Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch Accessories. Native Union Dock for Apple Watch - weapons
New version of the most popular smartwatches
Having released new iPhone, Apple has not forgotten to update its smartwatches. The product has received many improvements, the main ones being water resistance and special modes for swimming, built-in GPS, new SoC Apple S2 and more bright screen. In addition, Apple Watch Series 2 (this is the official name of the new product) runs on new version operating system watchOS 3 (but owners of last year's model can also download it). How much did the described innovations affect the consumer qualities of the product? We will talk about this in our article.
Before moving directly to the story about the watch, let's clear up the rather confusing model range smart apple watch. The fact is that Apple not only released the Apple Watch Series 2, but also replaced the first generation Apple watch Watch Series 1, which retains the previous version of the case and lacks GPS, but is equipped with the same Apple processor S2, same as Apple Watch Series 2.
Thus, in addition to differences in display size (38 and 42 mm) and body material (aluminum or stainless steel), there are now two generations (Series 1 and Series 2) simultaneously introduced to the markets. And this is not counting the “real” first generation of watches, with the Apple S1 processor: such models can no longer be bought in official Apple Store, but they will probably be available for a long time from resellers who have retained old stocks.
On top of that, Apple changed the name of the series within the generation. Aluminum version, formerly called Apple Watch Sport, is now simply an Apple Watch, as is the stainless steel version. Simply, when purchasing on the website, you indicate the case material. In turn, the elite Apple Watch Edition series has been preserved, but instead of gold models, it now features a new ceramic one, at a price several times lower.
And in addition to this, there are also the Apple Watch Hermes and Apple Watch Nike+ series, which differ in straps and box design, as well as a huge variety of straps that can be purchased both with the watch and separately (with the exception of Nike straps). Moreover, Hermes straps are now also available for purchase without a watch.
In general, the devil will break his leg :) On the other hand, the possibilities for combining technical characteristics, case design and straps are now almost limitless. Due to the fact that compatibility with straps for the first Apple generation Watch saved, you can attach the old strap to any watch. Therefore, if you need “the same blouse, but with mother-of-pearl buttons,” this is not a problem.
Since iXBT.com is still a site about technology, and not about style, we made a table in which we included only specifications, leaving out the case materials and straps (we’ll talk about them in the “Design” section).
| Apple Watch Series 2 | Apple Watch Series 1 | Apple Watch (2015) | |
| Screen | rectangular, flat, AMOLED, 1.5″, 272×340 (290 ppi) / 1.65″, 312×390 (304 ppi) | rectangular, flat, AMOLED, 1.5″, 272×340 (290 ppi) / 1.65″, 312×390 (304 ppi) | |
| Protection | from water (5 atm) | from splashes | No |
| Strap | removable, leather / silicone / metal / nylon | removable, leather / silicone / metal / nylon | |
| SoC (CPU) | Apple S1P, 2 cores | Apple S2, 2 cores | Apple S1, 1 core @520 MHz |
| Connection | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Camera | No | No | No |
| Microphone, speaker | There is | There is | There is |
| Compatibility | devices running iOS 8.3 and later | devices running iOS 8.3 and later | |
| operating system | watchOS 3.0 | watchOS 3.0 | watchOS 1.0 (upgrade to watchOS 3.0 available) |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dimensions* (mm) | 38.6×33.3×11.4 / 42.5×36.4×11.4 | 38.6×33.3×10.5 / 42.5×36.4×10.5 | 38.6×33.3×10.5 / 38.6×33.3×10.5 |
| Weight (g) | 25 / 30 (Sport version)* | 25 / 28 | 25 / 30 (Sport version)* |
| Average price (for Sport version, 38 mm) | T-14207066 | T-14207064 | T-11031691 |
| Apple Watch Series 2 (Sport, 38mm) Retail Deals | L-14207066–5 | ||
| Apple Watch Series 2 (Sport, 42mm) Retail Deals | L-14207067–5 |
*according to manufacturer information
Apple has not disclosed details about the S2 and S1P SoCs. Even the frequency of the CPU cores is not reported. We only know that in both cases there are two of them. Overall CPU+GPU performance has also doubled (according to Apple). We cannot check this, and, apparently, the full difference will be felt after the release next version watchOS. We admit that at the most first Apple Watch it will slow down (or be completely incompatible with them). But watchOS 3.0 works quite correctly on the Apple S1. So, presumably, this is a foundation for the future.
We have already written about other differences above. But I would like to draw your attention to one more detail. Based on the fact that the dimensions of the first generation Apple Watch and Apple Watch Series 1 are completely identical, we can conclude that the body of the watches is the same. To be precise, then we're talking about about Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Series 1. But Apple Watch Series 2 is almost a millimeter thicker than previous versions. This is quite significant.
Well, let's get acquainted with the Apple Watch Series 2 and evaluate its differences from the first version of the watch.
Equipment
The packaging of the aluminum version of the Apple Watch Series 2 looks very similar to the box of the first generation Apple Watch Sport. This is an elongated box made of thick cardboard.
But inside there is no longer a white plastic case, but just a niche for a watch. To be honest, we think it's less interesting solution(however, this does not affect the reliability of transportation).
The equipment of the new product is identical to that of the Apple Watch Sport. The only difference is that now you can choose between a nylon and silicone strap when purchasing (the price is the same). And if you choose nylon, then be prepared to have only one size included, while buyers of a silicone strap get two options at once. As a result, for those with large hands, the nylon strap option may not be very suitable.
Used to charge the watch wireless charger, in appearance resembling a large tablet. It is connected with a USB cable to a 5 V 1 A charging unit. That is, instead of the supplied unit, you can use any smartphone charger.
An important point: the charger from the first generation Apple Watch is fully compatible with Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 1. Therefore, accessories will also work - for example, a convenient docking station.
Design
The appearance of the new product is almost no different from its predecessor. This is the same rectangular body with rounded corners and edges, as well as two buttons on the right side.
One of these buttons is oblong, the other is round, and at the same time serves as a wheel that can be rotated (Digital Crown). The screen size remains the same. We had the 42 mm version, and the 38 mm version is also available for sale.
On the back we see a heart rate sensor and buttons for detaching the strap. And here it is worth pointing out one nuance: if earlier in the aluminum version of the watch (Apple Watch Sport) plastic was used in the round area around the sensor, and ceramic material was used only in the stainless steel Apple Watch, now in all Apple versions Watch Series 2 - from the cheapest to the most expensive - this zone is ceramic.
Another difference is two microphone holes instead of one. The speaker hole has not changed.
As we have already said, the new product has become a little thicker. This is basically noticeable in a direct comparison, but if you just start wearing the Apple Watch Series 2, you won’t feel any discomfort. They look no worse on the hand than the first generation model.
It can be assumed that the thickening is associated with the need to install a more capacious battery in order to maintain the duration battery life at the same level with increased screen brightness and SoC performance. Another assumption is related to the key innovations of the Apple Watch Series 2: the appearance of full water resistance (5 ATM) and the presence of built-in GPS. Obviously, both of these features should have affected the engineering features of the device. And the fact that it was possible to maintain the same design and practically not change the dimensions (except for the thickness) is a real victory.
Why is it important to maintain dimensions (length-width)? Because, in addition to aesthetic aspects, compatibility with released straps depends on this. Considering that some of these straps cost more than the watch itself (such as the steel block bracelet), it would simply be unfair to the people who bought them to change the way the straps are mounted on a new generation of watches.
At the same time, Apple continues to expand its range of straps. Firstly, due to new colors (in the photo above you see an asphalt gray nylon strap and a dark gray silicone strap with a brown tint), and secondly, due to the development of cooperation programs. In addition to Hermes, Apple has entered into a similar partnership with Nike. A special feature of the silicone straps in the Apple Watch Nike+ series are large holes, which should provide comfort during active sports, and a two-color surface (with Nike brand colors).
However, Nike straps are currently only available with watches.
Screen
The Apple Watch Series 2 screen size and resolution have not changed compared to the first generation. The watch is available in two display sizes: 38mm and 42mm. Accordingly, their resolution also differs: 272×340 and 312×390, respectively. We had a 42mm watch with a screen resolution of 312x390.
We conducted a detailed examination of the screen using measuring instruments. Below is the conclusion of the editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a scratch-resistant glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface curved towards the edges. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, slightly better than Google Nexus 7 (2013)), therefore fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of ordinary glass. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly better than those of the Google Nexus 7 2013 screen. For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off:
The screen of the Apple Watch Series 2 is slightly darker (photo brightness is 111 versus 115 for the Nexus 7). There is no double reflection, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. When displaying the white field in full screen, the maximum brightness value we recorded was about 660 cd/m², the minimum was 15 cd/m². Always works automatic adjustment brightness by light sensor. The user can only make adjustments to the operation of this function by choosing one of three levels. As external lighting conditions change, the brightness of the screen increases, but it decreases only when moving from very bright external light to, for example, the conditions of an artificially lit office. When switching from the latter option to darkness, the brightness of the watch screen decreases after a cycle of entering standby mode and activating the device. In general, the range of brightness changes and excellent anti-glare properties allow you to use the device both on a summer day outside and in complete darkness - even after the eyes adapt, the watch screen will not seem overly bright. At any brightness level there is modulation with a frequency of 60 Hz, but its amplitude is small, so flickering is not visible. Graphs of brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis) illustrate the above:
This screen uses an AMOLED matrix - active matrix organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red ®, green (G) and blue (B) in equal quantities, as confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The spectra are typical for OLED - the primary color regions are well separated and appear as relatively narrow peaks:
However, there is also cross-mixing of components ( programmatically), so the coverage is not overly wide, but adjusted to the sRGB boundaries:
Accordingly, the images on the Apple Watch screen have a natural saturation. The color temperature of the white and gray fields is approximately 7000 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is 2–3 units. Color balance is good. Black color is just black from any angle. It is so black that the contrast setting is not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. The screen has excellent viewing angles with a much smaller drop in brightness when viewed from an angle compared to LCD screens, but at higher angles the whites fade noticeably to blue. Overall, the screen quality of the Apple Watch Series 2 is very high.
watchOS 3 and new features
Along with the new watch, Apple released an update to the watchOS operating system. Already the third version is fully compatible with the previous ones Apple models Watch. I must say, there is nothing radically new here, but some pleasant improvements have appeared. The main one is the Dock (in the Russian interface it is also called in English), from which it is convenient to launch applications. Previously, applications were launched only from the main menu, and this was very inconvenient, because the round icons were very tiny, and getting into them the first time was problematic. Now we will need the main application menu much less often, because frequently used applications can be launched directly from the Dock.
The Dock is called up by briefly pressing the oblong button. I must say, this decision is very correct, because previously this button was practically not used at all (it was assigned a function that was completely unnecessary in everyday life). So, in the Dock you see thumbnails of open applications. Moreover, some of them are pinned to the Dock, and some were simply recently opened. Accordingly, you can pin those that are not pinned to the Dock if you plan to access them often, and if you don’t need some of the pinned ones, they can be easily removed.
Let's add to this that if you press the oblong button with a long press, a menu will open with options to turn off the clock and emergency call(see screenshot top right). The latter is an important feature (though hopefully none of the readers will need it). In addition, the quick settings menu has been redesigned (accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen; see screenshot top left). There is now a waterdrop icon to indicate the screen is locked when used in water. Of course, this option is only available on the Apple Watch Series 2.
Other innovations include new watch faces (including a dynamic watch face with jellyfish and a cartoon Minnie Mouse in addition to the pre-existing Mickey Mouse), as well as easier switching between them. To change the watch face, just swipe your finger from the left edge of the screen to the right. This is useful because different dials may be useful in different situations. For example, if you are at home, then you are more comfortable with one option, but if you go for a run, then you need a dial that displays activities.
In addition, do not forget that a number of dials are modular, that is, we can ourselves determine what information will be displayed on them and where. Therefore, if desired, you can very finely customize the dials directly to suit you.
Fitness options
But the main thing to note about the Apple Watch Series 2 and watchOS 3 is, of course, the significantly expanded fitness capabilities. Let's start with the less important ones. Among pre-installed applications two new ones have appeared. One contains breathing exercises, and the other measures the pulse.
The circle-flower icon helps us take deep breaths for a minute, gradually increasing in size as we inhale. At the same time, the feedback of the watch is also involved during the exercise, and this gives a very interesting feeling - as if we are filling some old bellows and they are squeaking. Of course, such simple utilities in App Store plenty, but it's this detail with the Taptic Engine that makes the Apple app special.
As for measuring the pulse, everything here is very primitive, but it’s better this way than nothing at all. True, you can get detailed statistics about your heart rate for the day by opening the “Health” application on your iPhone (information about all heart rate measurements on the watch is exported there).
In general, it cannot be said that the two new applications significantly expand Apple capabilities Watch. But new training regimes are really valuable. Thanks to the advent of water resistance, the watch can now be used for swimming. Moreover, there is a separate mode for swimming in the pool and in open water. We couldn’t check the second one for obvious reasons, but apparently GPS is turned on there. But when swimming in a pool, GPS does not work, but other sensors collect all the basic information, including, for example, the number of strokes.
Post-workout details can be viewed on your iPhone in the Activity app.
By the way, when you start a swim, the watch locks the screen and buttons, and to unlock it you need to twist digital wheel Crown or press both buttons at the same time (the same action takes a screenshot, but in watchOS 3, taking screenshots is disabled by default; it can be enabled through the smartphone application).
Now let's see how the advent of GPS can help us. To do this, we turn on the training mode, which involves moving outdoors. For example, this could be walking or running. In theory, everything should be simple: you move, the watch builds a track and, when connected to the iPhone, transmits information there. In practice, it turned out that this function does not work entirely smoothly - until you calibrate it. Here is an example of the walking results.
Well, first of all, “medium tempo” would be better called average speed and indicate it in kilometers/hour. This is a parameter that is clear to everyone, unlike the time for one kilometer. Secondly, for some unknown reason reason Apple Watch didn't build the track. This can be seen in the screenshot from the smartphone (see on the left under this paragraph). Next to it is a screenshot of running, and the distance is the same (relatively speaking, we walked quickly in one direction and ran back).
As you can see, there is already a track here, but there is no pulse. It can be assumed that the watch did not fit very tightly to the hand, but we did not move it after the journey there. That is, apparently, in the mode of more active shaking, the watch loses its pulse. Another oddity: in the first case, the distance is defined as 0.38 km, and in the second - 0.33 km (although, again, these are the same route). An error of 50 meters, at first glance, is not so critical, but it is still clearly more than acceptable for a device with GPS. Now let's look at the track itself.
I’ll say right away that it has nothing to do with reality. The author did not cross any highway, shopping mall is located in a completely different place than what is shown on the map... But the main thing is that the path itself was completely different. He wasn't direct at all.
To understand the problem, you need to divide it into its components. There are two of them: inaccurate Apple maps (alas, we can’t do anything about this) and an incorrectly working GPS. The latter, as it turned out, can be “treated” by calibration. There are instructions on the Apple website explaining how to calibrate GPS. After completing this Apple instructions Watch Series 2 now builds a track absolutely correctly, including in difficult conditions (for example, if you enter a room on the way). Below are screenshots that prove this.
A separate topic beyond the scope of this article is the use of third-party applications on the Apple Watch Series 2 that use GPS.
Autonomous operation
It is impossible to test the battery life of the watch with any accuracy, and you must understand that the 18 hours indicated by Apple is a very approximate value. But according to the results everyday use Our impression is that the Apple Watch Series 2 lasts the same amount of time as the first-generation Apple Watch: about two days. We are talking about models with a 42 mm screen (38 mm models work less).
Intensity of use - moderate: receiving notifications, half-hour training in the pool, five-minute walking/jogging (with a track), one answer to a call using a microphone and speaker, dynamic screen. In this mode, the watch can be charged overnight. But, of course, if you slightly increase the duration of GPS use, the situation will change for the worse. In addition, the weather may affect the results. On a sunny day, if you stay outside for a long time, the watch will probably discharge faster, since the screen brightness will automatically rise higher than on cloudy days and when used indoors.
conclusions
Apple has taken an important step in the direction of sports gadgets. Now Apple Watch can not only measure heart rate and count steps, but also track swimming results and build a track during outdoor activities. True, they still do both worse than specialized devices (like Garmin fitness watches). In particular, the swimming information is less detailed, and the track is built correctly only during calibration and only on Apple maps (very imperfect). But we have no doubt that Apple will improve these features. In addition, they will probably appear in the App Store third party applications, which can do everything the same, but better. After all, the main thing is that the hardware of the Apple Watch Series 2 is practically in no way inferior to GPS sports watches. And software improvements are a matter of time.
However, in terms of software, the situation is now generally much better than it was before. First of all, we are talking about innovations in watchOS 3. The appearance of the Dock and the ability to finally use the oblong button for really useful things are very positive developments. By the way, unlocking the screen while swimming by turning the Digital Crown is also a great find, because previously it was almost impossible to use the Digital Crown as a wheel. Another great innovation is the convenient change of dials. It would seem like a small thing, but such a small thing allows you to use your watch more widely and more productively. Before, you’ll think ten times whether you really need to change the dial that’s installed right now. Now you can have several watch faces for different situations and instantly (even on the go) switch between them.
Of course, one can complain that the appearance of the Apple Watch has not improved compared to the first generation. But here Apple is following the same path as with the iPhone/iPad: one update expands functionality without affecting appearance, the next update changes the appearance of the device. We must assume that it really is new design we'll see in the Apple Watch Series 3. However, let's hope Apple maintains compatibility with older bands as it does now. From point of view fashion accessory it is very important.
So, the big question is: is it worth upgrading to the Apple Watch Series 2 for those who have the first generation watch? The answer is simple: if you don’t swim in the pool (or it’s not important for you to track your swims), then you can safely wait another year. You'll get all the benefits of watchOS 3 on last year's model. But we would not recommend buying a new watch for the sake of built-in GPS, since there are still some complaints about the construction of the track.
A more difficult question is what to choose: Series 1 or Series 2. The difference in price between models of identical sizes and materials is 9,000 rubles. In our opinion, it all depends on how important the sports application is to you and whether you plan to deal with third-party software (for example, look for applications for swimming and track building). If the answer to both questions is “no”, and you were going to buy an aluminum model with a silicone strap, then you should save money and get the Series 1. Otherwise, and if you want to get a stainless steel watch with a sapphire crystal, the choice is obvious: Apple Watch Series 2.
Apple Watch Series 2 deserves our Original Design award for significantly expanding functionality (water resistance, GPS) while maintaining the same design.
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Those who have just purchased their first Apple smart watch and those who have been using them for a long time may find it useful to read our review of the features and features that smart watches from the famous manufacturer provide.
operating room Apple system watchOS 4 is one of the most widespread on the market today. That is why we decided to talk about ways to configure the gadget and some usage scenarios.
So, friends, if you have questions about interacting with your favorite Apple Watch, read on!
Setting up and using the App Dock
Starting with watchOS 3, pressing the side button allows you to view open applications. It makes sense to customize the Dock to your liking and add it to your favorites, because using this application is very convenient.
On the panel The Dock displays up to 10 applications, as well as recently used programs and played songs. To switch between apps, open the Dock by tapping the side button (pressing the button again will hide the dock), then swipe right or left and tap an app's icon to launch it. If you need to add any of the recently used programs to the panel, open the Dock, go to the “Recent” section (at the very end of the list) and after a few seconds the “Keep in Dock” option will appear, allowing you to pin the selected application to the Dock panel. To remove an app, switch to it by swiping, then swipe up and tap Delete. To change the order of applications in the Dock, you need to go to the desired application and, without lifting your finger from the screen, move its icon to the right or left.
Track sleep
Unfortunately, the Apple Watch does not have a built-in sleep quality monitoring mode. In this, the gadget of the Cupertino company loses to its competitors from and. Luckily, there are many apps that can provide sleep monitoring functionality to your watch. We've rounded up the best sleep tracking apps for Apple Watch so you don't have to search the App Store for them.
One of similar applications- AutoSleep . The special feature of the app is that you can measure your sleep duration without even wearing a watch! Of course, it is impossible to determine the quality of sleep in this way, but you can determine the total time. Well, if you put on your Apple Watch before going to bed, AutoSleep determines the duration and quality of sleep, monitors your heart rate, records the level of anxiety, etc. The collected data is displayed in the Activities style of the standard Health application.
The second application worth paying attention to is Sleep Tracker. It has two distinctive features over AutoSleep. Firstly, it is cheaper. Well, secondly, it’s much easier to understand. The application allows you to determine the duration of the REM and deep sleep phases, calculate the time spent falling asleep, etc. Another feature is a “smart” alarm clock that goes off only when you are in the REM phase of sleep. Now, I think, fans of fitness trackers, who were deprived of such a convenient feature several years ago, will be very interested.
Change AirPods volume
To change the wireless volume Airpods headphones without taking out your iPhone, just ask Siri about it. However, this is not always convenient. And if you have an Apple Watch, then you are in luck!
When playing music, you can see what track is currently playing on the smartwatch screen. To adjust the volume level, just rotate the “crown” of the watch. In some situations this is very convenient, and even more convenient than Siri.
Take a screenshot
Any Apple Watch can take a screenshot. To do this, you need to simultaneously press the “crown” and the action button below it. After which the photo will be saved in your iPhone gallery. However, this feature is not available by default. It needs to be activated. To do this, you need to go to the Watch program on Iphone, select the section " My Watch”, tap on “Basic” and then on “Turn on screenshots”.
Replaceable bracelets
Not only smart watches themselves, but also various interchangeable straps have become incredibly popular. Any user can choose the appropriate option for themselves. For any situation. And for sports, and for work and for travel... For everything.
A few words about each:
Very practical and convenient. Made from high quality hypoallergenic silicone. They are distinguished by a wide range of colors.
High quality materials and handmade allow you to get straps High Quality. Exclusive manufacturing technology guarantees a long service life. Over time, each Bullstrap becomes unique.
Unlocking watches from iPhone
Even if during initial setup smartwatch you haven't configured this one very much convenient function, you have the opportunity to do this at any time. And you won't have to enter the code anymore. The function is configured in the companion application on the iPhone. You need to enable or disable the Unlock from iPhone feature. However, you must remember that for the function to work, the Apple Watch must be located next to the iPhone.
Heart Rate Notification
Apple is paying more and more attention to monitoring vital processes. One of the features that the gadget provides is notification of exceeding the average heart rate. You can activate this notification in the companion application, in the heart rate section.
When activating the function, you will be asked to select a range from 100 to 150 beats per minute. The gadget will warn you if the set threshold value is exceeded. At the same time, smart watches can distinguish sudden short-term pulse surges (for example, when watching a horror movie). Accordingly, smart watches detect only long-term excesses of selected values, which may be a signal for the need to consult a doctor for further diagnosis.
Combining workouts
If you're a triathlon fan, then starting with watchOS 4 you have the ability to combine triathlon workouts into one. This opportunity will seriously save your time and eliminate the need to once again swipe with sweaty or wet fingers on small screen hours.
To change the type of workout, you no longer have to stop one and start another. During an active workout, just swipe to the right and press “+” to add a new workout. Later, upon completion, the merger will occur automatically.
Unlock Mac with Watch
If you have a set Apple technology, including Mac, then this feature will be very convenient for you. You can use Apple Watch instead of a password on your Mac to gain access to your computer. This feature is provided for computers younger than 2013 on which macOS Sierra 10.12 or later.
Naturally, the account must be the same.
To set up access on a Mac, you need to go to “ System Settings", then select "Security and Privacy" and go to the "General" tab. Here you need to install your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.
Also make sure that you have it turned on on your Mac. two-factor authentication (Apple > System Preferences > iCloud > Account).
Share activity rings
Activity app designed to collect fitness data from AppleWatch in the latest update has the ability to share its results with other Apple Watch users. To do this, you first need to add friends with whom you plan to share your achievements. To do this, you need to go to the Activity app on your iPhone. Then select " General access" and click the "+" icon in the corner to add contacts.
"Auto pause" while running
As on Samsung Gear S3, Apple also lets you pause your running tracking. This function is very convenient if you had to stop for some reason (for example, at a traffic light while waiting for a permit signal). To activate this feature, go to the Apple Watch app on the iPhone, then to the “My Watch” section, and then select the “Workout” section. Here you can configure the start of "automatic pause".
Checking used memory space
In general, the Apple Watch is quite sufficient for smart watches. free space for storage various programs. If you want to control this process, then in the Apple Watch companion app, go to the “General” section and then select “Use.” Here you can get information about how much space installed applications take up.
Changing text size
If you want to change the size of the text displayed on the smartwatch screen, you can do this by going to “Settings”> “Brightness and text size”. Next, you just need to configure it as you wish.
Removing water after swimming
Starting with the Apple Watch Series 2, the gadget not only has a high level of water protection, which allows you to swim without taking off your watch, but also has a unique system for removing residual water after water procedures. To manually use this feature, swipe up from the main Home screen to get to Center Apple management Watch. Then you need to select the drop icon. Then follow the instructions.
In fact, you can activate this function before going to the pool. Indeed, in addition to removing moisture, the function locks the screen, eliminating false positives while swimming.
Search iPhone
If you forgot where you put your iPhone, Apple Watch will make it easy to find it. You just need to activate the Ping function to search. It's easy to do. Swipe up to get to the Control Center. Next, find the "Ping" function and click on it. At this time, a sound alarm is activated on the iPhone, which will allow you to quickly find the smartphone. If you press and hold the Ping button, a light alarm will be added to the iPhone’s sound alarm (the built-in flash of the smartphone is activated), which will simplify the search.
Reply from your wrist
The Apple Watch still doesn't have a keyboard (is it really necessary?), but even without one, the user has the ability to respond to incoming messages and emails. Firstly, you can already use ready-made templates answers. Secondly, you can dictate a message using Siri. This is, of course, a non-trivial task, but Siri becomes smarter every time and understands speech better. By the way, we noticed that the task is simplified if you use connected Bluetooth headphones.
Restarting the system
Although Apple claims that restarting the system is a last resort, sometimes it is necessary. So, if all other options have been tried and have no effect, then to reboot, press and hold the “crown” together with the side button for 10 seconds. Just like on the iPhone, the Apple logo will appear and the watch should reboot.
"Cover" to turn off the sound
Very often, users set sound notifications and alarms. And there are also often situations where sound signals are inappropriate. If you did not take care in advance to transfer the gadget to silent mode, there is a way to quickly turn off the clock sound. Simply cover the watch with your palm.
To activate this function, necessary n and open the iPhone Apple program Watch, go to the “My Watch” tab and click “Sounds, tactile signals”. Next, you need to select Cover to mute.
Use theater mode
Have you ever sat in a dark movie theater, randomly waved your hand to find a better position, and then the screen on your Apple Watch turned on? So we will make you happy - the Cupertino people have provided for this too.
The "theater" mode prevents accidental activation of the display, so that nothing distracts you from watching a movie or performance.
The mode is activated in watches starting with watchOS 3.2. Raise your wrist or tap the screen to activate the Apple Watch screen, or press the Digital Crown. Launch Control Center by swiping up on the screen. Then you need to swipe up on the screen again until you see an icon in the form of two theater masks. Then click on the indicated icon. A description of the function appears. To activate it, you need to press it again.
Apple GymKit
Apple GymKit is an entire fitness software platform presented by by Apple as part of the WWDC 2017 exhibition. The point of the platform is to erase the boundaries between sports equipment for gyms and fitness centers and Apple Watch.
It works as follows. Before you start your workout, you connect your Apple Watch to the cardio machine via NFC and Bluetooth, and the watch begins to receive the most relevant and necessary data, such as speed and elevation angle, in real time. We hope there is no need to tell you that this is better than just looking at the screen of the simulator? Nobody canceled the recording of training data.
Unfortunately, we do not yet know when exercise machines combined with GymKit will appear in Russian fitness centers. In Europe and the USA, such updates began only in December 2017...
And the idea is good...
Turn your watch into a bedside alarm clock
When you leave the watch on charge, just tilt it on its side and this will activate a special mode that will turn your watch into an excellent bedside alarm clock. We really like it.
Deleting notifications
If you have too many notifications and it's starting to stress you out, then you can easily clear the notification history on Apple Watch. To do this, you need to get to the Notification Center by swiping from top to bottom. Press down firmly on the screen (just be careful not to overdo it). Select "X" to clear all notifications.
Transfer a call to iPhone
If a call comes to your smart watch, but you want to continue communication using your smartphone, you just need to accept the call on your watch and then swipe down to send it to your phone. Simple and fast.
Return to the last app you used
Switching between smartwatch apps is easy. To go to latest application, you just need to double-click on the “crown”.
Activating the “Backup Power” mode
In case your smartwatch is running out of charge prematurely, there is an easy way to make it last longer. To do this, you can activate the “Backup power” function. Press and hold the power button on your smartwatch. Inclusion this mode will disable all functions of the gadget except the clock. Anything is better than a completely discharged watch on your wrist...
Turn off notifications
By default, Apple Watch broadcasts any notifications from your iPhone. However, to save yourself from a large number of notifications and keep only the ones you need, you can manually configure the list of applications that will be allowed to send notifications to your smart watch. To customize the list, o Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Then, go to the "My Watch" tab and select "Notifications". Next, select an application. If you want your app's notification settings to mirror those on your iPhone, tap Repeat iPhone. If you want to use different notification settings for Apple Watch only, tap Customize.
Add music to Apple Watch
With the exit latest version smart watch, Series 3, users have access to the music streaming service directly from the smart watch, thanks to cellular communications. And despite the fact that the popularity of streaming services is constantly growing, the ability to download familiar MP3 tracks is still the most common way to listen to music from using Apple Watch. Especially if you connect Apple Airpods directly to your watch.
To view and manage, go to the “Music” section on the iPhone. Next “My music”, “Playlists” " and select the item " Create » to create a new playlist. After that, we add all the music that we want to download to the Apple Watch to the new playlist and give the playlist a name. Click the "Finish" button.
Now you need to synchronize the data with the clock. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone, go to the “My Watch” section, select “Music” and then “Synchronized Playlist”. Here we select the playlist that we created. After synchronization is complete, you can use it.
Due to the rather slow loading, in fact, music from iPhone to Apple Watch can only be downloaded when the smart watch is actively charging. Also note that by default, maximum size The playlist downloaded to the smart watch is limited to 1GB.
Want to increase your storage size? OK, go to the Watch app, select “Music”, then “Storage Limit” and select: 100 MB, 500 MB, 2 GB. Here you can set a storage limit by the number of songs (15, 50, 125 or 250 songs). Enjoy.
Left-handed setting
The crown, being quite massive, often interferes with those who prefer to wear a smart watch on their left hand. However, Apple confirms that everything is easily customizable here too. So, in order to configure your smartwatch for use on your left hand, you can “flip” the watch in the settings. In the iPhone application, go to General settings and select "Clock Orientation". Next you just need to decide on the right hand...
Organize apps on your watch
This feature is available in watchOS 4. Don't like how apps are located by default? Set it up in a way that is convenient only for you. Is it more convenient for applications to be displayed in a list? No problem. In Clock, simply tap the app selection screen to select the option you want. "Grid", for example.
Remove unnecessary watch faces
Although the Mickey Mouse watch face is certainly cute and popular, in our opinion, it is not very convenient or functional. Time is hard to see.
To remove unused watch faces from your iPhone, in the Apple Watch app, go to the “My Watch” tab and select the edit option in the watch faces section. Here, opposite the unnecessary dial, click on the red icon and confirm the action.
You can do this with a watch. Hold down the Digital Crown to open the watch face, then hold your finger on the screen until additional options. Choose unnecessary dial and swipe it up. Then we confirm the action. Ready!
Removing standard Apple applications
Setting up Apple Pay Cash
A new feature available to the Apple company's smartwatches starting with watchOS 4.2 is the ability to make contactless payments, namely Apple Pay Cash. Essentially, it's prepaid debit card, which will allow you to pay for purchases and transfer money to friends. Apple Setup Pay Cash is simple. If you have a debit card associated with your account Apple recording Pay, all you have to do is go to your phone's settings, select "Wallet & Apple Pay" and then "Apple Pay Cash." You just need to agree to the terms and that's it.
However, there is one small problem - Apple Pay Cash is not yet active in Russia. however, we are very much looking forward to the fact that in the near future, the company will activate this certainly very convenient payment method.
Apple has expanded the range of its online store to charge Apple Watch smartwatches, equipped with a magnetic mount. is an official product of the company and was created by Apple engineers and designers. Some journalists who have already received the device have come to the conclusion that with this product Apple has moved away from the canons of its proprietary design concept.
Magnetic Charging Dock is made in the form of a white disk. The central part of the device, which is directly responsible for the process wireless transmission energy, can be in both horizontal and vertical positions. In the second case, Apple Watch automatically switches to night mode, and they can be used as an alarm clock.
By tilting the internal disk 90 degrees, you can either “put” the smart watch on it or simply put it on the stand when using the docking station in standard mode.
Not all users were satisfied with the Magnetic Charging Dock; some considered the device “un-Apple.”
“To me, the dock doesn't look like an Apple product. Of course, the gadget interesting design and it doesn't look cheap in any way. But I would like options in other colors, I would prefer a black or dark gray version to match the color of the watch,” says video blogger Dom Esposito.
“Ultimately, this is another quality (and expensive) accessory from Apple. But I'm not sure if it's worth the money. If you are one of those people who buys everything from Apple, then the choice is obvious for you. But I highly recommend taking a look at other docking stations on the market,” he concludes.
The Magnetic Charging Dock package includes a docking station itself, which can be used with any modification of the Apple Watch – both 38 mm and 42 mm in size – as well as a 2 m long Lightning cable for connecting the accessory to the adapter’s USB port or laptop.
The “Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock” costs $79. In Russia, Apple offers the accessory at a price of 6,490 rubles.
In this article we will talk about docking stations for iPhone and Apple Watch. Let's take a closer look at the branded product from Apple and pay attention to very good and high-quality analogues from other manufacturers. Regardless of which device you choose, all docking stations in question deserve great respect for their parameters and functionality.
Review
Let's start with the fact that the developers of the branded accessory thought through the product down to the smallest detail. The body is made of very high quality polyurethane, the lower part is made of microfiber. In the center of the docking station there is a contactless mechanism for charging your watch. As for the packaging of this product, the docking station for apple watch comes with a high-quality two-meter Lighthing cable, which, unfortunately, does not come with a charger block. Although, in principle, you should already have it.
Functional
- A very simple device, but everything that is simple is ingenious.
- Due to the microfiber coating, it does not slip on smooth surfaces; the basic configuration of the device did not take these shortcomings into account.
- Very convenient to take with you on trips, minimum size device due to the detachable cord. Fits very easily in your pocket,
- Can be used unfolded or folded.
- Can be used as a table clock.
Audience
The device is popular among owners of metal bracelets; with this configuration, people forget about the scratches that often appear when the watch falls from the base charger.
Studio Neat Material Dock
Review
Let's start with the fact that this is an innovative product from the manufacturer Studio Neat. The device is suitable for iPhone and apple watch, the docking station has an exclusive design. The upper part is made in the form of a walnut; the developers painted the supporting parts in the color of balsa wood. A very compact substation, if you charge your iPhone, the watch will be located right in front of the gadget’s screen, which saves a lot of space.
The upper and lower parts of the device are adjustable over the entire amplitude, which makes it possible to use the device for any series of iPhone. The station can be attached to the table using the built-in clamp and forget about the problem you are experiencing great amount people when removing the phone from charging.
Studio Neat has also released a budget version for the iPhone that does not include charging cables.
As for the price of these devices. The budget version will cost the buyer starting from $45, and for a product with charger for apple watch you will have to pay at least $70.
Belkin PowerHouse Station
The most expensive solution discussed in this article. Very beautiful design and great functionality.
Review
The Power House device, from the manufacturer Belkin, has a unique property that puts the docking station two heads above other competitors. This property means that you forget about the problem of your own charging cords; everything you need for charging is already included.
Manufacturers have managed to reduce the charging time of your gadgets using a special built-in charging module. Very often, when choosing a docking station, charging time plays a key role for mobile people this solution will be “to taste.”
As for the design, the developers spent a lot of time on it and created an exclusive minimalist design that will add a “zest” to your gadget. The device has three color options: silver, pink gold and black.
The lower part of the station does not have a stable lock, this could be regarded as a minus if not for the decent weight of the “dock”.
A huge disadvantage of charging is its price, acquisition of this device will cost you from $99, which is quite a lot of money compared to analogues. Beauty and fast charging require financial sacrifices, but for people who don’t look into their wallets, this is a great option.
Conclusion
The docking station is a product that has not yet “got accustomed” to the everyday life of the common person. But people who try them on themselves will no longer be able to refuse this decision. You will get rid of a huge pile of problems and unnecessary wires. Also, having “tasted” all the delights, you will understand that you can connect speakers to the “docks” and control music from the sofa, connect to the TV and simplify your life with synchronization in iTunes. But this is a completely different topic for an article.
Apple Watch needs to be charged once a day. Every evening before going to bed, put your watch on magnetic charging - without such a habit you will not make friends with the gadget. That's basically it, if the aesthetic part of the process doesn't bother you at all. And if it hurts your soul to carelessly throw an expensive device on the bedside table, get a dock. Minimalistic aluminum or universal bamboo.
The first one is called Charging Dock For Apple Watch. Made of aluminum, there are three colors - silver, space gray and gold. The quality is even better than you might expect - if not for the slightly rough edge in the oval neckline, I called it perfect. Black rubber magnetic charger pad with subtle ridges for improved fit. The magnetic “tablet” is held tightly, the cable is neatly moved to the side. The weight is light, but you don’t need to hold the station while removing it. There are four rubber feet, the dock does not move on the table.
I liked that the watch can be worn either in a vertical orientation - by snapping the strap or leaving it open - or in a horizontal orientation. Then the Night Stand mode will be active, when the watch wakes up from the slightest vibration and touching the screen.
Bamboo Dock Station for Apple Watch & iPhone may be of interest to fans of eco-themes, and not only them. Apple Watch is charged in a “lying” position; it is advisable to fasten the strap, otherwise it will look sloppy. There are no requirements for smart phones - any model can be stored in the dock. Covers of adequate dimensions fit into the groove and even leave room for a slight tilt. If you really want to, you can also recharge your smart phone.
The quality of workmanship is excellent. It can be seen that glued bamboo is a capricious material; it is difficult to cut out a complex shape in a block without leaving flaws. In my sample, the dock is a little confused by the groove for the cable, and they didn’t provide any space for turning it in. But if you don’t find fault, it looks “rich” and 100% natural.
