Marc Saltzman - Apple Watch For Dummies

When writing this book, I made only two major assumptions:

You own one of the Apple Watch products.

You want to know how to get the most from it.

The watch doesn't come with an instruction manual, so consider this edition of Apple Watch For Dummies the closest thing to one — and a whole lot more too, if I may say so myself.

The following icons are placed in the margins of the book’s pages to point out information you may or may not want to read.

This icon offers suggestions to enhance your experience. Most are tied to the topic at hand, whereas others are more general in nature.

This icon reinforces the importance of information related to Apple Watch. You might consider bookmarking the page or jotting down the information elsewhere.

Apple Watch is a promising new wearable platform, but this icon alerts you to important considerations when using it, including health, safety, or security concerns.

This icon warns you about geeky descriptions or explanations you may want to pass on — but don’t expect a lot of these throughout this easy-to-read guide.

We’re almost ready to dive into this book so you can master your Apple Watch, but I want to make you aware of an excellent online resource: The Apple Watch For Dummies Cheat Sheet: This site offers handy tips on using your watch to meet your fitness goals and getting turn-by-turn directions. To find access to this cheat sheet, go to www.dummies.com and type “Apple Watch For Dummies cheat sheet” in the search box.

If you’ve never used an Apple Watch — perhaps you bought this book in anticipation of purchasing one or receiving it as a gift — it might be best to power up the watch, turn it on, and follow the prompts to set it all up. Chapter 2goes into this if you prefer to wait, or feel free to dive in with the watch before you fully crack the spine of this book. Your call based on your comfort level.

Regardless of which model you own — or plan on buying or receiving — you don’t need to know anything to begin reading Apple Watch For Dummies 2022 Edition. All you need is your willingness to learn this exciting new wearable gadget, which should help add convenience, speed, and style to your everyday tasks.

Ready to start? Turn the page… .

Part 1

IN THIS PART …

Set up your Apple Watch and discover its many features, including the Digital Crown button and the side button.

Pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone and then learn about setting up a passcode and cellular connectivity, monitoring battery usage, and protecting your valuable investment.

Explore the many ways you can interact with your Apple Watch, including tapping, pressing, typing, and swiping, as well as conveniently accessing Siri with your voice to help you complete watch-related tasks.

Chapter 1

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding the different Apple Watch models

Discovering the many features of Apple Watch

Navigating the Home screen

Exploring different parts of Apple Watch

Understanding wireless capabilities and sensors

So are you excited or what?

You’re a proud owner of the trendy Apple Watch. Or perhaps you purchased this book in anticipation of picking one up or receiving it as a gift. Either way, thank you for reading Apple Watch For Dummies 2022 Edition. This easy-to-read book has one goal in mind: to teach you everything you need to know about Apple Watch. With simple step-by-step instructions, clear images, and accessible tips and tricks, this book will help you gain the most from your new wearable gadget.

In this chapter, I walk you through the basics of Apple Watch to help you discover what this teeny wrist-mounted computer is capable of doing. You find out about the different parts of the watch — on the outside and inside — as well as the layout of the Home screen. From ways to interface with content on the watch to the hidden wireless technologies to integrated sensors that track your moves, you’ll soon have a clear picture of the 21st-century magic you’re wearing on your wrist.

It’s a beefy chapter, so let’s get to it.

Apple Watch comes in a few sizes and configurations. For Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 watches, you have a choice of a screen that’s either 38 millimeters (about 1.5 inches) or 42 millimeters (roughly 1.65 inches).

For Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE (a less expensive model introduced in 2020), sizes measure 40 mm (1.57 inches) or 44 mm (1.73 inches), but the watches have narrower bezels (borders) than their predecessors.

Apple Watch Series 7, which debuted in the fall of 2021, has two sizes: 41 mm (1.61 inches) and 45 mm (1.77 inches). These watches have the thinnest bezels of all Apple Watches to date; therefore, the watch face is virtually all screen (and it’s a beaut!).

You measure your screen from the top to the bottom, not diagonally — similar to how most screens in consumer electronics are measured (such as those on smartphones and tablets).

Although you likely bought a watch before buying this book, note that a few versions of Apple Watch are available today (the most popular, Apple Watch Series 7, is shown in Figure 1-1), and you can purchase a few accessories to customize your watch. For a more extensive discussion of the Apple Watch collections, or for ways to persuade a friend or co-worker that they need an Apple Watch, visit www.apple.com/watch .

FIGURE 1-1:The newest Series 7 Apple Watch (right), compared with the Apple Watch Series 6 (middle) and older Series 3 model (left).

Excluding the various bands you can buy from Apple, the six Apple Watch options are

Apple Watch Series 3: Although it’s not the newest Apple Watch available, this model was the first to offer either a Global Positioning System (GPS) chip — to accurately capture location information — or a GPS and cellular option. More on this later in this chapter.