Introduction

      I’m excited to present you with the fourth edition of Apple Watch For Dummies — your definitive guide to unlocking the power of your smartwatch.

      In this book, you find out how to take full advantage of Apple Watch’s many features, all in a language you can understand. You don’t need a degree in electrical engineering to follow along with this book (badum bum!). Whether you’re tech-shy or tech-savvy or perhaps somewhere in between, my goal is to teach you — in plain English — how to master your new gadget.

      Apple Watch For Dummies covers all the things you can do with your sleek wrist-mounted companion, ranging from productivity and connectivity features to information, personalization, and navigation; health and fitness applications; entertainment options; and much more. And, of course, this book contains many visual examples of what you can do and what your watch should look like in certain situations, regardless of the model (or “Series”) of watch you own.

About This Book

      I wrote this book with one focus in mind: to cover all you need to know about Apple Watch — without the technical jargon you don’t need. In other words, I break down the geek-speak into street-speak.

      After all, technology can be confusing, especially when it’s a relatively new category of products like a “smartwatch.” Therefore, consider this book your definitive guide to unlocking Apple Watch’s capabilities. Kind of like with our brains, it was once believed we use only about 10 percent of what our consumer electronics products can do! — whether it’s a computer, smartphone, tablet, TV, or camera — so it’s my modus operandi to fill your head with the other 90 percent.

If you’re more of an intermediate to advanced user, however, I also include a number of tips and tricks on how to get the most from your Apple Watch. Also, feel free to experiment — which can be part of the fun, but it may take some time to figure out all it can do. After all, you’ve probably used a computer for most of your life and a smartphone and/or tablet for the better part of a few years, but because a smartwatch is a bit of a different animal, it might take some trial and error — and this book — to master it!

      You’ll need to get accustomed to the limited screen size, interacting with the watch via your fingertips and voice, and what apps work best on your wrist (just as you’ll discover some things are simply better on a phone). Because Apple Watch might have a possibly steeper learning curve than other technology, give yourself a while to master it. Just know I’m here to help in a language you can understand, which means you can put away your geek-to-English dictionary.

      Also keep in mind that Apple adds new features to Apple Watch over “time” or when a new operating system update is available. But don’t fret: This book covers not only the basics but also advanced capabilities. And hey, it’s the fourth edition, after all and I’m keeping on top of what’s new so you don’t have to. And after you learn — and apply — a good number of the tasks discussed in this book, you should no doubt be comfortable with whatever new things the watch can do in the future.

      On that note, Apple Watch is still in its infancy, so you’re probably as excited as I am to see how this platform will mature. Think about how far the iPhone is today compared with the first generation in 2007. Ditto for the latest iPad when contrasted with the original in 2010. The best, as they say, is yet to come, but this book covers everything you need to know right now. (“Time flies,” indeed, as Apple Watch has been around since April 2015.)

How to Use This Book

      Although this book is meant to be a handy and informative resource, I hope you find the tone conversational. And as with other For Dummies books, you can read Apple Watch For Dummies in any order you like. I suggest you start with the first chapter or two in order to learn the various parts of the watch and its user interface, but after that, feel free to jump from chapter to chapter if one topic interests you more than another. Perhaps start by thumbing through the specific topics in the Table of Contents and then go to a particular chapter that piques your curiosity.

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