What is the number 1 app you would recommend to anyone who wears an Apple Watch?

[The Cockney Rebel]

@The Cockney Rebel had a chance to try it? Heard you discussed it a bit earlier bruv. 👊

I haven’t tried it, bud.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

If you want to track sleep, I find AutoSleep preferable to the built-in sleep app.

I listen to podcasts and/or books when I run. I prefer Overcast to Apple's podcast app and use Audible for audiobooks.

There’s a great app called Libby.

You connect it to your library (I’ve joined two) and you can lend books/magazines/newspapers/audiobooks for free.

If what you want is already on loan, you can reserve it. But they usually have a number of copies.

It’s a great app.

 

[andyw715]

Workoutdoors and Audible

 

[tcuprof]

There’s a great app called Libby.

You connect it to your library (I’ve joined two) and you can lend books/magazines/newspapers/audiobooks for free.

If what you want is already on loan, you can reserve it. But they usually have a number of copies.

It’s a great app.

Thanks TCR. I read or listen to many books every year, and the majority come from Libby (formerly OverDrive). The problem is that Libby does not have an app for the watch. I discovered a hack to download Libby audiobooks once, but they have since defeated it. The problem is that I don't want to run with my phone, so I can only listen to audiobooks through Audible or Apple Audiobooks, since they have a watch app. Fortunately, I don't have to purchase too many audiobooks since I mostly listen to podcasts.

 

[goldmac2006]

Thanks TCR. I read or listen to many books every year, and the majority come from Libby (formerly OverDrive). The problem is that Libby does not have an app for the watch. I discovered a hack to download Libby audiobooks once, but they have since defeated it. The problem is that I don't want to run with my phone, so I can only listen to audiobooks through Audible or Apple Audiobooks, since they have a watch app. Fortunately, I don't have to purchase too many audiobooks since I mostly listen to podcasts.

Y’all can also get digital library cards from any library in your area/state and get access to them on Libby, no need to show up to the library and get a physical card to get the library card number.

 

[Clix Pix]

Y’all can also get digital library cards from any library of your choice and get access to them on Libby, no need to show up to the library and get a physical card to get the library card number.

Whoa! As a retired professional librarian I don't believe this information is either accurate or legal. Public libraries are funded by the taxpayers in their local, their own, community. Yes, digital resources are available to legitimate library card holders who live or own property within the community that the library serves.

I would be very, very surprised if someone from outside the relevant jurisdiction can simply jump online and "get digital library cards from any library of your choice".......

Please check your facts through reliable sources before making such a pronouncement on MR or any other public website/discussion forum.

 

[andyw715]

Workoutdoors and Audible

I would also add wallet.

ApplePay and other things stored in Wallet allows you to go phone free (for the most part)
Especially nice when going to the gym (membership card via wallet, GymKit integration), shopping (almost everyplace takes contactless payments), HomeKey/CarKey, even Disney World.

 

[andyw715]

Whoa! As a retired professional librarian I don't believe this information is either accurate or legal. Public libraries are funded by the taxpayers in their local, their own, community. Yes, digital resources are available to legitimate library card holders who live or own property within the community that the library serves.

I would be very, very surprised if someone from outside the relevant jurisdiction can simply jump online and "get digital library cards from any library of your choice".......

Please check your facts through reliable sources before making such a pronouncement on MR or any other public website/discussion forum.

Not true, many libraries allow borrowing privileges, albeit they might be limited, to out of area residents.
For example, my library in Lockport NY allows any NY resident to get a card ($40/year) but I think there are limits as to how many items you can borrow; at least physical media, not sure about digital.

As funding sources become more local I think you'll see more and more libraries do this.

 

[redcarian]

I would be very, very surprised if someone from outside the relevant jurisdiction can simply jump online and "get digital library cards from any library of your choice".

Interestingly, I did exactly this when I obtained a digital membership to the Manchester Library (at the time, Library membership provided access to the online version of the OED), all completely legitimate and above board. I do not live in and never have lived in Manchester.

Whilst MR is predominantly a US-based forum, it is not exclusively so.

 

[goldmac2006]

Interestingly, I did exactly this when I obtained a digital membership to the Manchester Library (at the time, Library membership provided access to the online version of the OED), all completely legitimate and above board. I do not live in and never have lived in Manchester.

Whilst MR is predominantly a US-based forum, it is not exclusively so.

So y’all had access to Libby anyway by doing this method?

Many libraries also have full online databases that you can access.

 

[Bichon]

Not true, many libraries allow borrowing privileges, albeit they might be limited, to out of area residents.
For example, my library in Lockport NY allows any NY resident to get a card ($40/year) but I think there are limits as to how many items you can borrow; at least physical media, not sure about digital.

As funding sources become more local I think you'll see more and more libraries do this.

That's been my experience too. You do need to live in-state, show up in-person and present identification, but can then pay a recurring annual fee for a non-resident library card.

 

[ignatius345]

Whoa! As a retired professional librarian I don't believe this information is either accurate or legal. Public libraries are funded by the taxpayers in their local, their own, community. Yes, digital resources are available to legitimate library card holders who live or own property within the community that the library serves.

Agreed. In any case, at least at my local library system in NY, you have to show up in person and present some proof of residency. I really doubt there are a lot of library systems that will just let you shop around randomly if you aren't a resident.

edit: Not sure if people are aware, but unlike with physical books, a library has to pay the book publisher each time an e-book is checked out. With physical books they buy a copy once and loan it out until it falls apart or gets pulled out of circulation. Ebooks, for whatever reason, have a totally different model. So it's easy to see why a library wouldn't want random non-residents to be using Libby/Overdrive to check things out. It costs them money and impacts the books' availability to their local taxpayers who are funding the library to begin with.

 

[tcuprof]

There used to be quite a few libraries that would issue a digital library card, but that has declined significantly. Besides my hometown library (Fort Worth), I have digital cards from Broward County library (Florida) and Harris County library (Houston).

 

[goldmac2006]

There used to be quite a few libraries that would issue a digital library card, but that has declined significantly. Besides my hometown library (Fort Worth), I have digital cards from Broward County library (Florida) and Harris County library (Houston).

COVID was a big thing with digital library cards.

Back to the topic: Man, I love PeakWatch! After watching the YT video it was a game changer for my fitness strategies. It also combines my data from Peaks, Plant Nanny (water tracking) and other apps to estimate my 'body battery' for how much energy I possess and everything in between.

Also has its own achievements like the Activity app on iPhone.

 

[AM2354]

So, I am an avid bicyclist who loves trail biking. I have found this app called All Trails which I have found to be very informative in not only laying the trail out for you, but to see what fellow users who have travelled on this trail have to say about it. I use it on my watch as I am riding.

 

[Matz]

Phone on Watch is huge for me.
In general I hate using the phone on speakerphone because I think it's not only disruptive to others but you still need to hold the phone.….

This has been amazing while walking the dog when I'd never want to hold the phone for fear of the dog pulling and me dropping the phone.

Time to work on training the dog

 

[Matz]

To respond to the OP, I have to say that the question reminds me that for me, there is no ‘number 1 app.’ It’s a number of them that work very, very well; and, ultimately, the combination of them being readily available that makes the AW such a great piece of tech.

When I’m driving, having Maps on my wrist is great. When I’m paying for something, Apple Pay on the Watch is great. When I’m working out, Workout is great. When I’m cooking, Timers is great. When I want to check my Blood Oxygen, that is great as well. And so forth.

I honestly couldn’t pick a Number 1, because the one that I’m using at the time is Number 1. It’s the combination of these apps and more that keep an AW on my wrist all day, every day.

 

[rbart]

Is Strava really actually better than the built in workout app?
I upload my runs and bike rides to Strava but I never touched the Apple Watch app.

It’s probably one of the worst running app on Apple Watch.
There’s no reason to use it…

 

[rbart]

I guess weather you consider the Apple workout app better or worse than Strava depends on your use case.

I tried the workout app a few years ago (not lately), and found that it would record very basic metrics. Steps, distance, heart rate, etc. This is exactly what some people want, so a 3rd party app like Strava isn't needed. The workout app is great for counting steps and closing rings.

I do some activities where I like to have more metrics. For example, I cycle. I like to see the route I did, see power data, climbing elevation etc. I also do hikes and like to see data from that such as the route, elevation data, etc. Strava can record data from various activities and store them in one place. I've used it for years, cycling, hiking, pickleball, walking, tennis. I find it easy to see data from various activities, with lots of data, all in one place.

One great example is if I ride my bike on a tough route with some tough climbs, and I do that same ride a at a leter date, I can compare not only the overall metrics for both ride, but I can compare how I did on as specific huge climb (time, power, etc). You can't do that in the Apple workout app.

So, it depends on what you want out of the app you use to track your activities.

You use the Strava platform, which has a lot of features, but you are not forced to use the Strava watch app for that.
There are so many better apps for running, cycling…

 

[dmccombs]

You use the Strava platform, which has a lot of features, but you are not forced to use the Strava watch app for that.
There are so many better apps for running, cycling…

Correct, you don't need a watch to use strava. I use the watch because it is more convienient than playing pickleball or hiking with a phone in my pocket.

Yes, there are lots of running and cycling apps. I chose strava because it has the metrics that I want, and covers a lot of sports and activities, besides running and cycling.

If you prefer other apps for running and cycling, that's great. It's nice to have options...

 

[rbart]

Correct, you don't need a watch to use strava. I use the watch because it is more convienient than playing pickleball or hiking with a phone in my pocket.

Yes, there are lots of running and cycling apps. I chose strava because it has the metrics that I want, and covers a lot of sports and activities, besides running and cycling.

If you prefer other apps for running and cycling, that's great. It's nice to have options...

Apple built in app is way better than Strava on Apple Watch, and you can continue to export your data to Strava.
I can’t believe a company like Strava has produced a so bad watch app…

 

[dmccombs]

Apple built in app is way better than Strava on Apple Watch, and you can continue to export your data to Strava.
I can’t believe a company like Strava has produced a so bad watch app…

Well obviously, you shouldn't use Strava then. The Strava watch app suits my needs for some activities, so I will continue to use it.

For walks and hikes in areas that I don't know, I actually prefer (and use) Workoutdoors. It has maps on the watch and uploads to Strava. The maps can be quite handy sometimes.

 

[goldmac2006]

To respond to the OP, I have to say that the question reminds me that for me, there is no ‘number 1 app.’ It’s a number of them that work very, very well; and, ultimately, the combination of them being readily available that makes the AW such a great piece of tech.

When I’m driving, having Maps on my wrist is great. When I’m paying for something, Apple Pay on the Watch is great. When I’m working out, Workout is great. When I’m cooking, Timers is great. When I want to check my Blood Oxygen, that is great as well. And so forth.

I honestly couldn’t pick a Number 1, because the one that I’m using at the time is Number 1. It’s the combination of these apps and more that keep an AW on my wrist all day, every day.

Blood oxygen on your Apple Watch? Is it a series 8 or earlier?

My US model Apple Watch Series 6 gold stainless steel still has it

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Oddly enough, the native Sleep app is what I value the most.

 

[haddy]

What’s the number 1 app you would recommend to someone who wears an Apple Watch?

My number one app is Breeze [obviously not for everybody] it unlocks my front door.