Good day all. Like a few others on the list, I was also fortunate enough to
receive an Apple Watch for Christmas. Yeah, I know there will likely be
another one out later this spring, but given our run of bad luck with various
necessary home repairs and other unexpected expenses, I’m not going to count on
our having the funds available if and when that happens. Also, because the
thinking is that there will be a new version released early next year, Best Buy
had the Apple Watch Sport for sale at $100-off. So between the watch and Apple
Care, we only (laughs at the word “only”), paid around $300. the savings was
actually a big help to us right now.
Anyway, so far, I am in love! Understand, I went into this knowing that the
Apple Watch is not intended to be a replacement for my iPhone, but rather, an
extension for quicker and easier access to certain functions. I have to admit,
I am an iPhone addict, and I know it. :-) I am totally thrilled about any
device that will reduce the sheer number of times I have to pull out my phone
throughout the day, and so far, the Apple Watch has fulfilled that wish.
Although, it’s taking some time to simply “retrain” my hands and brain to just
leave the phone in my pocket, or even in a different part of the house, because
I don’t *need* it with me all the time anymore. I do want it close at hand,
but not necessarily “in” my hand 24x7. So, I am writing this for those (like
me), who may be looking for feedback on the Apple Watch before they buy one for
themselves.
Here are a few handy uses I have found for my own watch just in the first few
days of owning one. First, I absolutely *love* that any notifications sent to
my phone automatically get sent to my watch when I am not currently using the
phone. This means that any “breaking news” alerts from CNN, NBC, WFAA, or
whatever other news stations I follow pop up on the watch, so that I don’t
feel compelled to stop what I am doing and pull my phone out every time I hear
it go “ding.” <grin> I feel much less conspicuous “glancing” at my watch real
quick to check the notification rather than wedging the phone out of my back
pocket. It literally, takes me a fraction of the time to check alerts now.
This also includes weather and lightning alerts. I am very dependent on
lightning alerts in my area, and this is about the most effective way of
notifying me as I have seen yet. This was especially handy this past Saturday
when the EF4 tornado came ripping right by us. My watch was blowing up with
alerts, and I was thankful for it.
Quick and easy access to messages, Email and twitter. I have used the messages
function a *lot* already! I don’t typically use the pre-written responses, but
I like knowing they are there just in case. I use the dictation feature
instead, which for whatever reason, seems to be about 75% more reliable at
translating my audio to text than my phone. I haven’t played with either Email
or twitter much yet, but I have explored them just a bit. I’m not sure if
there is a way to view mailboxes separately or not, because on the two or three
occasions I have looked at it, it was displaying mail from all mailboxes in
one. This isn’t a big deal of course, just one of those “it would be nice”
things. As far as twitter, I am using Twitterific, and I haven’t quite figured
out how to see my normal twitter feed, assuming there is a way. It only showed
me my latest direct message. I think I just need to play with it some more
though.
Of course, viewing my various weather apps such as Dark Sky, is very cool. I
religiously use the timer and alarms, and I have used it for making and
receiving quick phone calls on the fly. Tracking my fitness via the workout
and activity apps has been neat, though I would love to learn more about how it
detects certain motions so that I can tweak my goals accordingly. For my
actual workouts, I prefer to use RunKeeper, which can also be quickly accessed
via the watch. It’s nice to just launch it, start it and go when I’m ready.
Sometimes it feels as if it takes forever to get things going on the phone.
One of the simplest and coolest functions I have played with yet, is the
ability to control my music that plays on my phone via the watch. It has been
100% accurate so far on playing whatever artist, album, playlist or song I have
requested, and if I want to skip a song or replay the previous one, there is no
need to pick up the phone, the watch will take care of it for me when I ask.
Speaking of “simple” functions—One of the main reasons I keep my phone with me
at all times is because I would lose my head, if it weren’t firmly attached to
my neck. So, on those rare occasions I do happen to set my phone down
somewhere and can’t find it easily, I can now ping it with just a few taps of
the watch! Brilliant! :-) Oh yeah, and have I mentioned how awesome it is to
have a “timepiece” on my wrist again? To check the time so quickly and handily
is amazing. I have Timebuzz installed, and it’s function of indicating the
time by a series of vibrations is spot-on, I just wish I could figure out how
to make it more convenient to check the time using this app without having to
go through several steps first.
I have only had the watch for a few days of course, so I am sure there will be
much more fun ahead, once I figure out what I am doing for real. <grin> I know
there are still a number of functions or features I am not yet aware of. For
instance, someone here said there was a way to cycle the current temperature
forward and back using the crown dial on the side of the watch, I would love to
know exactly how to do this. It sounds great and very useful!
So that’s my own mini-review for now. I hope others are having just as much
fun with their watch as I have had so far. And for those more experienced
watch users, please feel free to keep sharing your tips and tricks!
--
Jenny Wood
Phone: (972 989-3894
Email: [email protected]
Facebook/Twitter: KC5GNI
“I’m the kid who has this habit of dreaming,
Sometimes gets me in trouble too.
But the truth is,
I could no more stop dreaming,
Than I could make them all come true.”
— “The Kid” Buddy Mondlock
> On Dec 29, 2015, at 1:40 AM, 'RobH.' via VIPhone <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> That sounded like a typical family christmas of course, so it is ever the
> next day or so before you get the p&q to really get on
> with it.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alan Paganelli" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2015 12:03 AM
> Subject: Re: Benefits of Apple Watch
>
>
> I'v been having to much fun just playing with my iWatch sense Christmas. I
> haven't even looked at any iWatch apps but I sure would
> like to hear about any really useful apps anybody on the list has found for
> the iWatch. I'v only had mine sense Christmas morning
> and that doesn't count because people kept pestering me. The wife, are you
> gunna come and sit down to dinner with the rest of us?
> Do you want cheese cake? Do this or do that! LOL!
>
>
> Alan
>
> Sent from my iPad Air
>
>> On Dec 28, 2015, at 8:10 AM, Robert Carter <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Nancy and list,
>>
>> I love being able to read and reply to tweets, text messages and email on my
>> Apple watch. This is particularly great when I am in
>> a situation where taking out my phone is undesirable.
>>
>> I use my watch to time activities and the alarm function to keep me on
>> track. It is a great time keeper.
>>
>> Just recently, a watch app became available that allows one to get the time
>> presented in vibration patterns. This means that one
>> can silently check the time without disturbing others with VoiceOver. The
>> app is called Timebuz. There is a new app called iReg
>> which allows one to make audio recordings using just the watch.
>>
>> Apple Watch is fully accessible with VoiceOver.
>>
>> Good luck with your decision.
>>
>> Robert Carter
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Dec 28, 2015, at 8:29 AM, Nancy Badger <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>> This afternoon, I am going to have the opportunity to look at Apple
>>> watches. I am deciding whether or not to purchase one. What
>>> are the benefits? What have you really enjoyed about your Apple Watch? What
>>> are the drawbacks? What do you wish you had known
>>> before you purchased an Apple Watch? I will need to use voice over so
>>> please include excess ability comments.
>>> Thanks very much!
>>> Nancy
>>>
>>> Nancy Badger, Ph.D
>>> Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Services
>>> UT Chattanooga
>>> Sent from my iPhone with dictation software. Please excuse spelling errors.
>>>
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