There has always been a lot of debate on smartwatches; many people believe that it is just a luxury, while another fraction agrees that it actually brings a lot of convenience to one’s life.
I happen to be part of the latter, as my smartwatch is now an essential part of my everyday routine. From my alarm ringing in the morning to it tracking my sleep through the night, I actually find it difficult to spend my days without my smartwatch now, because I rely on it a little too much.
If you’re a smartwatch owner too, there may be a lot of features that you have overlooked or missed in those devices. Here are some things you probably didn’t know your smartwatch could do.
You Can Change Your Music Through Spotify
Did you know that Spotify has a dedicated version of the app for smartwatches, too?
If you have a smartwatch that runs on WearOS, you can easily install the Spotify app through the Play Store, which is available in the device by default.
Once you download the app, all you have to do is log in, and the app will synchronize your data and settings with the ones you already have on your smartphone. This way, you can control your music from your smartwatch regardless of the audio output device, including your smartphone, smart TV, consoles, and so on. However, you need to ensure that all your synced devices are connected to a reliable internet connection for seamless control over your music.
I recommend keeping your devices (including your smartwatch) connected to a Spectrum internet connection and make the most out of your online features. You canmanage music on Spotify and calls and messages on WhatsApp (which I will elaborate on in the section ahead). I’m also recommending Spectrum because if you feel like your internet goes spotty even by the slightest, reaching out to Spectrum customer service can resolve the issue and restore the internet to its optimal performance.
You Can Control Your Smart Home Devices
Normally, you would use your smartphone to control your smart home devices, right? Did you know that you can take the convenience up a notch by doing it with your smartwatch instead? All you need to do is download the Google Home app on your smartwatch and sync it with your smartphone and smart home hub.
Once you do, you can control all your smart home devices using your watch, so that you don’t have to whip out your phone every time. The devices that you can control with your watch include your smart lights and smart thermostats. So next time you have to turn the lights on or off, and change the temperature of your house, then use your watch instead.
You Can Use Your Watch as a Shutter Remote
If you have a lot of friends, then you already know what a hassle it is to take a group picture. Taking a selfie won’t fit everyone in the frame, and setting the camera on timer takes a lot of time since you have to make sure everyone is a part of the picture.
However, you can speed up the process by using your smartwatch as a remote camera shutter. All you have to do is turn on the Camera app on your watch, which will automatically open the camera app on your phone as well.
Once you open the app, you’ll see the camera frame displayed on your watch, making it easier to set everyone within the shot. Then you may either press the shutter button on your watch to take a picture instantly, or set a timer through your watch, giving enough time for everyone to strike their poses and prepare themselves for the picture.
You Can Make Contactless Payments
Forget about carrying your credit and debit cards when you can use your smartwatch to make payments instead! However, this only applies to smartwatches that run on WearOS, have Google Wallet, and an NFC feature. To use the feature, you have to save the details of your credit and debit cards on the Google Wallet app (don’t worry, the information is encrypted and safe to use).
This allows you to use the app like a wallet you don’t wish to carry around. To make payments, simply bring your watch near the NFC reader (where you would usually tap your credit and debit cards), and Voilà! your payment is done. This way, you don’t have to carry your wallet around everywhere you go, when you’re actually carrying it on your wrist!
So there you have it, these are some things you probably didn’t know your watch was capable of doing. You’ll also take pleasure in knowing that you can use Google Maps on your watch, too, in situations where you can’t take out your phone, such as a bicycle ride!
