Apple Watch For Seniors: A Ridiculously Simple Guide to Apple Watch Series 4 and WatchOS 5

By Scott La Counte

The Apple Watch looks pretty snazzy, right? People have told you all about the cool features: like if you fall it will automatically call for help! But how do you use it?!

It looks nothing like the iPhone or iPad interface you are used to--except for a handful of icons. If you are lost and don't have a lot of time to comb through thous

• Language: English
• Publisher: SL Editions
• Release date: Nov 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781629177236

Book preview

Introduction

The Apple Watch looks pretty snazzy, right? People have told you all about the cool features: like if you fall it will automatically call for help! But how do you use it?!

It looks nothing like the iPhone or iPad interface you are used to--except for a handful of icons. If you are lost and don't have a lot of time to comb through thousands of pages of tech-speak just to learn how to use a watch, then this book is for you!

This book is based on the bestselling book The Ridiculously Simple Guide to Apple Watch Series 4 but includes sections specifically for seniors (including accessibility features that make text easier to see).

Are you ready to start enjoying your new Apple Watch? Then let’s get started!

[1]

So Many Models! What’s Right for Me?!

If you already have the watch, then you can skip right ahead to the next chapter. How’s that for ridiculously simple?! This chapter is just for readers curious about all the different watches available.

The Apple Watch comes in several different. Every watch--from the original Apple Watch to the Series 4 are compatible with any previous generation band. So if you have an original Apple Watch, you can still use that expensive band you may have picked up. You can also find third-party bands much cheaper on Amazon and other online retailers.

The Milanese Loop band from Apple, for example, retails for $149; the below example, looks the same but is less than $20! The quality is not the same, but if you just want something that looks nice, then this could be a good option. I’ll cover bands in greater detail at the end of this book.



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Each version of the watch comes in two sizes 38mm and 42mm on earlier models; 40mm and 44mm for Series 4; each version also comes in Aluminum and Stainless Steel--stainless steel is the most expensive

Apple Watch Series 0 and 1

The Apple Watch is the watch that started everything; there was no series number--so when you see Apple Watch Series 1, you aren’t actually looking at the first edition of the watch.

This year is the first year that the original Apple Watch did not receive a WatchOS update (that means the people who paid upwards of $20,000 for a watch, now have a worthless piece of technology). It still works fine--it just doesn’t have new features. You can’t find it new anymore, but you probably can find a used one in decent shape for the low $100s.

The Apple Watch Series 1 is still supported (though it probably won’t be next year) and you can get it certified refurbished on the Apple Store website starting at $169.

Apple Watch Series 2

The Series 2 introduced water resistance and GPS to the watch. You might occasionally see it pop up on Apple Refurbished store, but it is no longer sold new.

Apple Watch Series 3

Cellular was added to the Apple Watch Series 3. That means you can make calls from your watch even if your phone is nowhere nearby. It is currently the cheapest watch you can buy new at $279.

Apple Watch Series 4

The Series 4 watch starts at $399. The biggest noticeable difference is cosmetic: it’s bigger than previous generations, and yet it’s also thinner and lighter. On the inside the processor is faster, the screen is brighter, and the battery lasts longer.

The Series 4 Apple Watch is considered the ultimate watch in fitness. It’s also the watch you’ll want to get your elderly parents and grandparents--it has drop detection and will automatically call for help if it detects you’ve fallen and don’t respond.

Which watch is right for you? Unless you have an itching to spend 1k+ for a watch, then you are probably considering the steel model with Hermes band over the sports model. What’s the difference? In terms of wear and tear, both watches will hold up pretty well; every watch—even the more expensive ones—have the same hardware. The steel model has a stronger display that is slightly more scratch-resistant.

Unlike the iPhone or iPad, you aren’t paying more for more memory—you are paying for the finish—so it’s really a question of taste. The steel