Apple Watch buttons explained + new Apple gear

Get the most out of your smartwatch, and get the lowdown on the latest Apple products.

January 21, 2023

One thing that constantly amazes me about Apple products is how much functionality they deliver — and how much of it goes untapped by many users. Even people who have been tapping on iPhones, wearing Apple Watches and typing on Macs for years sometimes don't realize they're missing out on key features.

Helping people discover the hidden joys of using their Apple gear is one of our prime directives here at Cult of Mac. To that end, this week's top post is an explainer that shows you everything the Apple Watch's buttons can do.

But don't worry if you don't own an Apple Watch (or already know exactly how to use it). Apple unleashed a lot of new gear this week — MacBook Pros, Mac minis, HomePods and more -- and we've got plenty of news stories and buying guides to show you what's exciting and what's meh.

Enjoy your weekend!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

P.S. We recently changed email providers, so you might notice some quirks in this week's edition of The Weekender. Please pardon our dust as we work to iron out any glitches.

How-tos

The Apple Watch borrows a lot from the iPhone, but the biggest difference between them is down to the extra buttons. They each do different things whether you click, double-click or hold them down. What do the Apple Watch buttons do? Here’s a quick guide to get you started.

Listen to Apple’s AI-generated audiobooks

Apple is now offering authors AI-generated audiobooks of their work. Novels you otherwise wouldn’t be able to hear, you can now find in the Apple Books app. Let me show you how you can find and listen to them if you’re curious.

Turn on gentle rain and ocean sounds while you work

Working in an office or in the city, you're probably inundated with noise from people chattering, cars running and nearby music. Your iPhone has a

News and opinion

Apple released new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models Tuesday powered by the company’s most advanced processors, the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. The new laptops — which deliver the longest battery life ever in a Mac — are available to preorder now and go on sale January 24.

Plus, more Mac news:

HomePod head-to-head: How Apple’s new smart speaker compares to original

Now that the full-size HomePod is finally back, is it any different from the original? At a glance you might not think so because the exterior design is so similar. But there are significant changes.

Apple releases new watch band, wallpaper and more for Black History Month

Apple has released a special new Apple Watch band, watch face and iPhone wallpaper celebrating Black History Month. Apple has done this every February in 2021 and 2022.

Secret sensor in your HomePod mini will activate soon

A temperature and humidity sensor that's been inactive in HomePod mini since the smart speaker first lauched is about to activate.

6 reasons a touchscreen MacBook makes sense

You may have felt a seismic shift recently. The origin was Apple Park in Cupertino, where Tim Cook and Co. decided to start work on a touchscreen MacBook

Crazy invention snoozes iPhone in the most ridiculous way possible

To snooze a wake-up alarm on your iPhone, you can tap the screen or press any button. Or you might build an elaborate mechanism that spans most of your

Deals

If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills way to store and transfer files, a flash drive might be your best bet. With this four-in-one flash drive, you can just plug it into your computer. And even better, it can connect to iOS and Android devices, thanks to its four different tips.

Get 20% off flexible stand that mounts your MagSafe iPhone anywhere

Some iPhone MagSafe stands are ideal for use at your desk or on your bedside table. Others are car mounts. But what if one mount could go almost anywhere

Avoid spam calls and texts by adding a second number to your phone

The last few years have seen a huge rise in spam calls and texts, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck listening to strangers ask you about your car’s

Super-size your laptop with this discounted second screen

Constantly multitasking on your laptop? If you're attempting to FaceTime in one corner of your screen while messaging in another app and "working" on an

Reviews and recommendations

Shape Island arrives on Apple TV+ today to teach kids about social interactions and to help them ward off the anxiety inherent in such things. Based on the critically acclaimed books by illustrator Jon Klassen and author Mac Barnett, this charming stop-motion show is as cute as it is thoughtful — a good way to make kids laugh while slyly making them learn. This is one of the first Apple TV+ kids’ shows with enough joyous anarchy for parents as well as children.

Plus, more Apple TV+ recaps:

The new Model F Keyboard is the best Mac keyboard I’ve tried [Review]

I’ve been on a quest to discover the perfect Mac keyboard. I’m looking for a compact keyboard with modern Mac styling -- and the best key switches money can buy.

Keep AirPods Pro on lockdown with Laut's cool carabiner case

Imagine pulling out your AirPods Pro in their case and seeing them slip out of your hand. As they go bouncing down the stairs or into the street, you may

Dump your bulky wallet for this slim MagSafe alternative [Review] ★★★★½

SwitchEasy’s MagWallet carries a pair of credit cards and snaps onto the back of your iPhone so it’s easy to keep with you.

Setups

Some workstations look boring and utilitarian while others, at least sometimes, look otherworldly. The difference between the two usually comes down to good lighting, skillful photography — and often a key visual you don’t see every day. This setup relies on atmospheric lighting and exceptionally cool desktop wallpaper on the displays to make it look fascinating.

Souped up MacBook Pro centers super-symmetrical setup [Setups]

When it comes to computer setups, social media loves symmetry. People often praise perfectly symmetrical setups and plenty of folks kind of freak out if anything’s even slightly askew, often supplying their own joking references to obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. In today’s warmly lit and well-organized workstation, a high-spec MacBook Pro drives dual Studio Displays. And pairs of other items in the room contribute to the overall symmetry.

'Budget' MacBook Air workstation doesn't look cheap [Setups]

Some budget computer setups look the part -- cheap, utilitarian, uninspired, incomplete -- and others don't. Today's featured setup falls in the latter