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The Apple Watch is a miniature computer you wear on your wrist. A square shape makes every bit of sense.
Not per se. If you mostly look at text: agreed.

But who said it is primarily text to be displayed?
A watchface, for example, is a pretty good example of a bad example to be displayed on rectangular displays.
Since the AW is intended as a sidekick for iPhones (after all, standalone the AW still is not exactly exceedingly useful) I'm assuming text and images are primarily displayed on the these, whereas the AW is displaying other, stripped down information like notifications. These things can - and should, given the AW's small footprint - be displayed in the form of gauges or somewhat iconified; for all of which round shapes are way better suited.

In fact, trying to display anything but very small amounts of text - and naturally this is true to an even higher degree for images - can be considered a design failure.

So it ultimately depends on what data is to be displayed. For text and images rectangular shapes might be better. However, both of which should be avoided on smartwatches as discussed above.
For anything else - in particular gauges of sorts - round shapes are certainly superior.

Just look at the mock-ups above. The round watch is so much more beautiful. Data is presented in gauges - even text - what makes it look just natural.
On the other hand it's quite the opposite when looking at the Apple Watch. It just never looks right. Gimmicky. Outright cheap.

Of course, to some degree this is subjective. For me its pretty clear that I won't consider purchasing the Apple Watch due to its current form factor.
Its not only the rectangular shape, though. There is a number of shortcomings which don't make the Watch particularly appealing to me (curiously, as I'm pretty much a nerd).
 
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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.

View attachment 779194

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.

Except that’s not the ratio Apple uses. I’ve already proven his opinion to be false with this graphic in my previous post to him, but he apparently chose to ignore it since it destroys his straw man narrative. The rounded corners of the larger display only help the current rectangular display easily fit within a round display area, as a logical step to make existing apps work on a round product until developers customize their apps for the round UI, similarly to the 3.5” to 4” iPhone and iPhone to iPad transitions. Here's the correct graphic with the proper ratio, with the intentionally misleading example posted to support his spurious argument.


44435776621_eabe9c0435_o.jpg


You are correct in that Jony Ive is on record stating that the watch was designed for quick glances, anything more and a customer should pull out their iPhone. Moreover, he’s also said that customers have the expectation of choice when it comes to wearables, and the round crowd is not going away.

While the rectangular format is much more conducive to lists, and blocks of text, a round format can display them just as effectively as a square format. Apple was wise to chose square over round for the easy adoption by early developers, already used to working with rectangular displays. But since having people walking around reading such things on their wrists all day was not the intent of the watch in the first place, this seems entirely moot.

I also don’t understand the objection to a round watch ... it’s not like Apple would replace the current rectangular watch with a round watch anyway, just offer it as an option alongside the rectangular option. So really why does it matter so much to the anti-round crowd?
 

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Most content they want to display isn’t round (except a round analog watch face).
Correct. And this is exactly what Apple screwed up. After all, it is a watch, its got a tiny footprint. Trying to display lots of text (or images, for that matter) is just not right. A watch will never be good at that, and that's what iPhone and/or iPads are for. The not-so-great success of the AW supports this.

Apple has a reputation for getting things right. When it comes to the AW, they failed in that department for they tried to design an even smaller iPhone rather than a truly new smart watch.
 
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Correct. And this is exactly what Apple screwed up. After all, it is a watch, its got a tiny footprint. Trying to display lots of text (or images, for that matter) is just not right. A watch will never be good at that, and that's what iPhone and/or iPads are for. The not-so-great success of the AW supports this.

Apple has a reputation for getting things right. When it comes to the AW, they failed in that department for they tried to design an even smaller iPhone rather than a truly new smart watch.
Like iPhone, people that actually own the Apple Watch love it. You’ve convinced yourself you wouldn’t like it and that’s fine.
 
Like iPhone, people that actually own the Apple Watch love it. You’ve convinced yourself you wouldn’t like it and that’s fine.
You got a point there. That said, I'd love a decent smart watch.

I am not happy Apple's watch is not for me. Maybe it one day will be, but not at this point in time.
 
Not per se. If you mostly look at text: agreed.

But who said it is primarily text to be displayed?
A watchface, for example, is a pretty good example of a bad example to be displayed on rectangular displays.
Since the AW is intended as a sidekick for iPhones (after all, standalone the AW still is not exactly exceedingly useful) I'm assuming text and images are primarily displayed on the these, whereas the AW is displaying other, stripped down information like notifications. These things can - and should, given the AW's small footprint - be displayed in the form of gauges or somewhat iconified; for all of which round shapes are way better suited.

In fact, trying to display anything but very small amounts of text - and naturally this is true to an even higher degree for images - can be considered a design failure.

So it ultimately depends on what data is to be displayed. For text and images rectangular shapes might be better. However, both of which should be avoided on smartwatches as discussed above.
For anything else - in particular gauges of sorts - round shapes are certainly superior.

Just look at the mock-ups above. The round watch is so much more beautiful. Data is presented in gauges - even text - what makes it look just natural.
On the other hand it's quite the opposite when looking at the Apple Watch. It just never looks right. Gimmicky. Outright cheap.

Of course, to some degree this is subjective. For me its pretty clear that I won't consider purchasing the Apple Watch due to its current form factor.
Its not only the rectangular shape, though. There is a number of shortcomings which don't make the Watch particularly appealing to me (curiously, as I'm pretty much a nerd).

Well, interacting with notifications is one of the main things I do on my Apple Watch. I am also using the Siri watch face, which not only shows me my day in card-shaped snippets, but also recommends me photo albums to view. In this regard, a rectangular watch face makes every bit of sense.
 
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I’m going to finally cough up for the series 4. Been holding out for that larger display
 
My Series 0 is due for replacement, and the upgrade to the Series 4 will be huge, even it doesn't introduce new real features but the slightly larger screen. So bring it on!
 
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As can be seen in the photo below, the new Apple Watch models feature smaller bezels for more visible screen space, ...

is it just me that isn't seeing this at all?

If I get a display with stuff edge to edge and angle my S3 like that pics the proportions look the same to me.
 
It really does motivate. We mostly function through triggers (see Haigg’s “The power of habit”, an amazing book that everyone should read), and the AW can really trigger us towards better, healthier behavior.
Do you mean power of habit by duhigg?
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The haptic botton would be much appreciated as the current click twice for apply pay for most of the time goes to my dock.
Yeah I noticed that the other day. But then I have a caselogic case on that covers the button. But it sure was a struggle.
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You got a point there. That said, I'd love a decent smart watch.

I am not happy Apple's watch is not for me. Maybe it one day will be, but not at this point in time.
Boy, for 2 years I was convinced it wasn’t going to work for me. I was hung up on getting contacts on the watch and I didn’t have a smart phone. Then I got an iphone se and a month later the watch. Haven’t looked back. I love that I am very good about responding to texts and calls without having a ring tone. And all the other pluses I can’t live without (immediate weather lookup, tracking exercise, timer I use multiple times a day, etc.)
 
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Looks neat, but the fact that nearly every major IOS app pulled their Apple Watch versions makes me no want to buy it.

My watch is for notifications and playing music. I have no interest in fitness so...well that’s it.

Apple needs to solve that problem.
 
Looks neat, but the fact that nearly every major IOS app pulled their Apple Watch versions makes me no want to buy it.

My watch is for notifications and playing music. I have no interest in fitness so...well that’s it.

Apple needs to solve that problem.
What problem? the watch gives you what a watch should and that's fitness, GPS, notifications/texts/calls and the apps that still support it like sport scores/ podcast/music/calendar/smart home access/apple pay

that's a lot what you can use app wise. There's nothing more than that would be needed.
 
Boy, for 2 years I was convinced it wasn’t going to work for me. I was hung up on getting contacts on the watch and I didn’t have a smart phone. Then I got an iphone se and a month later the watch. Haven’t looked back. I love that I am very good about responding to texts and calls without having a ring tone. And all the other pluses I can’t live without (immediate weather lookup, tracking exercise, timer I use multiple times a day, etc.)

I hear you. Still, won't work for me. I don't like the design at all. Battery life is basically non-existent. Its not as programmable (being a C/S nerd, I'd love to create my own watch face) as I'd like it to be. For what it is I find it way, way overpriced.

Current state of affairs I'd rather go with an android watch or the amazfit.
 
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Man, they really need to get away from that square design. Throw in a circular face like a more traditional watch and I’d be more inclined to buy one. The square face looks tacky.
 
My wild card for this event is a round one in addition to the same shape gets introduced...the "leaked" photo was a red herring.
 
My wild card for this event is a round one in addition to the same shape gets introduced...the "leaked" photo was a red herring.

Assuming they are adding a round watch to the family, I don’t think it was a red herring. I think that’s what that face will look like on the rectangular watch — and for that, it’s a much larger display area to make that kind of screen possible. So in that sense it verifies the larger screen with more functionality for developers, as well as confirming that the watch bands will likely be the same, thus assuring third parties it’s safe to gear up for the next generation.

If they add a round watch at this juncture, and I think it’s highly unlikely this year, then that design will resonated beautifully on it, as I’ve demonstrated in the above images.
 
I hear you. Still, won't work for me. I don't like the design at all. Battery life is basically non-existent. Its not as programmable (being a C/S nerd, I'd love to create my own watch face) as I'd like it to be. For what it is I find it way, way overpriced.

Current state of affairs I'd rather go with an android watch or the amazfit.
I have a series 3 42mm and go on a 30 minutes run daily, sometimes longer. By the end of the day I'm well over 50% battery.

Unsure what you consider nonexistent but I feel that's very good for what it is. If I remember to drop it on it's charger when taking my after run shower, incyhe 20 or so minutes it takes to get ready I'll get back another 15% or so. My phone wouldn't last like this if I didn't too it up during the day.

Certainly not saying this to change your mind about anything. But I don't think we can reasonably expect vast battery life improvements while the watch is doing things like monitoring heartbeat, giving you constant notifications, etc.

I do agree with most of your other criticisms. It's a lot of money for what it does, and if it didn't track andnoeocide music for my runs I probably wouldn't have bothered.

Edit: as an aside, I had no plans on upgrading this year. Still really don't, unless we get a round option. Wife will taken one upgrading from her s0 in that case (thiguh I have a feeling she will want a round watch too).
 
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I love the look of this new watch. I think it looks slick and clean. I understand why people would want a round watch. I wore Invictas for years before switching to Apple Watch. I don’t want a round Apple Watch but I think they should offer it as an option for those who do. I don’t think we’ll see one this year though.
 
I don’t understand the logic of demanding innovation and yet also demanding they go back to a less innovative round design. It’s old and tired, and has been done by everyone already. I want a design that displays all the pertinent information I need in a better form factor tailored to perform the way I need it to. I don’t see the plain round face being as capable.

I’ll continue to be a supporter of Apple whichever design they choose as long as they don’t make too many sacrifices in capabilities and end user privacy.
 
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