Many people ask why Apple Watch is needed. This watch is designed for owners of iPhone 5 or later smartphones. This device cannot be used in combination with an iPad.
A person who is interested in what a smartwatch is for should understand that its purpose is to use applications. Despite the high price, the Watch accessory is primarily aimed at a youth audience. It's important to consider why Apple considers this useful device a gadget and not a watch. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with its functionality.
Apple Watch Features
The screen may differ depending on the version.
- If you choose a device with a 42 mm body, the display resolution will be 312x390 and the pixel density will be 302 PPI.
- On a watch with a 38mm case, the resolution will be 272x340 and the density will be 290 PPI.
The AMOLED display offers a wide viewing angle, the picture looks bright and contrasty. A relative disadvantage would be that the screen only turns on due to events and notifications. In standby mode, no information is shown on the display.
The user can set the watch display to turn on due to any notifications, but this will cause the battery to drain quickly. We recommend setting up your Watch so that the screen responds to gestures and lights up when you raise your hand. In bright sunlight, the information on the display is readable, but the picture looks faded.
The icons on the screen are small, but it’s easy to hit them with your finger. If for some reason you cannot hit the shortcuts, you can use the Zoom function. In addition to icons, the function allows you to enlarge images.
More expensive versions of the Watch use sapphire glass, which is reliably protected from scratches. In budget options (for example, Sport) ION-X glass is installed, which over time loses its presentation.
While using the watch, you may notice that the resolution is not high enough for such a display. The problem is that the sizes of icons and buttons are disproportionate to the dimensions of the device.
Control and Synchronization
To control your watch using your iPhone, you will need a special application. To synchronize the device, just bring the Watch to the smartphone camera. If for some reason this fails, you can connect the gadget manually through the settings.
The watch can only work in conjunction with a phone. The user must come up with a 4-6 digit password that will be used to access the device. The watch automatically locks every time it is removed from your wrist.
An alternative option is to unlock using your iPhone. In this case, the smartphone's security system (for example, Touch ID) will be used. The inconvenience of this method is that you will have to unlock the phone too often or completely disable its security system. It is more convenient to enter the password every time you put the watch on your hand.
All applications that are installed on iPhone and are suitable for Watch will be automatically transferred to the Watch. When using the device for the first time, the copying process may take 10 to 90 minutes. This will depend on the number and size of applications and the availability of all necessary updates for them.
Accessories
I purchased the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active at the beginning of August 2019 during a trip to Moscow, and the first thing after the purchase I went to the Internet to look for places where I could buy inexpensive straps for them. It’s just that a watch is a particularly personal gadget for me, and for some reason it’s morally difficult for me to wear the standard strap that the manufacturer provided. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active uses a standard 20mm wide watch mount. Everything would be fine, but finding straps for this mount was not the easiest task. Hoping to find something suitable, I went to Gorbushka and, in general, found nothing except a pair of leatherette straps of extremely dubious quality for a hefty price tag. And so I left the capital for my home, the next day I went to St. Petersburg, where I decided to drop into Kitay-Gorod.
This is a shopping center, which is basically an indoor market with a variety of Chinese goods - from electronics and clothing to all kinds of accessories. And there I also didn’t find anything for my Samsung, but there was a lot of good stuff for the Apple Watch. The same thing applies to the Gorbushkinsky radio market. In general, the situation is that it is easiest to find accessories for Apple smartwatches or Xiaomi Mi Band; for other smartwatches with a regular watch mount, this is much more difficult to do. Of course, the vastness of Chinese online hypermarkets is open to everyone, but it’s much easier for me to go to a store and buy a strap for the same watch there, be it Chinese or some brand name. We will talk to you about whether it is worth saving on straps in one of our future materials.
Programs and components
The Apple Watch app contains a section with watch apps. Each of them can be tested to understand how it works. The selected program will be installed on your smartphone and watch, since separate installation is not provided.
All Apple Watch apps are linked to your phone. When installing each such program, the free space in the memory of the smartphone and watch will be used up. However, the applications installed on the Apple Watch are secondary because they may display incomplete information.
All you need to do is set up the program on your iPhone. After this, the settings will be automatically transferred to the Watch. If desired, the user can independently make adjustments and choose how applications should behave on the watch.
The system settings provide the ability to change the font type and size. The default font is perceived best. If you set larger characters, they will take up a lot of space on the screen, making it difficult for the user to read messages.
There is a red dot above the dial. If you hover your finger over it and pull it down, notifications will open. This feature works in limited mode. For example, there is no full Facebook app for Watch. If a notification from a social network arrives on your watch, you can only view it in full using your smartphone.
The Apple Watch lacks the “Open on Phone” feature, which would allow the user to launch the desired program on the iPhone using the watch, after which the user would only have to pick up the phone and read the necessary information.
The Instagram application works in the same way. If a notification arrives, the user will not be able to read it completely, since only the first 2 lines are displayed. The full text can only be read on a smartphone. Such shortcomings are common to many applications on the Apple Watch, since developers of programs adapted for the watch do not pay much attention to functionality issues.
Results
We figured out how apple watches work and what they are needed for. This device is universal; it can be used by athletes, active young people, and older people. But is a watch necessary in everyday life? Is it still a luxury or an accessory that can make tasks easier? They will help you determine the pros and cons of the device.
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The gadget really performs a number of useful tasks, which is why it is in demand among iPhone owners. Whether they are needed or not is up to everyone to decide for themselves.
Interface
The device has screens with different watch faces, called WatchFaces. By default, only the time is displayed in standby mode, but the user can configure the display of additional information on the screen.
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The main menu is a set of shortcuts. Unnecessary applications can be disabled so that they do not take up space on the screen. To start the program, just click on the shortcut, and to exit, use the button on the right. The Apple Watch interface is intuitive and doesn't take long to master.
Interesting features
Apple really made a breakthrough with the creation of the Taptic Engine.
There are a lot of notifications coming to the watch, and the monotonous vibration, suddenly frightening, is already boring. That's why a unique technology was invented that feels like a light touch - the gadget just touches the wrist. Quiet vibration literally “paints” different responses for each type of action. This technology also allows you to set a “silent alarm clock”.
Is Apple Watch 3 necessary or not?
Clock management
If you press the crown twice, the last application you were working with will launch. The Force Touch feature allows you to trigger an action by pressing hard on the screen (for example, it can be used to create a message on Twitter).
If you sharply raise the Watch, a list of applications will appear on the right side of the screen, including music, heart rate measurement, etc. At the same time, quick settings for search, flight and night modes will be displayed on the left.
The analog button on the Watch is used to call your favorite contacts. With this feature you can quickly dial a number and send a message. Messages are provided with templates that the user can edit to suit their taste, as well as emoticons and various images. The disadvantage of Apple gadgets is that SMS messages do not work without iMessage. If this feature is not set up or there is an error setting it up, the watch will not display messages.
The watch does not allow you to enter a person's address manually. You can select it from the list or use the inconvenient voice dialing. Finding addresses in the list is problematic because they are not sorted by name and there is no search function.
The list of standard options includes display of time functions, calendar, alarm clock, stopwatch, event schedule, etc. In navigation mode, the watch displays the route. In this case, the screen is divided into parts so that the user can track his movement. If you turn off the screen, the watch will indicate the desired direction using vibration, but this method takes some getting used to. It is recommended to create a route on your phone, after which it will be transferred to the watch.
You can answer calls using the watch, as it is equipped with a microphone and speaker. The disadvantage of this method is that others will hear the conversation.
Features for athletes
The watch connects to the phone via Bluetooth. There is no separate GPS module on the Watch, so all coordinates are transmitted from the iPhone. The acceleration sensor can count steps. It is more accurate when compared to competing devices like the FitBit Surge, with calculations within 10% accuracy.
The Watch device performs just as well as a device for measuring pulse (the discrepancy can be 55-57 beats). It is best to measure your heart rate at rest, as readings may be inaccurate during exercise. However, the error of the Apple watch is not critical, unlike the FitBit device, which under heavy loads underestimates the readings by 25% and is therefore not suitable for athletes.
It should be noted that smartwatches have never been positioned as a device for professional athletes. Most often they are used for daily walks and fitness.
Alert
The alert function can use various signals and vibration. In this case, the user selects the types of notifications he wants to receive. If you receive notifications too frequently, your battery may drain quickly. In the case when notifications regularly come from several social networks, the gadget can be discharged in 5-6 hours.
Fitness for active people
The accessory keeps track of the steps taken by the user every day, activity with an increased heart rate and the total time you spent on your feet. There is an optical heart rate sensor on board the gadget, which perfectly fulfills its purpose. It is possible to share your indicators with friends.
Photo: Activity app
Other Apple Watch features
Apple Pay works with iPhone 6 or later devices. You can pay using your watch, and you don't even need to use your phone. The Siri assistant works in Russian.
Third-party applications are identical to programs on smartwatches from other manufacturers. This software is created so that the user accesses his smartphone as little as possible and solves many problems using the Watch. There are few such applications, and some of them are paid and expensive. Games on the watch are extremely simple.
It is inconvenient to use the watch for telephone conversations, since the speaker is not loud and the microphone is not sensitive. If you talk in noisy conditions (for example, on public transport), the other person may not hear you. Watch users can communicate with each other through symbols drawn on the touch screen using their finger, and also provide each other with information about their heartbeat.
The music control feature is well implemented as the user can sync playlists with the phone. You can transfer audio tracks to the Watch's memory, but you cannot connect wireless headphones to them. In this case, a speaker designed for telephone conversations will be used for playback.
If a call rings while the user is listening to music on headphones, then it will be possible to answer it using the watch. In this case, the device does not understand that it is more convenient to talk through a connected headset, and turns on the speakerphone. The user will hear the call through the headphones, but nothing will be displayed on the watch screen. You can accept a call using the button on the headset, but then you won’t be able to see the caller’s number.
Is it worth buying the device?
In support of the device, users note the stylish appearance of the accessory. Convenient options include contact payments for purchases, monitoring health during workouts, receiving calls and dialing numbers without a smartphone.
However, experts do not recommend purchasing a watch just to view the weather, calendar, track activity, receive incoming calls and listen to music.
An expensive accessory will pay off on a child’s hand when the iPhone is in the parents’ possession, and the child only needs to report his location. The device will help out those users who, for some reason, cannot constantly use a smartphone. Smart watches will make life easier for athletes. They won't have to do exercises with an iPhone in their pocket.
Watch stuffing
The watch works with the S1 processor developed by Apple. Its performance is limited because the device slows down when switching between applications. Third-party programs freeze even more often than pre-installed ones. Data from the smartphone is transferred slowly, and the download icon flickers on the screen for a long time.
The volume of permanent memory is 8 GB. The watch can be used as a remote control for your smartphone's camera to take photos. In this case, the pictures are saved in the Watch memory, but only 75 MB are allocated for images on the device. The storage capacity for music is 2 GB, and the rest of the space is used for applications. Such restrictions are not critical, since most of the information will always be stored on the iPhone.
General conclusions about what iWatch is and why they are needed
Thus, I would like to note the key points that answer the question: does the average person need an Apple Watch:
- ease of use of everyday functions (no need to constantly take out your phone);
- a stylish item that will fit perfectly into any wardrobe;
- In addition to the main function of showing the time, the Apple Watch is filled with useful features, the number of which is constantly growing thanks to the release of new firmware.
Roman Vladimirov, Apple product expert, manager of pedant.ru. Consultant for the site appleiwatch.name, co-author of articles. Works with Apple products for more than 10 years.
Battery and operating time
When actively using the device, the charge lasts for 18 hours, but the screen must be turned off most of the time. Battery life is greatly reduced if you set the display brightness to high.
The battery capacity is 205 mAh. It will take 2-3 hours to fully charge the device, which is standard for devices of this class. The charger just needs to be attached to the case, since it is wireless. Most of the charge (80%) is collected in 90 minutes, the rest in 60 minutes.
Apple provides a warranty on the battery. If it fails within 1 year, it can be replaced for free. The battery can withstand 1000 full operating cycles, after which the capacity will decrease to 80%. If you use the battery correctly, discharging it completely, it will last 2-3 years. Users who do not follow the rules for charging the battery note that it works normally for 1-2 years.
In standby mode, the device can work up to 72 hours. At the same time, it will maintain continuous communication with the phone. If you listen to music or use workout mode, the device will run out in 4-7 hours. A telephone conversation will drain the gadget in 3 hours. A smartphone that is synchronized with the Watch will drain its charge 10% faster.
