the grey icon one). I’m leaving it at home for runs, and no longer take my phone with me on most date nights and when walking the dog. If I don’t have a real reason I need access to a camera, or browsing the web then the phone stays at home. Have had no issues with connectivity and have made calls and sent texts without my phone around, I’ve even replied to Google Hangouts messages through the notification system.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

See, I just can’t imagine myself not taking my phone. It’s so much more functional than anything on the watch and I use it for so much that the only reason I wouldn’t take it with me is because I forgot it.

 

[musicpenguy]

That’s kind of the whole point, you have just the basic connections to friends, family, and the Internet. But don’t want all of those capabilities that could pull you away from living in the moment. You are able to stay connected without being glued to a big giant rectangle of glass (or small rectangle of glass if you have the SE). You stay informed about what’s going on, you are able to communicate, and listen to some music or podcasts. (You can also catch an Uber on just the watch over LTE, and all of the other things it does do).

 

[TScottTX]

I leave the iPhone at home when playing golf. Watch is there for important calls or messages or notifications plus it doubles as a Golf GPS.

 

[edhchoe]

when I leave home for exercise for 1-4 hours and drive to the park or hiking trail, I leave the phone home because I do not want to leave the phone in the car. what if someone breaks in?
the phone will be just another loss. and it is totally pointless to have the phone with me when I am exercising outdoors because I have my AW3LTE.

 

[ZebraDude]

Still on the fence about the Series 3 and whether to get LTE or not. For people that have gotten it with LTE, are you really able to leave your phone at home or are you still taking it with you? I run 3x a week and would like to run without my phone, but I always listen to podcasts while I run. How reliable has messages and other apps been when away from your phone?

Any experiences would be appreciated.

Everyone is different. I am a big fan on 3rd party apps. Sadly, most of the WatchOS apps I use are not native so I need my iPhone most of the time.

 

[jekim]

I am doing this a ton, I use the WatchCast app to listen to podcasts(the one with the green icon, not a fan of the grey icon one). I’m leaving it at home for runs, and no longer take my phone with me on most date nights and when walking the dog. If I don’t have a real reason I need access to a camera, or browsing the web then the phone stays at home. Have had no issues with connectivity and have made calls and sent texts without my phone around, I’ve even replied to Google Hangouts messages through the notification system.

Any tips on how you got podcasts to sync with WatchCast? I tried on mine and it never synced, even after waiting about 2 hours for a 30mb podcast.

 

[oghowie]

I just found out that the Overcast Podcast app will let you send podcasts to your Apple Watch. I'll have to try it once I receive my Nike Series 3 next week. I decided to just go ahead and get the LTE version.

 

[cenetti]

Yes I am. For 3.5 hours every other day. No phone, no wallet.

 

[musicpenguy]

I just found out that the Overcast Podcast app will let you send podcasts to your Apple Watch. I'll have to try it once I receive my Nike Series 3 next week. I decided to just go ahead and get the LTE version.

That feature was pulled with iOS 11/WatchOS 4’s release
[doublepost=1507248711][/doublepost]

Any tips on how you got podcasts to sync with WatchCast? I tried on mine and it never synced, even after waiting about 2 hours for a 30mb podcast.

Hmm on the Series 3 it is fairly quick it should show 0 percent really quickly if not try force quitting the phone app and restarting that, as a last case scenario try force quitting the watch app.

 

[steelo3232]

I take my phone with me to work. On the weekends it never comes with me neither does my wallet. It has been FANTASTIC..... when driving our state allows digital images of DL and Insurance cards so there is no need for my wallet. My phone at home prevents mindless web surfing to pass time and has allowed me to actually “unplug” for the most part on the weekends. My kids can get ahold of me if there is an emergency and frankly my wife loves the fact I’m not on work emails (that really don’t need addressed until Monday anyway). Legitimate text messages can be answered, simple BS text messages can be replied to with “out with the wife I’ll get back to you”.....

When mowing the lawn or working outside or working out my phone doesn’t have to bang around in my pocket or sit on my arm in some uncomfortable holder and I can enjoy my music (Apple Music coming will make this amazing). Frankly, I sold the Apple Watch series 2 a month after wearing it daily because of all the things I wished it could do. This watch does all of them. Best apple product I’ve bought since the 6plus in my view. I LOVE IT

 

[BrianSoCal]

I've only had my S3 since Tuesday, but I've been very impressed so far. It's nice to go to meetings without my phone but know I'm still in touch, and being at dinner without your phone more fully immerses you in the moment. Running and cycling without the phone has gone very well; I've had the opportunity to receive unexpected messages and phone calls, all worked without a hitch. No problems with connectivity around skyscrapers, suburbia, or between. My city is well-covered, though, I didn't expect issues.

Just a warning--currently there is no podcast support on AW3. Like you, I often listen to podcasts when I run/cycle, so I'm really hoping this is added later. For now, I'm just using music loaded directly onto the watch (until the Apple Music over the air update coming soon), or carrying my phone when I want to listen to a podcast.

HTH

Thanks for this, I had been wondering about podcasts.

 

[lordofthereef]

I’ve been running without my phone now. The sort of silly thing is that I don’t have Bluetooth headphone so I’ve just been enjoying nature.

My main concern has always been safety. I don’t exactly run in the middle of nowhere but my town is pretty wooded,
Particularly where I run, and it isn’t inconceivable I get hit or just fall into a ditch or something. Not super paranoid but it’s in the back of my mind.

I don’t seem to have issues with reception but I’m also not checking the thing constantly.

One thing I haven’t tested is just using lte at all times. How is battery life? How quickly do I receive notifications (as opposed to Bluetooth). I feel like I may as well use the damn $10/mo data plan in paying for lol.

 

[jekim]

That feature was pulled with iOS 11/WatchOS 4’s release
[doublepost=1507248711][/doublepost]
Hmm on the Series 3 it is fairly quick it should show 0 percent really quickly if not try force quitting the phone app and restarting that, as a last case scenario try force quitting the watch app.

Thanks. I deleted the app because I got frustrated. I never got any percent just a spinning circle the whole time. I’ll give it another shot.

 

[Farrellcollie]

I really want a way to get podcasts or audible on the watch - I don't want to stream -I just want to down load a book to listen to when I walk the dogs.

 

[deadworlds]

So far I’ve left my phone at home while I rand some errands. My time out was about 20 minutes, I received some texts, notifications, dictated 1 message and scribbled 2.

It was pretty interesting to be able to do that without having my phone.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I tested my AW S3 LTE yesterday by turning my phone off while I ran to the pharmacy. I had 2-4 bars of LTE on the way there. I was able to receive a couple of iMessages, and send a new one with Siri. I didn't make or receive any calls.

At some point after I arrived to the pharmacy I noticed that I had no LTE connection. I powered up my iPhone 7+ and it only had 1 bar on ATT, and my watch connected to my phone. I decided to just leave the phone on. I like to read while I wait for things, and the 7+ is great for that. Can you imagine reading an eBook on an Apple Watch? I did that once on a Palm OS watch and it wasn't pretty.

 

[profmjh]

Apple can be so frustrating sometimes. If AW3 had podcast support I’d buy one immediately. I get the impression this is an issue for a lot of people.

 

[Zxxv]

I’ve been running without my phone now. The sort of silly thing is that I don’t have Bluetooth headphone so I’ve just been enjoying nature.

My main concern has always been safety. I don’t exactly run in the middle of nowhere but my town is pretty wooded,
Particularly where I run, and it isn’t inconceivable I get hit or just fall into a ditch or something. Not super paranoid but it’s in the back of my mind.

I don’t seem to have issues with reception but I’m also not checking the thing constantly.

One thing I haven’t tested is just using lte at all times. How is battery life? How quickly do I receive notifications (as opposed to Bluetooth). I feel like I may as well use the damn $10/mo data plan in paying for lol.

A whistle would have been cheaper. Fox 40 micro whistle.