The Apple Watch and why I LOVE it.......

My new Gadget the 'Apple Watch' arrived on my wrist (finally after a wee Customs drama that I won't go into). This thing is A M A Z I N G - I love it when technology just has me thinking WOW (and what will they come up with next). I knew I had to have it but frankly didn't expect it to become a device that I just couldn't see myself doing without.

Other than the fact I think it is visually gorgeous (I chose the Stainless Steel, Milanese loop option and ordered an 'extra' black sports strap and are just waiting for the soft pink modern option which is my favourite but unavailable when I went to order) as with all things Apple it really does deliver, don't get me wrong there are still things I wish it did and I'm sure it will in the future as they evolve and push out updates.

Ok, so what am I using it for.......what can it do and how does it work?

It bluetooth's to my iphone (syncs with it) so that the data or incoming that the phone receives is seen at a glance on the screen of the watch. You can have notifications on or off on every app depending on what you choose to see (or not). So when a text comes in on my phone but the phone is in 'my office' and I'm in a classroom I can see it on my screen (a 'tap') happens on my wrist (it literally feels like a light tap). Same thing for all other 'apps'  that the phone and watch 'share' e.g. calendar, email, music, twitter, shazam, fitness pal etc. On top of all that the watch has its own set of powerful apps - fitness, remote (I can operate any Apple TV from the watch!) and the usual alarm, timer, world clock, weather etc. 

This all means that I now have a choice of what I want to respond to and am able to prioritise at my leisure rather than feel I have to constantly check my phone incase I miss an important email, text or event. I think this will improve my productivity as well as make me more 'socially connected' (you know what I mean.......how many of you go out for dinner and have to have your phone on the table?).

My husband said "You make me laugh.......you have to have the next iPhone cause its got a bigger screen then you buy a watch with the tiniest screen ever!"........yip, I did and I don't regret it one bit! 

The watch is not about interacting as much as it is about 'glancing' - you don't type on the screen you just talk. The hands free 'Hey Siri" (although not 100 percent effective for me yet......sometimes she just doesn't get me!) is pretty damn good. I can be driving and just say "Hey Siri, ring home" and off she goes. When she 'doesn't get me' you just hold in a button on the side of the watch and you can just talk and then she does it. I've had no problem at all with the kiwi accent (which I found just didn't work often enough on my iPhone to warrant me using it).

The Google maps function is nothing short of brilliant on the phone, you just 'ask for directions' and up they pop on the watch and each time you need to make a turn it vibrates on your watch and shows a direction arrow......soooooo cool. 

Oh and about the cool factor......or not so cool factor........yes you can answer your incoming phone calls from your watch (and make outgoing calls of course)........you just lift your wrist and talk. Now there's the problem, I did this in the supermarket the first day I got it......I felt like a twit! I felt like everyone was looking at me like "What isssss that woman doing?".......but hey, when you've all got them you'll be just like me and then we'll all be cool, lol!

What do I want to be able to do?

At the moment I can 'see' Facebook messenger messages as they come in but I can't respond to them (I have to go back to my phone to do this), apparently they're working on the Facebook functionality. Several of my children still communicate through Facebook so this is important to me.

I love the built in fitness and tracking app but I'd like to be able to post my experiences onto social media. 

What surprised me?

The battery life (which let's face it with the iPhones just wasn't great until the 6 came out), I put the watch on to charge at night but it is never below about 60 or 70 percent.

The range that the watch has was much better than I expected, as long as the phones are in the same wifi the distance is really good, the watch has a little symbol that lets you know if you are out of range.

I've got a set of bluetooth headphones and it's just brilliant being able to control your music via the watch while you're out walking etc.

I don't think it will be long before they are for sale here in NZ and I can't see any Apple lover or gadget geek being without one!

ADE

Ok so June is almost over.....what's been happening on my digital landscape?

I was honoured to become an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) recently,

"Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) are part of a global community of education leaders recognized for doing amazing things with Apple technology in and out of the classroom. They explore new ideas, seek new paths, and embrace new opportunities. That includes working with each other — and with Apple — to bring the freshest, most innovative ideas to students everywhere."

One of 30 in NZ and just a couple of thousand throughout the world. Being 'Apple to the CORE' means so much more to me than just the devices, although I would never want to be without them, it's about empowering students and teachers to truly make a difference in the lives and learning of those around them, to communicate, to collaboration and to celebrate.

To make the opportunity even more exciting Glen and Monique Storey (my partners in crime at TAKP) are also on the same path and will attend the ADE 2015 Institute with me in August. Exciting times.