Apple Watch

Stay up-to-date on the latest Apple Watch news, and learn how to get the most out of your device with our comprehensive tutorials. From updates to features to troubleshooting tips, we’ve got you covered.

New betas of iOS 10.2.1, macOS Sierra 10.12.3, watchOS 3.1.3 and tvOS 10.1.1 now available

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 9, 2017

Apple today released new OS betas to its registered developers. iOS 10.2.1 beta 3 (build 14D23), macOS Sierra 10.12.3 beta 3 (build 16D25a), watchOS 3.1.3 beta 2 (build 14S959) and tvOS 10.1.1 beta 2 (build 14U711) are now available for testing to the members of Apple Developer Program.

The latest builds can be installed over-the-air via the Software Update mechanism on devices that have an appropriate configuration profile installed on them.

The new builds have arrived nearly three weeks after a second beta of iOS 10.2.1 and macOS Sierra 10.12.3 released to registered developers.

Testing the operating range of AirPods and Beats Solo3 vs non-W1 Beats headphones

Steffen Reich ∙ Updated May 7, 2018

Much has been said about the virtues of the W1 chip Apple started baking into their latest wireless Beats line-up and of course the AirPods. By now we know for sure that W1 facilitates a much faster pairing process, as do we know that the chip significantly amplifies both battery life and conservation techniques. What’s less prominently talked about - at least from official sides - is the operating range of these wireless headphones and the presumed effect the W1 chip addition has had on that benchmark.

For I felt information on the internet was just a bit too murky to count on, I decided to take it upon myself and conduct a little experiment: I packed my rucksack with four headphones (two of which boast the new W1 chip) and headed to a nearby park in order to pit them against each other. Pairing them one after another and then slowly making a bee-line for the opposite direction, one thing quickly became clear: the results for the maximum distance obtainable aren’t surprising in terms of order, but they definitely are in their clarity.

The W3 Stand turns your Apple Watch into a vintage Macintosh

Cody Lee ∙ January 5, 2017

If you have an Apple Watch and an affinity for vintage computer hardware, you're going to love the W3 Stand from Elago. It's a short, stumpy stand that's built to make your Apple Watch look like an old-school Macintosh.

The stand is made of scratch-resistant silicone, and it conveniently holds your Apple Watch horizontally in Nightstand Mode. This allows you to view the current time, date, charging status and Calendar events at a glance.

How to mute progress updates from your friends and hide your own data in Activity sharing

Steffen Reich ∙ Updated July 13, 2022

Activity sharing is a tried and tested way to boost your app engagement by pitting your own fitness data against others that are willing to share theirs. Fitbit and Nike knew for a while of the extra motivation released when someone else monitors your activity, Apple knows full well since iOS 10 and watchOS 3. Agreeing to share and relay your activity on Apple Watch can hence be an inspirational thing, but it also results in a considerable increase of wrist-buzzing every day.

If you have committed to sharing your activity and your patience with the daily activity updates from your friend is starting to wear thin, remember that there is an option to mute those notifications. The tutorial also demonstrates how to hide your own activity from that friend, in case you don’t want them to know about your newest calories crushing workout just yet.

Twelve South’s new ActionSleeve for Apple Watch is designed for the active lifestyle

Anthony Bouchard ∙ January 4, 2017

Twelve South has removed the veil from the all-new ActionSleeve accessory for Apple Watch, which is an armband accessory tailored specifically for the active lifestyle. It's made to work with all sizes of arms and works with both the 38mm and 42mm variants of the smart watch.

ActionSleeve is intended to provide those who participate in more rigorous sporting activities a more secure way to wear the Apple Watch when the stock wrist location isn’t ideal, and it does so in a complementary way without sacrificing any of the Apple Watch's functionality.

Kevin Hart stars in hilarious new Apple Watch Nike+ ads

Cody Lee ∙ January 3, 2017

Nike on Tuesday posted 7 new videos promoting the Apple Watch Nike+ featuring celebrity Kevin Hart. Hart was issued the first Nike+ Apple Watch back in October of last year, and the ads offer a look at what he has been up to since.

As you'd expect with Hart, the videos are pretty funny, portraying the comedian on an introspective 700+ mile run into the desert. Throughout the clips he can be seen running in Nike gear, and showing off various Apple Watch features.

Report: new Apple Watch coming this fall with better battery, similar design

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 5, 2017

Apple plans to introduce a next-generation Apple Watch in the third quarter of this year, reports Economic Daily News. Citing market watchers, the Chinese outlet says the new wearable will feature better performance and longer battery life.

The Watch is expected to be manufactured by Quanta Computer, who was responsible for building the first and second-gen models, and their focus will be improving the battery. The hardware will not likely see much change, the report added.

Ugreen’s Magnetic Charger for Apple Watch is slim enough to keep in your pocket

Anthony Bouchard ∙ December 31, 2016

Most people experience all-day battery life with the Apple Watch, whether it’s the single core first generation model, or the dual core Series 1 or 2 versions that were launched just this year. While this is true for most people who use their Apple Watch regularly, new apps like Pokémon GO for the Apple Watch threaten to deplete your Apple Watch’s tiny battery much faster.

With that being the case, investing in some kind of portable power pack made specifically for the Apple Watch, like the Ugreen Magnetic Charger, is a good idea.

How to check if your Mac supports Auto Unlock

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 25, 2023

macOS Sierra debuted a new feature called Auto Unlock that lets you get into your Mac without typing your account password simply by wearing a passcode-protected Apple Watch. With Auto Unlock, you just wake up your Mac and if it senses you're nearby and wearing your watch, it'll log you in automatically. Yes, it just works!

Auto Unlock imposes certain hardware pre-requisites in terms of modern Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chipsets. Here's how you can quickly check if your Mac supports Auto Unlock.

Apple Watch pinging wearers of new Activity achievement launching tomorrow

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 27, 2016

Apple recently challenged Apple Watch wearers in the United States to bag a special Thanksgiving Day fitness achievement and now it's doing the same with a brand new achievement launching tomorrow in the Activity app. As MacRumors notes, the notification is currently being pushed to Apple Watch owners.

It informs users of a new achievement, aptly titled Ring in The New Year, that challenges them to close all three Activity rings each day for an entire week in January in order to earn the new virtual medal.

Have any Health information at a glance with HealthFace for Apple Watch

Steffen Reich ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

The developer team at Crunchy Bagel has taken the wraps of HealthFace, a product designed to assist regulars of Apple’s Health app in monitoring their vital data on the fly. HealthFace is capable of reaching deep into your personal Health catalogue and displaying virtually any data point in form of a complication on your wrist.

For users constrained to keeping a close eye on their vitals, food intake or other health related parameters, the app sets out to become a quasi extension of Apple’s Health app.

Apple Watch Series 2 holiday campaign continues with 9-second Go Swim ad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 24, 2017

Apple on Thursday shared a new and very, very short television commercial for the latest Apple Watch Series 2 wearable device via its YouTube channel.

Titled “Go Swim” and running just nine seconds long, the latest commercial highlights Apple Watch Series 2's water resistance and features the song "Evil Twin" by Krrum. Give it a quick watch and let us know how you liked it in the comment section.