Sorry if this topic has been overdone, but I'm wondering now. I'm sometimes almost having to force myself to use my watch for the simplistic tasks I'd just normally grab my iPhone for. So, really what do you use yours for, and how do you intertwine the watch with your other Apple devices on the average day?
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"What do you use your watch for?"
- Thread starter GaryNoine
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It's best simply to allow notifications to come to you on the Watch. You're doing it wrong if you have to force yourself to use it.
You can't force yourself, it kinda defeats the purpose of convenience. It's a notification device and needs to be embraced as such. You have to set it to notify you of things that are most important to you. Have you permanently muted your iPhone so your Watch is your exclusive text and call notifier? That in itself is a huge perk to me. Haven't heard a text tone or ring tone since May. Have you tried tapatalk on your iPhone so your forum notifications are sent to your Watch? Keep in mind, iPhone apps don't need to have Watch apps to send notifications to the Watch. Have you embraced the fitness capabilities? Have you set up Apple Pay? Do you ever check the time or weather?
In the end, it's not something you're supposed to consciously use all the time. It's a bluetooth connected time piece that shows your bite sized bits of informations and notifications at a glance. It's not meant to be used as heavily as your iPhone. Most of my interactions with the Watch are not initiated by me but by the Watch when I get notifications. Don't put too much thought into it, just do your research and let the Watch naturally integrate into your daily life. If that doesn't happen after a month or two, it's probably not for you.
In the end, it's not something you're supposed to consciously use all the time. It's a bluetooth connected time piece that shows your bite sized bits of informations and notifications at a glance. It's not meant to be used as heavily as your iPhone. Most of my interactions with the Watch are not initiated by me but by the Watch when I get notifications. Don't put too much thought into it, just do your research and let the Watch naturally integrate into your daily life. If that doesn't happen after a month or two, it's probably not for you.
Glad to see you are giving it a try but forcing yourself to use it? What exactly are you doing with it?
I have mine set up right now with the following glances: heartbeat, battery, calendar, activity, and a water app that I am trying out.
For Notifications I have it set for Activities (stand reminder, goal completions, achievements, weekly summary); Calendar (show alerts on and the rest are on too); I haven't turned on Mail figuring I'd rather see that on my phone; Maps (show turns on) although I haven't really spent the time exploring this on my watch yet, keep meaning to try out the walking and driving maps; Messages (use a lot and have set to show alerts, sound and haptic turned on, and I repeat alerts twice); Passbook and Apple Pay (I only wish my stupid bank would join the program already; I haven't added my Walgreens etc cards yet but could, not traveling right now so don't need for boarding passes); Phone (set on for alerts, sound and haptic); Photos (haven't used any space for this, for now would rather just see on my phone); Reminders (alert on as well as sound and haptic).
As for the apps on my watch face, I have and used Activities, Workout, Timer, Alarm, Stopwatch, Messages, Weather (although I want to buy DarkSkies and use that), stocks, and a water app. I know I will use the remote feature for the camera and Apple TV but haven't yet. World clock has been a quick convenience at times. Calendar of course. Not a big music person but will eventually make use of it when I get a bluetooth headset and want to go walking. I have my go to contacts on my Friends set up. A lot of times I will use Siri to set alarms, make quick calls, send iMessages, etc. instead of accessing the apps by touch.
What kind of things do you do on a regular daily basis? Maybe people could suggest settings for you. It really should be customized to your habits where you don't need to have to pull out your phone all the time. It does take some thought about how best to set it up for yourself. For me it's just such a natural extension that I don't pull out my iPhone as much and don't have to carry it around with me all over my house and yard.
I have mine set up right now with the following glances: heartbeat, battery, calendar, activity, and a water app that I am trying out.
For Notifications I have it set for Activities (stand reminder, goal completions, achievements, weekly summary); Calendar (show alerts on and the rest are on too); I haven't turned on Mail figuring I'd rather see that on my phone; Maps (show turns on) although I haven't really spent the time exploring this on my watch yet, keep meaning to try out the walking and driving maps; Messages (use a lot and have set to show alerts, sound and haptic turned on, and I repeat alerts twice); Passbook and Apple Pay (I only wish my stupid bank would join the program already; I haven't added my Walgreens etc cards yet but could, not traveling right now so don't need for boarding passes); Phone (set on for alerts, sound and haptic); Photos (haven't used any space for this, for now would rather just see on my phone); Reminders (alert on as well as sound and haptic).
As for the apps on my watch face, I have and used Activities, Workout, Timer, Alarm, Stopwatch, Messages, Weather (although I want to buy DarkSkies and use that), stocks, and a water app. I know I will use the remote feature for the camera and Apple TV but haven't yet. World clock has been a quick convenience at times. Calendar of course. Not a big music person but will eventually make use of it when I get a bluetooth headset and want to go walking. I have my go to contacts on my Friends set up. A lot of times I will use Siri to set alarms, make quick calls, send iMessages, etc. instead of accessing the apps by touch.
What kind of things do you do on a regular daily basis? Maybe people could suggest settings for you. It really should be customized to your habits where you don't need to have to pull out your phone all the time. It does take some thought about how best to set it up for yourself. For me it's just such a natural extension that I don't pull out my iPhone as much and don't have to carry it around with me all over my house and yard.
Here's a few suggestions I have to get you thinking about how you'll use it. If you haven't explored using Siri much yet on the watch, give that a try. Make sure the Watch is woken up (you'll see the audio listening pattern at the bottom of the watch) and then say Hey Siri...set an alarm for xx a.m....call xx at work (or on their iPhone---depends how you have your contacts listed)...send xx a message to meet me for lunch at xx...remind me Sunday at 8pm to take out the garbage...you might be use to doing this on your iPhone already but it's so convenient to do it talking to your watch.
Try leaving your iPhone out in your home instead of carrying it with you and go to another room and have Siri make a phone call or answer calls from another room from where the iPhone is.
I didn't think I'd get motivated by the activities app but am surprised how much I do like it. It definitely has benefited me to just move more. I'd say set it up and then go to the Workout app and use it to try it out. Even the Walking Outdoors workout would be an easy one to start out with.
Try leaving your iPhone out in your home instead of carrying it with you and go to another room and have Siri make a phone call or answer calls from another room from where the iPhone is.
I didn't think I'd get motivated by the activities app but am surprised how much I do like it. It definitely has benefited me to just move more. I'd say set it up and then go to the Workout app and use it to try it out. Even the Walking Outdoors workout would be an easy one to start out with.
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I use it to get notified by MacRumors every time someone asks "What do you use your watch for?"
Ha! that's why I don't have notifications for emails set up. Seriously this is a question that people who want to use the watch really want to know. They have what two weeks to make a decision if they buy and if they haven't worn a watch recently it's a big thing to figure out if it's going to be worth it. I know from past posts the OP was on the fence for a while so clearly would like our feedback on what would be relevant to him. I use mine for basically personal/recreational use. Not sure what profession he's in but how you use it in your business life might be helpful.
I use my watch daily for workouts and and to fill the rings for motivation but that is a really small portion. I've had other devices like the Up and Up24 so I like tracking. I also use my watch to track sleep, be my silent alarm each day and graph my sleep and workouts. My favorite workout app is available on the watch and it lets me log my weights and reps and has a timer for rest periods all while writing the info to my phone without my phone in my house gym where it could get damaged or in the way. All why tracking the workout and heart rate and listening to music on my jaybird Bluetooth headphones. All working together on the watch and I don't have to stop to log my workout or ask Siri to take a note a reminder or respond to messages.
Notifications are a big part for me as I rarely use my phone anymore.
When I work on the yard or mow, I use the Apple Watch and Bluetooth headphones to listen to music and books. My phone is now safely tucked away in the house or pocket so I don't have to worry about dirt and damage and sweat. I take calls from the watch and setup meetings and reminders and answer texts using Siri.
I typically golf 2-3 times a week and track my golf as a workout with the phone safely tucked away in my bag. I use Golfshot to track distance/yardage to pins all while tracking my workout and heart rate and respond to texts and take notifications. Often, I am setting up reminders and notes and items to purchase as they come to mind.
I use fantastical 2 for my calendar and 2Do for "to do" using alarms to never forget and the watch never fails all with silent alarms. Almost everything is a wrist raise and telling Siri to do the work. Once third party complications are working this will all be better and even faster and can run in the background for even better multi tasking.
I'm constantly using the timer as I cook and work and never forget something is cooking and my phone I don't hear or forgot in the other room.
I live where it is tough to get a signal so my phone remains fully charged on its base next to a window allowing my watch and me to wonder the house and never miss a text or call. My work email and calendar is tied to my watch so I never miss an email from my boss if I am not at my desk. Just got AT&T wi-if calling up and running with beta ios9 and that has been fantastic.
When I am in the office my iPhone is locked in my desk while my watch is with me 7 floors above my phone still sending me reminders and to dos and calendar and iMessages from my wife and kids and I can respond with canned answers or even use Siri. Everything works even though my phone is down on another floor. I can respond to work emails with others don't even know they have new emails until they get back. I can add meetings as well.
All in all, my fingers touch the watch only to start apps and close apps with some exceptions so even when I workout two plus hours a day, it is usually at 40% or higher at 9pm when I charge and put back on my wrist at 10pm to be my silent alarm and sleep tracker.
It's become my most important daily tool. I still use my phone plenty for a few games and back and forth texting and when I am setting up daily tasks and web browsing or typing this long response with plenty of typos I am sure.
Notifications are a big part for me as I rarely use my phone anymore.
When I work on the yard or mow, I use the Apple Watch and Bluetooth headphones to listen to music and books. My phone is now safely tucked away in the house or pocket so I don't have to worry about dirt and damage and sweat. I take calls from the watch and setup meetings and reminders and answer texts using Siri.
I typically golf 2-3 times a week and track my golf as a workout with the phone safely tucked away in my bag. I use Golfshot to track distance/yardage to pins all while tracking my workout and heart rate and respond to texts and take notifications. Often, I am setting up reminders and notes and items to purchase as they come to mind.
I use fantastical 2 for my calendar and 2Do for "to do" using alarms to never forget and the watch never fails all with silent alarms. Almost everything is a wrist raise and telling Siri to do the work. Once third party complications are working this will all be better and even faster and can run in the background for even better multi tasking.
I'm constantly using the timer as I cook and work and never forget something is cooking and my phone I don't hear or forgot in the other room.
I live where it is tough to get a signal so my phone remains fully charged on its base next to a window allowing my watch and me to wonder the house and never miss a text or call. My work email and calendar is tied to my watch so I never miss an email from my boss if I am not at my desk. Just got AT&T wi-if calling up and running with beta ios9 and that has been fantastic.
When I am in the office my iPhone is locked in my desk while my watch is with me 7 floors above my phone still sending me reminders and to dos and calendar and iMessages from my wife and kids and I can respond with canned answers or even use Siri. Everything works even though my phone is down on another floor. I can respond to work emails with others don't even know they have new emails until they get back. I can add meetings as well.
All in all, my fingers touch the watch only to start apps and close apps with some exceptions so even when I workout two plus hours a day, it is usually at 40% or higher at 9pm when I charge and put back on my wrist at 10pm to be my silent alarm and sleep tracker.
It's become my most important daily tool. I still use my phone plenty for a few games and back and forth texting and when I am setting up daily tasks and web browsing or typing this long response with plenty of typos I am sure.