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Apple Watch - page 23

Activate your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch flashlight from Control Center [Pro tip]

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Enable your flashlight inside Control Center
Get a better view in the dark.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Control Center Pro Tips WeekWe want to help you master Control Center, one of the most powerful and underutilized features on Apple devices. Cult of Mac’s Control Center Pro Tips series will show you how to make the most of this useful toolbox on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.

Searching for something in a dark room? You can turn your iPhone, iPad and even your Apple Watch into a flashlight with just one tap inside Control Center. We’ll show you how.

Quickly toggle Do Not Disturb mode using Control Center [Pro tip]

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Toggle Do Not Disturb in Control Center
The quickest, easiest way to silence your device.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Control Center Pro Tips Week

We want to help you master Control Center, one of the most powerful and underutilized features on Apple devices. Cult of Mac’s Control Center Pro Tips series will show you how to make the most of this useful toolbox on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.

Heading into an important meeting and need your iPhone to keep quiet? Don’t worry about turning off your device or messing around inside the Settings app; toggle Do Not Disturb mode with one tap in Control Center.

We’ll show you how on all Apple devices.

Clear water from your Apple Watch speaker using Control Center [Pro tip]

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Clear water from Apple Watch
Get your Apple Watch sounding good again.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Control Center Pro Tips WeekWe want to help you master Control Center, one of the most powerful and underutilized features on Apple devices. Cult of Mac’s Control Center Pro Tips series will show you how to make the most of this useful toolbox on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.

Have you noticed your Apple Watch isn’t sounding so good after getting wet? That’s likely because there is liquid lodged inside its speaker. But don’t worry — you can quickly clear it with just one tap in Control Center.

We’ll show you how.

Switch Wi-Fi networks in a snap using Control Center [Pro tip]

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Switch Wi-Fi networks in Control Center
The quick and easy way to change connections.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Control Center Pro Tips WeekWe want to help you master Control Center, one of the most powerful and underutilized features on Apple devices. Cult of Mac’s Control Center Pro Tips series will show you how to make the most of this useful toolbox on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.

There’s no need to mess around inside System Preferences or the Settings app when you want to change Wi-Fi networks. Open Control Center on your Apple device and make the switch in a snap.

We’ll show you how on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.

Last chance! Win a classy perforated leather Apple Watch band from Monowear [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Win a classy perforated leather Apple Watch band from Monowear [Cult of Mac giveaway]
These burnt orange Apple Watch bands will fire up our winners' wrists.
Photo: Monowear

This week, Cult of Mac is giving away three classy Apple Watch bands from Monowear. You have a chance to win the brand-new burnt orange Perforated Leather Band in your choice of two sizes.

Monowear’s Perforated Leather Band is made with the highest-quality leather. Finished with classy, motor-sport-inspired perforations, it will keep your wrist cool. And it makes you look cool to boot.

Previously available in black, brown and burgundy, Monowear’s perforated band looks great in the new burnt orange color. Known to promote motivation, orange is a color that radiates happiness and warmth. If your Apple Watch is in need of a vibrant pop of color, be sure to enter this giveaway.

Add some sparkle to Apple Watch with this glamorous bracelet

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Mifa-Sparkle-Bracelet
The Sparkle Bracelet looks pricey, but it's not.
Photo: Mifa

Are you bored of your oh-so-basic Apple Watch? Did you know you can easily add some glamor without breaking the bank?

Mifa’s gorgeous Sparkle Bracelet is made from shiny stainless steel (in silver or rose gold) and finished with a gorgeous mother of pearl decoration. It oozes luxury, but costs a mere $25.

ECG device-maker accuses Apple Watch of infringing on its patents

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Apple Watch heart rate monitor
They want Apple blocked from importing Apple Watches into the U.S.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

AliveCor, a company which makes Apple device-compatible, FDA-cleared ECG devices, has sued Apple for allegedly infringing on three of its patents with the Apple Watch. An ECG — or electrocardiogram — records the rhythm, the rate, and the electrical activity of the heart.

The health-conscious startup claims, in a press release, that Apple is trying to “eliminate” it as competition in this space. Until the matter is settled, it wants a judge to stop Apple from importing the Apple Watch into the United States. That would, in essence, stop Apple from selling the Apple Watch in its biggest market.

iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 bring an array of new features ‘next week’

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iOS 14.5 will debut before the end of April.
The wait for iOS 14.5 is almost over — it’ll be out before the end of April. The same goes for iPadOS 14.5.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple revealed on Tuesday that iOS 14.5 and the iPad equivalent will reach customers iPhones and tablets some time “next week.” These include a rush of new features, like unlocking an iPhone with an Apple Watch. And a controversial change that make it harder for apps to track users for ads.

To help make the launches possible, developers were given access to the release candidates for these upcoming operating system versions on Tuesday. They can both look for bugs and  test their own applications with the new OS versions.

Active 2.0 band makes Apple Watch the perfect workout partner

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Active 2.0 band for Apple Watch
Comfortable, durable, good-looking.
Photo: Laut

Apple Watch can be the perfect workout partner, but only if it’s comfortable to wear during even the most strenuous activities. That’s why Laut designed the ultra-comfortable Active 2.0 sports band.

Made from a bespoke rubber compound developed specifically for active lifestyles, the Active 2.0 is lightweight, incredibly durable, and feels great no matter what you get up to. It’s also sweat-resistant.

Get yours in one of a number of vibrant color options for under $30.

Seattle study will loan participants Apple Watch to see if it can help predict COVID

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Apple Watch Series 6
This could prove to be a game-changer for Apple Watch capabilities.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Can the iPhone and Apple Watch help predict illnesses like COVID-19? That’s the question being asked by researchers from Apple, the Seattle Flu Study, and the University of Washington — and you can help them answer it. And get loaned an Apple Watch for the duration of the six-month study for your troubles.

The study is currently recruiting for participants who live in the greater Seattle area. Participants must have “higher than normal risk of respiratory illness because of frequent exposure to other people through work or other activities, health conditions, or other factors.”

How to change Siri’s accent on iPhone, iPad and more

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australian siri
Changing Siri's accent is easy.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Most folks refer to Siri as “she,” but that’s not always true. The original British English Siri, for example, was male-only up until iOS 7.1 added a female version. And in the latest iOS 14.5 beta, a female Siri is not the default option.

No matter what, you don’t have to stick with your local version of Apple’s comically bad voice assistant. U.S. English speakers, for example, can currently choose from American, Australian, British, Indian, Irish and South African accents for Siri, and also pick male or female versions — with more voices coming soon.

So, if you’re a U.S. native who views the U.K. Standard English accent as quaint, cute, respectful, sexy or reproachful, it’s easy to set your iPhone or iPad to sound like a Brit or whatever you want. And your choice of Siri accent will follow you on all Apple devices logged into with your Apple ID. (In addition to iPhone and iPad, Siri works with just about everything now: Mac, AirPods, iPod, Apple Watch, CarPlay, HomePod and Apple TV.)

Let’s see how to change Siri’s accent.

Apple’s proposed iPhone control scheme will take your breath away

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Apple Watch or iPhone breath control — Is this a joke?
What if you could interact with your Apple Watch by blowing on it?
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Your hands are full and you need to look something up on your Apple Watch. Engineers at Apple dreamed up a system that would allow you to control the wearable by blowing on it. A newly filed patent application also imagines a breath-controlled iPhone.

So far, there’s no sign this is an April Fools’ Day joke. But it’s possible.

Buy one get one free on strong, stylish SwitchEasy cases for iPhone 12

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SwitchEasy case for iPhone 12: The Skin is a simple silicone option that's slim and lightweight.
Bag brilliant iPhone cases from as little as $14.99.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Keep your shiny new iPhone 12 protected and in pristine condition with some high-quality cases from SwitchEasy. They’re brilliantly designed and well-built. And when you buy one from the Cult of Mac Store right now, you’ll get another absolutely free.

This deal ends Friday, April 2, so enjoy it while you can!

Enjoy a rare $50 discount on Apple Watch Series 6 Nike+

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Apple Watch 6 Nike+
Get yours from just $349.
Photo: Apple

Bag Apple Watch Series 6 Nike+ at one of its best prices to date, thanks to a rare $50 discount from Best Buy. New models start at just $349 with six months of Apple Fitness+ free of charge.

Order yours before the discount disappears.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Apple Watch Explorer Edition could be the first great rugged smartwatch

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Apple Watch Explorer Edition could be Apple's answer to the ultra-popular G-Shock series.
A rugged Apple Watch could compete with the ultra-popular G-Shock series.
Photo: Moritz Kindler/Unsplash CC

A ruggedized version of Apple Watch could take the device’s lifesaving smarts to new extremes.

The so-called Apple Watch Explorer Edition, rumored to be in the works with a possible release as early as this year, could be Cupertino’s answer to Casio’s ultra-popular G-Shock watches. The benefits of implanting Apple Watch’s advanced sensors into such a beefy body seem like a no-brainer.

Apple Watch’s blood oxygen sensors, heart rate monitors and fall detection can make a difference in the daily life of average folks. But they could prove far more valuable to wearers snowboarding down frigid slopes, climbing up sand dunes or mountains, scrabbling over mud and rocks or diving the ocean’s depths.

Such extreme environments, in which adventurous humans test their limits, are just dying for an injection of Apple Watch smarts.

Last chance! Enter to win a crystal pavé Apple Watch link band from Goldenerre [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Giveaway: Goldenerre crystal pavé Apple Watch link band: This is your chance to win a gorgeous Apple Watch band and a coordinating stacking band.
This is your chance to win a gorgeous Apple Watch band and a coordinating stacking band.
Photo: Goldenerre

Cult of Mac is giving away a stunning Apple Watch band from our friends at Goldenerre. The crystal pavé link band is the newest piece in Goldenerre’s collection, and it comes in shiny gold, rose gold or silver.

With more than 820 brilliant crystals, the sparkle factor is off the charts with this band! And to sweeten the deal, Goldenerre is including one stacking bracelet of your choice for every winner.

Lads, if you want to win points with the lady in your life, you need to enter this giveaway!

Apple Watch Explorer Edition could bring new ruggedized design

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Casio G-Shock
New Apple Watch could offer a design reminiscent of Casio's G-Shock watches.
Photo: Alexandru-Bogdan Ghita/Unsplash CC

Apple is considering whether to launch a more ruggedized Apple Watch aimed at athletes and people doing outdoor activities in extreme environments, Bloomberg reported Friday.

This device could potentially be launched as early as this year or 2022. Inside Apple, the project is referred to as the “Explorer Edition” Apple Watch. It would offer the same basic functionality as the regular Apple Watch, but with added rubberized impact-resistance and protection — similar to Casio’s G-Shock line of watches.

HomePod failure shows Apple should quit making pricey niche products

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homepod
Watch out, AirPods Max! You might be next.
Photo: Apple

After throwing in the towel on the original HomePod after just three years, Apple should stop releasing pricey, niche products.

They don’t sell well — at least not well enough to keep Apple interested, apparently — and it’s not fair to consumers who shell out big bucks, then get stuck with a product that vanishes after just one generation.

Yes, Apple says it will continue to support the full-size HomePod with software updates, even as it refocuses on the $99 HomePod mini. But the old-school HomePod is a dead-end product.

You can read the HomePod debacle as an admission of failure regarding Apple’s framing of the device as a smart speaker rather than high-end audio gear. But it’s more than that. It’s an illustration of Apple’s faltering strategy of creating premium products for niche corners of the market.

Help bring this splendid Pocket Watch to new Apple Watch models

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Bucardo Pocket Watch for Apple Watch
Pledge your support today!
Photo: Bucardo

Bucardo’s brilliant Pocket Watch accessory for Apple Watch could be coming to the latest models — with your help. The company just kicked off a new Kickstarter campaign that will support the development and production of the Pocket Watch for Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

Pledge your support today to help get the project off the ground.

How to mix up activities for a more effective Apple Watch workout

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Why choose one activity type when you can do loads?
Why choose one activity type when you can do loads?
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Which workout type do you fancy today? Running, swimming, cycling, yoga…? There are so many different Apple Watch workouts, it can be hard to choose. The good news is, you don’t have to.

Thanks to a hidden feature in the Workout app, you can log multiple activity types in a single session. Want to log a triathlon? No problem. Like to do a cooldown at the end of an intense HIIT session? It supports that too.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to use this little-known Apple Watch feature — and why you definitely should.

Banish boredom with these incredibly fun Apple Watch bands

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Go stripes! It's timeless and chic, perfectly complimenting an everyday look while adding your own flare.
Bold, beautiful, and surprisingly affordable.
Photo: Casetify

Casetify’s brilliant Apple Watch bands are available in a bunch of spectacular styles that are sure to turn heads.

Whether you’re after a rush of color, subtle sophistication, or a trend-setting statement piece, the latest Saffiano collection has you covered. And it’s available right now!

Apple Watch gets a makeover with Goldenerre’s gorgeous Pyramid band

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Goldenerre Pyramid bracelet for Apple Watch
A metal band unlike any other.
Photo: Goldenerre

Celebrate International Women’s Day by supporting Goldenerre, an awesome accessory company founded and operated by women. Its beautiful Pyramid bracelet is enough to give any Apple Watch a glamorous makeover, and it’s available in a number of color options.

Order yours today for 38/40mm or 42/44mm Apple Watch models.

Apple Watch defies rivals’ smartwatch downturn in 2020

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watchOS 7.3.1 squashes a bug inApple Watch’s Power Reserve feature.
Apple Watch shipments grew 19% last year.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple Watch shipments increased by 19% last year, according to a new report from Counterpoint Research. Those are respectable numbers. However, they look even better compared to the performance of other smartwatch makers like Samsung and Fitbit, whose shipments declined in 2020.

This trend runs counter to the trajectory seen with most other Apple products. Even smash hits like the iPhone and AirPods, which grew over time, gradually made up a smaller piece of the pie as rivals gobbled up market share. In the case of the Apple Watch, however, not only is Apple remaining No. 1 — with 33.9 million units reportedly shipped in 2020 — but it’s retaining its lead.