MacDirectory Magazine

Jerad Marantz

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1451520

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Replying to messages on the Apple Watch isn’t exactly easy unless you’re very comfortable using Siri. However, there is an alternative. In the Apple Watch app, you can find a section called Messages, where you’ll see Default Replies. Here, you can create a list of default responses that you can quickly send in Messages right from your Apple Watch, without the need to pull out your iPhone. You can create messages for all sorts of things, from a generic, “I’m busy right now, I’ll respond in a few minutes,” to specific things like, “I’m driving right now,” or “Email me more information on this.” With the right messages, this can be a big time saver. 4. Send Over Your Location to a Contact If you are following a conversation on your Apple Watch, you can send your specific location at any time. Just long-press on the Watch and choose the Send Location option. This will send a little map to your contact with a flag to mark your location. It’s an easy way to show how close you are when meeting a friend or a number of other situations where sharing your current location can be very valuable. 3. Clear All Notifications This simple trick is often missed because it’s not always clear how to access it. If you haven’t checked your phone in a while and your Apple Watch has started to pile up with notifications from a variety of apps, you can clear them all away immediately if you know what to do. Just swipe down to the notifications list, and use the long-press Force Touch to bring up the option to Clear All. It’s that easy! 2. Unlock Your Mac with Your Apple Watch This fun trick saves time and only takes a little bit of setup. On your Mac, you can go to System Preferences and head over to Security & Privacy. Here you will find an option to Allow Apple Watch to Unlock Your Mac. Follow the instructions to authorize the unlocking procedure. Now, you can keep your Mac safely password-protected, but it will still automatically log you in when you come close with your Apple Watch. 1. Use the Bedside Mode The Apple Watch can track a variety of sleep statistics, but not everyone cares about that feature or finds the information usable. If you’re more comfortable with your Apple Watch off while you sleep, you can turn it on its side to enable the Bedside Mode, which turns the Watch into a mini Alarm Clock clearly showing the date and time as well as any alarms you have enabled. If you’re home, you can pair Bedside Mode with a compatible wireless charger, but this trick is often most useful when traveling or taking a quick nap to regain some energy.

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