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TripView creates trip plans for metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail and coach services. Plan your trip based on stations, stops and wharves. For bus travel, you can search by route, suburb or stop. It will list all timetabled services with real-time data.

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Google Maps on Apple Watch requirements

Set up location shortcuts, set up turn-by-turn navigation, how to use google maps on the apple watch.

Table of contents

• 1. Google Maps on Apple Watch requirements
• 2. Set up location shortcuts
• 3. Set up turn-by-turn navigation

If Google Maps is your preferred method for navigating around town, it's essential to download and use the dedicated Apple Watch app.

Google Maps has had a bit of a turbulent history with the Apple Watch. After becoming one of the first major third-party apps on the smartwatch, it was then pulled in 2017 before returning in 2020 . 

Since then, it's remained a great alternative for those who don't get on with Apple's own Maps app. 

Below, we'll be explaining how to set up location shortcuts and turn-by-turn directions. Let's go. 

• Best Apple Watch apps to download
• Apple Watch tips and hidden features

Like with every app on the Apple Watch, you'll need to make sure your device meets the correct software requirements to use Google Maps. 

Below is a checklist of things you'll need:

• Apple Watch running watchOS 5 or later
• Apple iPhone running iOS 10 or later
• Bluetooth enabled (for route guidance set up on iPhone)
• Location Services enabled on iPhone (Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Google Maps)

As you'll be familiar with if you're a regular user of Google Maps, you'll have your typical shortcuts for quick access to common destinations like 'Home' and 'Work'.

You can also initiate set up new ones and edit existing shortcuts from the Apple Watch:

1. Open the Google Maps app on the Apple Watch.

2. Tap 'Home', 'Work', or 'Edit shortcuts'.

3. On your iPhone, follow the instructions to set up or edit a shortcut. 

Providing the iPhone is paired with your Apple Watch, this will then sync over and allow you to quickly set it for route guidance.

Before you start any type of navigation between the Apple Watch and Google Maps, make sure to open the app, scroll down to 'set travel mode', and choose between driving, walking, cycling, or public transport.

Next, you'll have to choose whether to travel to an existing shortcut or a new destination. We've outlined the methods for both below.

Navigate to an existing shortcut

1. Open the Google Maps app on your Apple Watch.

2. Tap one of your pre-selected shortcuts.

3. Route guidance will automatically start, with haptic alerts occurring to signal a new direction.

Tip: You can also view the route on your iPhone if you begin route guidance from the Apple Watch.

Navigate to a new destination

1. From your iPhone, enter your destination, the method of travel and begin navigation. 

2. Next, open the Google Maps app on your Apple Watch.

3. Under 'Current trip', tap the ETA to view directions.

How we test

By Conor Allison

Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.

Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides. 

He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror. 

5 Handy Tips To Make Sure Your Apple Watch Is Prepped For Your Next Camping Trip

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The Apple Watch is a fantastic companion to the iPhone, but is also a great accessory for exploring the outdoors. When you're out camping in the middle of nowhere, the Apple Watch's safety features like Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, and Medical ID can come in handy if you're stranded or hurt. If you have an Apple Watch Ultra, you can even activate the siren to play high-intensity sounds and attract help.

If you enjoy hiking, you can take advantage of the new features added in watchOS 10 to make hiking safer . For example, the Compass app can automatically add waypoints for the last location with cellular service and emergency network service. In addition, Apple Maps can now display topographical maps.

If you plan on wearing your Apple Watch for your next camping trip, there are a few things you can do beforehand to prepare. This includes adding protective casing and a sport watch band, and making sure you have enough battery power for a few days. 

Read more: 12 Smart Gadgets You Didn't Know Existed

Switch To A Waterproof Watch Band

Apple sells a variety of watch bands for the Apple Watch, letting you change the strap depending on the occasion. For example, you might want to use a metal or leather watch band when you're at work, and opt for a sports band when you're working out. If you're taking the Apple Watch on a camping trip, swap your watch band for something that's waterproof and can survive rough handling.

A watch band made of silicone is your best bet: Apple's Sport Band and Solo Loop are both great outdoor options, and you can also use the Nike Sport Band that has cutouts for extra breathability. If you have an Apple Watch Ultra, both the Trail Loop and Alpine Loop are suitable for camping. While the former Apple band is meant for endurance athletes and runners, the latter is ideal for outdoor adventurers.

You can also get a waterproof Apple Watch band from a third-party brand like Nomad, but just make sure that the clasp fastens securely. The last thing you want is your Apple Watch slipping off your wrist when you're out in the woods.

Add A Case For Extra Protection

The case and screen of an Apple Watch can get easily scratched out in the wilderness, and the glass could also crack if the watch is dropped or dashed against something. The best way to safeguard your Apple Watch while camping is to invest in a case, and there are two types of cases available for Apple Watch. 

The first only covers the actual case, preventing damage to the sides and surrounding the screen with a raised bumper. If you buy this type of case, you might want to add a tempered glass screen protector for your Apple Watch . Just make sure to read user reviews before buying, as some screen protectors affect the touch responsiveness of the display. Apple Watch screen protectors also need to be carefully applied to prevent air bubbles from forming.

Alternatively, use a case that has a built-in tempered glass screen protector. This provides complete protection for your Apple Watch, and can be removed and reused as required. When choosing an Apple Watch case, look for rugged options made with flexible TPU, as these tend to be drop-proof and shock-proof.

Activate A Cellular Plan

If you have a cellular Apple Watch, make sure to activate a watch plan before going camping. With an Apple Watch cellular plan, you can make calls and send messages without having your iPhone nearby. This will ensure that you have a way to get in touch with friends, family, and emergency services in the event your iPhone is lost or damaged. Activating a watch plan is also a great if your child has an Apple Watch, allowing them to communicate if you get separated.

Most carriers, including T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, let you add a watch line to your existing plan for $10 per month. This includes unlimited talk, text, and data. If you have a Wi-Fi-only Apple Watch, however, this won't apply to your device. In this case, you'll need to make sure your Apple Watch is near your iPhone at all times so that you can access its data connection.

Pack A Power Bank

When you're out camping, you won't have access to electricity, which means you'll need to charge your devices using a portable battery. If you're carrying a portable power station for a long weekend of camping, you can use this to charge your Apple Watch. Alternatively, carry a power bank for your iPhone and plug in your Apple Watch charger.

Another option is to invest in a portable Apple Watch charger. This type of power bank comes with a magnetic Apple Watch charger, letting you charge your smartwatch wirelessly. Portable Apple Watch chargers like this one from LVFAN ( $20 on Amazon ) come with enough battery capacity for multiple charges, and are compact enough to fit inside your pocket or backpack.

If you don't want to carry chargers and power banks, put your Apple Watch in Low Power Mode to get the most out of the battery. Depending on your Apple Watch model, this will extend the battery life between 36 and 60 hours. Here's how to turn on Low Power Mode on your Apple Watch:

Open the Settings app.

Tap Battery.

Scroll down and turn on "Low Power Mode."

Download Offline Content

When you're out camping, you might not have access to a data connection, so it makes sense to download content beforehand. If you use Apple Music or Spotify, you can download playlists to your Apple Watch for offline listening. 

This way you can stream music on Apple Watch without your iPhone by connecting it to Bluetooth headphones. The Apple Watch Series 5 and later come with 32GB of storage, while the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 have 64GB, which is more than enough for several hours of music playback.

You might also want to download maps on your Apple Watch. Apple Maps lets you download a specific area to your iPhone, and then view it on your Apple Watch. You can then get turn-by-turn directions on your Apple Watch, provided your iPhone is on and within Bluetooth range. Alternatively, use an app like WorkOutDoors  can work. While it's primarily an outdoor workout app for Apple Watch, it also has maps that can be downloaded for offline use and viewed without starting a workout.

With WorkOutDoors on Apple Watch, you can access topographic vector maps with contours and hill shading, and pan and zoom maps. If you're using the app while hiking, you'll be able to view waypoints and a breadcrumb trail of your route.

Read the original article on SlashGear .

Using an Apple Watch for Travel

Last Updated on February 18, 2024 by Grant

We have been using Apple Watches as fitness trackers and travel watches since 2017 when we both got the Series 2 watch. In that time, the Apple Watch has proved an excellent companion on the trail and in our travels to several countries. 

The most recent iteration of WatchOS, combined with the additional sensors on the Series 6 Apple Watch, has made this device exceptional for our travels. The newest version of the watch is even more capable. The Apple Watch Ultra is an amazing tool for serious adventure travelers. 

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our  Review Policy   for more information.)

What Makes An Apple Watch Great For Travel

The Apple Watch’s flexibility is the key attribute that makes it truly amazing for travel. The ability to customize your watch face with the exact information and tools you need while traveling is simply exceptional. You can even create multiple watch faces to use at different points during the same trip!

You can also easily switch out the watch band depending on the situation you find yourself in. If you want, you can use a nice, breathable band for a hike during the day and then switch to something more refined for dinner.

How I Customize My Watch Face

I make a point to use the analog Infograph face. It affords me a whopping eight complications, each providing me with pertinent information and capabilities.

“Complication” is the term watchmakers use to describe the small details included on a watch face that give information other than time. For example, most analog watches have some sort of complication for the date at the 3 o’clock position.

For Apple Watches, complications both display information and act as a shortcut to the app. Clicking on the weather complication, for example, will give you more detailed information. Some complications, however, are just shortcuts to the app on the watch.

If you don’t like how crowded the Infograph face is there are several other options that do not have as many complications cluttering the screen. Again, that’s what makes the Apple Watch great for travel.

Complications I Use 

Starting at the top left, I use the Calendar complication. While knowing the date is useful, I am more concerned about knowing what day of the week it is. In many places, both in the US and overseas, the day of the week can have a significant impact on what is open. 

At the top right, I have the time in my home city. I do this so I know what time it is for the majority of our family. That said, when Bonnie was in Paris without me, I changed that to be what time it was where she was. 

Read more about Bonnie’s trip to Paris here.

Below that, I use the Weather complication to give me the current temperature. It also gives me the high and low and current conditions. 

On the inside left, I use the Altimeter complication. This is nice when we are out West traveling through the mountains. It is not as useful normally… until you realize it is also a shortcut to the Compass app. The Compass app is extremely useful for navigation.  

On the inside right, I use the Activity complication. This allows me to see my “rings” and know if I need to get up and move around more. The “rings” are Apple’s way of tracking your fitness. The three rings track how many hours you have been standing, how many minutes of exercise you have gotten and how many active calories you have burned.

Below that, I have the Sunrise/Sunset complication. I love to take photos during the golden hour. Knowing at a glance when the next sunrise or sunset will take place is key. This is also key for hiking so you know how many hours of daylight you have remaining.

App Shortcuts

At the very bottom of the screen, I have the Camera Remote app and the Workout app. I use the Camera Remote app often while out on the trail. This is particularly handy if I want to put my iPhone on a tripod and take a selfie. The Workout complication is perfect for quickly launching the app for a hike or a long walk. 

I find these complications to be quite useful and give me a lot of useful information at a glance.

More Tips For Customizing Watch Faces

One of the tricks I like to do is to create other faces for specific purposes. Since you can easily swipe right and left between various faces, you can create a face just to suit a specific function.

For example, I have a “Time Face.” This allows me to have all of the complications useful for keeping track of time, like Timer and Stopwatch, on one face an easy swipe away.

Creating a “Time Face”

I use the World Time watch face and I add in four time-related complications: Stopwatch, Timer, Alarm and Calendar. That way, I can easily just swipe to this face to access those apps without them taking up real estate on the watch face I walk around with.

I use the World Time watch face because it allows me to see where the sun is up around the world. This is quite useful when you are working on planning a trip and you want to know whether it is daytime when you are calling for a reservation. 

Creating a Heart Face 

Because I had a heart attack back in 2015, my heart health is always in the back of my mind. So, I created a watch face I could swipe to for my heart.

Read more about my heart attack in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

I use the Modular watch face to give me easy access to the Heart Rate complication, the ECG complication and the Blood Oxygen complication. 

I have found the heart rate measurements to be consistent with the blood pressure cuff I have at home. Since I do not have atrial fibrillation, the ECG function is not as important to me. That said, if the heart rate sensor is having difficulties (due to the hair on my wrist) the ECG will pick it up. Plus, it gives me piece of mind if my heart is racing even though it cannot detect a heart attack. 

The blood oxygen sensor is mostly accurate. That said, when I got COVID back in August 2021, I did not rely on the measurements from the watch. Rather, I used a pulse oximeter. Still, for casual measurements, it is reliable enough. 

Apple Watch as a Navigation Aid

Probably the best use of an Apple Watch is as a navigation aid. If you use Apple Maps for navigation in your car (which we do all the time), the watch will give you haptic alerts for turns. That is quite useful if you are in the midst of an excellent podcast (like the Dear Bob and Sue Podcast about the National Parks and other public lands) and are about to miss an exit or a turn. Having that buzzing alert on your wrist is a nice reminder. 

But where that really shines is if you are renting a car without Apple CarPlay, like the Jeep we rented in Maui. Even though I had no informational display on the car, I was still able to keep my eyes on the road while using navigation by following the prompts on my Apple Watch. It made getting around the island that much easier.

Read more about our trip to Maui here.

Using Apple Watch For Walking and Mass Transit Directions

Any time we are in a city and need to get around, we use our Apple Watches extensively for walking and mass transit directions. 

The walking directions allow you to leave your phone in your pocket once you have put in the route. The directions pop up on your wrist, alerting you with haptics when you approach a turn. It is quite convenient and allows you to enjoy walking through a city without burying your head in your phone. 

The mass transit directions are similarly good. They do not, however, have as many haptic prompts in metro stations. That is mainly because they are mostly underground and GPS signal is tough. 

On a recent trip to Chicago, we used our phones extensively to navigate the city and had an excellent experience. 

Read more about our trip to Chicago in Bonnie’s upcoming article.

Pro tip: You can set up an Express Transit Card in Apple Pay section of the Watch app on your phone. That will allow you to just tap your watch on the turnstile and breeze through.

The Updated Compass App: A Game Changer

If you are a hiker, having a good approximation of your compass bearing is useful when using a paper map. The real benefit of the newly redesigned app is you can track your steps and follow a set of digital breadcrumbs back to where you started.

I cannot tell you how useful this would be if you decide to just wander around an area like the narrow streets near the Acropolis in Athens. After a while, the streets all start to look the same. If you aren’t keeping track of where you are going, it is easy to get lost.

The app also tracks where you parked your car (if it was connected via Bluetooth or CarPlay). That’s really handy in large parking lots. 

Making Use of Focus in iOS and WatchOS

One of the best additions to iOS 16 and Watch OS 9 was the addition of different Focus settings. I have set up a focus just for travel. When I turn it on, it automatically changes my watch face to my travel face. It also is set to only allow certain notifications from apps.

I have set up different watch faces with different complications based on which complications I use at home, at work, out and about and while traveling. For example, I have Outlook calendar notifications turned on for my work face, allowing me to know when my next meeting is. At home, I have the Latch complication on my face because the apartment I live in uses that app to control common doors.

Focus and Lock Screens

The focus setting also customizes my Lock Screen. I use one of the Weather & Astronomy lock screens which shows where I am on the globe, even if I don’t have cellular service. It was really cool to see my location displayed on the Lock Screen in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico while on a recent cruise.

Read more about our cruise aboard the Norweigan Breakaway here.

While setting up a Focus takes time, I have found it helps me get the most out of the flexibility of my phone and watch. By spending the time to get all of the settings right, I am able to automate customizing my phone and watch for different situations easily. 

For example, I have a Focus setting for while I am at home, at work, in the car, at bedtime, while traveling and when I don’t want to be disturbed. My home and work Focus settings come on automatically based on my location. My driving setting turns on automatically when my phone connects to a car or uses CarPlay. 

Travel Apps For Your Apple Watch

Honestly, I don’t use a lot of third-party apps on my watch. In terms of apps for travel, the big ones I have are the Fly Delta app, primarily because it pushes gate change notifications to my watch. 

I also have the Hilton Honors app but I only use it for notifications to check in for my hotel. I don’t use it for digital keys (I rarely use those) but I could. 

The AllTrails app is our staple for hiking. I have found that to be invaluable on the trail, especially if all of the data has been downloaded. Still, you have to run both the workout app and the AllTrails app if you want workout credit for your hike. 

Lastly, I use the FordPass app, which allows me to remotely start, lock and unlock our truck.

Cons of Using an Apple Watch for Travel

The single biggest con to using an Apple Watch for travel is the battery. The Apple Watch pretty much has to be charged every night. Additionally, if you are flying on an overnight flight, you may need to charge the watch during the flight in order to keep it up and running for an entire day when you land. 

For long trips on a plane, we have started carrying a small, rechargeable battery for charging our watches. It is also handy if, for some reason, we forgot to put the watch on the charger at night.

You can also have battery problems when using GPS without a cellular signal to back it up. When we hiked the Yosemite Valley Loop, Bonnie’s watch did not last the entire hike because she did not have GPS enabled on her phone for the hike. The battery just could not keep up with that much demand. 

The next con is having an internet connection while you are traveling. If you are traveling overseas and are not using your phone’s data capability while traveling, some of the features of the watch are pretty much disabled, namely the Weather app. 

Lastly, while the normal Apple Watch is perfectly fine for swimming, it is NOT a dive watch. I learned that the hard way while snorkeling Cozumel. My watch did fine while swimming or in a hot tub several times before but diving down to check out a reef in Cozumel, even in about 15 feet of water, was more than it could handle. So, now I carry another watch with me if I am expecting to get deep. The new Apple Watch Ultra, on the other hand, is designed for diving to depth. 

So What Watch Would You Use For Travel if Not an Apple Watch?

If something were to happen to my Apple Watch or I feel like I am going to be in a potentially too deep water environment for it, I really like my Citizen Eco-Drive Field Watch . This watch is simple, has a solar cell to keep the battery charged, has a luminescent coating on the dial for reading the watch at night and is lightweight. 

I really like the simple, classic look of an analog field watch. Also, I really love that I rarely need to worry about replacing the battery. 

• These military-inspired watches with rugged looks and a comfortable fit are born ready for adventure.
• 3 Hand, Day / Date
• Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Case with Olive Green Nylon Strap
• Luminous Hands and Markers and Mineral Crystal
• Featuring our Eco-Drive technology – powered by light, any light. Never needs a battery100 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty

Final Thoughts on Using an Apple Watch for Travel

The Apple Watch is incredibly capable as a travel watch. It gives you exceptional flexibility and customizations to provide you with either excellent information at a glance or the ability to quickly access useful apps. 

• CARBON NEUTRAL — An aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 paired with the latest Sport Loop is carbon neutral. Learn more about Apple’s commitment to the environment at apple.com/2030.
• WHY APPLE WATCH SERIES 9 — Your essential companion for a healthy life is now even more powerful. The S9 chip enables a superbright display and a magical new way to quickly and easily interact with your Apple Watch without touching the screen. Advanced health, safety, and activity features provide powerful insights and help when you need it. And redesigned apps in watchOS give you more information at a glance.
• ADVANCED HEALTH FEATURES — Take an ECG anytime. Get notifications if you have an irregular heart rhythm. See how much time you spent in REM, Core, or Deep sleep with sleep stages. Temperature sensing provides insights into overall wellbeing and cycle tracking. And take note of your state of mind to help build emotional awareness and resilience.
• A POWERFUL FITNESS PARTNER — The Workout app gives you a range of ways to train plus advanced metrics for more insights about your workout performance. And Apple Watch comes with three months of Apple Fitness+ free.
• INNOVATIVE SAFETY FEATURES — Fall Detection and Crash Detection can connect you with emergency services in the event of a hard fall or a severe car crash. And Emergency SOS lets you call for help with the press of a button.

• ADVANCED HEALTH FEATURES — Keep an eye on your blood oxygen. Take an ECG anytime. Get notifications if you have an irregular heart rhythm. See how much time you spent in REM, Core, or Deep sleep with sleep stages. Temperature sensing provides insights into overall wellbeing and cycle tracking. And take note of your state of mind to help build emotional awareness and resilience.

I use the watch extensively when I travel. While it has its drawbacks, they are more than outweighed by the pros of the device. 

We highly recommend the Apple Watch for travel.          

Travel Resources

What do you use to find a flight.

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start. Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties , so we use the Hilton website . You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express. Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way. Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN , or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them. Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia . Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct . We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper. Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip. Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first. Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J. Click here to get a Good Sam membership. We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there. Click here to get a AAA membership.

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ForeFlight on Apple Watch

Experience the convenience of ForeFlight at the flip of your wrist with quick access to local weather and airport information for preflight planning and more! Visit the Watch app on your iPhone to install the ForeFlight Watch app and customize your Watch Face with our complications.

ForeFlight on Apple Watch Support

ForeFlight on Apple Watch is available with  ForeFlight version 15.7 and above on watchOS version 9.4 and above. For FAQs and troubleshooting steps, visit our Support Center .

Convenient Information At-a-Glance

Whether planning your next flight or a simple family outing, ForeFlight on Apple Watch makes it easy to quickly check essential information for your current location, destination, or anywhere else without reaching for your phone.

Home Screen

Your home base for reviewing local weather and conditions at your Favorite, Recent, and nearby airports.

Local Weather

Check out current conditions, sunrise and sunset times, and the daily/hourly forecast, anywhere, any time.

Airports View

Access a wealth of weather information plus frequencies, runways, and NOTAMs for any airport in seconds.

Give your watch face a makeover with powerful complications like current conditions, temperature, winds, and more.

Watch Face Complications

One-Tap Access Add the ForeFlight app icon to your Apple Watch face for easy access to local weather, forecasts, nearby airports, and more with a single tap.

Weather Information Where You Need It Elevate your watch’s face with trustworthy weather information at a glance. Choose from complications for local weather conditions, temperature and dew point, and wind speed and direction. Each complication can adapt to different watch face configurations for maximum flexibility.

Your Go-To for Local Weather

Check the weather for your flight in an hour or in a week with plainly-useful weather information derived from ForeFlight’s Daily/Hourly Forecast.

Detailed Current Conditions A scrollable “now-cast” for your exact location provides an overview of this hour’s temperature and dew point, winds, weather conditions, pressure, and more, as well as sunrise and sunset times.

Need an Umbrella? Plan your day with an hour-by-hour forecast of flight category, conditions, ceiling, visibility, winds, temperature and dew point, and precipitation chances.

Plan Ahead - Way Ahead Check the 10-day forecast for essentail daily weather information, plus a color-coded flight category timeline to help you anticipate the timing of less-than-VFR conditions.

Explore Airports Near & Far

Find detailed airport information with essential weather and elevation information at top of Airport view. 

All the Airport Weather Under the Weather section of an airport, find the most current METARs, TAFs, and the MOS with noted expiration times, along with daily and hourly weather and winds.  

Frequencies Search no further than your watch to find an airport’s CTAF/UNICOM, ATIS, Clearance, Ground and Tower frequencies. In the same scroll find nearby approach frequencies and flight service phone numbers.

Runways and NOTAMs The Runways section provides runway numbers with current crosswind components, traffic pattern direction, runway material, and length. Additionally locate all live NOTAMs from your watch as ForeFlight highlights critical words and statuses such as “Out of Service” and “Closed”. 

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Updated: TripIt for Apple Watch

By Angela Marie Feher

May 21, 2019

News & Culture

Before your flight

During your flight, during your trip, the fine print.

• Your Guide to Summertime Bleisure Travel
• 10 Safety Tips for the Solo Traveler

About the Author

Angela Marie Feher

Angela is the public relations, content and social media manager for TripIt. She is based in San Francisco, after growing up on the East Coast and living in cities like Paris, Charleston and Boston. Angela is frequently on the go for TripIt, and has quite a few tips and tricks for making the most out of business travel. When she's not traveling, she enjoys finding a great cup of coffee, playing tennis and spending time with her two rescue dogs—Jacques and Bijoux.

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Use Google Maps on your Apple Watch

To get a seamless navigation between your phone and watch, install Google Maps on your Apple Watch.

On your watch, you can also navigate to existing shortcuts, get step-by-step directions, and get the current ETA for your commute.

To use Google Maps on your watch, make sure your devices have:

• WatchOS 5 or greater
• iOS 10 or greater
• Bluetooth enabled

Set up Google Maps on your Apple Watch

Turn on location services.

Important: To use Google Maps on your watch, turn on the location services.

• Tap  Only While Using the App  or  Always Allow .

Add or edit Home, Work, & other shortcuts

• Tap  Home ,  Work , or  Edit shortcuts .
• On your iPhone, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Home or Work or add a shortcut .

Navigate with your Apple Watch

Navigate to an existing shortcut.

• Tap a shortcut. You’ll get step-by-step directions on your watch.

You can also open the route on your phone once you start navigation on your Apple Watch. 

Navigate to a new destination

For new destinations, you can get step-by-step directions on your Apple Watch when you start the navigation on your phone

• On your iPhone, start your navigation.
• Under “Current trip” tap the ETA.

Set travel mode on your watch

• Scroll down and tap Set travel mode .
• Choose your travel mode.

Was this helpful?

Need more help, try these next steps:.

Apple Watch on trips – practical Smartwatch on vacation?

by Sascha Tegtmeyer

The Apple Watch proves to be a valuable travel companion for every holiday. With this versatile smartwatch you can check plane tickets, make cashless payments, communicate with your family via walkie-talkie and of course display the local time. But what functions do they do Apple Watch particularly attractive when travelling? In this article we present the main advantages and possible weaknesses of the Apple Watch to give you a comprehensive insight into their suitability to travel.

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I press the function key twice and hold my smartwatch up to the card reader. Bing once and the restaurant bill is paid. I had the tip deducted straight away. This was quick, PIN code and signature were not necessary. The friendly waiter thanks us and we leave the restaurant in Florida feeling full.

Apple Watch When traveling, the banalities of vacation such as paying, navigating or handling boarding passes and admission tickets are a little easier and faster. Since the first generation of the Apple Watch I use the electronic ticket on the smartwatch - whenever possible - for check-in and boarding.

Apple Watch as an indispensable travel companion?

If I double click the function key of my Apple Watch If you tap and hold it against the card reader, you will hear a quiet “bing” and the restaurant bill will be paid in no time. I even deducted the tip in one go - without a PIN code or signature. The courteous waiter thanks us as we leave the Florida restaurant full and satisfied.

The Apple Watch proves to be an indispensable travel companion, making everyday holiday tasks such as paying, navigating and dealing with boarding passes and tickets easier and faster. I've been using it since the first generation Smartwatch and their electronic flight tickets to conveniently check in and board whenever possible.

Video - Apple Watch used when traveling

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Numerous useful areas of application Apple Watch on holiday

When on vacation, a smartwatch is a useful companion as a supplement to the smartphone if it is used correctly. But what does she do? Apple Watch so special on the go? What are the pros and cons of using such a smartwatch? The sports watch can be used in many ways in many travel destinations, even if services like Apple Pay is not yet available everywhere.

Since mid-2015, we have explored the world exclusively with a smartwatch on our wrist. The Apple Watch has us jogging, surfing, stand-up paddling, swimming and even in salt water and in the Sauna accompanied. However, for sports activities we recommend a special sports armband like this Apple Watch Sports Loop. In the following we give you valuable tips on how to get the most out of your travel gadget on vacation.

• Airline tickets and boarding passes
• Navigation and local knowledge
• Communication
• health and fitness
• language assistant
• currency converter
• Travel Guide Apps
• Sound control
• Weather forecast
• Notes and reminders

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• ADVANCED HEALTH FEATURES – Keep your blood oxygen…
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• Answer calls and text messages from your wrist
• Up to 20% faster than the previous one Apple Watch SE
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• The GPS model allows you to receive calls and messages…
• Measure your blood oxygen with a new sensor and app
• Check your heart rhythm with ECG app

• MOBILE – Send a text message, make a call and stream...

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Apple Watch Ultra trail running – tips & experiences – getting started with a smartwatch?

Strengths and weaknesses of the Apple Watch traveling and on vacation

The bottom line is that the use of the Apple Watch Many advantages and only a few disadvantages when traveling. We have been using the current model since mid-2015 and have therefore used it on every trip over the past few years. That's why our experiences with the smartwatch while traveling have been quite extensive - and above all positive.

Strengths of Apple Watch to travel

• Everything right at your fingertips: With the watch you have all your travel documents, from flight tickets to hotel reservations, right on your wrist. No more printing or searching on your smartphone necessary.
• Contactless payment becomes child’s play: Simply hold the watch against a terminal. This eliminates the need for a wallet and at the same time offers more security when traveling.
• Stay connected without taking out your phone: Make phone calls, send messages or communicate with others via walkie-talkie Apple Watch-Speak to owners.
• Navigate unfamiliar areas with ease: The watch shows you the way and uses vibrations to indicate when you should turn.
• Fitness tracking: Keep an eye on your fitness, track steps, calories and heart rate. Automatic recognition of sports? No problem!
• Make the watch your personal travel assistant: Get information about nearby attractions or restaurants and benefit from helpful translation tools or currency conversions.
• Always keep an eye on the time: Set alarms, timers or reminders and be informed of the current local time when you are in different time zones.

weaknesses of Apple Watch to travel

• Low battery life: The battery life of the Apple Watch is not very long. Depending on the model and usage, you may need to charge it every day or even multiple times a day. This can be annoying, especially if you don't have access to an outlet or need to carry multiple chargers.
• The watch is quite expensive: Depending on the model and features, it costs between 300 and 800 euros. That's a big investment for a device that may not be entirely necessary. You also have to be careful not to lose or damage the watch.
• The Apple Watch is not always compatible: To see all the functions of Apple Watch To use it, you need an iPhone and an internet connection. This can be a problem if you are in an area where there is no network or where roaming is expensive. In addition, paying with the watch does not work everywhere.
• The watch is not very discreet: If you have a Apple Watch wearing, you could unintentionally draw attention to yourself. This can be dangerous if you are in an unsafe area or if you could be robbed.

About the author

I'm just a curious beach kid in the world.

Hello, I am  Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer from Hamburg – and a real beach child with heart and soul! Sea fan, travel lover and always up for an adventure. On my travel blog Just-Wanderlust.com and the social media channels of Strandkind Travels, I combine my love of traveling and nature with a passion for water sports such as stand-up paddling, diving and surfing. I am a journalist, author and blogger - and I am naturally curious when I get to know new travel destinations and then write about them in detail. As a technology fan, when I'm traveling with my family or alone, I'm always happy to bring a few travel gadgets with me for testing purposes. My favorite travel countries, which I also prefer to write about in my travel blog: USA, Thailand and Maldives.

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Is the Apple Watch useful when traveling?

The Apple Watch can be a great travel companion if you use them wisely. What draws the Apple Watch out on trips? And what are the pros and cons of using a smartwatch on vacation? the Apple Watch is a popular gadget, but is it really useful when traveling? After all, battery life isn't great, it's expensive, and it can be difficult to keep track of things when you're constantly on the go. However, there are some clear advantages to having one Apple Watch used when travelling.

1. Entrance tickets and boarding passes on the smart watch

One of the most practical features of the Apple Watch When traveling, you have the opportunity to save your boarding passes and entry tickets on your watch and quickly show them at every opportunity. For flight tickets, only a QR code appears on the display, which can be scanned anywhere and replaces the paper ticket. However, to date it still has a few disadvantages.

On the one hand, the ticket has to be called up again and again on the watch and is of course not always available when it is needed. On the other hand, the smartwatch boarding pass only works at larger and modern airports, while at many holiday destinations you still have to use the printed boarding pass.

2. Weather information on the Apple Watch

Even when you're on vacation, you can have all the important information on the display on your smartwatch. With just a single glance you can immediately see what time it is and what the weather will be like. The smartphone can safely stay in the bag - and we can still see immediately what we should wear for the day's tour. Certainly the weather information is at the Apple Watch Not the most important feature when traveling, but it's definitely practical.

3. Use navigation and GPS

Things look different when you're on the Apple Watch Navigation and GPS used. This sounds relatively useless at first, but it can prove to be very practical when traveling. When we drove around on the scooter in Thailand, we had a local SIM card in our smartphone and were able to access Google Maps data from the Internet in real time. With the scooter we didn't have to stop every time to navigate. A quick look at the Apple Watch was enough to stay on the right path and find any destination quickly.

4. Walkie-talkie function for explorers

The walkie-talkie function is a practical feature, especially on adventure trips - for example if several family members have one Apple Watch own and take with you on the journey. The walkie-talkie function makes it easy to communicate and even if the trip participants are a good distance apart, they can communicate with the help of the smartwatch. Such functions make perfect sense, especially on active holidays and hiking holidays.

5. With Apple Pay simply pay with your wrist

As already reported at the beginning, it is now possible in many countries around the world Apple Pay and pay using your smartwatch. What still causes astonishment at the supermarket checkout in Germany is already normal in many other countries. Double click on the function key Apple Watch enough to Apple Activate Pay. The watch is held up to the card reader and the payment is made.

It is not necessary to provide a PIN code or a signature. When you put the watch on, you entered your personal PIN code on the watch. And if the watch were stolen, it would be immediately blocked and could not be used Apple Pay can be used. This function is particularly helpful when traveling and saves a lot of time when it is very valuable.

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A wealth of travel apps for Apple Watch and iPhone

When you travel, a whole range of practical travel apps make your life easier. You can assume that these small programs are primarily designed for the iPhone and will provide you with useful assistance there. Regardless of whether you are looking for a hotel at your holiday destination, looking for restaurant reviews and insider tips or simply want to use a navigation app so you don't get lost - apps have a wide range of uses when traveling. Especially when it comes to travel apps, there are many programs that, in addition to the iPhone version, also have a version for Apple Watch to have.

Here, too, the advantage is that the programs can be easily controlled from your wrist and you don't have to take your smartphone out of your pocket. This may be banal in individual cases, but all in all, throughout the day, the situations in which the smartphone gets stuck in the pants add up. We have listed some of the most important apps for travelers below.

Practical health functions of the Apple Watch to travel

Many critics may note that a smartwatch is simply an unnecessary accessory. However, that is not entirely true. The travel gadget has some essential functions that make it the perfect companion when traveling. There are currently three main functions Apple Watch on trips that make the watch virtually irreplaceable:

• emergency function
• fall detection
• ECG and heart monitoring

Apple Watch An emergency call can be made quickly on your wrist, saving valuable seconds until the emergency services arrive. A package holidaymaker who lies around the pool all day certainly doesn't need this feature. However, anyone who goes climbing or hiking on an adventure vacation can benefit greatly from this function. The same applies to fall detection (from Series 4). She notices Apple Watch, if the owner has fallen. The smartwatch tries to make its wearer aware. Does he react? Apple Watch If the owner doesn't, the emergency number will be contacted automatically.

Particularly helpful for older users on vacation

Older vacationers in particular also have another important function to ensure their safety while traveling. The Apple Watch monitors (with limitations) the user's heart and can detect atrial fibrillation at an early stage. The wearer can also record a single-channel ECG with the watch and thus check their heart health at any time. This function is of course very important for risk groups, both when traveling and at home. According to medical experts, heart monitoring works very reliably.

So it has Apple Watch When traveling, there are a few functions that go beyond just nice-to-have features and can really make the watch an essential travel companion.

Smartwatches on vacation - a personal assistant on your wrist

Of course there are not only those Apple Watch. Many manufacturers have useful smartwatches in their range that will support you on vacation. Especially for active travelers, there are numerous digital sports watches that record important activity data and provide the wearer with a realistic picture of their sporting performance. Especially for sports trips, hiking holidays and adventure holidays, travelers can rely on numerous models that support them in their favorite sport and numerous activities.

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Apple Watch on trips – how useful is the smartwatch on vacation?

My conclusion

What's the benefit of it? Apple Watch When it comes to traveling, we can draw a very clear conclusion. The different models of the Apple Watch from the first generation to today have been accompanying us on our journeys for years. The smart watch offers many useful features on vacation and abroad in general and we wouldn't want to be without this loyal companion. We're looking forward to the improved future versions with even more practical functions for on the go.

This way you can share restaurant payments with your friends and family members without having to give cash. With just two clicks you can send your share to the payer. This is certainly just one of many new functions that will be available in future models Apple Watch be maintained in the next few years. We are very excited to see how the journey with the smartwatch will continue in the future.

Do you use one? Apple Watch and do you take them with you when you travel? Which functions do you find particularly useful? Share your experiences in the comments.

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Run with your Apple Watch

Get the most from your run with Apple Watch. And learn how to save power on long runs.

How to start a running workout

Open the Workout app.

Scroll to Outdoor Run or Indoor Run.

Wait for the three-second countdown. To skip the countdown, tap the screen.

If you're in a country or region where Automatic Track Detection is available , your Apple Watch may recognize when you've arrived at a standard-shaped outdoor track with visible lane markings. 1 When you start an Outdoor Run, you're prompted to select the lane in which you plan to run. Automatic Track Detection uses both GPS and Apple Maps data to try to give you the most accurate distance, pace, and route map. You can also add an alert for each lap completed during a track run in the Alerts settings of the Workout app.

To check your progress, check your watch face. Pace alerts are available for Outdoor Run only.

If you have Apple Watch Ultra, you can set your running workout to the Action button. You can also turn on Precision Start in workout settings, which will show when you have a GPS signal and will skip the countdown automatically.

Learn how to use the Action button on your Apple Watch Ultra

How to pause your run

To pause your run, press both the Digital Crown and the side button at the same time. To resume, press both buttons again.

You can also set indoor and outdoor running workouts to automatically pause when you stop moving.

On your Apple Watch, open the Settings app, then tap Workout > Auto-Pause > Auto-Pause.

On your iPhone, open the Watch app, tap the My Watch tab, then tap Workout > Auto-Pause > Auto-Pause.

How to end your workout

How to track your progress

Customize the metrics that you see when you work out, and see your past workouts.

Choose which metrics to track

Tap the Edit button next to the goal or workout configuration.

Tap Preferences, then tap Workout Views.

Change which metrics you want to include.

To see the metrics you included, turn the Digital Crown during your workout.

Running form metrics

There are a number of metrics to help you get the most out of your running workout. 2

Vertical Oscillation: Tap to add an estimate of how much your body travels vertically as you run in centimeters. This measurement, along with stride length, can give you a sense of how much energy you’re using to drive upward versus forward. Apple Watch can log your vertical oscillation automatically during outdoor running workouts.

Running Stride Length: Tap to add an estimate of how much distance you cover from one step to the next while running in meters. Along with cadence, stride length determines your overall running speed. Apple Watch can log your running stride length automatically during outdoor running workouts. For the best Stride Length estimates, run for approximately 200 meters to calibrate your Apple Watch.

Ground Contact Time: Tap to add an estimate of the time each foot spends touching the ground while running in milliseconds. Apple Watch can log your ground contact time automatically during outdoor running workouts.

Heart Rate Zones: Tap Include to add Heart Rate Zones to get a sense of your intensity level.

Running Power: Tap Include to show an estimate of the work you’re doing while running measured in watts. Running Power reflects the intensity of your run and can give a sense of your effort as your speed or incline changes. Apple Watch can log your Running Power automatically during outdoor running workouts. Running Power is reported only during running workouts and cannot capture any extra load, such as a weighted backpack.

Elevation: Tap Include to show your elevation as you run.

Activity Rings: Tap Include to show the progress of your Activity Rings during your workout.

View your route

On your iPhone, open the Fitness app.

Tap Show More next to History.

Tap the workout that you want to view, then scroll down.

Tap the map.

The colors show your pace, with green the fastest pace and red, the slowest. To see the route, you must have an Apple Watch Series 2 or later or have your iPhone with you during the workout. You must also turn on route tracking: On your iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Apple Watch Workout > While Using the App.

Race your last or best time with Race Route

After you've completed the same route two or more times with little to no deviation, you can select it and race against your last or best time with Race Route.

Scroll to Outdoor Run.

Tap the Route you wish to race against, then select Last or Personal Best.

As you run, your Apple Watch shows you a comparison of your current and previous run. You can check your progress to see how far ahead or behind you are, as well as the distance remaining. You'll also receive an "Off Route" notification if you run off-course.

If you're near the starting point of a previous route, available routes appear as a suggested workout. To view all routes, tap Suggested then Route.

Get ready for a long-distance run

With Apple Watch, you can choose how to get ready for a long-distance run, like a marathon.

Low Power Mode disables the Always On display. Learn more about Low Power Mode .

You can sync music, podcasts, and audiobooks directly to your Apple Watch ahead of time, so you can enjoy your content even when you're out of range of your iPhone. Learn how to sync content to your Apple Watch .

If you bring your iPhone with you, your watch can use Bluetooth for battery-intensive functions like connectivity, streaming music or podcasts, accessing Siri, and more.

If your long-distance run is later in the day, you can preserve battery life by turning off cellular and the Always On display in the hours before your run. Learn how to turn cellular on or off and how to manage Always On settings .

Learn more about battery performance .

Get better results

Make sure that your health details are accurate in the Health app .

Verify that your Watch Orientation is correct on your Apple Watch under Settings > General > Orientation.

When running, swing your arms naturally with empty hands, and don't run with your arms restricted.

Poor GPS quality can impact your running form estimates.

Your Apple Watch estimates your measurements during workouts based on the information that you entered during setup. Learn how to get the best measurements .

See your Activity history .

1. Automatic Track Detection and Race Route are available only on Apple Watch Series 4 or later with watchOS 9.2 or later.

2. Vertical Oscillation, Running Stride Length, and Ground Contact Time are available only on Apple Watch Series 6 or later with watchOS 9 or later.

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Apple Watch

Modified on Wed, 25 Oct 2023 at 05:26 AM

TripIt for Apple Watch is available for all TripIt users. 

TripIt users can see their travel plans throughout the day, pull up their flight details before they head to the airport, and even confirm their hotel’s check-in time or location when they land – right from Apple Watch. TripIt Pro users will also receive real-time flight alerts, including: connecting flight information, gate changes, flight delays, and more.

TripIt users simply pair Apple Watch with their iPhone, and they’ll have instant access to their travel plans right from their wrist.  Users will need to download both the Watch app and our mobile app.  You can add TripIt to the Dock on your Watch for quick access to your travel plans.

What you will see:

The information that users see is the most useful information at that moment. It uses plans for the day, plus a little more, for evening travelers.

The details:

• Currently we display air, car, lodging, transportation items, restaurants and activities on the watch.
• We display items within a 30-hour window starting at midnight in the current day, current timezone – this would include things happening today, as well as up until 6 a.m. the following morning.   
• If the user has items happening today – but they have already happened — they may not appear on the watch.  The watch presents only current or upcoming items – each type of itinerary item has rules as to how long after the start time they will be displayed, but as the day goes on, plans will be dropped from the watch display that have already happened.
• When air, car, hotel, and transportation items are not within the 30-hour window you will see the message View trip details on your iPhone.

Accessing future trip information:

The information that users see is the most useful information at that moment—it uses plans for the day, plus a little more, for evening travelers and night owls. Users can always open up the TripIt app on their iPhones for more / future trip information.

Offline access:

TripIt for Apple Watch can be used offline. However, data will not be updated while the user’s Apple Watch or iPhone are offline. 

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

The best Apple Watch deals you can buy right now

Spring has sprung, and so have opportunities to save big. We're running hot off the tails of Amazon's Big Spring Sale and Samsung's Discover sale, but you don't have to wait for a peak sale season to score savings on top tech products -- even coveted Apple watches . 

If you're looking to upgrade your smartwatch setup or purchase one for the first time, don't fret. There's plenty of deals and discounts across retailers like Amazon , Walmart , and more -- including on Apple products like the Watch SE , Series 8 , and Series 9 . 

Also: The best Apple Watches of 2024: Expert tested  

We rounded up the best Apple Watch deals of April 2024 that you can grab right now, so you can find and shop savings, any time of year. 

Read more: The best Apple Watches and how to pick the best model for you

Best Apple Watch deals of April 2024 

• Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, Midnight, Red, Silver, or Starlight Sport Band): $199 (save $200 at Walmart) (Low stock)
• Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS + Cellular, White Sport Band): $299 (save $40 at Walmart)
• Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, Midnight, Red, Pink, Storm Blue, or Starlight Sport Band): Starting at $359 (save $70 at Walmart)
• Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, Midnight, Red, Pink, or Starlight Sport Band): $329 (save $70 at Walmart)
• Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, Midnight or Storm Blue Sport Band): $311 (save $88 at Walmart)
• Apple Watch SE (1st Gen) (40mm, Midnight Blue, Silver, or Abyss Blue Sport Band): $109 (save $170 at Walmart) 
• Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) (40mm, Winter Blue Sport Loop): $189 (save $60 at Amazon)
• Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) (40mm, Winter Blue Sport Loop with AppleCare+ Bundle): $238 (save $60 at Amazon)
• Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) (40mm, Starlight Sport Loop): $200 (save $49 with coupon at Amazon)
• Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) (40mm, Midnight, Silver, or Starlight Sport Band): $189 (save $60 at Walmart)
• Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) (44mm + GPS, Midnight Sport Band): $269 (save $60 at Walmart)
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, Olive or Blue Alpine Loop): $780 (save $19 at Amazon) 
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, Indigo Alpine Loop): $780 (save $19 at Amazon)

Apple Watch Series 9 45mm

Save $70 at walmart.

• Current price: $459
• Original price: $529

Apple's latest flagship watch is on sale in the 45mm size, as well as others. The Series 9 offers all the newest features and is one step up from the base model SE. The Apple Watch Series 9 can track activity, steps, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen (lung function), wrist temperature, sleep, and environmental sound levels (to protect your hearing). And it uses algorithms and machine learning -- aka, AI -- to spot dangerous patterns and alert you to seek medical attention.

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) 40mm

Save $60 at walmart.

• Current price: $189 
• Original price: $249

If wellness is your goal, then the Apple watch is a popular pick for maximum productivity. And if you're not looking for advanced features offered in the newer Series 8, 9, or Ultra and Ultra 2 models, the watch SE is a great buy with all the essentials, and you'd be surprised how well this model stacks up to Apple's other contenders. 

The Apple Watch SE does offer some of the same health and safety features as the Series 8 and the Ultra, though it doesn't track blood oxygen, do ECG heart checks, or check your temperature.

Also:  Apple Watch SE (2023) vs. Apple Watch SE (2020)

ZDNET Editor in Chief Jason Hiner noted that the SE (2nd Gen) also makes a great smartwatch to give to someone who doesn't have an iPhone, such as a child or an elderly family member, using Apple's Family Setup. 

"If you are new to Apple Watch, giving it a try for the first time, and not sure you need all the latest health sensors, then the Apple Watch SE is a great place to get started," Hiner says. 

I upgraded from the Series 3 Apple Watch to the SE during the holidays, and I have never been happier with a tech purchase. The SE has all the necessary features without the complicated bells and whistles I didn't want (or need), yet still offers a crisp display, fast response rate, and easy use. I loved my SE upgrade so much, I bought my mom her own for Christmas.  

Review:   Apple Watch Series 9: Don't settle

If you want to level up your Apple watch experience, the Series 9 offers some more advanced features for a higher cost, though it is also on sale for $50 off following the new year. 

Apple Watch Series 8 41mm

Save $200 at walmart.

• Current price: $199
• Original price: $399

Though not the most up-to-date model, the  Series 8 still offers great value . The Series 8 is IPX 6 water- and dust-resistant, contains 32 GB of storage, and offers several sensors, including GPS, altimeter, blood oxygen, optical heart sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, body temperature sensor, and high-G accelerometer. 

Also:  Watch Series 9 vs. Series 8: Should you upgrade?

When former ZDNET expert reviewer Christina Darby reviewed the watch in 2022, she pronounced it a great buy. 

"The  Apple Watch Series 8  is an incremental update to the classic, squircle smartwatch -- and I'm not complaining. The same catalog of good-looking and practical watch faces is still there and, with the enhanced health and fitness tracking features, the watch is more useful than ever for helping me stay in tune with my body both during activity and at rest," Darby said in  her review . 

Apple Watch Series 9 41mm, Midnight Sport Band

Save $88 at walmart.

• Current price: $311

Apple's latest flagship watch is on sale in the 41mm size, as well as others. The Series 9 offers all the newest features and is one step up from the base model SE. 

The Apple Watch Series 9 can track activity, steps, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen (lung function), wrist temperature, sleep, and environmental sound levels (to protect your hearing). And it uses algorithms and machine learning -- aka, AI -- to spot dangerous patterns and alert you to seek medical attention. At Walmart, the midnight sport band option is available for $88 off, $18 more than the $70 savings we've seen offered for a few months now. 

Best refurbished Apple Watch deals of April 2024

• Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, Clover Sport Band, Renewed): $215 (save $300  at Amazon)
• Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, Midnight Sport Band, Restored): $249 (save $136 at Walmart)

How did we choose these deals?

ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. 

We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. 

What is the best Apple watch?

ZDNET's top pick for the best Apple watch  is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 since it is lauded by athletes and members of the press as the best Apple Watch ever made thanks to its rugged durability, large and bright display, long battery life, water resistance, and more. Its no surprise it became the flagship model as soon as the Ultra was released last year. 

Apple Watch SE vs Series 8: Which is the better buy?

If you're buying your first Apple Watch or upgrading from a Series 6 or earlier, ZDNET recommends buying the Series 9 this year because it features a big upgrade in accuracy for tracking your health and fitness. 

However, if you want to get in at the lowest price or you're buying a watch for a kid or an elderly family member (for the fall detection and heart rate monitoring, for example) then we'd recommend getting last year's Apple Watch Series 8 over the Apple Watch SE because it has more (and better) health sensors and it also has emergency crash detection for accidents.

Also : Watch Series 8 vs Series 9: Should you upgrade?  

What is the newest Apple Watch?

Apple has a lengthy lineup of its flagship tech wearable, with several iterations over the last few years. The two newest watch releases come in the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which were released in September 2023. The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) remains the most up-to-date base model. With multiple models available, both old and new, you'll be sure to find a watch that fits your needs and your price point. 

Which Apple watches have the new double tap feature?

Apple's newest releases, the Watch Series 9 and the Watch Ultra 2 both feature the new finger tap capability. Apple formally refers to this as the "double tap gesture," and with it users can easily control either watch with just one hand and without touching the display. Users can tap the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice to quickly perform many of the most common actions.

What are the different Apple Watch bands available?

Apple offers several band options that are included with their watches, some dependent on the model purchased. The most frequent band options, often included with new Apple watches, like the Series 9, are the Sport Band and Sport Loop, available in several colors such as Midnight, Starlight, White, Red, Pink, and more. 

Other band options include the Ocean Band, Alpine Loop, Milanese Loop, Trail Loop, Solo Loop, Braided Solo Loop, and more. Apple and other retailers offer tons of bands made of differing materials in a multitude of colors and designs as well. 

Are there any alternative smartwatches worth considering?

The Apple watch models are not the only options for smart watches, despite their popularity. ZDNET rounded up the best smartwatch deals so you can scope more alternative deals, including the Fitbit Versa 4, Fitbit Luxe, Google Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, and more. 

What does "trade-in" mean?

Similarly to turning in an older cell-phone to receive monetary credit towards purchasing a newer or more updated version, Apple and other major retailers often have options to "trade-in" other devices, like Apple watches. 

When participating in a trade-in offer, you are providing your previously used item to the retailer in exchange for a predetermined amount of cash back that can be directly applied to your next item purchase of the same product. Eligible trade-in items and the cash back offered for each product is decided by each individual retailer and is often determined by factors such as age, condition, and functionality of the item being presented for trade-in. Apple recently decided to even bump up the amount they offer for trade-ins as well, too. 

Also: Apple is paying more for your used Apple watches

When will these deals expire?

Deals are subject to sell-out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on a deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com . 

ZDNET Recommends

Grab the apple watch series 9 for just $269 at best buy right now, the best apple deals you can buy right now, the best smartwatches you can buy: expert tested.

How to watch the 2024 solar eclipse live online and on TV

Here's where to stream the full solar eclipse today

• Livestreams online

A total solar eclipse will cross through North America today (Monday, April 8, 2024). Don't worry if you're not in the path of totality, it's easy to watch the 2024 solar eclipse live on TV and online. 

New York City: 3:35 pm ET Chicago: 2:07 CT Los Angeles: 11:12 am PT

The last solar eclipse was in 2017 and the next one visible in the United States isn't set to arrive until 2044, so this is a celestial event not to miss. It will start in the South Pacific Ocean and pass first through Mexico before heading northeast across states including Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York before ending in Maine. 

Many cities and towns in the path of totality are planning eclipse celebrations. You can hold your own by buying solar eclipse glasses . But if you're unable to view in person, we've put together a guide on watching the solar eclipse on TV and online. For more info see Space.com's solar eclipse live blog for all the latest news and images. 

2024 solar eclipse live streams

Beginning at 1 p.m. ET, NASA will have two livestreams of the solar eclipse for free on  YouTube  and its streaming platform  NASA+ . The latter will have a live feed of the eclipse through NASA's telescope. 

NOVA  is hosting an eclipse live stream on YouTube that will feature NASA scientists at the Kerrville Eclipse Festival in Texas.

Disney Plus and Hulu

Disney Plus and Hulu will stream their sibling network ABC's "Eclipse Across America," starting at 2 p.m. ET. 

2024 solar eclipse on TV

Abc, cbs and nbc.

The three broadcast channels are all airing eclipse specials starting at 2 p.m. ET. 

ABC's "Eclipse Across America" will also air on the National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Disney Plus and Hulu as well as network social media platforms.

On CBS , "Total Eclipse of the Heartland" will feature appearances from Bill Nye, astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz, CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood and William Shatner. 

"NBC News Special: Solar Eclipse 2024" will be hosted by Lester Holt from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest viewing site of the 2024 eclipse. Holt will be joined by the Today Show's Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, Carson Daly, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer and Jenna Bush Hager from the Museum of Natural History in New York City, along with Al Roker live from Dallas, Texas.

Broadcast networks can accessed for free with one of the best TV antennas or through a cable TV package.

CNN will have live coverage of the eclipse starting at 1 p.m. ET. CNN cameras and drones will be positioned across the path of totality, and reporters will on hand in Mexico and throughout the United States, as well on board a Delta Air Lines “Path of Totality” flight. 

If you've cut the cord, you can access CNN with our top pick among live TV streaming services , Sling.

<a href="https://sling-tv.pxf.io/c/221109/1132376/14334?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sling.com%2F" data-link-merchant="sling.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Sling TV is one of the most affordable cable TV alternatives on the market. Both the Orange and Blue plans come with CNN. 

More from Tom's Guide

• NASA says you shouldn't point your camera directly at the eclipse today — here's why
• This retailer is offering free solar eclipse glasses — how to get yours
• How to photograph the April 2024 solar eclipse with your phone

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Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.

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Tripsy: Travel Planner & Guide 4+

Trip itinerary plan organizer.

• 4.6 • 758 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

Tripsy is a travel planner that helps you plan your entire trip in one place. You can share your itinerary with family and friends, receive flight alerts, store documents, and make wish lists of places to visit. During the trip, the app helps you by providing a 10-day weather forecast, updated flight information, offline access to everything, time zone changes, and much more! **WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING:** App Store Featured: “Making the most of your holiday time requires some planning. With Tripsy, that’s plain sailing. Enter flight times, hotels, and places you want to visit, then share your itinerary with your travel mates with a tap of a button”. MacStories: “Tripsy does what I’ve long wished for: offers a compelling trip planning experience in a modern app that takes advantage of iOS’ core technology strengths.” 9to5mac: “The app’s interface is extremely user-friendly, and it also offers data synching in the cloud, automation service, and Siri Shortcuts.” **Tripsy is your ultimate travel companion** Here are some of its key features: – Organize all your travel information, from flights and hotels to restaurants and tours, in one place. - 10-day forecast weather on your itinerary. – Receive flight updates via push notifications and never miss a gate or time change again. – Share your trip with friends and family and collaborate on itinerary planning. – Store all your travel memories, from images and notes to videos and documents, and easily share them with guests. – Automatically import reservations from over 700 providers, including Booking.com, Hotels.com, and major airlines. – Sync your trip data with your calendar app to stay on top of all your activities and events. – Get one-click access to popular mapping services like Waze, Google Maps, and Uber from any of your destinations. – Stay informed with real-time flight alerts on departure and arrival times, terminals, gates, and baggage claims. – Customize your travel itinerary with background images or colors that match your style. – Configure each activity with the time zone you want, making the organization of your trip more practical. – Explore exclusive travel itineraries curated by Tripsy with tips and insider information to make your trip as fruitful as possible. With Tripsy, you can effortlessly plan your entire trip and stay organized every step of the way. Tripsy is free, but we also offer a pro version called Tripsy Premium with unlimited trips, exclusive itineraries, cloud, documents, and more. Premium is available in monthly and yearly subscriptions, and a lifetime purchase option is available. - View our Terms of Service at: https://tripsy.app/terms - View our Privacy Policy at: https://tripsy.app/policy

Version 2.19.7

This update contains bug fixes and minor improvements.

Ratings and Reviews

758 Ratings

Easy, attractive, and fairly comprehensive.

I’ve very much enjoyed using Tripsy for an upcoming road trip—the ability to organize not only flights and hotels and the usual stuff, it’s a great way to organize points of interest, potential bars and restaurants, and other things to “keep an eye out for” on the trip. My one wish is that it offered a “reminder” option. For example, if I’m booking a cruise a year out, adding my flights a month later, I’d also love to be able to put in a reminder—say, 30 days out—to check in for the cruise, to schedule ground transportation, and other stuff that will need to happen—but that can’t really happen far out.

Developer Response ,

Thank you!!!

Great UI, poor customer service, limited free version

I downloaded this app to replace an aging app I’ve used for years. I contacted customer service (twice) to see if they offered a feature to import my old trips. I heard no response both times, but I signed up for pro anyways to give it a try. I like it, but the lacking customer service and limited free version basically giving you hardly anything without pro is a challenge to overcome. I can pay $5 a month for something I may use a few times a year and keep having that commitment, or, I can pick something that’s pretty well done for free, and possibly pay a-la-crate for extras. Having all my old trips stuck in an app that I cannot easily export the data from, and having to start from scratch with a paywall here just to break free, gives me an uneasy feeling. If the developer were more responsive and were to consider taking my request into consideration, i might have a better feeling that the commitment is there. Without that though, it’s hard to want to commit to a monthly or yearly subscription. I get that people and companies want to make money, but that money needs to be earned, and so far I’m still waiting. I hope it happens, I like this app and would be willing to commit if it truly were and all-inclusive data store for everything I want and had in the past. Thanks for your commitment, and i’ll keep an eye on this.

So Frustrating!!

I have been using Tripsy Pro paid subscription for over a year now. I love that all my information can be stored in one place. But getting it there us another story. The app simply doesn’t work properly. When entering data the app hangs up constantly. Upon finally getting all the info in for an entry and clicking “save”, it can take up to 4 minutes for it to save. Most entries take me on average of 10 minutes per entry to get it into the app. When I try to scroll through the entries it looks up and won’t move through the entries. When I tap the itinerary box or a entry box or even the gray “x” box in the top right corner, the app just sits there and doesn’t move for a while. It takes me 4 or 5 times as long to get the entry in as it does for me to do the typing. I have contacted Rafael many times about these issues but nothing gets better. Matter of fact, I have been pitting in a new trip the last couple of days and the app is WORSE than it has been in the past year. In 2 days I have spent close to 10 hours putting in data and have only gotten 10 days worth entered. I have on average about 5-6 entries per trip day. This is VERY annoying and frustrating to have to spend this much time just because the app won’t move through the process. I continue to use Tripsy because I have so much time invested, close to 200 hours over the past year. If you use this app, be prepared for frustration and ling hours.

HAPPENING NOW

App privacy.

The developer, Tripsy LLC , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish

• Tripsy Premium Monthly $4.99
• Tripsy Pro Annual $39.99
• Tripsy Premium Yearly $39.99
• Tripsy Pro Monthly $7.99
• Tripsy Pro Weekly $3.99
• Tripsy Pro: Monthly $7.99
• Tripsy Pro: Yearly $49.99
• Tripsy Pro Annual $59.99
• Tripsy Pro $9.99
• Tripsy Pro $29.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

Family Sharing

Some in‑app purchases, including subscriptions, may be shareable with your family group when family sharing is enabled., you might also like.

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Apple doesn’t want Vision Pro to be the next Google Glass, but developers say that’s a problem

Apple Vision Pro has a number of robust privacy protections in place, including limitations on how third-party developers can access camera data. A new report from The Information today explores how Apple’s fear of Vision Pro having a Google Glass-level privacy outcry have impacted third-party developers.

As a refresher, Vision Pro developers do not have access to the device’s camera feeds. Instead, third-party apps can request to access “surroundings data.” This is built around a three-dimensional model that uses a combination of camera and LiDAR data to map the area around you.

According to former Apple employees cited by today’s report, Apple has put a strong focus on Vision Pro privacy, in part, to avoid Vision Pro becoming the next Google Glass:

The company is one of the most vocal in the tech industry about the importance of privacy and is the most hyperprotective of its brand. Former Apple employees say Apple wants to avoid what happened to the Google Glass, a wearable device that caused a huge outcry over a decade ago because the presence of a camera on the product made people uncomfortable around others who were wearing them.

These restrictions, however, have impacted the ability for some developers to make Vision Pro apps.

That’s the view of Antony Vitillo, an AR and virtual reality developer behind the fitness game HitMotion: Reloaded for Meta Platform’s Quest. He would like to get access to the Vision Pro’s camera so he can build a version of HitMotion for the Vision Pro that lets users interact with real-world objects such as a punching bag. “People are doing a lot of experiments with AI and mixed reality,” he said. “The mixture of the two would be great, especially on the Vision Pro, as it’s a premium device and should have premium features. I think it would be a really great way to unlock more of its functionality.”

The report also includes an example from Kalani Helekunihi, an AR developer who “builds apps for older adults and people with disabilities.” Helekunihi says that the restrictions on camera access have prevented him from shipping a Vision Pro app that would provide “people with limited vision a description of their surroundings and act as a virtual cane that warns them when they’re approaching obstacles.”

There is reportedly a text-based solution Apple could implement, but it’s something that hasn’t been considered a priority:

Avi Bar-Zeev, an industry consultant who previously worked on AR products at Microsoft and Apple, said developers should learn to live with limitations on the cameras in AR devices. For example, their apps might need to get by with text descriptions rather than images and recordings of what the cameras on those devices see. “That’s the direction everybody’s been moving in,” he said. Former Apple employees who worked on the Vision Pro said this is exactly what Apple wants to do in the future to give third-party apps a better understanding of objects and surroundings. However, it was considered a low priority relative to all the other software features Apple had to build into the device.

9to5Mac’s Take

I’m hesitant to put too much stock into this report, which cites only two examples from developers about how the Vision Pro privacy restrictions impact their apps. Apple put these privacy practices in place for a reason. I personally take solace in the fact that any developer can’t access the camera feeds from my Vision Pro.

Perhaps there’s a better balance that could be struck in the long run, but I’m glad we are erring on the side of caution for now.

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Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to [email protected]