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Apple Watch Series 4 to Feature Redesign, Longer Battery Life and 15% Larger Display
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I hope so, but I wouldn't hold my breath... :/
Thinner with a larger display does sound like a good excuse to upgrade my Series 0 though.
Pretty sure they are able they just realise what an awful design that would be.
Apple tested round prototypes five or six years ago, but they realized it’s a very poor form factor for what they want in a smart watch. So they decided on a portrait orientation rounded rectangle.
You may disagree, and therefore you might never buy an Apple Watch. Apple is ok with that, they’re well aware they can’t please everyone. Time and again, product after product, feature after feature, they choose the option that works best for 80-90% of their target market.
Agreed. Plus, I don’t expect this “redesign” to be very significant. It took 10 years for iPhone to go from the original iPhone icon (excluding ratio changes) to the iPhone X representation.
A thinner body and smaller bezels seem pretty likely, though.
I haven't got a Tag but I've got an Apple Watch that's sitting in a drawer.
I don’t mean to be so dismissive of a decent traditional watch. The Tag is a fine timepiece.
Looking at my short reply, it could easily be read as saying (a bit snarkily) that I abandoned the Tag for my AW. This was definitely not the case.
I stopped wearing my Tag years before the AW came on the scene. I carried a phone, and figured I could tell the time by looking at the phone. The watch was mainly serving as jewelry, and my desire to wear jewelry of any sort, including rings, pretty much went away.
Then, a few years later, the Pebble arrived, and a friend showed me what it could do. It happened to tell time, and occupied the same space on my wrist as the Tag had, but did much more of what I wanted. So I bought one, and had it for a few years.
Enter the AW, and I bought a series 0. The Pebble joined the Tag in the drawer. Now I have a Series 3 GPS, and handed my Series 0 down to my older daughter.
The Pebble and the AW are not, imo, watches in the same sense as the Tag is a watch. What they are to me are conveniently located extensions of my iPhone - the Pebble does so in a rudimentary fashion, the AW in a way that pleases me greatly. They do not occupy the same functional niche as a traditional watch, but do occupy the same physical space.
I believe I truly get why you’d stick with your finely made Tags, or other traditional watches. I for example prefer using certain hand tools over their powered counterparts, even though it often requires more time to complete a task. Or driving a V8 American sedan when it is not politically correct or energy efficient. It’s a great thing that we can make these choices, and I don’t mean to be dismissive of yours.
From what I wrote in the other thread, which, appropriately enough, was in the Apple Watch subforum:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/kgi-story-re-watch-series-4.2112095/page-2#post-25934941
Adding more hardware features [like a camera] doesn't necessarily mean "improvement". There just isn't a good reason to have a camera on a wrist-worn device, no matter how speedy the hardware is or how refined the OS is.
(I also think it'd be a mistake to ask users to pry open the hidden diagnostic port, because that'll open up an ingress point for water, never mind that relevant health monitors which communicate wirelessly are already available now)
It can be made thinner, or with faster processing, or better battery life, or a wholly new charging system, or new battery chemistry, or with faster Wifi/LTE radios (personally I'd like to see a return of an FM radio tuner like the old iPod Nanos had, but those days appear to be gone), or improved optical sensors, etc.
But it's inherently limited in what it can do... or, really, it's limited in what it should do, because it's still just a wristwatch. It's more powerful, computationally-speaking, than the iPhone 4 was, but I think we can all agree that the AW would be terrible at things that we've been doing for years on the iPhone, like editing movies or playing Grand Theft Auto.
You have to stop thinking of thinking of it like a mini-smartphone and start thinking of it like an extra-strength wristwatch. Cramming smartphone features into it just makes a hard-to-use smartphone. But add features that are appropriate for a wristwatch, and it'll get better. We've never seen optical HR sensors added to the iPhone, right? (well, there's at least one HR app that uses the camera and flashlight, but you can't wear the phone on your arm all day long) That's one example of a hardware feature that's better-suited for a wristwatch than for any other gadget.
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https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/kgi-story-re-watch-series-4.2112095/page-2#post-25934941
Adding more hardware features [like a camera] doesn't necessarily mean "improvement". There just isn't a good reason to have a camera on a wrist-worn device, no matter how speedy the hardware is or how refined the OS is.
(I also think it'd be a mistake to ask users to pry open the hidden diagnostic port, because that'll open up an ingress point for water, never mind that relevant health monitors which communicate wirelessly are already available now)
It can be made thinner, or with faster processing, or better battery life, or a wholly new charging system, or new battery chemistry, or with faster Wifi/LTE radios (personally I'd like to see a return of an FM radio tuner like the old iPod Nanos had, but those days appear to be gone), or improved optical sensors, etc.
But it's inherently limited in what it can do... or, really, it's limited in what it should do, because it's still just a wristwatch. It's more powerful, computationally-speaking, than the iPhone 4 was, but I think we can all agree that the AW would be terrible at things that we've been doing for years on the iPhone, like editing movies or playing Grand Theft Auto.
You have to stop thinking of thinking of it like a mini-smartphone and start thinking of it like an extra-strength wristwatch. Cramming smartphone features into it just makes a hard-to-use smartphone. But add features that are appropriate for a wristwatch, and it'll get better. We've never seen optical HR sensors added to the iPhone, right? (well, there's at least one HR app that uses the camera and flashlight, but you can't wear the phone on your arm all day long) That's one example of a hardware feature that's better-suited for a wristwatch than for any other gadget.
[doublepost=1522336473][/doublepost]
I think you guys are right, too. My wife has been caught with her Fitbit running out of battery a couple times because it's not a routine for her to charge it. It lasts long enough (a week, I think) that unless the owner makes a conscious effort to put it on a charger, it'll get forgotten.
Just got my AW a couple weeks ago. Dang it all to heck!! The only issue I have with the 3 is its size. I like watches a little bigger.
Oh, well.
Oh, well.
Just because the screen will be larger doesn't mean that the watch will be larger, so you probably made a good decision, especially as the new watch probably won't come out for another 6 months.
A 15% larger screen would only be about 2mm wider and taller, so they could easily just reduce the bezels by 1mm on each side instead of using a larger case. The bezels are quite large at the moment (almost 4mm) so, if this rumour is true, then I think they are more likely to reduce them than to increase the size of the case by 2mm and keep the large bezels.
apparently a few people in Congress wanted to force phone makers to keep FM radios.... apparently there's a radio chip in iPhones but not the antenna to go with it? not really sure what the technicality is but for emergencies when WiFi or LTE is not available, radio is a good standby. Otherwise I guess you can stream your fav radio station which is what I end up doing.
Caltech: New App Replaces Ultrasound with Smartphone Camera to Measure Heart Health
Besides the obvious communications aspect of a camera, there are plenty of good reasons - telemedicine - to add a camera.
Technology will eventually allow for bigger, lighter, and more wrappable displays allowing for more features on a watch. Ten years ago, people didn't confine themselves to thinking of the smartphone as an extra-strength mobile phone.
I didn’t take it as dismissive at all, as you said it’s great that we can make these choices. I’m sure at some point Apple will come along with a feature that will be what I see as a must have for my needs and I’ll buy one. It’s a great device and I’m glad you’re enjoying yours.
Well because not everything in life has to be modeled after a lame video game.
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I really DON’T think Apple painted into any corner.
Firstly they’ve outdone the entire market that’s had at least 12yrs lead in digital smart watches - dating back as far as SonyEricsson MBW-100.
Next each year they’ve improved on critical performance as well as battery efficiency with smaller cpu die and with world class UI.
Health - physical and mental is the key critical factor to resistance for its success along with strong partnerships in Health (leading global trend: running, partnering with Nike for exclusives), and fashion (letting exclusive partnerships for leather bands.
PS: at the Educational presentation anyone else notice Sista’s unique watch metal band?! Styling fresh!
The other key focus going forward is connectivity and services based not just on the connectivity yet also for how you use the watch.
Services will drive sales of that MUCH more than a Gold player $15K model that becomes expensive non marketable paper weight.
Notice every thread of the Apple Watch fewer and fewer people request or like a post of a request for a round watch?
Because digital doesn’t work work on a round face. Why? 3.14596 ... wasted space and a UI you cannot design for round limitations!
Have a look at Google Watch, ahem Wear OS. Over 15+ manufacturers, 9 brands built from 1 of those manufacturers (Fossil), and yet all combined barely scratch the surface of revenue, sales and battery life.
A circular design demands a circular board, again wasted space for components - powermac 2013 anyone? A modular stacked design would need to be implemented and thus a LOT thicker Watch.
Everyone wants better battery life yet with a smart watch with such space limitations to implement new senor technologies or larger capacity batteries ... and extremely limiting lithography in processor die size approaching extremes (we’re already at 10nm) there is no good solution in sight: save for a Kenetic self battery charging tech that’s Apple will be squeezed to license, likely on a per device sold model .... you can then see just why rectangular design is best on all the points I’ve mentioned.
Cheers.
My AW3 LTE lasts 2 days on one charge. How long do you think a mini computer on your wrist should last?
I have a funny feeling they won't make it compatible. They will find some reason to say the design wouldn't allow them to make the previous bands compatible and Apple die hards will defend it to their grave that it was to benefit the customer to make the bands incompatible.
I would be so if they changed the design of the band connector. With 63 bands and growing it would be a huge loss of money for me. I love my SSS0 so much and I switch my bands daily.
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I share your passion. I don’t have 63 bands, I have more like 25 to 30. But I also rotate them all the time. I just don’t see Apple switching the band port for the Series 4. They really have executed it perfectly and they know that, and I don’t think the new design will change the Band port design.
I’ve heard the aw3 can last up to 3 days.
In general the longer the battery life the better.
If I didn’t find a deal on my aw2, with no workouts the battery can last about 2 days, I’d be perfectly fine with a Fitbit hr charge that lasts for 5 days and a gshock tbh.
My biggest issue with the Apple watch has always been it's size and weight. It's such a big chunky thing, even the 38mm.
Would be nice to see some heft removed and the bezzle to screen ratio improve.
Would be nice to see some heft removed and the bezzle to screen ratio improve.
Yikes, I can’t bring myself to buy a second band at $50 or get a cheap one that will break and possibly damage my watch. Are you guys happy with the cheaper bands? I’m looking for a nylon one.
Since I got my Nike watch I just use one Nike band that comes with the watch
Amazon so decent cheap ones though
Depends which watchband you’re purchasing. If it’s Apples OEM stainless steel link bracelet, there is nothing even in comparison from a third-party company that can touch the quality of that band on any level. I don’t have an issue purchasing Apples bands at their prices, their quality is superior over any third-party band and that’s a fact. It’s just a matter of what someone is willing to spend.
I just purchased the off brand white “Nike” band for my my Nike aws2 from amazon. Visually it’s nearly identical and functionality wise it’s 100% identical, at least for my “needs”, but it does seem slightly flimsier.
Is it worth it to have spent and extra $20-$30 just to have the Nike branding, that you can’t see, and slightly tougher feeling band? Not to me lol.
How about I don't care? No rounded Apple Watch, No buy. Easy and simple. It's me who's going to pay for it. If Apple Engineers can't figure out how to make a proper rounded Apple Watch, that's their problem.
There's the Samsung gear S3 Frontier LTE version available for US. Shall see if there's an upcoming S4 LTE available for EU in the future. If that happens and Apple still stubbornly stays with the damn square design, well, ok, Samsung Gear S4 LTE will be for me.
Some design choices are simply put, not negotiable for me. End of story.