Chapter 11
IN THIS CHAPTER
Customizing the Apple Watch experience with apps
Downloading and installing apps onto Apple Watch
Discovering settings in the iPhone’s Apple Watch app
Using Apple Watch as an extra security tool for Mac owners
Playing around with recommended third-party apps
No two people are exactly alike, so why should our devices have the same apps installed?
Just like it’s fun to customize a smartphone or tablet screen with all kinds of hand-picked apps — short for “applications,” which is just a more trendy way to say “software” or “programs” — Apple Watch supports many thousands of third-party (non-Apple) apps.
The App Store for Apple Watch is already jammed with apps designed for your sleek wearable, including many familiar apps (perhaps based on its iPhone or iPad brethren) and completely new apps looking to dominate this new screen in your life. In most cases, they’re free to download (or close to it), and you’re sure to find something that resonates with you.
Bottom line: We’re all individuals who have different tastes, priorities, and interests.
This chapter looks at how to choose and install Apple Watch apps, and manage them from your Home screen. I take you through the companion Apple Watch app for iPhone and how to tweak settings and personalization options. Toward the end of this chapter, I also suggest several stellar apps you might want to consider for your watch. (See Chapter 12 for a brief discussion about gaming apps for your Apple Watch.)
Because of the popularity of Apple’s App Store, perhaps it’s no surprise developers want to capitalize on watchOS and the Apple Watch. After all, millions of customers are wearing this gadget on their wrists and will likely want to customize their experience with apps.
In case you weren’t aware, developers make 70 percent on paid apps, with the remaining 30 percent going to Apple. Thus, an opportunity exists to make some serious cash by creating a must-have app for Apple Watch.
“The more you wear Apple Watch, the more you’ll realize just how personal a device it is,” says Apple on its website. “Because with so many different apps available, you can choose the ones that are most relevant to you and create a customized experience.
“There are already apps for airlines, department stores, social networks and more that take advantage of the unique opportunities the wrist brings. And with new apps being built for Apple Watch every day, this is just the beginning,” adds Apple.
How does one go about downloading apps?
From the App Store, but not the same App Store as the one on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. It’s a separate store solely dedicated to Apple Watch, as shown in Figure 11-1.
As previously mentioned, you can download apps to Apple Watch in two different ways:
To use the Apple Watch App Store on your iPhone, follow these steps:
On your iPhone, tap the Apple Watch app.
The black icon with a silver Apple Watch is preinstalled on all iPhones. Tapping the app launches the App Store for Apple Watch.
Tap the Discover tab along the bottom of the screen. Then tap Explore Watch Apps, at the bottom of the screen.
You see some recommended apps to get you going.
Find apps to download based on what’s featured or by category.
For example, you can tap the See All tab beside Get Started to open a list of popular apps. Alternatively, tap the Search tab (as shown in Figure 11-2) in the lower right of the iPhone screen if you’d prefer to look for something by keyword instead of browsing.
Other tabs at the bottom of the screen include: Today (a collection of apps highlighted each day), Games, Apps, and Arcade (which requires a subscription to the Apple Arcade gaming service).
Note: Despite the fact the App Store is accessible inside the Apple Watch app on iPhone, be aware not all these apps work with Apple Watch (some are for iPhone only). But you see which ones are supported before you download.
To use the Apple Watch App Store on your Apple Watch, follow these steps:
If you haven’t done so already, sign into the App Store. Tap Password and use the virtual keyboard (on a nearby iPhone) or Scribble feature to type it (only required once).
You might also be prompted to add a passcode to your Apple Watch to download apps, if you haven’t already set that up.
Browse through all the content to find something to download and try.
Search using Scribble or Dictation, or rely on your Siri voice assistant. Read reviews, look at the overall star rating, and check out screen grabs.
After it downloads, the app is available on your Apple Watch Home screen. You may be prompted first with a message like “Double click [side button] to install” or “Requires iPhone to complete setup.” Just follow along! See Figure 11-3.
Many of the Apple Watch apps are free, and some require a nearby iPhone to get the most from them. Just remember that most Apple Watch apps have a companion app for iPhone; therefore, you need to have enough storage on your iPhone — not just on the watch — for many of them.
While at the App Store on your Apple Watch or iPhone, it’s a good idea to read the full description of the app and check out the screenshots before you download it to ensure it’s for you before you waste your time, data, and, perhaps, money. Also, read reviews by those who’ve already used the app.
As most Apple Watch apps also install an iPhone version, after you download it, it syncs between devices. In other words, you don’t need to do anything to copy apps over to the watch (if you downloaded Apple Watch apps to iPhone) or vice versa (if you downloaded to Apple Watch directly). The moment the Apple Watch and iPhone are synced over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, whatever you downloaded is transferred to your wrist.
To manage the apps on your Apple Watch — to delete ones you no longer want, for example, or perhaps to tweak the layout of them — you can do this in one of two ways.
If the app doesn’t have a little “X,” which is most (but not all) of the built-in Apple Watch apps, you can’t delete them.
You have tons of settings to change on your Apple Watch app. From changing the orientation of your watch to match your dominant hand to changing how your watch looks and sounds, the following sections cover all the details that help you make your watch yours. In this section, you also see personalization, general, accessibility, and first-party app options.
Instead of tapping the App Store tab in the lower right of the Apple Watch app on iPhone where you download Apple Watch apps, tap the My Watch tab in the lower left to open the settings and personalization options for the watch.
From within My Watch, you can perform the following actions:
Have fun exploring what you can customize on Apple Watch. There’s quite a bit.
Under General options for Apple Watch, you should find the following information:
Other settings are here, too, such as Wake Screen (how and when to wake the Apple Watch screen), Enable Dictation (to enable on-device dictation), Usage, Diagnostic Logs, and more.
Those living with visual or aural impairments can take advantage of a number of accessibility options on Apple Watch. Just as Apple has done with its iOS and OS X products (and the Safari web browser), Apple’s smartwatch provides several features you can enable in the Accessibility area of the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, as shown in Figure 11-7. More details are available at Apple’s website for these options (www.apple.com/accessibility/watch
), but the following provides a quick summary:
Beginning with watchOS 6, Mac users have the ability to leverage your Apple Watch as an extra security tool.
As shown in Figure 11-8, the Mac includes an option to approve security prompts by tapping on the side button of Apple Watch, when prompted, to confirm it’s really you logging in! Enable this option via the Mac’s System Preferences ⇒ Security & Privacy area.
You can also use Apple Watch to display Apple ID verification codes, for when you need to log in to your Apple account on a new device or browser (“two factor authentication” combines something you know, such as a password, with something you have, such as Apple Watch).
You can also have your Apple Watch automatically verify you to unlock your Mac and apps. Make sure your Mac has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on and then sign into iCloud with the same Apple ID as your Watch.
Note: You must have two-factor authentication enabled on your Mac, and your Apple Watch is using a passcode.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu ⇒ System Preferences. Now click Security & Privacy. Select “Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or “Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.”
Of course, multiple options and settings can be explored in each of the first-party apps installed on Apple Watch, such as: Activity, Calendar, Clock, Contacts, Health, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Phone, Photos, Reminders, Sleep, Stocks, Weather, Wallet & Apple Pay, and Workout. Some examples of what you can change include:
Chapter 3 looks at all the default apps preinstalled on Apple Watch — you know, the ones Apple put there and you can’t remove (which understandably frustrates a number of people) — but I want to share a number of optional but recommended and free third-party apps you can download from the Apple Watch App Store.
All of them take advantage of Apple Watch’s features. Because I reserve games for Chapter 12, these 20 apps are tied more to information, travel, automotive, productivity, social media, fitness, shopping, and some entertainment.
The Apple Watch app for this popular finance tool lets you view your monthly spending goals at a glance as well as track your progress toward meeting them. And for those trying to stick to a budget, you can choose to receive weekly alerts with insight on how well you’re doing (or not).
One of the most popular sports apps for iPhone is available for Apple Watch. Select which sports matter to you — such as baseball, football, basketball, hockey, golf, or tennis (or all of these) — and stay up to date with breaking sports news, real-time scores, and more, as shown in Figure 11-9.
As one of the first retailers to support Apple Watch, Target has an app that lets you build and view a shopping list on your watch so you can glance down to see what items you need — even if your phone is tucked away in your purse or pocket. When you enter a store, the Target app also tells you where to find the items you’re looking for.
Although once bitter rivals, Microsoft has embraced Apple’s iOS platform — and now the watchOS too. Based on Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud service, this Apple Watch app lets users see their stored photos on their wrist — even when an iPhone isn’t nearby.
As shown in Figure 11-10, one of the cooler apps is Marriott Bonvoy, which lets you unlock your hotel door by waving your Apple Watch at the sensor. A room key isn’t required. The official app can also provide directions to your hotel, check you in, show your points balance, and more.
While Twitter mysteriously pulled its Apple Watch support in 2017, you can see your Twitter feeds right on your wrist — with the help of a third-party app, Chirp for Twitter. And because they’re only a couple of hundred characters, tweets fit perfectly on Apple Watch’s small screen. Feel a gentle tap whenever new tweets are posted; plus you can retweet and favorite tweets from your Apple Watch. You can also send and receive direct messages, see the latest trending topics, or search by hashtag. See Figure 11-11.
Hungry? The OpenTable app supports Apple Watch, which lets you see information about your upcoming dinner reservations by simply looking down at your wrist. The app can also help guide you to the restaurant with turn-by-turn directions.
A popular productivity tool, Evernote for Apple Watch lets you view your stored notes, dictate a new one, set reminders, and search by keyword if you’re looking for something in particular. Because Evernote stores your notes in the cloud, you can view your dictated notes in other Evernote apps — perhaps on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
How do you know when it’s time to leave for the airport? Or if your flight has been delayed, cancelled, or changed gates? American Airlines (AA) has an Apple Watch app that can alert you to any and all of these things. The AA app also lets you check in for your flight, view a map with your estimated time of arrival, view baggage claim and connection details, and more, as shown in Figure 11-12.
Own an electric BMW i vehicle? The official Apple Watch app lets you remotely check on the charge status or notifies you when your car has been fully charged and is ready to go. This smartwatch app also lets you check your miles (to prevent “range anxiety”), see door-lock status, get service reminders, and view your cabin temperature.
News junkies, rejoice! The official CNN app for Apple Watch gives you the information you need wherever life takes you. Select to receive breaking news and developing stories based on 12 categories of interest — such as Top Stories, U.S., World, Politics, Health, Entertainment, Sports, and Technology — plus your watch can even launch CNN TV live on your iPhone.
The world’s largest marketplace is now a tap away. eBay on Apple Watch helps you keep up with the auctions you’re watching — whether you’re bidding on something or selling merchandise. The app conveniently lets you send and receive alerts without having to fumble through your phone, tablet, or personal computer.
If you rely on public transit, the Citymapper app for Apple Watch always shows you the best bus and train routes based on your location and where you want to go. You should see step-by-step instructions, including a list of the next three arrival times for your mode of transportation so you can decide when to leave, and you should feel a vibration on your wrist when it’s time to get off at your stop. See Figure 11-13 for a look at the Citymapper app.
Find that hidden gem of a restaurant on your next trip. Unearth dozens of things to do while discovering a new town. Everything that makes TripAdvisor the perfect travel companion is now on your Apple Watch. Get instant information on hundreds of nearby restaurants, sights, and tourist destinations.
Fans of NPR can make their favorite station even more personal. The NPR One app shows you relevant news and curated stories based on your interests, along with access to your playlist (on your iPhone), and you can search for specific shows by using dictation and control basic playback functions with your fingertip.
The popular movie ticketing app is now on your wrist. After you’ve purchased tickets to a flick, the Apple Watch app can display the movie time and theater location, phone number, and other information you might need.
If you wear a watch — and a smartwatch, no less — it might not be a stretch to assume you like to be organized. But that doesn’t mean you’re good at it! If you need a little help, an app called Things is an excellent to-do manager for iPhone, and it supports Apple Watch too. Organize your life with daily tasks, which you can easily sort into sections like Today, Upcoming, and Anytime. Specifically, the Apple Watch app focuses on your current tasks, which can be displayed as a watch face complication or in the app itself, and lets you tick off items when completed.
You can use the PayByPhone Parking app on Apple Watch to pay the meter, check on the time remaining, and deliver an alert ten minutes before the meter expires. If you’re not done with your errands, your watch lets you add more time to the meter without your having to go back to your car.
Watch the skies! And your wrist. As shown in Figure 11-14, the Sky Guide app for Apple Watch is great for armchair astronomers. Receive alerts about upcoming celestial events — such as meteor shows and eclipses — and it even alerts you when the International Space Station is about to fly over your location.
Your smartwatch can control your smart home. The Lutron Caséta app for Apple Watch lets you control the lights in your home even when you’re not there so you can make it look like you’re home when you’re on vacation. Or on the flipside, if you accidentally leave the lights on when you leave, you can get an alert on your wrist to turn them off.
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