2 Tips For Maximizing Your Use Of The ⌚️ Apple Watch
Use Siri Voice Assistant Whenever Possible
Introduction
I’ve been using the Apple Watch for two weeks now.
To say I had no idea how I would benefit from this device is a mild understatement. I felt I didn’t need one more thing to distract me.
WRONG.
Seth Godin’s post today highlighted my problem:
“Of course, if you put a new experience in the box of an old experience, it’s not a new experience, is it? Problem solved.” — Seth Godin
I assumed that the “experience” of an Apple Watch was like a “watch” or, at best, an iPhone experience on a miniature device.
Where was my bias obviously wrong?
- Apps are fantastically optimized for the watch — they ARE NOT just small versions of the iPhone apps.
- Siri and the ability to manage most of what I want to do via voice is freaking crazy! The experience is WAY BETTER on my watch then on my iPhone.
- The more you test and change your behavior, the more you will be surprised at how much you can accomplish.
My Two Tips
- Throw your expectations out the window.
- Use Siri — OFTEN — and experiment.
In just two weeks, the Watch has become essential to my workflow.
12 Apps I Use Frequently and Access with “hey Siri”
To activate Siri, you simply “wake” the Watch — accomplished by turning your wrist toward your face and say “Hey Siri.”
Then, say what you want. Each app image below indicates the command used after “Hey Siri”.
1 — Weather
2 — LastPass (my Password Manager)
All my passwords accessible on my wrist? That is straight out of Dick Tracy comic strips…
3 — Fitness Activity App
“Activity” brings up the fitness app.
4 — Evernote Note Taking App
My favorite method to drop a quick audio note into my Evernote.
5 — Phone Calls
In the car, the only way I make phone calls is to activate Siri, request the call, and conduct the call right through the Watch.
Sound difficult? It’s way easier and more accurate than I imagined.
6 — Apple Music
“Play [name playlist] starts the music 🎶 on my iPhone.
7 — Trello Project Management Tool
Trello is an essential service for me to collaborate and organize various projects.
8 — Access Articles Saved In Instapaper
Instapaper is my favorite “read-later” service. The Watch app allows me to select saved articles and have them read to me (via the iPhone). This is very handy when I am driving.
9 — Access Apple Pay or Wallet
If you use the Apple Wallet service, this is especially useful. Credit card 💳 access, boarding passes, tickets, etc, that are now instantly available on your Watch.
The app can be opened by saying “Apple Pay” or “Wallet”.
10 — Access Slack Direct Messages and Mentions
Slack is another collaboration tool that is becoming more common with clients. I can easily switch between “Teams” and stay on top of activity directly related to me.
11 — Heart Rate Monitor
I refer to this a couple times daily just out of curiosity. What’s my resting rate? Workout rate?
About Don
“It’s time for different”
Don is passionate about helping professionals and organizations keep up and adapt to the changing business world that we operate in.
“What Do You Do?”
I frequently get this question. My response (it’s not what you think!)? Check it out here!
