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.

Apple posts 3 new Apple Watch ads: ‘Rise,’ ‘Up’ and ‘Us’

It's officially Apple Watch launch day, and Apple has already started celebrating by debuting 3 new advertisements for the wearable. On its YouTube channel, the company posted new videos entitled 'Rise,' 'Up' and 'Us,' respectively.

The ads are a major departure from the 'Reimagined' commercial Apple has been playing since March. Each one focuses on a tentpole feature—time, fitness and communication—and demonstrates them using real-world scenarios.

Apple offering online Personal Setup for new Apple Watch users

Apple on Thursday night began emailing Apple Watch pre-order customers (whose orders have already shipped), informing them that their wearable would be arriving soon and that they can get help setting it up in "the comfort of their own home."

The online "Personal Setup" service is essentially a video session in which you get instructions on setting up your Watch and an overview of key features. As with in-store Personal Setups, online sessions require you to schedule an appointment.

Apple Watch teardown exposes Taptic Engine, Digital Crown, battery and more

Customers in Australia and other time-forward countries began receiving their Apple Watch orders earlier today, and the folks at iFixit have acquired a 38mm Sport Apple Watch, and have begun their customary teardown process.

After prying the display off, the team gained access to the battery—which at 205 mAh is tiny compared to the Moto360's 300 mAh battery—the new Digital Crown and Taptic Engine, and yes—the mysterious diagnostic port is still there.

Apple begins notifying developers who get an expedited Apple Watch

Apple has begun notifying developers who signed up for the Apple Watch Sport lottery on the Developer Center if they have been randomly selected to make the purchase. It allows many who pay the $100 iOS Developer Program fee to bypass the long waitlist of Apple Watch orders the public is facing and get the Watch earlier. 

‘Offers Apple Watch App’ label added to App Store

In order to better distinguish between regular iPhone applications and those with added Apple Watch functionality, a new 'Offers Apple Watch App' label is now available in the App Store across the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. It's also found when browsing Watch-compatible iOS apps in the App Store section of iTunes for Mac/Windows PCs.

When available, the label appears right below the app icon on individual app pages and in search results, making it easier to discover Apple Watch apps.

The Apple Watch App Store goes live

If you're running iOS 8.2 or iOS 8.3, you can view the Apple Watch App Store right now. Simply open up the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, and tap the App Store tab. If you don't yet see the App Store interface, you can use our refresh trick to reload the interface to view the Apple Watch App Store.

App Store updated to show Apple Watch screenshots

Apple has updated the App Store to showcase Apple Watch screenshots for apps that support the Apple Watch. The screenshots are displayed beneath the traditional screenshots for the app on the iPhone. In addition to these screenshots, there is a notation beneath every app that features an Apple Watch app, making it easier to discover apps thats support Apple's new wearable device.

Apple Watch User Guide

Apple on Thursday posted its official Apple Watch User Guide to the web, offering information and instructions on all of the wearable's major features and functions. The move follows the rollout of the Apple Watch App Store, and the seeding of the first Watch firmware update, as Apple prepares for folks to start receiving their Watch orders tomorrow.

Apple releases Apple Watch OTA firmware

The very first Apple Watch firmware has been released as an OTA update. The firmware, which Apple is branding Watch OS, is actually a modified version of iOS 8.2, similar to how the Apple TV uses iOS firmware as a base.

The 38mm Apple Watch is ID'd as Watch1,1, and the 42mm version is ID'd as Watch1,2. As noted by developer Steve Troughton-Smith, the firmware is heavily based on iOS 8.2 and features a PowerVR SGX543 driver. As yo may recall the SGX543 was integrated on the A5 SoC's that powered hardware like the iPad 2, and iPhone 4s.

Hours Time Tracking for Apple Watch launches, iPhone app goes free for a limited time

Hours Time Tracking, a beautifully designed time-tracking app by Apple Design Award winner Tapity that debuted on the App Store in the summer of 2014, has gone temporarily free in the App Store to celebrate the launch of Hours Time Tracking for Apple Watch.

A bona fide Apple Watch extension provided inside the refreshed iPhone app will be unlocked as soon as you get your hands on the Apple Watch, giving you access to oft-used features like starting, stopping and switching your timers, adjusting start and end times, a Glance overview of your current running timer and more.