Posted on 04/20/2015 3:22:57 PM PDT by Swordmaker
he Apple Watch is, first and foremost, an iPhone accessory. It might be even more than that eventually, a truly independent gadget, but a vast majority of its current core functions -- making calls, sending messages, getting information, even playing any third-party games -- require your iPhone to be on, have Internet service, and be paired with the Watch via Bluetooth or a shared Wi-Fi network. If you're thinking about getting one, make sure you know that. It requires an iPhone 5 or later, and it can't even be set up without one.
Still, the Apple Watch can do a few things without your iPhone around -- more than I even realized. I left my iPhone behind and went for a stroll with just the Apple Watch to try it out.
Here's everything the Apple Watch can do when away from your iPhone:
Music
The Apple Watch has 6.2GB of available storage, of which 2GB can be used to store music. You sync music with Apple Watch via your iPhone and the Apple Watch app, no Mac or iTunes required (but, the music must be on your phone in the Music app, or in iTunes in the Cloud). Once your music is synced, you're free to listen as long you have a pair of Bluetooth headphones. I paired a few sets easily via the Apple Watch's Bluetooth settings: the ones I tested in the video above were the Plantronics BackBeat Fit, a highly-rated comfy pair of fitness-targeted wraparound wireless sport earbuds. In the Apple Watch Music app, you need to Force Press and select "Source" as Apple Watch. Once that awkward step is done, music plays just like on an iPod.
Fitness
Apple has two built-in fitness apps called Activity and Workout, and both work away from the iPhone. You can measure heart rate, too. Activity tracks steps, time spent standing, and active exercise. Workout allows timed exercise sessions that measure pace, distance, heart rate, and calorie burn estimates for various activities. The only thing you can't do away from your iPhone is track your walk or run with GPS: that requires your iPhone. Third-party fitness apps can't be used away from your iPhone, either. In fact, all third-party apps -- those not created by Apple -- need an iPhone connection to work.
Apple Pay
Once you set up a credit card for Apple Pay to work on Apple Watch, it keeps working even when your iPhone is not attached. Double-click the flat side button, and you can tap to pay at any Apple Pay-ready store. It's easy to use and addictive. If the watch is taken off your wrist, you'll need to enter a passcode to use it again. Because Apple Pay doesn't use your actual credit card number, you can cancel it from your iPhone and deactivate your Apple Watch's Apple Pay function, even if the watch isn't online at all.
Passbook
You can store boarding passes, tickets and gift cards in Passbook in the form of QR codes, and it's a great alternative to Apple Pay for a lot of stores and services. It's easy to open your cards and tickets, and QR codes even get brighter when you display them, for easy scanning.
Photos
There's a small photo album app on the Apple Watch that stores up to 500 photos from your phone library or iCloud. It's hard to see pics on the small screen, but it's a cute replacement for the itty-bitty wallet photo.
Alarms, timers, world clock, stopwatch...and watch faces
Apple has several timer and clock apps apart from the stylized watch faces, which also work when your iPhone is disconnected and offline. You can use Apple Watch like a full-featured chronograph and watch, or as an alarm clock. And of course, you can use Apple's own beautiful watch faces, too, which will still tell time.
Reading messages, recent calls and even offline voice mails
You can't make phone calls away from your phone, but you can see who's called recently, and read already-sent texts. Shockingly, you can even listen to voice mails! The Apple Watch syncs visual voice mail, and most of them will play back on my watch even with Airplane mode turned on. You won't be able to receive new messages without connecting your phone again, but at least you can browse missed connections.
That's it for now
Hopefully, someday, the Apple Watch will use its Wi-Fi antenna to get data on its own, or to pair with other devices like the Apple TV and Macs (it already has an Apple TV remote mode, but it's somewhat simple in its range of function).
In the meantime, you can experiment with the key features outlined above.
Yep ... I don’t remember one time that I’ve ever popped into a Microsoft OS thread to inform everyone there that their thread is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that I’m interested in ... LOL ...
Didn’t bother reading the lead article did you? Whole point is most of the smart are in the phone, but there’s still a lot you can do without that nearby.
Yum. I didn’t think I wanted an iPad but now I’m considering buying a third one. This stuff is addictive.
Ya know what is often said about people who go about pointing fingers and yelling “fag! fag!”...
Ummm ... about the same amount as they charge you for posting articles about drunk illegal aliens stabbing each other ... LOL ...
I will repost this every time I see A post of yours .
Jim should be paid for ads.
I’m sure she’ll get a good gander at them when QVC offers them. :-)
Not true. Please provide a link to your statistics. Apple has a quite different demographic. Are you suggesting female customers choose Android? I doubt it. I see many women using iPhones, more so than I see men.
no statistics are published based on sexual identity of apple customers
(pretty sure apple doesn’t want to be seen as the fag tech company)
Yes, there are. . . so your claim is made up out of your nether regions, as i thought. Again, sten, you are talking to an Economist, who works with figures and knows when you are lying through your teeth. You make yourself look foolish when you make up easily refuted absurd claims like that fake lying stat.
the west coast is being inundated with homos in the tech sector. in some companies, if you’re not on board with the agenda, you’ll be pushed out.
though i’ve never worked for apple, i’d imagine it’s very much the same (with a ‘hard charging’ fruit running the company now, it’s pretty much guaranteed)
“More than 70 percent of users on both the iPhone and iPod touch are male.”
http://www.mactech.com/content/study-looks-demographics-iphone-ipod-touch-users
Ahhh ... we’ve got a self-described APPLE-HATER TROLL on the loose ... :-) ...
It costs what is typical for a good quality watch, under a dollar a day.
Those who find it useful are free to buy as they like.
Those who don’t are free to not buy.
I don’t understand why so many seem so threatened by it that they keep getting on threads about products they don’t want to tell those who do they’re idiots.
if you have stats on apple’s demographics by sexual identity, then post the link
Besides, I have a life... sitting around watching my wrist waiting for tweets announcing the next pricey upgrade to the iWatch isn't my thing.
But... I'm sure they'll sell plenty of them... the folks who line up overnight outside stores so they can be the first to get every new phone or Mac will of course all snap these things up... if they don't they'll feel inadequate. That's the power of marketing.
Lol.. My wife and I have had more than a few tense moments over iPhones..
I’m prefer a simploid done. Android works for me. Between itunes and batteries issues.. And updating her constantly expanding video interests.. Ouch.
WE hit 30 years in June.. 20 without an iphone.. Bliss :-)
Well, I’m not going back to tin cans and string ... :-) ...
that was one post . you guys are putting up ads for apple .
your just using a new tact.
i stumbled onto the thread as i do any other news item. if you guys weren’t constantly trying to hype the next google-glass, i wouldn’t have found the threads
Bluetooth sound bars.. No wires no razz .. My latest toy.
Sorry no problem with apple . But with apple ads on free republic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.