Apple Watch - page 2

New Oura Ring 4 enhances comfort and dynamic health sensing

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Oura Ring 4
Oura Ring 4 enhances comfort and health sensing over Oura Ring 3. But where is Apple's smart ring?
Photo: Oura

The new Oura Ring 4, with a sleek and subtle design and improved health sensing, is now available for preorders, ŌURA said Thursday. Shipping of the new smart ring — which is sure to spark a new round of speculation on when Apple will launch its own — begins October 15.

“The next-generation Oura Ring 4, reimagined Oura App, and the development of the Smart Sensing platform represent significant steps forward for wearables across accuracy, comfort, personalization and design,” said ŌURA CEO Tom Hale.

Get the time without even looking at your Apple Watch

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Feel the passage of time
A clock you don’t even need to look at. What a time to be alive.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Pro tip bug You can read the time without even looking at your Apple Watch using a little-known feature called Taptic Time. Hold two fingers on the screen and you’ll feel it tap the time out on your wrist.

This is handy if you’re in a meeting and you need to know the time, but you don’t want to look rude checking your watch. Or maybe you’re in the middle of a presidential debate.

Whatever the situation may be, turning this feature on and familiarizing yourself with it may come in handy.

What do the Apple Watch buttons do? Click, double-click and hold.

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What do the buttons do?
The buttons on the Apple Watch switch apps, activate Apple Pay, open Siri and more.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

What do the buttons on the Apple Watch do? The Apple Watch borrows a lot from the iPhone, but the biggest difference between the two devices comes down to the way their buttons work. They do different things whether you click, double-click or hold them down.

In watchOS 10, Apple changed a lot of these features. The software update added a new Widgets view, assigned Control Center to the side button, and changed what double-clicking the Digital Crown does. (For older devices, consult our article about what Apple Watch buttons do in watchOS 9.)

Here’s a guide to the buttons on the Apple Watch.

How to add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet

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State IDs in Apple Wallet
Get a gorgeous state ID in Apple Wallet.
Image: Apple

In several states, Apple’s digital ID initiative enables iPhones and Apple Watch to hold a digital copy of the user’s driver’s license, in the same way these devices store credit cards and airline tickets. Here’s what you need to know to add your driver’s license and ID to your Apple Wallet.

Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 wireless bot charger smiles for a reason [Review] ★★★★☆

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Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station★★★★☆
The little bot charger gives you a digital smile to indicate charging status. Here, eyes-only means it's plugged in, on standby.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

In the ever-expanding world of wireless chargers, I’ve come across a fun new entry worth talking about — the Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station. The nifty device, designed to make charging our Apple gadgets a breeze, offering an option for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods users tired of dealing with multiple chargers. Oh, and it’s kind of like a cheerful little robot, too. Its screen offers a digital smile indicating charging status.

Apple Watch SE 3 now expected in 2025

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Apple Watch SE 3 rumors
Take heart: Apple Watch SE 3 is still on the way.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The wait for Apple Watch SE 3 goes on, though a new version of the low-cost wearable supposedly won’t be out this year.

The next model is still expected to move to a plastic casing, and offer better performance, too.

Everything new in watchOS 11

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watchOS 11 features
watchOS 11 brings some notable usability improvements.
Image: Apple

watchOS 11 is a smaller update with a few great features people have wanted for years. You can pause your Activity streak without losing it, customize the beautiful new Photos face and set different Activity goals for each day of the week. It comes with some new apps, as well — Vitals, Tides, Translate and a new training load feature.

Apple released watchOS 11 on Monday. After you update, here’s the big list of things you can check out.

Should you upgrade to Apple Watch Series 10 or Ultra 2?

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Should You Upgrade?
Is it time to buy a new Apple Watch?
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Is it time for you to upgrade and buy the new Apple Watch Series 10 or Apple Watch Ultra 2? The new Apple Watch is larger and thinner, with advanced new sensors and health features. And the Apple Watch Ultra 2 … comes in black.

Now that the new watches are available to preorder, you might be wondering whether it’s worthwhile to upgrade. That depends on what devices you have, so I put together a buying guide with charts and a video to help you decide.

Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Which should you buy?

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Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2
Which Apple Watch is right for you? Series 10 goes head to head against Ultra 2.
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey

The Apple Watch Series 10 packs significant upgrades over its predecessor. However, Apple did not give the same love to the Apple Watch Ultra this year. Instead of a third-gen Ultra, Apple only unveiled a new black titanium finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. That makes an unusual comparison — Apple Watch Series 10 versus Apple Watch Ultra 2 — an intriguing proposition.

The “regular” Apple Watch Series 10 comes closer to its rugged Ultra sibling than ever before. But between the two, which is the right pick for you? Read our Apple Watch Series 10 versus Apple Watch Ultra comparison to find out.

Act now to lock in the best price for your iPhone trade-in

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iPhone 6s
If you're upgrading to iPhone 16, now is the time to secure the best possible price for your old iPhone trade-in.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

With Monday’s impending iPhone 16 reveal, excitement abounds! However, one downside of the “It’s Glowtime” event is the impending drop in value of your iPhone trade-in.

Every year, newer models push older iPhones, Apple Watches and MacBooks further and further down the path to obsolescence. But there’s good news: Cult of Mac will still buy your old devices. And we’ll help you maximize the money you get for your iPhone trade-in, too.

Apple Watch Series 10 might check for sleep apnea

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Apple Watch Series 10 rumors: Sleep apnea detection and more
Apple Watch Series 10 could be able to detect a serious sleep problem.
Image: concept_central/Cult of Mac

In addition to design changes, the upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 adds the ability to detect sleep apnea, according to a reliable source. And its heart sensor could be getting an upgrade.

But a legal problem will apparently keep blood oxygen sensing off the new wearable.

Apple ‘It’s Glowtime’ event rumors: iPhone 16 and more

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Artwork from Apple's
The iPhone 16 lineup will steal the spotlight, but Apple has much more in store.
Image: Cult of Mac

The most important day of Apple’s year comes Monday, September 9. But there’s no reason for you to spend the weekend wondering what’s on the agenda for the “It’s Glowtime” event — we can spill the beans now: iPhone 16, AirPods 4, Apple Watch Series 10 and more.

We also already know what’s not coming at the September event, like MacBooks. Read on for all the details.

Apple Watch rumors: Series 10, SE 3, Ultra 3 are on the way

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Apple Watch Series 10 rumors
A slimmer Apple Watch Series 10 could be one of the wearables revealed September 9.
Image: concept_central/Cult of Mac

Both Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch SE 3 could be among the many products on the agenda for Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event on September 9. The situation with Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a bit more murky, however.

And speaking of murky, we don’t know whether any of these will offer blood oxygen monitoring in units sold in the United States.

Labor Day sale: 20% off iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, iPad stands and more [Still going!]

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Labor Day deals on SwitchEasy Apple accessories
The incredibly clever SwitchEasy EasySelfie Selfie Stick is just one of 100 items on sale.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Labor Day weekend is a great time to kick back, take a rest from work — and be thankful for the paycheck that lets you buy tons of Apple Labor Day sale items. The Cult of Mac Store marks the holiday this year by taking 20% off everything from SwitchEasy.

That’s 100 products to choose from! The company makes a wide variety of cool accessories for Apple Watch, AirPods, AirTag, iPhone, iPad, MacBook and more, like various chargers. So whatever Apple gear you have, check out these Labor Day deals on SwitchEasy Apple accessories.

3 simple tricks every Apple Watch wearer should know

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Apple Watch Control Center
The Apple Watch Control Center has some nifty features you should be aware of.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple Watch does so much that it’s possible for some of its handy tricks to get lost. You can’t call these three Apple Watch tips  marquee features. But they can make life just a bit more convenient.

Here’s how to turn on the flashlight, find your iPhone and silence alarms on your iPhone from an Apple Watch.

Pro Tip: Set your Apple Watch time a few minutes ahead

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Never Run Late Again
Cult of Mac is not legally responsible if you are still late after turning on this feature.
Image: Crew/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Pro tip bug Set your Apple Watch time a few minutes ahead of the actual time and you might trick yourself out of running late every day. This is an officially supported feature, not a hack that will produce cascading, annoying side effects. And it doesn’t require you to set your smartwatch out of sync with internet time.

What will you gain? By running your Apple Watch a few minutes fast, you might nudge yourself to rush out the door a little earlier. And that might be enough to get you somewhere on time rather than late. If tardiness is a frequent problem for you, this little change could save your skin.

AI-powered Apple Watch band brings more touchless one-handed control

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Wearable Devices Mudra Band
Mudra Band adds gesture control to all Apple Watches, not just newer models.
Photo: Wearable Devices

An update to the Wearable Devices Mudra Band for Apple Watch brings enhanced same-hand, touchless gesture control and task management for users even in older models of the device, the company said Monday. The artificial intelligence-powered functionality complements the band’s existing solutions for iPhone, iPad and other Apple products, it added.

“One of our initial goals with the Mudra Band has been to provide our users with same-hand touchless watch operation, and we are pleased to cater to multiple requests by our customers,” said Asher Dahan, CEO of Wearable Devices. “This is a step forward in AI-based wearable technology, pushing the boundaries of what wearable technology can offer.”

6 mind-blowing Continuity features every Apple user should know

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It all works together
Your Apple devices can work together in more ways than you may expect.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Nothing illustrates the power of Apple’s ecosystem like the Continuity features that help your Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch work seamlessly together. Thanks to Continuity, your iPhone can serve as your Mac’s webcam. You can start an email on one device and instantly pick it up on another. You can use the same keyboard and mouse with a Mac and iPad, copy and paste across devices and more.

These features flex the power of Apple’s hardware and software — and they would never be possible on a PC. Unfortunately, that means a lot of people don’t learn about these features because they don’t expect so much from their computers.

In this post (and the accompanying video), I will show you some of the time-saving, annoyance-busting Continuity features you can enjoy when you go all-in on the Apple ecosystem.

6 hidden tips and tricks for AirPods

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6 Secret AirPods Features
Master your AirPods with these six tricks you’d have to really dig to find.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

AirPods are the wireless earbuds that ordinary Bluetooth headphones want to be when they grow up. They’re seamlessly integrated with your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac. They’re deceptively simple — but if you want to get more out of them, you need to dig through Settings. These AirPods tips will show you where to look to unlock maximum functionality.

I did some spelunking and found six super-handy hidden features you might not know about.

Nomad updates luxe 3-in-1 Stand One Max with Qi2 wireless charging

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Nomad Stand One Max Qi2 product shot with an iPhone in StandBy mode and an Apple Watch in Nightstand mode.
This a great stand for using your iPhone in StandBy mode.
Photo: Nomad

Keeping up with the latest charging standards, Nomad released the third generation of its premium Stand One Max multi-device charger Wednesday. It features support for the new Qi2 wireless charging protocol, which enables up to 15-watt wireless charging speeds for compatible iPhones and Androids. And the luxe 3-in-1 stand keeps your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods going in style.

Update your Apple Watch and Apple TV with these bug fixes today

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Apple Watch and Apple TV
Apple Watch and Apple TV users have software patches to install.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple released watchOS 10.6.1 and tvOS 17.6.1 on Monday, a pair of “bug fix” patches for Apple Watch and Apple TV that offer no new features.

New versions of iOS 17.6.1 and iPadOS 17.6.1 from two weeks ago went out at the same time, but don’t appear to be available for most models.

NBA legend learns to heed Apple Watch heart warnings

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Apple Watch AFib warnings
Even if you have no symptoms, dib't ignore Apple Watch AFib notifications.
Photo: Apple

San Antonio Spurs legend and NBA commentator Sean Elliott recently experienced a health scare highlighting Apple Watch’s potentially life-saving capabilities. Elliott, known his role in the Spurs’ first championship, found himself at the center of a different kind of heart-pounding drama, according to a report.

“My watch kept telling me you’re in Atrial Fibrillation. It just kept telling me over and over again, and I said, ‘there’s no way, I feel fine,'” Elliott recounted in an interview. Despite feeling no symptoms, the persistent warnings from his smartwatch eventually prompted him to seek medical attention. And it’s a good thing he did.

How to stop Siri from randomly activating all the damn time

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An Apple Watch with Siri Activated and the caption:
Siri always interrupts at the wrong time.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

As if Siri’s unhelpful answers were not irritating enough when you actually want them, Siri often interrupts a conversation, meeting or TV show when you haven’t asked for anything at all. The good news is you make it stop — if you know how to deactivate Siri on your Apple devices.

Get ready for ‘kid-friendly’ Apple Watch SE

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Get ready for a 'kid-friendly' Apple Watch SE 3
Boring colors might be thing of the past with Apple Watch SE 3.
Concept graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Apple Watch SE 3 will come in a plastic casing, if a noted source of Apple insider info is correct. Skipping the usual aluminum case will allow the wearable to come in a broad array of colors, potentially making it more appealing to younger buyers.

It’ll also likely be cheaper to make, which is important for Apple’s budget wearable.