Posts filed under Watch

Unlock Your Mac with Your Apple Watch

When Apple announced macOS Sierra and showed us all the new features that would be included, there was one feature that stood out immediately as one that I would use many times every single day... unlocking my Mac with my Apple Watch! To say that I love this feature is an understatement.

If you read my post on improving security (click here), then you know that longer passwords are better (i.e.: more secure) than shorter passwords. The expected side effect... it's less convenient and takes longer to log in to your Mac. This tip will save you a ton of time (not to mention digit fatigue)! In this post, I will explain how it works and walk you through the steps you'll need to go through to make it work for you.

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Posted on October 3, 2016 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under How To, Mac, Watch.

10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Apple Watch

The Apple Watch has been out for a while now, but there is a huge wave of new Apple Watch owners, thanks to the Christmas season. For those whoa re new to using the Apple Watch (and even those who are more seasoned), this post is for you!

I’ve been using the Apple Watch since Day 1, and love it! It’s great for exercise, relaxing, checking social media, texting… even controlling your Apple TV! In this post, I will go through my top 10 Apple Watch tips. Here we go!

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Posted on April 6, 2016 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under How To, Watch.

Display Apple Watch Faces on Your Mac

If you are fortunate enough to own and use an Apple Watch, you know how beautiful the watch faces are. Whether you prefer a simple, elegant design or something a little more functional, the quality and functionality is near-perfect.

I've been looking high and low for an equally impressive watch face for my Mac in the form of a screensaver, but my searching has been in vein... until now.

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Posted on March 31, 2016 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under Design, How To, Mac, Opinion, Watch.

Quite Possibly the Perfect Discrete Recording App for Your Apple Watch

Every once in a while, I run across an app that makes it on my “must have” list. Sometimes they are big apps, but usually they are really simple apps that really help to make my life easier and more productive. I ran across an app last week that has made it on that list.

When is the last time you were in a meeting or situation where you wanted to discretely record audio for later playback, but the setting was such that grabbing your iPhone, locating a recording app and placing the device on a table was just enough of a pain to convince you not to bother? I don’t find myself in that situation every day, but it does happen occasionally. This app is the perfect solution.

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Posted on January 20, 2016 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under How To, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Watch.

Winners of the WWDC Design Awards

Last week, Apple held their annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. I've been to several of these conferences, and Apple puts on a great show. The sessions of packed full of valuable technical information. For developers, it's like Christmas.

Not only is it a great opportunity for developers to learn from each other as well as Apple Engineers, but it's also a great chance for developers to show off their stuff. Participating developers can submit their applications for review. On the second day of the conference, Apple holds a "Design Awards" event to showcase the best of the best. In some cases, the best comes from large, International development houses. In other cases, it's literally a guy in his garage with a good idea.

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Posted on June 17, 2015 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under Design, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Opinion, Watch, iOS.

6 Things I Learned About the Apple Watch That You Should Know Too

I’ve had my Apple Watch for just over two weeks now, and I’m really loving it. Is it better than other smart watches on the market? I’ve been holding out for the Apple Watch, so I haven’t spent a lot of time testing other offerings, but from the testing I have done, it’s much more intuitive, works really, really well with iCloud (of course) and features great design and build. Is it perfect? No. There is certainly room for improvement, but remember… it’s Apple’s first generation watch. I’m really excited to see where this goes.

In the two weeks that I have been heavily using my Apple Watch, there are some really cool things that I’ve learned about it. These tips are great for those who already have their Watch, those still waiting for their Watch (to get you even more excited) and those who are still evaluating.

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Posted on May 11, 2015 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under How To, Watch.

How to Take a Screenshot on Your iOS Device and Apple Watch

The ability to take a screenshot of your computer is invaluable for troubleshooting a problem or showing off the latest new app. Taking a screenshot on a Mac is easy (you can get instructions here). 

Taking a screenshot on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch may not be as intuitive, but it's just as easy... once you know how to do it. This tip will make it easy for you. 

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Posted on April 28, 2015 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under Design, How To, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Watch.

How Does the Apple Watch Hold Up to Apple's 18-hour Battery Claim

When Apple announced availability of the Apple Watch, they told us that the battery would last a full 18-hours. Here's a copy of their marketing language: "Apple Watch is so capable you’ll want to wear it all day long. So we made sure we gave it a battery that lasts all day, too. Our goal for battery life was 18 hours after an overnight charge, factoring in things like checking the time, receiving notifications, using apps, and doing a 30-minute workout. And because everyone will use Apple Watch differently, we tested several other metrics as well."

So the question is this... is it all marketing hype, or is there merit to their claims? I decided to put the watch to the test for myself, and here are the real-world results.

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Posted on April 27, 2015 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under Opinion, Watch, iPhone.

Apple Watch Unboxing and First Impressions

The Apple Watch is finally here!!! I haven't been this excited about a new product since the iPhone was originally announced and launched in 2007. Primarily because this is a brand new market for Apple, as was the iPhone. You could argue that the iPad was as well, but because it functioned a lot like the iPhone did (just with a larger display), it wasn't a completely new experience like that iPhone was and like the Apple Watch is.

With that in mind, I wanted to give you my thoughts and first impressions. Before I do, a quick note on order my Apple Watch. In one word... easy! The Apple Watch was available for pre-order on Friday, April 10, 2015, starting at 12:00a Pacific. I was working with a client until about 11:30p (30 minutes prior to the pre-order availability), and rushed home so that I could begin the "refresh, refresh, refresh" ritual on my browser.

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Posted on April 24, 2015 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under Watch, Opinion.

The Apple Watch is Coming! Your Questions Answered.

The highly-anticipated (and super-exciting!) Apple Watch will be available for in-store purchase on April 24, but it will be available for pre-order and in-store try-ons this Friday, April 10! In anticipation of the big (pre-order) day, I thought I would answer some reader questions that have come my way, to help you be better prepared to make the purchase.

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Posted on April 8, 2015 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under Opinion, Watch, iPhone.