The Apple Watch is finally here! But what exactly can it do? Well first off, it is a watch, so it can tell time. But with the right apps installed, you can have the whole world on your wrist.I just got my Apple Watch and have started trying out various apps. I've rounded up the apps that I'll be trying first and that I think you will be most interested in. I've grouped them in six categories ranging from work and productivity to procrastination tools.
Now, I'm sure you have heard of most of these apps, so you already know how good they are on your iPhone and iPad. The only question left is how great will they be on the Apple Watch? Let's find out.
But first things first. How can you tell if one of your favorite apps is even available for the Apple Watch? Click here for the complete list from Apple. Or, when you are in the iTunes store, you will see a little icon underneath the app's logo. Here is a highlighted example:
News and Reading
If you've gotten your hands on an Apple Watch already, you probably like to keep up with the times and current events. In that case, you'll want to check out apps like CNN, and NYTimes to keep you in the know.And let's not forget how great sports are this time of year. The NBA and NHL are in the middle of playoffs, baseball's MLB season is underway and the NFL offseason moves are enough to make you dizzy. To keep up with all the latest from your favorite sports teams, you'll want to check out ESPN and MLB.com apps.
Travel and Navigation
If you didn't have to give up your vacation to buy the most expensive version of the Apple Watch (the highest model retails for $17,000), then these great apps can help you book a flight, find a place to stay and help you get around when you are there.Use apps like Trip Advisor, Expedia and Booking Now to book a room, rental car or flight. Just remember my tips for getting the lower airfare while you're at it. If your flight is with British Airways or American Airlines, you can track flight status, get gate information and more.
Another interesting travel app comes from Starwood Hotels & Resorts. If you stay at one of their locations, you can use your watch and the SPG app to unlock your hotel room. Could this app make the key obsolete? Not just yet, but it will be interesting to see how this one develops in the future.
Once you get to your destination, getting around isn't a problem. Use an app like CityMapper to navigate select cities' public transportation systems. Or, if public transportation isn't your thing, you can always catch a cheap ride with my sponsor, Uber.
Productivity
Even if you aren't a starship captain like James T. Kirk, a super spy like James Bond or a wacky detective like Inspector Gadget, you too can get some work done with the help of your Apple Watch.You might already know or use the popular note-taking service Evernote. The app is great for taking basic text notes, lists, photo notes or voice memos whether you're in the office, at home or on the go.
Another great productivity app is CommitTo3. It acts as your own personal coach to help you reach three daily goals. Imagine all the things you could accomplish!
Procrastination
You don't want to be working 24/7 and you might find yourself with some time to kill. Luckily, the Apple Watch has some fun games you can play on it on top of all its great productivity apps.BoxPop is a fun new game that features daily puzzles for you to conquer. It's addicting and a little bit like chess because you can only move your game piece around the board in an L-shaped path. Hit all of the designated tiles and you're a winner! But it's harder than it sounds. Good luck!
The other game you will want to try is Rules! For $3, Rules! lets you give your brain a workout with a series of several fun and addicting mini games. What will your high score be? Click here to see Rules! in action.
There's also some favorite time wasters available for the Apple Watch, too. Be sure to add Twitter and Instagram while you're checking out the apps I mentioned above.
Want to doodle? Check out the fantastic Procreate Pocket ($3). It's a big hit on the iPad and now it's available in mini format. What will you draw?
Health and Fitness
You've heard the saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apple is running with that slogan and that's why the company introduced HealthKit last June.You see, the Apple Watch takes advantage of actually touching the user's skin. This opens up some interesting applications in the areas of fitness and health. Using this technology, there are now a handful of fitness apps released that can measure things like track the amount of exercise you get, how far you run or walk, what you eat, daily calorie intake, how much water you drink and more. These apps include Strava, Lifesum, RunKeeper and Nike+Running.
For those who are concerned with other aspects of your physical health, there's MayoClinic. This app provides a comprehensive, easy-to-understand overview of your personal health, using your own personal health data collected by the Apple Watch.
Other noteworthy apps
The future is now and Apple is leading the way. Remember when I told you about the Internet of Things? Everything - and I mean everything - is starting to become connected, and these revolutionary apps are leading the way.Control the thermostat or lights at your home while you are away with Honeywell Lyric or Lutron Caséta. You can also monitor the charge status of your electric BMW with BMW i Remote.
And that's just the beginning. Never get another parking ticket with the PayByPhone Parking app, get a dinner reservation with Open Table, find out the name of a song with Shazam, find a movie to watch with Fandango, navigate the night sky with SkyGuide ($2) and use Ocado to order groceries to have them delivered right to your door.
With more and more apps being developed every day, the possibilities are endless! What else will they come up with next?
