Apple Accidentally Leaks Images of Upcoming Apple Watch Series 4 Models With Larger Displays

[Darrensk8]

This does look like plated stainless steel, almost certainly... unless they have a new polished aluminum material a la iPhone 7 jet black. This colour doesn't look like regular (yellow) gold to me, it looks similar to real rose gold (until now, Apple made up their own versions of rose gold).

The colour looks a lot more like Rolex Everose Gold now

In the renders it does....I’d be very surprised if in person they look as close.

 

[Arran]

Apple didn’t ignore the corners of the rectangular layout. The leaked face isn’t round. There are complications in all four corners.

View attachment 779045

If this face were set inside a round watch, it would be pretty small—unless the face were quite a bit larger than the current rectangle.

The post you replied to had a photoshopped version of the face to make it look circular. Now imagine how much smaller that image would have to be if the four complications in the corners of the real face had to fit.

View attachment 779051

Interesting. I didn't realize it was photoshopped. Thanks for pointing that out.

That said, the photoshopped face is just as usable. Admittedly, UV and temperature digits are lost in two corners - but the gauges suffice. In the other two corners, only decorative icons are lost.

So this could still, credibly, be Apple's attempt to make an information-rich modular face work with circular hardware.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Interesting. I didn't realize it was photoshopped. Thanks for pointing that out.

That said, the photoshopped face is just as usable. Admittedly, UV and temperature digits are lost in two corners - but the gauges suffice. In the other two corners, only decorative icons are lost.

So this could still, credibly, be Apple's attempt to make an information-rich modular face work with circular hardware.

Anything’s possible; maybe it’ll be the “one more thing”... but I wouldn’t bet on it.

There have been leaks for months about the two larger displays, but nothing about a round model

 

[Sciomar]

What’s that hole on the side? Related to temp and UV maybe .. https://bgr.com/2018/08/31/apple-watch-series-4-release-date-close-leak-reveals-new-uv-index-app/

Please don't link articles written by morons who shouldn't be allowed to contribute such ill-informed dribble to others. UVI isn't anything new, it's on the current Apple weather app which is where the data on the complication is derived from.

Separate comment: It's humorous how with each new release we see the intelligence of this community dwindle even further with the most asinine posts like "when can I preorder" or the pre-judgements of one of the many faces these watches will offer.

 

[determined09]

This does look like plated stainless steel, almost certainly... unless they have a new polished aluminum material a la iPhone 7 jet black. This colour doesn't look like regular (yellow) gold to me, it looks similar to real rose gold (until now, Apple made up their own versions of rose gold).

The colour looks a lot more like Rolex Everose Gold now

Anything’s possible; maybe it’ll be the “one more thing”... but I wouldn’t bet on it.

There have been leaks for months about the two larger displays, but nothing about a round model

but didn't Apple just file patents for a round model like one month ago. I heard that it takes a while for items with a patent to hint the market.

 

[Mac 128]

Apple didn’t ignore the corners of the rectangular layout. The leaked face isn’t round. There are complications in all four corners.
...
If this face were set inside a round watch, it would be pretty small—unless the face were quite a bit larger than the current rectangle.

The post you replied to had a photoshopped version of the face to make it look circular. Now imagine how much smaller that image would have to be if the four complications in the corners of the real face had to fit.

Not at all. Note that the 38mm watch, while bigger will still have a display approximately the same size as the current 42mm. Now, given that the Apple Watch display is scalable, applying the same watch face image to a current 42mm round Huawei watch, the display falls somewhere between that of the new 38mm and the new 42mm, while being slightly larger than the current 42mm. If Apple customizes this for a round UI, then it will be close to the same size -- for instance: moving the inner text scroll to the outside of the dial, and the corner complications to the inside )of this particular watch face). Or for those who want as many complications as possible, the outer ring becomes available for several more, without being any smaller than the New 38mm display. Where this starts to become a problem is reducing a round watch to 38mm or smaller. But, Apple could simply restrict the corner complications for this watch face on round watches -- it wouldn't be the first time they've limited features from one UI to another (e.g. iPad/iPhone).

 

[Rychiar]

everyone going wild over the pic but it doesn't actually look much dif at all. I expected more of a revamp

 

[cloudness]

Wondering what the "Tartine" stands for?

Is it part of the "12PM Lunch with Ken" calendar entry? Is it a second to next entry in the calendar? Is it a separate complication, maybe a reminder one?

EDIT: just found it is Tartine Bakery as part of this image:

 

[Mac 128]

Interesting. I didn't realize it was photoshopped. Thanks for pointing that out.

That said, the photoshopped face is just as usable. Admittedly, UV and temperature digits are lost in two corners - but the gauges suffice. In the other two corners, only decorative icons are lost.

So this could still, credibly, be Apple's attempt to make an information-rich modular face work with circular hardware.

I agree.

42mm Huawei Watch

 

[Piggie]

Perhaps this is a problem that will go away with time as newer devices are made available. Considering how many things are running on that one watch face, I really have to wonder if they've bumped the RAM on Series 4. Increased battery size and life (efficient chips) can also lead to more complicated faces that would otherwise drain the tiny battery in a few hours. If they provide an API where you can basically just skin the watch part and have a few zones for complications then that would be a good start. Then as older Apple Watches fall off in support for newer versions of watchOS they could keep adding things to the API to make it even more complex.

The other part that we both failed to consider is that Apple provides exclusive watch faces for lines like Hermes and Nike that could be copied. Though I doubt they would approve such copycat faces from third party developers, and could respond to take down notices if they do make it through. They may be worried about a flood of watch faces that copy other brands and since they're Apple they're more likely to be sued. That combined with everything you mentioned means they're just chilling for now.

I feel you are partially right here.
However, in addition I personally feel there is another reason.
Apple do like to keep things held back and in reserve.

We all know they won't allow any old watch face to be offered to users (as most want) as that would throw away any control they have and allow people to mimic big brand names.

They could of course vet them and release approved ones, and they will do this in time.

However for now, I'm 100% sure they need this watch to be a long run, very slow burn product, and they need to drip feed things onto it, year upon year, and hold back things they know people want, to gradually enhance the product in general.

Right now they are using the watch faces, and customization aspects as a marketing tool, trying to just throw on a new face and a different band and market it as something special, when in fact it's not at all, it's just a artificial special-ness.

This I'm sure they know only has a limited lifespan.

As I say they need to hold things back and drip them, if they give the users what they want on day one, then it's done and dusted and no more want will be there.

Give it time and things people want, and they full well know people want, will happen, but only when they feel they have no choice, perhaps there is little else left to do, so they will start bringing the old WANTS out to promote a far future version.

 

[PickUrPoison]

but didn't Apple just file patents for a round model like one month ago. I heard that it takes a while for items with a patent to hint the market.

Yup, they were issued a patent for techniques used to handle non-rectangular pixel grid arrays. But that applies to both circular displays as well as rectangular displays with curved edges. So they could be using the tech in their rounded rectangle products with no intention of making a circular watch. But the patent did feature a round watch, so there’s at least reason to hope!

Personally, I think it would probably require giving up too much function to get the form. But there are always compromises there, and certainly Ive has many (expensive) round watches in his collection. I don’t think Apple has anything against a round watch per se, it’s just that the UI (as it exists) is better suited to a rectangular display.

With a 2mm bezel like the new watch is rumored to have, maybe they can get the functionality they want and good UX in a circular form, which they wouldn’t have been able to do three years ago. It would require re-working the UI though.

 

[cheekyjeremy]

Interesting idea.

The design of the leaked face is nuts. Why jam everything into a circular layout but ignore the corners of the square hardware? Mad, yeah?

But it makes sense for getting as much info as possible in a modular face for round hardware. Most people I see use the modular face on their Apple watches. I do too. It’s the most practical.

That explains the mysterious gold circle on the invite: A round watch. A lot of people have been asking for one.

Agreed. I just think it is unlikely that they named the event “round” due to their property being round. The general public couldn’t give a hoot about the property being round, so it has to refer to something to do with the product launches.

 

[Sackofnickels]

I played with an Apple Watch today. It's too small for me. I hope they eventually make something around 48mm.

Or maybe I'm just used to my Garmin Fenix 3. It's a big watch.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Agreed. I just think it is unlikely that they named the event “round” due to their property being round. The general public couldn’t give a hoot about the property being round, so it has to refer to something to do with the product launches.

Rounded display corners in iPhone 9/XS, watch and iPad Pro models I think.

 

[pantichrist]

Yuck, another ugly square watch.

As long as Apple keeps making watches with touchscreens I hope they never make a round watch. We are only accustomed to round watches because mechanical watches are round. It is natural for a mechanical watch to be round because timing is done with gears but a smartwatch needs to be useful for a lot more things besides telling time. Round touch displays introduce many problems. A round display may look nice but its UI would be much harder to use. A typical image that tried to use the full screen would lose more than 20% of its edges and text (multi-line notifications for example) would contort and wrap around in inconsistent ways. Well, you could remedy this by shrinking the images and textboxes to fit but then you'd have to ask "Why did they make this screen round?". Not only do rounds screens have 20% less screen to work with, they are harder to manufacture and harder to drive. Finally, if Apple ever did make a round watch backwards compatibility would be another big issue. Existing apps would have to completely redesign their UI to accommodate a round watch. In my opinion, although a round watch would look nice its touch UI would be less functional and it would probably be a lot more expensive.

 

[Arran]

I agree.

Wow. That looks a million times better on round hardware. It makes sense now.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Wow. That looks a million times better on round hardware. It makes sense now.

Yes, but—as long as you don’t try to display square content. It’s easy to see how inefficient a circular display is for square/rectangular content, to the extent it's needed or wanted.

If this mock-up were trying to display the real version of the new face with complications in all four corners, the round portion would be strikingly small. And it’s not just the new face with the corner complications; all square content is restricted to the red inscribed square. The only way around that is: then don’t try to display square content. Or you need a 50mm round display...

Apple’s already gone through all this, 4-5 years ago. Most content they want to display isn’t round (except a round analog watch face). The rectangular display simply results in a better UI/UX, and you can still inscribe a relatively large circle on it. As jewelry it works great; as a smart watch, not so much.

 

[Vjosullivan]

I expected more of a revamp

Really? When was the last time Apple revamped anything?

 

[DadBod630]

As long as Apple keeps making watches with touchscreens I hope they never make a round watch. We are only accustomed to round watches because mechanical watches are round. It is natural for a mechanical watch to be round because timing is done with gears but a smartwatch needs to be useful for a lot more things besides telling time. Round touch displays introduce many problems. A round display may look nice but its UI would be much harder to use. A typical image that tried to use the full screen would lose more than 20% of its edges and text (multi-line notifications for example) would contort and wrap around in inconsistent ways. Well, you could remedy this by shrinking the images and textboxes to fit but then you'd have to ask "Why did they make this screen round?". Not only do rounds screens have 20% less screen to work with, they are harder to manufacture and harder to drive. Finally, if Apple ever did make a round watch backwards compatibility would be another big issue. Existing apps would have to completely redesign their UI to accommodate a round watch. In my opinion, although a round watch would look nice its touch UI would be less functional and it would probably be a lot more expensive.

Thank you for the intelligent reply to that person. Ever since the first Apple Watch came out there have been idiots whining about it not being circular. There's no reason for it to be, grandpa.

 

[09872738]

Thank you for the intelligent reply to that person. Ever since the first Apple Watch came out there have been idiots whining about it not being circular. There's no reason for it to be, grandpa.

You seriously believe a watch is made to display images? That explains a lot....

You call them idiots. I call ‘em people without bad taste

 

[DadBod630]

You seriously believe a watch is made to display images? That explains a lot....

You call them idiots. I call ‘em people without bad taste

Okay gramps

 

[09872738]

Okay gramps

Insult me as much as you desire. I‘ll still call bad design what it is. And I‘m still more innovative than you are, sonny

 

[cmaier]

You seriously believe a watch is made to display images? That explains a lot....

You call them idiots. I call ‘em people without bad taste

The Apple Watch isn’t a watch, any more than an iPhone is a phone.

 

[Abazigal]

You seriously believe a watch is made to display images? That explains a lot....

You call them idiots. I call ‘em people without bad taste

The Apple Watch is a miniature computer you wear on your wrist. A square shape makes every bit of sense.

 

[Arran]

Yes, but—as long as you don’t try to display square content. It’s easy to see how inefficient a circular display is for square/rectangular content, to the extent it's needed or wanted.

Totally agree that round hardware is not optimal for text.

That said, most people I see wearing Apple watches mostly just glance at them. I don't think I’ve ever seen anyone interact with their watch for more than a few seconds. From what I’ve observed, heavy-duty interaction still happens on phones. I’m guessing it’ll stay that way as long as people carry them.