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.

Feedly for Apple Watch has arrived: browse your favorite stories right from the wrist

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

Feedly, the popular feed aggregation service, is now available for the Apple Watch. The app allows you to browse the stories right on your wrist-worn device.

Available as a free update to the existing Feedly for iPhone application, the Watch component selects the best stories from your Feedly account and presents them with a headline, the accompanying image, an excerpt of the full text and more.

It supports other features via a hidden menu accessible through force-touching the screen such as tagging, saving a story for later, marking a story as read, continuing reading on your iPhone and more.

The many things Apple Watch can do on its own when connected to Wi-Fi

Sébastien Page ∙ May 14, 2015

iPhone and Apple Watch work hand in hand, and while the former can be used on its own without losing any of its abilities, the latter will need to be paired with an iPhone in order to be used to its fullest. With that said, Apple Watch doesn't always need to be paired to an iPhone to be useful, as there are many things the wearable can do on its own. In a previous post, we highlighted a few things Apple Watch can do without its paired iPhone, including tracking workouts, playing music, being used to make purchases with Apple Pay, and more.

One of the most underrated features of Apple Watch is its ability to connect to known Wi-Fi networks, independently of its paired iPhone. It means that if you've ever been connected to a specific Wi-Fi network on your iPhone and Apple Watch, your Apple Watch will remember that network, even if its paired iPhone is nowhere nearby, giving you limited access to the web.

In this post, I will show you a few things you can do on Apple Watch when it is connected to a known Wi-Fi network, even if it's currently not paired with your iPhone. Granted, these are mostly known Siri-based queries, but to my surprise, you can do more than just inquire about the weather.

How to filter iPhone and Apple Watch screenshots in the Photos app on Mac

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

As you might imagine, I take tons of screenshots on a weekly basis for work. Instead of connecting my iPhone to my Mac and importing screenshots manually, or instead of using AirDrop, I simply use Photo Stream to do the grunt work.

Photo Stream allows me to access any photo taken with my iPhone, including screenshots, directly from the Photos app on my Mac. Just a few seconds after taking a picture with my iPhone, the photo appears on my Mac. This is great for quickly grabbing iPhone screenshots, and it even allows you to easily access screenshots taken on the Apple Watch.

In this post, I'll show you how I set up a simple Smart Album to separate screenshots—Apple Watch screenshots included—from regular photos.

Apple Watch screen maker LG Display dominates 90% of market as Sharp posts huge losses

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

One Apple supplier's misery is another Apple supplier's fortune. Two of Apple's key display suppliers — Sharp and LG Display — are not enjoying quite the same positive effects from working with the Cupertino firm. At one end of the spectrum is LG Display, an exclusive supplier of flexible OLED panels for the Apple Watch.

The company now dominates the smartwatch display market with a ninety percent market share thanks to its lucrative contract with Apple, as per Business Korea.

On the other is Japan-based Sharp, one of Apple's display suppliers that has barely managed to avoid collapse after posting an annual net loss of a whopping $1.9 billion, according to The Financial Times on Thursday.

Runeblade is the first game that can only be played on Apple Watch

Lory Gil ∙ May 14, 2015

We've been keeping you up to date on apps and games that are compatible with Apple Watch. Some are companion apps, similar to iOS widgets. Some are full games on iOS with additional features on Apple Watch

Runeblade is the first of its kind to only be playable on Apple Watch. The iOS download is actually the companion to this hack-and-slash role-playing title. Play the game on your wrist, and check out the lore on your iPhone.

Hey Siri, will you please let me talk back to you?

Sébastien Page ∙ May 13, 2015

Siri has come a long way since it was first introduced along the iPhone 4s and iOS 5 back in 2011. The assistant has gotten smarter, wittier, and all around more helpful, at least on the iPhone, because in my experience, it's a completely different animal on Apple Watch.

To be fair, I'm not so much complaining about actual voice dictation on Apple Watch. Besides a few missteps that were most likely due to my strong French accent, dictation has been very reliable on Apple Watch. What hasn't though, is to getting Siri to activate, whether it is hands-free or by using the Digital Crown. And when I do get it to work, not being able to interact with Siri with interactive voice commands is also a source of frustration. Allow me to explain.

Watch OS 1.0 lacks the necessary security features to dissuade thieves

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 30, 2023

The Apple Watch contains security measures to prevent thieves from accessing your data, but it doesn't include the necessary features to dissuade thieves from trying to steal your device to begin with.

The problem stems from the lack of an Activation Lock-like feature on Watch OS 1.0.

Unlike the iPhone, if someone steals your Apple Watch, they can easily reset the device (bypass the passcode), and pair it with a new iPhone logged in to a different iCloud account. In other words, it's totally feasible to steal an Apple Watch and set it up on a different device as if you just purchased it from an Apple Store.

Why you should be using a passcode on your Apple Watch

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 25, 2023

There seems to be a bit of misunderstanding when it comes to using a passcode on the Apple Watch. I've seen more than a few comments about how inconvenient it would be to have to "enter a passcode on that tiny screen every time I want to use the watch." Indeed, it would be inconvenient if that were a true statement; thankfully, it's not.

Samsung’s answer to Apple Watch’s Digital Crown: Rotating Bezel

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 13, 2015

The Digital Crown on the Apple Watch is quintessentially Apple. Engineered with the traditional watch vocabulary in mind, the Digital Crown makes it easy to magnify content on such a small-screen device while enabling precise control and quick adjustments.

Crucially, the Digital Crown lets you interact with the Apple Watch software and apps without your fingers obscuring on-screen content. If you thought that Samsung, Apple's arch rival, would respond by ripping off the Digital Crown wholesale, think again.

The South Korean company has seemingly engineered an innovative input method of its own in preparation for “the next generation Gear device.” As first reported by SamMobile, Samsung's solution corresponds nicely with the need to navigate content without obstructing the view.

Enter a rotating, round bezel — a new way to not touch the smartwatch screen.

How to see friends on your Apple Watch

Jeff Benjamin ∙ May 13, 2015

The Apple Watch allows you to quickly access up to 12 different contacts designated as friends. Persons on your list of friends should be contacts that you wish to stay in touch with most frequently.

Only friends have the privilege of receiving Digital Touch inputs—taps, sketches and heartbeats. You can also text, send emoji, or call friends quicker than you can with other general contacts.

How to add friends to your Apple Watch

Jeff Benjamin ∙ May 13, 2015

One of the primary features of the Apple Watch is the quick way in which it allows you to get in touch with friends. Only friends are allowed to use the Digital Touch feature on Apple Watch, and those added to your list of friends can also be quickly called or messaged using handy shortcuts.

On initial Apple Watch setup, up to 12 of your favorite contacts from your paired iPhone will automatically be added to your list of friends. If you don’t have any favorite contacts, or if you wish to change, remove or add contacts to your Friends list, then this Apple Watch tutorial is for you.

How to customize the color palette for Digital Touch on Apple Watch

Jeff Benjamin ∙ May 12, 2015

Are you finding the seven colors on the Digital Touch color palette a little restrictive? Wouldn't it be cool if you could customize the color palette?

Although you can only use one color at any given time for a sketch or a tap, it is possible to customize the color that you use outside of the six stock colors. Check out our tutorial to see how.