fun things you can do with Apple Watch. I cover using your wrist to snap a photo remotely on your iPhone, as well as look at photos on your wrist, including zooming in (because maybe you’re bored in line at the supermarket and want to see some smiling faces or furry pets). I also discuss using Apple Watch as a gaming platform and tell you what’s available for gaming.
Bonus tips
Chapter 13 reveals the top ten things you should try with Apple Watch and, of course, how to pull them off with grace. I share the absolute coolest things this smartwatch can do and how to best demonstrate them to your friends — to the point they’ll be boiling with envy.
www.apple.com/watch/battery), but be aware that this result varies greatly, depending on how often you use the watch, the settings you choose (see Chapter 2), what apps you use, the outside temperature, and other factors. Apple says 18 hours equates to “all day” performance, which could include 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 60-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth.
Determining What You Need for Your Apple Watch
The original Apple Watch didn’t do too much on its own. Rather, it was more a companion device to an iPhone. Oh, sure, it could do a few things by itself — such as show you the time, count your steps, make payments, and play music — but a wirelessly tethered iPhone was required for the overwhelming majority of features.
But now, with Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE, you can go with one of two models:
GPS: This model is great for navigation.
GPS + Cellular: With this model, you can pay your mobile phone provider to unlock the eSIM (a virtual SIM card inside Apple Watch) so you can use the Apple Watch on the go like a phone. It can take calls, text messages, stream music, and more! In North America, this service costs $10 per month because it’s added to your existing smartphone plan.
This book is ideal for whichever model you have, so not to worry. As mentioned before, you do need an iPhone to set up Apple Watch, even if you have the version that doesn’t require having one nearby to work. As you see in the next section, Apple also introduced Family Setup for those who own Apple Watch Series 4 (2018), or later. This feature lets family members who don't have their own iPhones, such as younger kids, still use Apple Watch to make phone calls, send messages, and share location information. (After you set up a watch for someone in the family, you can use your iPhone to manage some of that watch's capabilities.)
If you do own an older model (Series 1 or Series 2), you need at least an iPhone 5 to use Apple Watch. Those who own a Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, or Series 6 model need an iPhone 6 or newer. You also need to download and install the latest iOS operating system from Apple — whether you do it on your iPhone or via iTunes (on a PC or Mac) — and then connect the iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. After you download the latest operating system, an Apple Watch app — a white watch against a black background — appears on your iPhone’s Home screen, as shown in Figure 1-8.
In fact, you can install the latest watchOS update over the air (OTA) without using a physical connection at all!
FIGURE 1-8: Whether you own an Apple Watch or not, an Apple Watch app (shown at top right) appears on your iPhone’s Home screen.
Getting to Know Apple Watch’s Home Screen
As shown in Figure 1-9, the main Home screen of Apple Watch is populated by several small bubble-like icons. This screen is quite neat, actually, not to mention functional. Simply tap an icon with your fingertip to open an app, or slide around the Home screen to see other icons pop up and grow larger. (You want the app to be centered on the screen for easy access.)
FIGURE 1-9: Press and move your finger around to see all the apps on your Home screen (or twist the Digital Crown button to zoom in and out).
If you’re an iPhone user, the icons should be familiar to you; therefore, you know what built-in and third-party apps launch when you tap a specific icon. Table 1-1 shows some of the built-in apps. See Chapter 3 for more on the native Apple Watch apps.
And, of course, third-party apps have their familiar icons, such as a big P for Pinterest, a swoosh for Nike, a green leaf for the Mint app, and so on.
TABLE 1-1 Built-In Apple Watch Apps
| Activity |
|
| Alarms |
|
| Calendar |
|
| Find People |
|
| Heart Rate |
|
| Home |
|
|
|
|
| Maps |
|
