Apple Watch - reviews, technical specifications, functions. Nuclear submarines
Finally, they are sent to their owners. Now it's time for fun, or rather learning. Users will have to tinker with the new gadget for some time in order to explore all its capabilities and use them to the maximum. We present to your attention a number of basic functions, after familiarizing yourself with which, you will be able to work with the watch immediately after.
In contact with
1. Buttons
— Power (on/off): You can turn your Apple Watch on or off by pressing and holding the wide button located on the side of the case.
— Return to the home screen: To get to the home screen, you need to press the Digital Crown once.
- Switching applications: You can switch between the two most recently running programs by quickly double-clicking the Digital Crown.
- Screenshot: To take a screenshot, you need to press the Side button and Digital Crown at the same time.
— Scrolling pages: You can go to the top or bottom of the page using the Digital Crown, or simply by swiping your finger across the screen in the desired direction.
— Scaling: Use the Digital Crown to zoom in on a detail in a photo or an area on a map. It is worth noting that the ability to zoom using two fingers (as in the iPhone) is not available on the Apple Watch.
— Favorite contacts: To quickly access your favorite contacts, simply press the side button once.
- Apple Pay: Payment system by double clicking on the side button.
2. User Interface
— Notifications: You can manage notifications that come to your Apple Watch using a dedicated app on your iPhone.
— Notification Center: Access the Notification Center on Apple Watch the same way as on iPhone - by swiping down from the top of the screen.
— Cards Glances : To view Glances, simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
— Card selectionGlances: Using the appropriate application, you can choose which programs and what information will be displayed in Glances.
— Location of application icons: Just like on the iPhone, to move an icon you need to press and hold it until it “jitters”, after which you can drag it to another location on the screen. You can also easily change your background using the iPhone app.
— Quick access to applications: Any watch face that supports features called complications allows you to quickly access apps. For example, in order to open the Activity program, you need to click on Activity in complications. In addition, you can launch this application through Glance.
— Strong pressure: To access additional user interface features, you need to press a little harder on the watch screen.
3. Battery
— Device battery life: Apple claims the watch can last up to 18 hours on a single charge. However, there are features that can drain your battery in no time. Telephone conversations drain battery resources in 3 hours, sports – in 6.5 hours.
— Charging time: Apple claims the Apple Watch battery can charge 80% in 1.5 hours. Full charging time is 2.5 hours.
4. Additional useful features
— Apple Watch recoil force: When a notification arrives on Apple Watch, the Apple Watch uses the Taptic Engine to gently nudge the user. The strength of the push can be adjusted using a special application.
— Synchronization of music and photos: You can use the app to sync your iPhone music library and photos to your Apple Watch.
- Activity tracking without iPhone: Over time, the watch will learn the physical characteristics of its owner and will be able to accurately track its activity without connecting to the iPhone.
— Apple Watch and water A: It must be remembered that it is not waterproof.
— Bracelets: You need to pay attention to the material from which the strap is made. For example, it is better not to soak leather bracelets in water, and fluoroplastic is sensitive to some chemical compounds.
In the 50s, a new era began in underwater shipbuilding - the use of nuclear energy to propel submarines. According to their properties, nuclear energy sources are the most suitable for submarines, since, without the need for atmospheric air or oxygen reserves, they allow one to obtain energy for an almost unlimited time and in the required quantity.
In addition to solving the problem of long-term movement underwater at high speed, the use of a nuclear source removed restrictions on the supply of energy to such relatively high-capacity consumers as life support devices and systems (air conditioners, electrolyzers, etc.), navigation, hydroacoustics and control weapons. The prospect of using submarines in Arctic regions under ice has opened up. With the introduction of nuclear energy, the duration of continuous navigation of boats in a submerged position began to be limited, as many years of experience have shown, mainly by the psychophysical capabilities of the crews.
At the same time, from the very beginning of the introduction of nuclear power plants (NPPs), new complex problems that arise have become clear: the need to ensure reliable radiation protection of personnel, increased requirements for the professional training of personnel servicing NPPs, the need for a more developed than for diesel-electric submarines, infrastructure (basing, repair, delivery and reloading of nuclear fuel, removal of spent nuclear fuel, etc.). Later, as experience was gained, other negative aspects emerged: the increased noise of nuclear submarines (NPS), the severity of the consequences of accidents of nuclear power plants and boats with such installations, the difficulty of decommissioning and disposing of used nuclear submarines.
The first proposals from nuclear scientists and military sailors to use nuclear energy to propel boats in both the USA and the USSR began to arrive in the late 1940s. The deployment of practical work began with the creation of submarine designs with nuclear power plants and the construction of ground stands and prototypes of these installations.
The world's first nuclear submarine was built in the USA - Nautilus - and entered service in September 1954. In January 1959, after completion of tests, the first domestic nuclear submarine of Project 627 was put into operation by the USSR Navy. The main characteristics of these nuclear submarines are given in table. 1.
With the commissioning of the first nuclear submarines, almost without interruption, a gradual increase in the pace of their construction began. In parallel, there was a practical development of the use of atomic energy during the operation of nuclear submarines, and a search for the optimal design of nuclear power plants and the submarines themselves.
Table 1
*Equal to the sum of the surface displacement and the mass of water in completely filled main ballast tanks.
**For American nuclear submarines (hereinafter) the test depth, which is close in meaning to the maximum.
Rice. 6. The first domestic serial nuclear submarine (project 627 A)
circuit of a nuclear reactor. Along with water, which has a high degree of purification, which was used in the reactors of the first nuclear submarines, an attempt was made to use for this purpose a metal or an alloy of metals with a relatively low melting point (sodium, etc.). The designers saw the advantage of such a coolant, first of all, in the ability to reduce the pressure in the primary circuit, increase the temperature of the coolant and, in general, gain a gain in the dimensions of the reactor, which is extremely important in the conditions of its use on submarines.
Rice. 7. The first American nuclear submarine “Nautilus”
This idea was implemented on the second American nuclear submarine after Nautilus, Seawolf, built in 1957. It used an S2G reactor with a liquid metal (sodium) coolant. However, in practice, the advantages of the liquid metal coolant turned out to be not as significant as expected, but in terms of reliability and
Rice. 8. The first domestic nuclear submarine “Leninsky Komsomol” (project 627)
Due to the complexity of operation, this type of reactor was significantly inferior to a water-cooled reactor (with pressurized water in the primary circuit).
Already in 1960, due to a number of problems that emerged during operation, the liquid-metal coolant reactor on the Seawolf nuclear submarine was replaced by the S2WA pressurized water reactor, which was an improved modification of the NautiIus nuclear submarine reactor.
In 1963, the USSR introduced the Project 645 nuclear submarine into the fleet, also equipped with a reactor with a liquid metal coolant, which used an alloy of lead and bismuth. In the first years after construction, this nuclear submarine was successfully operated. However, it did not show any decisive advantages over nuclear submarines with pressurized water reactors being built in parallel. However, the operation of a liquid-metal cooled reactor, especially its basic maintenance, caused certain difficulties. Serial construction of this type of nuclear submarine was not carried out; it remained a single copy and was part of the fleet until 1968.
Along with the introduction of nuclear power plants and equipment directly related to them on submarines, their other elements also changed. The first American nuclear submarine, although larger in size than the diesel submarine, differed little from them in appearance: it had a stem bow and a developed superstructure with an extended flat deck. The hull shape of the first domestic nuclear submarine already had a number of characteristic differences from the diesel submarine. In particular, its nasal extremity was given contours that were well streamlined in the underwater position, having a semi-elliptical outline in plan and cross sections close to circular. The fencing of retractable devices (periscopes, RDP devices, antennas, etc.), as well as the hatch and bridge shafts, were made in the form of a streamlined body like a limousine, hence the name “limousine” shape, which later became traditional for the fencing of many types of domestic nuclear submarines.
To make maximum use of all the opportunities to improve the tactical and technical characteristics caused by the use of nuclear power plants, research was launched to optimize the hull shape, architecture and design, controllability when moving underwater at high speeds, automation of control in these modes, navigation support and habitability in conditions of prolonged scuba diving without surfacing.
A number of issues were resolved using specially built experimental and experimental non-nuclear and nuclear submarines. In particular, in solving the problems of controllability and propulsion of nuclear submarines, an important role was played by the experimental submarine “Albacore”, built in the USA in 1953, which had a hull shape close to optimal in terms of minimizing water resistance when moving in a submerged position (the ratio of length to width was about 7.4). Below are the characteristics of the Albacore diesel submarine:
Dimensions, m:
length................................................. ........................................62.2
width................................................. ........................................8.4
Displacement, t:
surface........................................................ ....................................1500
underwater........................................................ ....................................1850
Power plant:
power of diesel generators, l. s........................................1700
electric motor power *, l. s........................about 15000
number of propeller shafts................................................... .......................1
Full submerged speed, knots................................................... ..33
Test immersion depth, m...................................................185
Crew, people................................................... ...........................................52
*With silver zinc battery.
This submarine was refitted several times and was used for a long time to test propellers (including coaxial counter-rotating ones), controls when moving at high speeds, new types of propellers and solving other problems.
The introduction of nuclear power plants on submarines coincided with the development of a number of fundamentally new types of weapons: cruise missiles (CR) for firing along the coast and for hitting sea targets, later - ballistic missiles (BR), long-range radar detection of air targets.
Advances in the creation of land- and sea-based ballistic missiles have led to a revision of the role and place of both land and sea weapons systems, which is reflected in the development of the type of nuclear submarines. In particular, missile launchers intended for shooting along the shore gradually lost their importance. As a result, the United States limited itself to building only one nuclear submarine, the Halibut, and two diesel submarines, Grayback and Growler, with the Regulus cruise missile, and the nuclear submarines with the cruise missile built in the USSR to hit coastal targets were subsequently converted into nuclear submarines with only torpedo launchers. weapons.
A single copy of the Triton radar patrol nuclear submarine built in the United States during these years, designed for long-range detection of air targets using especially powerful radar stations, remains in one copy. This submarine is also notable for the fact that, of all the American nuclear submarines, it was the only one that had two reactors (all other US nuclear submarines are single-reactor).
The world's first launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine was carried out in the USSR in September 1955. The R-11 FM missile was launched from a converted submarine from the surface position. From the same submarine, five years later, the first launch of a ballistic missile in the USSR from an underwater position was carried out.
Since the late 50s, the process of introducing ballistic missiles on submarines began. First, a small-missile nuclear submarine was created (the dimensions of the first domestic liquid-fueled naval ballistic missiles did not allow the creation of a multi-missile nuclear submarine at once). The first domestic nuclear submarine with three ballistic missiles launching from the surface was put into operation in 1960 (by this time several domestic submarines with ballistic missiles had been built).
In the United States, based on the successes achieved in the field of naval ballistic missiles, they immediately went to create a multi-missile nuclear submarine with support for launching missiles from an underwater position. This was facilitated by the Polaris solid fuel ballistic missile system, which was successfully implemented in those years. Moreover, to shorten the construction period of the first missile carrier, the hull of a serial nuclear submarine, which was under construction at that time, was used
Rice. 9. George Washington-class nuclear-powered missile submarine
with torpedo armament of the “Skipjack” type. This missile carrier, named "George Washington", entered service in December 1959. The first domestic multi-missile nuclear submarine (Project 667A) with 16 ballistic missiles launched from a submerged position entered service in 1967. In the UK, the first nuclear-powered missile carrier, created in a wide range using American experience, it was commissioned in 1968, in France - in 1974. The characteristics of the first nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles are given in Table. 2
In the years following the creation of the first submarines, there was a continuous improvement of this new type of naval weapons: an increase in the flight range of naval ballistic missiles to intercontinental, an increase in the rate of fire of missiles up to salvo, the adoption of ballistic missiles with multiple warheads (MIRVs) containing consisting of several warheads, each of which can be aimed at its own target, increasing the ammunition load of missiles on some types of missile carriers to 20-24.
table 2
The fusion of nuclear energy and intercontinental-range ballistic missiles gave submarines, in addition to their initial advantage (stealth), a fundamentally new quality - the ability to hit targets deep in enemy territory. This has turned nuclear submarines into the most important component of strategic weapons, occupying perhaps the main place in the strategic triad due to its mobility and high survivability.
At the end of the 60s, the USSR created nuclear submarines of a fundamentally new type - multi-missile submarines - carriers of missile launchers with underwater launch. The appearance and subsequent development of these nuclear submarines, which had no analogues in foreign navies, was a real counterweight to the most powerful surface combatants - attack aircraft carriers, including those with nuclear power plants.
Rice. 10. Nuclear submarine missile carrier (project 667A)
At the turn of the 60s, in addition to rocketization, another important direction in the development of nuclear submarines arose - increasing their secrecy from detection, primarily by other submarines, and improving the means of illuminating the underwater environment to outstrip the enemy in detection.
Due to the characteristics of the environment in which submarines operate, the determining factors in the problem of stealth and detection are the noise reduction of submarines and the range of the hydroacoustic equipment installed on them. It was the improvement of these qualities that most strongly influenced the formation of the technical appearance that modern nuclear submarines acquired.
In the interests of solving problems arising in these areas, many countries have launched research and development programs of unprecedented scope, including the development of new low-noise mechanisms and propulsors, testing of serial nuclear submarines under special programs, re-equipment of built nuclear submarines with the introduction of new technical solutions on them and finally, the creation of nuclear submarines with power plants of a fundamentally new type. The latter includes, in particular, the American nuclear submarine Tillibee, commissioned in 1960. This nuclear submarine was distinguished by a set of measures aimed at reducing noise and increasing the efficiency of sonar weapons. Instead of the main steam turbine with a gearbox, used as an engine on nuclear submarines being serially built at that time, the Tullibee was implemented with a full electric propulsion scheme - a special propeller electric motor and turbogenerators of appropriate power were installed. In addition, for the first time, a hydroacoustic complex with a spherical bow antenna of increased size was used for a nuclear submarine, and in connection with this, a new arrangement of torpedo tubes was used: closer to the middle of the submarine’s length and at an angle of 10-12° to its center plane.
When designing the Tillibee, it was planned that it would become the lead in a series of new type of nuclear submarines, specifically designed for anti-submarine operations. However, these intentions were not realized, although many of the technical means and solutions used and tested on it (hydroacoustic complex, layout of torpedo tubes, etc.) were immediately extended to the Thresher-class serial nuclear submarines being built in the 60s.
Following the Tillibee, two more experimental nuclear submarines were built to test new technical solutions to increase acoustic stealth: in 1967, the Jack nuclear submarine with a gearless (direct-acting) turbine installation and coaxial propellers in the opposite direction of rotation (like those used on torpedoes) and in 1969, the Narwhal nuclear submarine, equipped with a new type of nuclear reactor with an increased level of natural circulation of the primary coolant. This reactor was expected to have a reduced level of noise emissions due to a reduction in the power of the primary circuit circulation pumps. The first of these solutions was not developed, but as for the new type of reactor, the results obtained were used in the development of reactors for serial nuclear submarines in subsequent years of construction.
In the 70s, American specialists again returned to the idea of using full electric propulsion on nuclear submarines. In 1974, the construction of the nuclear submarine Glenard P. Lipscomb with a turboelectric power plant consisting of turbogenerators and electric motors was completed. However, this nuclear submarine was not accepted for mass production. The characteristics of the nuclear submarines "Tillibee" and "Glenard P. Lipscomb" are given in table. 3.
The refusal to “replicate” nuclear submarines with full electric propulsion suggests that the gain in noise reduction, even if it occurred on nuclear submarines of this type, did not compensate for the deterioration of other characteristics associated with the introduction of electric propulsion, primarily due to the impossibility of creating electric motors of the required power and acceptable dimensions and, as a consequence, a decrease in the speed of full underwater progress compared to nuclear submarines with turbo-drive units that were close in time when they were created.
Table 3
In any case, testing of the Glenard P. Lipscomb nuclear submarine was still ongoing, and the assembly of the Los Angeles nuclear submarine with a conventional steam turbine unit had already begun on the slipway - the lead nuclear submarine in one of the largest series of boats in the history of American shipbuilding. The design of this nuclear submarine was created as an alternative to the Glenard Lipscomb and turned out to be more successful, as a result of which it was accepted for serial construction.
The world practice of submarine shipbuilding so far knows only one exception, when the full electric propulsion scheme was implemented not on one prototype, but on several serial nuclear submarines. These are six French nuclear submarines of the Rubis and Amethyste type, commissioned in 1983-1993.
The problem of acoustic secrecy of nuclear submarines did not simultaneously become dominant in all countries. Another important area for improving nuclear submarines in the 60s was considered to be achieving the highest possible underwater speed. Since the possibilities of reducing water resistance to movement by optimizing the shape of the hull had been largely exhausted by this time, and other fundamentally new solutions to this problem did not give real practical results, to increase the underwater speed of nuclear submarines there was only one way left - increasing their power supply (measured by the ratio power used to move the installation to displacement). At first, this problem was solved directly, i.e. through the creation and use of nuclear power plants of significantly increased power. Later, already in the 70s, designers took the path of simultaneously, but not so significantly, increasing the power of nuclear power plants and reducing the displacement of nuclear submarines, in particular by sharply increasing the level of control automation and reducing the crew size in this regard.
The practical implementation of these directions led to the creation in the USSR of several nuclear submarines with a speed of over 40 knots, i.e., significantly higher than that of the bulk of nuclear submarines being simultaneously built both in the USSR and in the West. The record for full submerged speed - almost 45 knots - was achieved in 1969 during testing of the domestic nuclear submarine with the Project 661 cruise missile.
Another characteristic feature of the development of nuclear submarines is a more or less monotonous increase in immersion depth over time. Over the years since the commissioning of the first nuclear submarines, the immersion depth, as can be seen from the data below for serial nuclear submarines of the last years of construction, has more than doubled. Of the combat nuclear submarines, the domestic experimental nuclear submarine Komsomolets, built in the mid-80s, had the greatest diving depth (about 1000 m). As you know, the nuclear submarine was destroyed by fire in April 1989, but the experience gained during its design, construction and operation is invaluable.
By the mid-70s, subclasses of nuclear submarines gradually emerged and stabilized for some time, differing in the purpose and composition of the main strike weapons:
- multi-purpose submarines with torpedo weapons, anti-submarine missiles, and later cruise missiles fired from torpedo tubes and special launchers, designed for anti-submarine operations, destruction of surface targets, as well as for solving other traditional submarine tasks (mine laying, reconnaissance, etc. );
- strategic missile submarines armed with ballistic missiles to destroy targets on enemy territory;
- submarines carrying cruise missiles, designed mainly to destroy surface ships and transports.
Abbreviated designation for submarines of these subclasses: nuclear submarines, SSBNs, SSGNs (respectively English abbreviations: SSN, SSBN, SSGN).
The above classification, like any other, is conditional. For example, with the installation of silos for launching cruise missiles on multi-purpose nuclear submarines, the differences between nuclear submarines and specialized SSGNs are largely erased, and the use with nuclear submarines of cruise missiles intended for firing at coastal targets and carrying nuclear warheads transfers such submarines to the category of strategic ones. The navies of different countries, as a rule, use their own classification of ships, including nuclear submarines.
The construction of combat submarines is carried out, as a rule, in series of several (sometimes several dozen) submarines each based on one basic design, to which, as experience in the construction and operation of submarines accumulates, relatively insignificant changes are made. For example in table. 4 shows data on the serial construction of nuclear submarines in the USA. The series, as is usually customary, are named accordingly to the head
Table 4
*Built in three sub-series. A larger series of nuclear submarines of 77 units was realized only during the construction of domestic missile carriers, which, although different in TTX, are based on the same project 667A.
** Construction of the series is not completed. Submarines, time intervals are indicated by the dates of laying the lead one and commissioning of the last in the series of submarines.
The level of development of ALL reached by the mid-90s is characterized by those given in table. 5 data for three American nuclear submarines in recent years of construction.
Table 5
* Improved modification, the lead nuclear submarine of the third subseries.
** According to other sources - 2x30000 hp.
In relation to nuclear submarines (sometimes also to nuclear submarines), the rather conventional but widespread concept of “generation” is used. The signs by which nuclear submarines are classified as belonging to a particular generation are: proximity in time of creation, commonality of technical solutions incorporated in the projects, the same type of power plants and other equipment for general ship purposes, the same hull material, etc. One generation can be classified as nuclear submarines for various purposes and even several successive series. The transition from one series of submarines to another, and even more so the transition from generation to generation, is preceded by comprehensive research in order to justify the choice of optimal combinations of the main tactical and technical characteristics of new nuclear submarines.
Rice. 11. The newest Russian multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the Bars type (project 971)
The relevance of this kind of research has especially increased with the advent of the possibility (thanks to the development of technology) of creating nuclear submarines that differ significantly in speed, immersion depth, stealth indicators, displacement, armament composition, etc. The implementation of these studies sometimes continues for several years and includes the development and military-economic assessment for a wide range of alternative nuclear submarine options - from an improved modification of a serially built nuclear submarine to a variant that is a synthesis of fundamentally new technical solutions in the field of architecture, energy, weapons, hull materials, etc.
As a rule, these studies are not limited only to the design of nuclear submarine variants, but also include entire programs of research and development work in hydrodynamics, strength, hydroacoustics and other areas, and in some cases, discussed above, also the creation of special experimental nuclear submarines.
In countries that build nuclear submarines most intensively, three or four generations of these ships have been created. For example, in the United States, among multi-purpose nuclear submarines, generation 1 usually includes nuclear submarines of the “Skate” and “Skipjack” types, generation 2 - “Thresher” and “Sturgeon”, generation 3 - “LosAngeles”. The Seawolf nuclear submarine is considered as a representative of a new, fourth generation of US Navy nuclear submarines. Among the missile carriers, the first generation includes the boats “George Washington” and “Ethan Allen”, the second - “Lafayette” and “Benjamin Franklin”, the third - “Ohio”.
Rice. 12. Modern Russian nuclear submarine missile carrier "Akula" type (project 941)
In total, by the end of the 90s, about 500 nuclear submarines were built in the world (including those disabled due to obsolescence and lost). The number of nuclear submarines by year in the navies and navies of different countries is given in table. 6.
Table 6
Note. Above the line is a nuclear submarine, below the line is an SSBN.
According to the forecast, the total number of nuclear submarines that will be in service in 2000 will be (excluding nuclear submarines of the Russian Navy) about 130, of which about 30 are SSBNs.
The stealthiness of nuclear submarines and almost complete independence from weather conditions makes them an effective means for conducting various kinds of special reconnaissance and sabotage operations. Typically, submarines are used for these purposes after completing their service for their intended purpose. For example, the previously mentioned US Navy nuclear submarine Halibut, which was built as a carrier of Regulus cruise missiles, was converted in the mid-60s to search (using special devices it carried) for objects lying on the ground, including sunken submarines . Later, to replace it for similar operations, the torpedo nuclear submarine of the US Navy "Parche" (Sturgeon type) was converted into the hull of which a section about 30 m long was cut into and a special underwater vehicle was received on the deck. The nuclear submarine became notorious for participating in a spy operation in the Sea of Okhotsk in the 80s. By installing a special device on an underwater cable, she, according to data published in the United States, ensured that communications between the Soviet naval base in Kamchatka and the mainland were eavesdropped.
Rice. 13. The newest American nuclear submarine “Seawolf”
Several US Navy Lafayete-class missile carriers, after being withdrawn from the strategic forces, were converted into amphibious submarines for the covert delivery of several dozen marines. For this purpose, durable containers with the necessary equipment are installed on deck. This ensures an extension of the life of nuclear submarines, which for various reasons are no longer used for their original purpose.
Over the forty-odd years of the nuclear submarine’s existence, as a result of accidents (fires, explosions, depressurization of sea water lines, etc.), two nuclear submarines of the US Navy and four nuclear submarines of the USSR Navy sank, of which one sank twice in places with relatively shallow depths and was raised both times means of the emergency rescue service. The remaining sunken nuclear submarines have serious damage or are almost completely destroyed and lie at depths of one and a half kilometers or more.
There was one case of combat use of a nuclear submarine against a surface ship: the nuclear submarine Conqueror of the British Navy during the conflict over the Falkland Islands in May 1982 attacked and sank the Argentine-owned cruiser G.Belgrano with torpedoes. Since 1991, American Los Angeles-class nuclear submarines have launched Tomahawk cruise missile attacks on targets in Iraq several times. In 1999, attacks with these missiles on the territory of Yugoslavia were carried out from the English nuclear submarine Splendid.
(4) Previously, nuclear submarines used a set of sonar systems for various purposes.
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New Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular connectivity. The good news is that watchOS 4, Apple's smartwatch operating system, is one of the most comprehensive on the market. This results in a steep learning curve, but there is a lot of room for customization. And things will only get better when WatchOS 5 is unveiled, likely at WWDC 2018 in June. We've compiled 20 essential Apple Watch tips and tricks to make your smartwatch even more personal, including improvements made in watchOS 4 and subsequent updates. From adding music to trimming unwanted notifications and even taking screenshots.
Apple Watch Tips and Tricks: Organize and use your Apple App Dock.
Apple has gathered a large number of users who enjoy using watchOS 3, and now you can view all your open apps by pressing the side button. You should make full use of this dock, stacking it with your most popular apps. For what? Because these are the apps that your watch will prioritize when updating information and background.
You can customize the dock in the companion view app. It can be set to use the most recent apps you've used, a bit like multitasking on an iPhone. Or you can turn it into a proper dock with your favorite apps.
If you choose the latter, you can easily configure which apps you want there and they will appear in the list. If you want to set up a dock on your watch, you can do so by tapping the side button, then 3D touching the app and tapping " Keep in Dock».
No. 2. Track your sleep.
Apple doesn't offer its own built-in sleep tracking, which means it can't quite match Fitbit, Garmin, and others that offer full safety control right out of the box. But luckily, there are many apps that can bring the Watch feature. We've rounded up the best sleep tracking apps for Apple Watch so you don't have to search the App Store for them.
No. 3. See time discreetly.
If you want to check the time without lifting your wrist, you can slowly flip the Digital Crown up and it will gradually light up the screen so you can see inside rather than completely lighting up the watch screen. Sorry original Apple Watch Series 1 owners, this one won't work for you.
No. 4. Control music playback.
If you updated to watchOS 4.3, you can control music playback on your Apple HomePod and iPhone right from your Watch. Of course, iPhone users could briefly do this after first launching watchOS 4, although it was quickly removed after music streaming was added to the smartwatch via watchOS 4.1.
However, many users with control and HomePod launch can now select tunes, change the volume, and skip everything with their hands.
No. 5. Changing the sound volume in AirPods.
If you want to change the volume on AirPods without taking out your iPhone, you have to ask Siri. Hidden to say the least, but if you have an Apple Watch, you're in luck.
When you play music on a Watch running watchOS 4 or later, whether it's your iPhone or Watch, you can glance at the watch to see what the “ Now Playing" All you have to do is rotate the Digital Crown to raise and lower the volume.
No. 6. Take a screenshot.
All Apple watches can take screenshots when you hold down the Digital Crown and the action button underneath it at the same time. The images are then saved to your camera frame on your iPhone. However, this value is not set by default. To enable screenshots, go to the Watch companion app, then go to the " Are common" There you can enable or disable the inclusion of screenshots.
One of the things Apple is really pushing with the Apple Watch is bands. There are new bracelets released every couple of months, with new colors to suit the season and your wardrobe. That's why we recommend taking a look at what's out there and taking advantage of the customization options. And if you don't want to pour cash into Apple's bank, there are always third-party options. However, be warned that they may not correspond.
No. 8. Unlock your watch from your iPhone.
If you didn't do this during the initial setup process, you can still unlock your Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time without taking away your passcode (if you set up one of them). To do this, go to the Watch companion app, where you can enable or disable the " Unlock from iPhone».
No. 9. Turn on elevated heart rate notifications.
Apple is taking heart health more seriously, and one of the new features - as well as heart rate - is a notification when your heart rate is higher than it should be.
You can enable it in the heart rate section of the companion app. When you enable it, you will be asked to choose a threshold between 100bpm and 150bpm. Your Apple Watch will only alert you when you pass the threshold and appear to be inactive for about 10 minutes. Additionally, it will look for signs that your elevated heart rate is a more long-term problem, rather than a temporary upheaval caused by something terrible - like a horror movie.
No. 10. Connect your workouts.
Are you an athlete? The Apple Watch has let you down so far, but things have gotten better, and in watchOS 4 you can now combine workouts, meaning less time rubbing those sweaty fingers around the screen. If you want to move from one workout type to another, instead of stopping the current one, swipe right and tap the + button to add a new one.
No. 11. Unlock your Mac using your watch.
If you're fully equipped with all your Apple devices, you can also use your Apple Watch to skip the password on your Mac to gain access if you have a 2013 or newer iMac running macOS Sierra 10.12 or later. If you want to combine the two, the first thing you need to do is make sure they're both signed into the same iCloud account. The next step is to switch to your Mac (make sure it's running macOS Sierra or later) and select " System Settings", then select " Security and privacy" and go to the " Are common" Here you will be able to install Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. Make sure two-factor authentication is enabled on your Mac as well (from the chapter to System Preferences > iCloud > Account Information > Security).
No. 12. Joint event - notification by call.
Apple's answer to Fitbit, Garmin and the rest of the fitness tracker fraternity is the activity platform. This is where all your daily movements are recorded. In its latest iteration, you can now share your activity with other Apple Watch users. To do this, you need to add friends, which you need to do by going to the dedicated Activity app on your iPhone. Then you can select "Sharing" and click the " +
» in the corner to add contacts.
Back on Apple Watch, go to the app Activity" and swipe your finger across the screen to the right to see your friends' activity data. You can also comment on the workouts to motivate them or joke about their results. Either way, this is your call.
No. 13. Enable automatic pause when traffic stops.
Like on the Samsung Gear S3, Apple also allows you to stop tracking when you take an interruption or stop at a traffic light. You can now turn on auto-start in pause mode simply by heading to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, heading to My Watch, and then selecting Workout. Here you will be able to switch to “Start Auto Pause”.
No. 14. Checking data usage.
If you have the Apple Watch 3 series with LTE, you can monitor your data usage. You never know, something will tip you off about your monthly plan. Alternatively, it's simple to see how little data the Apple Watch actually uses.
You'll need to head to the companion app, looking at the cellular menu option to see the information. However, once you do this, you will know how much data you have used in the current period and which applications are using this data.
The Apple Watch has decent space for apps, emails, and music. If you want to see how much storage you need, go to the Apple Watch companion app, go to the " Are common" and then select " Usage" Here you can get a breakdown of how many apps are taking up space on your watch.
No. 16. Change the action on the watch.
This tip came from a complaint about a golf app developer who constantly needed to re-open the app while playing.
In the Apple Watch settings menu, turn on wrist lock. Below you will find several options in the " Screen show"Show latest application". You can choose to show the latest app while gaming, within two minutes of last use, within one hour of last use, or always. Now when you lift your wrist, you will see the last app you used.
You can also do this from the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Just go to General, and then Wake Screen, you will have the same options to choose from.
If you find yourself constantly squinting at your watch wrist to read notifications on your Apple Watch, you can change the text size to make it easier for you to see. Just go to " Settings»> « Brightness and text size", then adjust the text size to whatever suits your needs.
Starting with Series 2, Apple Watch is waterproof and includes a blowout mode to get rid of water lurking after you go for a swim. If you want to manually use this feature, swipe up from the Home screen to view the Apple Watch Control Center. Find the water drop icon and click on it.
You will then be asked to turn the digital crown over to remove the water. It's actually a good idea to press the droplet button before you get into the shower or pool (but don't worry if you forget), as it also locks the screen, preventing the screen from confusing the water droplets with your own touches.
Apple Watch Tips and Tricks #19. Ping iPhone will help you find your phone.
It's a good thing you have your Apple Watch because it can help you find your phone in a pinch. Swipe up to open Control Center, look for the " Ping iPhone" and click to reunite with your iPhone. If you press and hold the " Ping iPhone", your iPhone's LED flash will blink, giving you a visual view of the phone in case the speaker is too muted.
Apple Watch Tips and Tricks #20. Use images as wallpaper on the default viewing screen.
By default, Apple Watch selects images from the " Favorites" on your iPhone - something we hadn't thought of using before. So go ahead and tag some images in iOS using the heart button at the bottom.
When you use face to view a photo album, it will randomly select photos from the folder. You can touch the display to view images. Alternatively, with watchOS 4 you can now turn those photos into kaleidoscope tripps.
On your iPhone you should now see an option " Create Watch Face» in the action menu on any photo. This will allow you to stick the image onto your watch either as is or in a kaleidoscope shape.
Smart watches have long become a part of life for some people. Some are just getting acquainted with this category, and today we will get acquainted with the Apple Watch.
I’ll tell you what Apple Watch is for, how you can use it, and whether it’s worth buying it at all. The article will be very long, useful and interesting.
What is Apple Watch?
Apple Watch is a watch from Apple that also serves as a smartwatch. The watch works exclusively with iPhone. 
Without a phone, the meaning of a watch is basically lost, since all information is transmitted through a smartphone. Actually, we will now talk about the possibilities in more detail.
But first, I would like to say that there are currently two versions of the watch: Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2. They differ in their filling and water resistance.
There is a watch size for every hand, as there is a smaller version of 38 mm and a larger version of 42 mm. But it’s best to try it on and see on your hand.
Everything else is absolutely the same. If you see watches from both series together, it will be extremely difficult to distinguish them. But I think this will be corrected in the next generations.
Apple Watch Features and Capabilities
As soon as someone hears about the Apple Watch, the first question that arises is: “Why are they needed at all?”
In truth, the question is quite correct and, to be honest, you can easily live without them. But they make your life a little easier.
Now let's go through the points that I consider the most important in this watch.
Watch
First of all, this is a very ordinary watch. At any time, you can check the time without taking your favorite iPhone out of your pocket. 
And in fact, Apple made sure that you do this with complete comfort. For example, when you turn your hand towards you, the screen lights up.
There are also quite a few cool watch faces that you can customize. There are both digital types and the most ordinary arrows.
You can choose what information you want to display, and many options have additional settings. So there will be something to do in your free time.
Style and status
It's no secret that any technology from Apple is very expensive, first of all. If you see a person with any gadget from this company, you understand that this person is okay with money. 
Recently the situation has changed a little. After all, there are a lot of used devices and there are old models that don’t cost that much.
In principle, everything is similar with watches. They look very stylish and, above all, they will talk about the status of the owner, because the price is quite steep.
The cheapest can be found for $350, while the most expensive are around $10,000. As you can see, not everyone can afford top models.
However, by buying yourself the cheapest model, you can buy straps that completely change the look of your watch. Their prices are also very different.
Sport and health
As you probably already guessed, smart watches always have the functions of a sports bracelet. Apple Watch is not far behind the rest and it also has many different sensors. 
There are two apps on your iPhone that will be useful to you: Activity and Health. In them you will find all the data that is taken from the watch.
If you need to measure your pulse, then this is not a problem. The heart rate sensor shows very accurate verified data and that's cool.
There is even a special sport version and it usually has special straps. By the way, it is the most affordable in the price category.
Music
In principle, this opportunity could be attributed to the previous point, but I wanted to talk separately about music on Apple Watch. 
The phone has built-in memory for programs, but you can use 2 GB for music. You just need to select the source and the music will play from your phone or watch.
Controlling the player is very convenient. After all, you don't need to take out your iPhone to browse the playlist and find the right song.
So now listening to your favorite music will not only be of high quality, but also comfortable. Just a convenient implementation.
Phone features
Considering that a constant connection to the iPhone is required, it is typical that we can do many of the basic functions of the device. 
For example, if someone calls you, then we can easily answer the call and talk by the hour. There is a fairly high-quality microphone and speaker.
If you receive a message, you will immediately receive a notification on your watch. You can reply with a quick message or dictate using Siri.
Using the same Siri, you can dial the desired number. Just say the right command and everything will be done very instantly.
Third Party Applications
Do not forget that any smartwatch has the ability to install third-party applications. Apple Watch is among them. 
There are perhaps two categories: games and regular applications. The first category includes separately created games for iPhone and add-ons for iPhone games.
It is also worth noting the full-fledged versions of programs for watches. For example, there is a full version of Shazam, with which you can search for music.
There are a lot of examples that can be given. I can only say that developers are actively creating applications and every day the number is becoming larger and larger.
Is it worth buying the Apple Watch Series 1/Series 2?
If you are asking yourself this question about buying an Apple Watch, then in principle you can answer it quite simply and you can decide. 
The first thing I would like to point out is that it is simply a nice addition to your iPhone. The above features will make your life easier.
Having bought yourself such a watch, you should immediately understand that you will have to charge it every day and it will last for about 1-2 days.
If I bought them for myself, they would play the following role:
- stylish accessory;
- convenient music control;
- receiving notifications;
- opportunity to communicate.
Everything else is just a nice bonus that I will use quite rarely. Therefore, if you have the money and desire, then it’s definitely worth buying.
You definitely won’t regret the purchase, because any gadget from Apple is very beautiful. Today, Apple Watch can be called one of the leaders in this category.
Results
That’s basically all I wanted to tell you about the Apple Watch and now you know why you should buy it and what it’s for.
If you have any questions on this topic, ask in the comments. I will answer everything I can and try to help as much as possible.
15 conclusions I made">
I wore the Apple Watch for five weeks. Here are my conclusions.
Where did you come from
Let's go with some impressions.
1. They're hard to steal.
If you tug very hard on someone's Apple Watch with a Sport, Milanese, or any other strap, you get it in the eye.
Despite the visually weak fastenings, Apple straps are almost impossible to remove from your hands, together with the watch or separately. They simply do not open accidentally, under pressure and without the directed efforts of the owner. You can steal a watch only if the owner takes it off first.
Seeing most of the straps in the pictures, I was worried about the safety of the watch. Having tried it, I was instantly convinced of the opposite. They won't be torn from your hands. This time.
If the owner installs password protection, the watch will ask for a code after you remove it. Without a password, no functions work. You won’t even be able to reset your watch without having access to the iPhone to which the Apple Watch was linked. That's two.
Roughly speaking, there is no point in stealing them. Yes, and it’s too difficult. So don’t worry - they won’t take it away if you don’t give it back ;)
2. Not all watch faces are created equal
People don't buy Apple Watch just to look at the time. However, there are quite a few good watch faces in the watch memory. And just as many bad ones. For example, it is absolutely unclear who will use the huge digital option: the information content is zero, and the numbers themselves are visually let down.
Feature of watch faces in Apple Watch – interactivity. For example, with a chronograph you can instantly start a timer, and with an astronomical dial you can look at the position of all the planets of the solar system and find out what position Mars is in relation to Earth and Venus today. Helps when making important decisions in life (joke).
Almost all the visual watch faces are gorgeous, and the analog ones are... sad. It is clear that some of them received much more attention during development.
The animation in the astronomical or solar dials deserves the highest praise from Steve Jobs himself. You spin the Digital Crown and see at what moment the sun will rise. If you leave this watch face to the general application menu, and then return back, the animation changes depending on the position of the star now. Such little things in design are the calling card of “that same Apple.” Praise also extends to the “female” modes with flowers and butterflies.
However, the digital mode, and most analogue ones, look monotonous and boring. What saves you is the very “chronometer” in which you can change the background color - nowhere else, by the way. It makes the Apple Watch look a little like a regular watch. No more.
I bet that in new firmware Apple will allow you to install other watch faces from the App Store. And then this quibble will lose all meaning. In the meantime, I wear a chronometer, and at night I switch to “modern mode” with digital time. It's ok, but it could be better - a choice of good men's options would not hurt anyone.
3. They last longer than you think.
The first reviews about the operating time of the Apple Watch were purely negative. Looking back, it was inevitable. Remember yourself as a child: you were given a toy, and you only use it all day. We have grown up, but the toys have remained about the same.
Unless you're a journalist who needs to test every little thing on a watch for the sake of writing an article and keep up with it for days, your Apple Watch will last all day from early morning until night.
I speak for myself. There was never a time when the clock ran out of charge in the evening. I take them off the charger around 7-8 in the morning and don’t take them off during the day. The result personally suits me one hundred percent.
Even when I used them every 10-15 minutes, launching applications and games, checking the time and getting directions, in the evening (23:00) I had about 20-25% charge left. This would be enough before 6 am.
In addition, the watch has an “emergency” mode, in which only the time display works. It makes virtually no sense, because it displays dirty green and microscopic numbers somewhere in the upper right corner. That's all. It’s better to just turn it off and not torture... But with this mode you can stretch 15% charge for half a day regular time checks.
It’s clear that if you want, you can discharge your Apple Watch in 3-5 hours. But the same argument applies to the iPhone. And for any smartphone on the market. Apple watches have competitors in terms of autonomy. For example, Pebble works for almost a week. However, they have 20 times fewer functions, and the screen is monochrome. So I see no point in comparing them. Especially visually.
The display drains the battery the most. This means that over time, when you start actually using your Apple Watch rather than fiddling with it, you'll notice nearly double the battery life compared to the original performance.
Many are indignant: they say, I didn’t have enough to charge the watch every day! But if you live in the city and spend the night at home 95% of the time, there will be no real discomfort with recharging.
The “power supply” is very small, and its cable is incredibly long. Seriously, it’s like three meters there. Personally, I attached an adapter in the hallway to get the most out of an old habit. When I come home, I always take off any watch and put it at the entrance. Now in this place there is a charging platform for the Apple Watch, and therefore they are always charged to the maximum.
I've never been left with a dead Apple Watch. Accordingly, I am quite satisfied with the battery life. Yes, if the new models have more, no one will be worse off. In the meantime, I’m not complaining.
And no, the “my mechanical/quartz watch lasts 100,500 years” argument doesn’t work here. Please, let your watch launch Siri, show the weather, change the track, count calories, silently wake you up, answer the call, send a message, display the notification text... well, you get the idea;)
4. The clock is not fast
Apple Watch works smoothly, but can sometimes become hesitant. You don't notice this during routine use. If you start exiting and logging in from the built-in programs, you will notice the slowness of both the loading and the response of the watch itself: sometimes it begins to respond to commands only a second or two after closing the application. Or they don’t immediately recognize a “tap” on the screen if they’ve been digging through other menus before.
Owning a small watch model, I absolutely refuse to believe that it can accommodate a battery, a recoil motor, a microphone, a good display, several sensors, a speaker and all the other hardware. Apple engineers don't eat their bread in vain. However, they cannot break the laws of physics and change the level of progress.
It's obvious that Apple has reduced the processor performance in its watch to improve battery life and reduce heat generation. Inside there is a “stone”, technically similar to its brother from the iPhone 4S and iPad Mini - devices that were released three years ago and are already largely outdated. Therefore, we cannot talk about some incredible chip performance in Apple smart watches; it has nowhere to come from. At the same time, the operating system in the watch is clearly not as resource-demanding as in the iPhone.
The situation is complicated. So far, I have the impression that most of the “lags” can be corrected by proper software optimization, that is, by developing and releasing new firmware. As the successor to iOS 8, Watch OS carries with it eight years of code baggage, and it's high time the company cleaned it up. Fresh rumors support performance improvements in future versions of Watch OS, so I'm doubly calm.
There are no smartwatches on the market yet that operate without brakes. Take any - and after a couple of days you will repeatedly notice “lags” and general thoughtfulness of both the system and the interface. Probably the most responsive in this regard were my good old Pebble, but they can no longer be called “smart watches” by today’s standards.
One way or another, the thoughtfulness of the Apple Watch is tolerable and more often unnoticeable than vice versa. Again, unless you're a reviewer who fanatically pokes at everything, you won't have any problems with their performance.
5. Notifications from iPhone no longer bother you
After five years of working on the Internet, I developed a stupid habit. constantly take out my smartphone and see if I have anything new. Did you miss another “important” notification? But recently this is not enough: I need to unlock it, open the Notification Center, scroll through it, read it - then I become calm. A minute, if not two or three, was lost.
With Apple Watch, the bad habit instantly disappeared. I returned only when I had to take the watch to the store.
I myself didn’t notice how I practically stopped taking out my iPhone. It's in my pocket, and I'm looking forward and up into the real world. At the same time, I am in complete control of the situation. Not a single message is missed, not a single call is missed. And if it passes, it’s only because I’m busy and personally reset it from the clock, automatically sending the caller a request to dial later.
I can enjoy the real world without missing anything in the virtual one. The Internet is with me, but it doesn’t interfere with my life. There is no other way to explain it. So, excuse me, excuse me – it’s “vanilla” and all that, but it’s honest.
This strange feeling quickly gives rise to respect for the watch and Apple in general. This was not the case when I used Pebble, although they are similar in nature. I felt a tap on my hand, I raised my hand - yeah, Twitter, not interesting - I lowered my hand. 2 seconds and I returned back to reality. Here's another example. iPhone in your pocket, an important call in the city, you can’t hear anything. But the clock is knocking. I felt it, got it, responded.
I consider the Apple Watch a necessary thing for a busy executive, freelancer, or simply an online person. If you value functionality over show-off, then you should have an equally functional watch on your wrist. No one is encroaching on mechanics, I adore them myself, but they won’t help you make your life better. And the Apple watch will at least contribute to this by unloading the incoming flow of information.
6. Every passerby knows more about Apple Watch than you do.
A man, 35 years old, is sitting there, he seems to have everything. And he tells me, the owner of an Apple Watch, how inconvenient it is to live with these same “voices”, how Jobs “wouldn’t allow this.” And he convinces me, the owner, that my watch is, in fact, a complete mess.
I ask him - did you wear this watch yourself? “Of course I didn’t wear it”, why does he need them? The man is smart and read everything on the Internet. Now he knows everything better than others.
Each person I talk to feels obligated to put down the Apple Watch and tell me how much Apple screwed it up. Do you know what they have in common? None of them had ever worn an Apple Watch in their lives and had only seen it in pictures.
The amount of prejudice in people's heads is simply breathtaking! And they scratch quickly, and they don’t hold a charge, and they break instantly - yes, you can drop them and break them. And how many things can you buy with this money, I just have a list ready, look...
Funny, funny and sad. But it's more funny than sad. Owners of the very first iPhones during the times of Nokia and Sony Ericsson will understand me.
– "It's clear. I'm sorry you didn't like it. Do you want to see it?”- I say, starting to take off my watch.
– “YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Cool!"- they exclaim and do not notice themselves.
7. In the sun, the watch is not bright enough
The sports model of Apple Watch differs from the rest in the absence of sapphire crystal. From a scratch protection point of view, this is a minus. But a curious surprise arises in the sun...
The fact is that the glass is made of sapphire crystal glare more in the sun. And it transmits a little less light than usual in the iPhone 6 and sports Apple Watch.
In practice, this makes a noticeable difference between the two versions of the Apple Watch. Aluminum ones, with Ion-X glass, are a little better “readable” in the sun than steel or gold ones. The difference is not so critical as to dramatically change preferences, but at the same time worthy of attention if you are going to vacation in the sun several times this summer.
8. Digital Crown really rocks
Digital Crown controls features swipe and zoom in most applications, plus it does some interesting things in watch faces - for example, it allows you to “scroll forward time” in astronomical mode or change the number of divisions on the chronograph stopwatch. In the photo above, the “twist” is responsible for quickly adjusting the sound volume.
The Apple Watch display dimensions are very small. Especially the version with a 38mm dial. Therefore, you simply cannot poke two fingers at it. So Apple added such an element to the watch. By the way, it works quite well. In my opinion, what's missing is a mouse wheel-style "click" mechanism for more precise scrolling - but it would likely create limitations for developers and their apps.
The Digital Crown served me well while using maps and scrolling through my Twitter feed. I just swiped and scrolled. At the same time, it was partly because of her that I stopped opening Alarm Clock on the Apple Watch. Here the wheel sets the hour and minutes for the signal to turn on. Due to the ultra-high sensitivity, you constantly miss the desired number. As a result, I gave up and use Siri for this task.
9. Siri doesn't speak, but it helps.
For example, with its help I plotted a route without taking my iPhone out of my pocket - I said “get directions on foot to the metro,” and that’s it, I went. You can start playing a specific track or album in the iPhone's memory. Check the weather or set an alarm.
If your query is too complex to show on the small screen, Siri will prompt you to open the results on iPhone. You confirm, take your iPhone out of your wide trousers - and everything is already shown there. Most often this will happen when you are trying to find something on the Internet. The watch does not have a web browser, so such requests are sent directly to the smartphone.
Through Siri, you can write messages using dictation, call anyone on your contact list directly from the watch, create tasks in iOS Calendar and mark them as completed. The Russian version of the service understands requests without any problems, but in noisy conditions it may stumble and parse the request incorrectly.
Most often I used two queries: weather and alarm clock. Performing tasks through Siri is easier and faster than doing the same manually through the corresponding applications. The main advantage is that you don’t need to reach for your iPhone to do this. You can simply say “Hey Siri!” – and she will hear you.
Yes, she follows the sound around and responds to a passphrase, if you first raise your hand. You don't need to press anything. This is roughly how Google Now works on competing Android Wear, but we will carefully leave this behind the scenes.
In general, I think that Siri really simplifies working with the watch and iPhone. Personally, I use it on my watch much more often than on the iPhone itself.
10. There are not very many applications yet
There's nothing new here: the watch is only two months old, so there aren't many apps in the App Store. The reality, however, is more complicated than it seems.
The current () version of the Apple Watch firmware and SDK (development tools) limit the capabilities of third-party application developers. They cannot gain full access to all functions of the watch, and the programs they create, in fact, only work from the iPhone’s memory.
Because of this, the App Store for Apple Watch does not yet have “sleep trackers”, “smart alarm clocks”, advanced fitness applications, or any stunning games. This problem will most likely be resolved in two weeks, at the WWDC 2015 presentation. The ability to download new watch faces may also be announced there.
At the moment there is nothing special to install on the Apple Watch, so I made my selection of worthy ones. While the developers cannot reveal the capabilities of the watch. Everyone is waiting.
11. They can be a silent alarm clock
Pebble handled this task well. I set the time, went to bed, and woke up not from a call on my smartphone, but from almost silent vibration watch on your hand. The girl slept on, and I went about my business early in the morning. A great feature that all “family” freelancers have been missing.
Much to my delight, the Apple Watch can do the same. You turn on silent mode in Settings, set an alarm clock through the application of the same name (or Siri) - that’s it, at the appointed time the gorgeous tactile feedback of the Taptic Engine will start drumming on you, without disturbing the peace of your bed neighbors. Ideal for those who like to get up early or work at night.
The corresponding motor in Apple watches does not vibrate so much as “knock.” A notification arrived and I felt a slight “pop” on my wrist. You need to turn it, as in the photo above - a double blow that forces you to pay attention. The effect varies in strength depending on the urgency of the alert: from the subtle effect of an incoming call to the powerful click of an iMessage.
Unlike settings on an iPhone, you can't change the rhythm and strength of vibrations on the Apple Watch for specific alerts or apps. Not to say that this is generally necessary, but such a function would not hurt anyone. However, in Settings there is an item that allows you to increase the impact or, conversely, almost turn it off.
I myself initially turned on the maximum output, but after a while I returned the settings to the basic values. A reinforced version is required only if the watch is dangling on your hand. And you will still feel it if you don’t hear it.
Speaking of notifications. If you cover the watch with your hand for three seconds, the silent mode will turn on. A curious little thing that works thanks to the presence of a light sensor.
My Apple watch has been tried by dozens of people. Every time it came to checking tactile feedback, their faces expressed genuine surprise, and sometimes even delight. It’s especially funny to watch this if the same person two minutes ago was criticizing the Apple Watch for every little thing.
Anyway, Taptic Engine rocks. Until you try, you won’t understand, and no stories will convey it.
13. You have to buy two pieces at once
...if you have a girlfriend/wife. Or if the girl is you, and you have a boyfriend/husband. Don't buy two at once for yourself and a friend, because then you will inevitably try to test the heartbeat function, and this will not be the best moment of your life;))
Jokes aside, couples with an Apple Watch have an undeniable advantage over a single owner. Firstly, lovers can send each other simple drawings, moving your finger across the watch screen. There is not enough space on the display, you can’t draw much even if you want to - but “hearts”, greetings, and emoticons can fit. Such drawings are instantly displayed on the recipient's watch, right in real time.
This is just an amazing thing, and I personally do not share the skepticism of some observers from Russia who have ridden through this function. It’s no one’s fault that in their personal lives such little things are considered insignificant :) Instead of writing the usual “how are you doing,” you send her a pulse, and she sends hers in response. He didn’t say anything, but you feel the connection, romance, cuteness and the list goes on.
At one time, we used the Couple application, through which we could send a Push “beacon” - they say, I’m thinking about you. And then the Yo! program appeared, which personified the idea of communication without words, but without romantic overtones. Oddly enough, the idea has not died to this day, and its implementation in the Apple Watch is worthy of praise. It’s just a pity that you can’t just “knock” on the recipient, without a pulse or pattern. I think it's a matter of a couple of firmware updates.
By the way, Yo! has already been updated for the Apple Watch and allows you to do exactly that – annoy recipients from your contact list with your “yo” :)
14. No need to call through them
This feature can be useful if you sit at home in silence and are simply too lazy to approach your iPhone while wearing your watch. If you take a call on the street, you most likely will not be heard at all - and you yourself will start yelling at your Apple Watch, trying to drown out the surrounding noise. People around you will laugh openly!
I talked on the Apple Watch exactly five times and received/made calls through it. The result is this: the function works tolerably and even normally if you have a physical barrier between the iPhone and you are ready to speak loudly, directly into the watch. The best result is guaranteed if you are wearing a headset or Bluetooth headphones. With the latter, it’s generally gorgeous, but then you don’t need an Apple Watch either: in my SoundLink On-Ear, the caller’s name is pronounced by “robot,” and the call, like on all headsets, can be answered by pressing the Play button.
In short, the conversation function here is for specific situations, not for real-world use. If you find successful examples, share them in the comments. I haven’t found any of these in a month of testing.
15. You quickly get used to them and it’s hard without them.
As I already said, the watch had to be returned. From that moment on, I began to notice curious things about myself. Firstly, I keep imagining that my regular mechanical watch is receiving notifications. It's like they're tapping like a Taptic Engine. I can’t count how many times I instinctively raised my hand and dropped it sharply in disappointment.
Secondly, the watch is really unloaded the information flow, allowing you to concentrate on the road or a conversation with a person, and not guess in your head why the smartphone just vibrated in your pocket. You need to be distracted by them carefully, because on the part of the interlocutor it may look like disrespect - but at the same time, you are freed from anxiety much faster than if you had to take out your phone, unlock it, look, block it back and put it away again.
Finally, thirdly, the Apple Watch looked better than any other iOS compatible smartwatch. Certainly better than Pebble. I don’t really want to go back to the Pebbles after something like this, and they’ve been collecting dust in a box all month, and they’re still lying there.
In the end, I firmly decided that I'll get my own Apple Watch. I already know that I will definitely take the 38 mm version, with my height and build it looks better. All that remains is to choose a strap and style: the aluminum model looks great, but now I wanted to try the steel one :)
And finally. I gave the very first model that came to our editorial office to Arthur - he really wanted to write, but at first I didn’t like them at all. But as soon as you not only put them on, but started using them, your opinion would change to the exact opposite.
If you haven't worn an Apple Watch yet, but already hate, dislike, or disapprove of it - maybe at first worth a try? ( 4.00 out of 5, rated: 7 )
website I wore the Apple Watch for five weeks. Here are my conclusions. Where did it come from? The watch was provided in the Up-House.ru store in the very first days of sales. Now the guys have in stock all imaginable and inconceivable modifications of the Apple Watch.. Come in, choose to your taste! Let's go with some impressions. 1. They are hard...
