A lot of you will have just gotten an Android Wear smartwatch for being an awesome father (on Father’s Day), whereas some of you will have gotten them as presents or self-presents – either way, welcome to the club. In case you’re new to the smartwatch and Android Wear scene, and you’re wondering what your smartwatch is good for besides telling the time, then here are the “top 5 things you should do after getting an Android Wear smartwatch”, according to me.
1. Use voice commands
When smartwatches started to go mainstream, images of Dick Tracy’s speakerphone watch came up at every turn. While they aren’t quite speakerphones yet, Android Wear devices are very capable listeners with an assortment of voice commands that will make you feel very Dick Tracy indeed. Some that you might like to try include:
“Start a timer for 20 minutes”
“Remind me to read a book at 2pm”
“What time is it in Sydney?”
Android 5.1.1, which should be available for all Android Wear devices, introduced wrist gestures for the first time. If you’re so include, you will be able to twist your wrist to scroll through your notifications list. It does take a bit of practice, but before long, you’ll be a wrist gesture pro.
3. Pick your fitness app
In case you weren’t aware, Android Wear smartwatches are also relatively capable fitness wearables. While they’re no Fitbit or Jawbone, if you don’t have any of those, your Android Wear smartwatch will serve you just as well in tracking your steps everyday, and if you have one with a heart rate sensor as well, it can track how active your heart is as well. Choose from options like Google Fit, UP (by Jawbone), Runkeeper, and plenty more.
4. Try a music app like Shazam or Track ID
I mentioned before that Android Wear smartwatches are great listeners, and this extends to more than just spoken voices. Download an app like Shazam or Track ID and your smartwatch will turn into a song query device as well, though you may need to get your wrist closer to the source of the music first.
5. Download new watch faces
i.e. the whole reason this site exists in the first place. Unlike those chums using an Apple Watch, Android Wear smartwatches have an almost limitless library of watch faces for you to download and use. Some are available through the Play Store, and others can be downloaded and used through third-pary apps like Facer or WatchMaker. In essence, if you can think of something to put on a watch face, there’s probably a watch face for it already, and if there isn’t, you can probably make one yourself.
So there you have it – 5 things that you should do with your Android Wear devices once you have them. If you have any other good ones to add to the list, make sure to let me know down in the comments.
Originally published on WatchFaceADay.com where I am the founder.
