I get that the Ultra is for those who need a really rugged watch. It seems great for anyone with that need. But for me, I want the opposite: slimmer, less bulky, more stylish.
I've loved and owned the AW since the first generation, but one thing has always bugged me about it and that's how thick and bubbly it is. I want a slimmer watch with a flat glass surface and more angular, metallic edges. Here's where I'd take inspiration from, for a design that intelligently blends "retro" digital (actually a timeless and beautiful design style) with today's AW:
To achieve this while maintaining battery life, I'd be more than happy to do settle for a slimmed down functionality set. There are a bunch of things the AW can do which I hardly ever use, like cellular data and standalone calling (which have always been too sketchy for me). I could even be without stuff like text scribbling. Because the thing is, the functionality package as a whole just isn't reliable enough for me that I'd go anywhere without also bringing my iPhone. I've really tried.
I could even go for another kind of display, not necessarily capable of showing photos with great color resolution. I don't know the names of all the existing display types - I'm talking about that kind of display which looks a bit more like an old liquid crystal display, but the state of the art version which can show color, doesn't have ghosting, etc. That look would fit the whole digital watch angle too.
So, what I'm after is an AW that puts style and comfort first. Then they could go ahead and make it in any kind of expensive metals they wanted, to be able to sell at really premium prices. This would be the phone to show off if you're coming at the whole thing from a more watch-as-jewellery angle. The style watch. Which would still have enough functionality to handle all your notification and message replying needs.
Would a "retro" inspired look be too niche? I don't think so. First of all, like I said, the design could be retro-meets-normal AW, so not just a cheesy copy of an old Seiko. And second, I think there are enough people of my generation, born in the 70's or 80's, which would LOVE a nod to the design language of that era.
Just sharing my dream for a moment. Because even though I'll keep using them no matter what (though I only buy a new one when my old one gets wayyy too slow, so every 3d generation or so), no thick and bubbly AW will ever truly get me excited.
I've loved and owned the AW since the first generation, but one thing has always bugged me about it and that's how thick and bubbly it is. I want a slimmer watch with a flat glass surface and more angular, metallic edges. Here's where I'd take inspiration from, for a design that intelligently blends "retro" digital (actually a timeless and beautiful design style) with today's AW:
To achieve this while maintaining battery life, I'd be more than happy to do settle for a slimmed down functionality set. There are a bunch of things the AW can do which I hardly ever use, like cellular data and standalone calling (which have always been too sketchy for me). I could even be without stuff like text scribbling. Because the thing is, the functionality package as a whole just isn't reliable enough for me that I'd go anywhere without also bringing my iPhone. I've really tried.
I could even go for another kind of display, not necessarily capable of showing photos with great color resolution. I don't know the names of all the existing display types - I'm talking about that kind of display which looks a bit more like an old liquid crystal display, but the state of the art version which can show color, doesn't have ghosting, etc. That look would fit the whole digital watch angle too.
So, what I'm after is an AW that puts style and comfort first. Then they could go ahead and make it in any kind of expensive metals they wanted, to be able to sell at really premium prices. This would be the phone to show off if you're coming at the whole thing from a more watch-as-jewellery angle. The style watch. Which would still have enough functionality to handle all your notification and message replying needs.
Would a "retro" inspired look be too niche? I don't think so. First of all, like I said, the design could be retro-meets-normal AW, so not just a cheesy copy of an old Seiko. And second, I think there are enough people of my generation, born in the 70's or 80's, which would LOVE a nod to the design language of that era.
Just sharing my dream for a moment. Because even though I'll keep using them no matter what (though I only buy a new one when my old one gets wayyy too slow, so every 3d generation or so), no thick and bubbly AW will ever truly get me excited.
