Tag: Apple Watch

Preventing Apple Watch Screenshots

On November 8, 2015

I posted earlier last week about how I figured out how the heck I was taking so many Apple Watch screenshots. Turns out there are multiple scenarios causing it to happen. I was thinking about turning the watch face around to move the buttons onto the other side. Something was holding me back until my friend Ellen said she turned her watch too.

@astralbodies I had the same problem except it turned out to be my fat wrists. Same solution may help: Turn watch upside down.

— Ellen Shapiro (@designatednerd) November 8, 2015

Swapping the watch bands was super simple. Then I went into the Apple Watch Settings app and told it the digital crown was on the left. Boom. No more accidental screenshots.

Picture of my left wrist with the Apple Watch controls placed on the left side rather than the right

Apple Photos littered with Apple Watch screenshots

By Aaron Douglas

On November 4, 2015

In Uncategorized

I’ve noticed that ever since I got my Apple Watch that my photo stream has been filled with seemingly random screenshots of my watch face. It’s easy to take a screenshot – simple hit the digital crown and the side button at the same time. So why the heck am I always causing these screenshots?

2015-11-04_12-16-53

Today I finally discovered the root of the issue. When I’m on a video call at my standing desk I typically put my hands in my pockets to force myself to focus on the people talking. I get seriously distracted if I don’t do this. Turns out that’s the exact reason for all of the photos.

The edge of my pocket is hitting both buttons at the same time. Derrrrp!

Extending your Apple Watch with WiFi

By Aaron Douglas

On October 27, 2015

In Uncategorized

WiFi on Apple Watch!?

It’s not completely obvious but the Apple Watch supports WiFi networks starting in Watch OS 2.0. How does one configure WiFi to work with the Watch? It’s not terribly obvious so I threw this guide together.

My Situation

My Apple Watch was not configured to work with WiFi. I have both 5GHz and 2.4GHz networks in my home. I normally do not join the 2.4GHz network because it doesn’t work as well as the 5GHz. I looked at the Apple Support page on WiFi for the Apple Watch and realized my situation. Apple Watch only supports 2.4GHz networks.

DOH!

The solution for me was to join the 2.4GHz network so the iPhone knows the password. Those credentials are then shared automatically with the Apple Watch.

The Process

Step 1 – Join a 2.4GHz network. In my case, sourapple. I normally use sourapple 5GHz. FBI Surveillance Van is the WiFi in my garden shed but it’s at 5GHz. I’m disappointed that my Apple Watch won’t work with my WiFi when I’m out in the yard without my phone.

Step 2 – Give the iPhone a few moments to do whatever magic it needs to do to copy the new credentials to the Apple Watch. I ended up just launching the Watch app on my iPhone and poked around for a bit. This step may not be necessary.

Step 3 – Bring up the settings glance on your Watch.

Step 4 – Turn off Bluetooth on your iPhone.

Step 5 – See the icon of the iPhone turn into a cloud on your Watch.

What’s the Big Deal

Turning on WiFi support means you can put greater distance between you and your iPhone and your Watch will still have connectivity. The downside is that WiFi uses more energy than bluetooth and it’ll impact your battery life.

Is your Apple Watch Digital Crown sticking?

By Aaron Douglas

On May 30, 2015

In Uncategorized

I noticed a couple days ago that the Digital Crown on my Apple Watch wasn’t turning quite as easily as it had when I got it. Of course I immediately thought it was a defect since it visually looked clean. Turns out it was needing a bit of maintenance.

I use a treadmill desk and even with the 3mph speed I sweat a bit. The Watch was designed to handle fitness scenarios but apparently it can get gunked up without some maintenance. Simply wiping down the exterior is not enough.

Apple has realized this too. They even published a support document specifically about the Digital Crown and their recommended process to remedy it:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht204639

It was a little unnerving putting the Watch under running water, but it worked. Now you know.

Apple Watch Sport Ion-X Glass Easily Scratched

By Aaron Douglas

On May 22, 2015

In Uncategorized

I committed an act of such shame that I have a hard time even talking about.

Okay it wasn’t that horrible and I knew this was going to happen eventually – just not on day two. I scratched the display of my Apple Watch Sport edition.

I thought I was babying the thing. I was taking it off when I knew it could get damaged but somehow I managed to still scratch it. I called Apple and talked to a super nice tech on the AppleCare team. I e-mailed him photos and he forwarded them onto engineering. I got a call back and was simply told, it’s cosmetic damage.

I know it’s cosmetic. But really, should a $400+ watch scratch this easily? I have watches costing in the $10-$30 range with scratches much less visible than this and some with no damage. I’d expect the glass to withstand at least a brushing against a non-diamond-encrusted surface.

I guess Apple has other expectations on the durability of their glass.