New Apple Watch to Launch in Fall 2017 With Improved Battery Life But No Major Design Changes

[RodoBobJon]

I'm not sure a cellular connection on a smartwatch would be very useful. There are only a handful of very rare situations where carrying my phone in my pocket is inconvenient or impossible. Having those gaps filled with connectivity would be a "nice to have" feature, but it's not a game changer. In my opinion, an always-on watch face would be a far better way to spend increased battery capacity.

The idea that people want to leave their phone behind and go watch-only seems to fly in the face of the trend toward larger-screened smartphones. With the exception of a few niche scenarios, like wanting to receive text messages while out for a run, I don't see the evidence that this is something people are truly clamoring for. Phones are portable enough that people don't mind carrying them.

 

[Thai]

I must have more faith in Apple than you because I'm convinced they could easily make WatchOS work better than that with a circular screen if they wanted to. Of course some features are always going to be better suited to a rectangular screen but a lot of the WatchOS features are also circular based and would work better with a round display.

I'm not sure it will ever happen but adding the option of a circular watch could attract a even more customers because the current single design is divisive and it does put a lot of people off. My years of experience on this forum also make me confident enough to predict that many of the current "square is best" fans would be first in queue if Apple were to release a great looking round watch.

I am sure Apple can do a better job than Samsung or Android Wear with round watches...but doesn't that require MAJOR revisions to WatchOS? Are you going to have two versions of WatchOS...one for round and one for rectangle? Do i want resources/R&D to be diverted into two groups for basically one OS? And how about developers...do they have to make two versions of every app? Will there be two sizes also for round watch?

Would this not create significant fragmentation?

When you guys talk about "a lot of WatchOS are cicular based"...what do you guys mean? You mean the app layout where the apps are circular in shape? Weather app? IMO, the circular shape apps is due to size limitations...square apps would take up more space than circular...and space is limited on a tiny screen. Weather app is based on temp/rain% around a clock based on time...so, it is circular.

And as you can see...circular watches that TRY to look like a traditional watch are failing to move the sales needle. Why do i want to buy an expensive smartwatch that tries to look like a cheap Timex?!

Apple Watch looks the way it is because it looks like no other watch...it is 100% pure Apple design. From afar, no one will mistake it for anything else (good or bad based on your viewpoint)...and that is by design IMO.

 

[OllyW]

Apple Watch looks the way it is because it looks like no other watch...it is 100% pure Apple design. From afar, no one will mistake it for anything else (good or bad based on your viewpoint)...and that is by design IMO.

Wouldn't you like a bit of variety to the design though? If not a circular watch then give some us more case options and not just materials and finishes. Does every single Apple watch that is released in the future have to be exactly the same shape as it is now?

 

[Kabeyun]

I'm not sure a cellular connection on a smartwatch would be very useful. There are only a handful of very rare situations where carrying my phone in my pocket is inconvenient or impossible. Having those gaps filled with connectivity would be a "nice to have" feature, but it's not a game changer. In my opinion, an always-on watch face would be a far better way to spend increased battery capacity.

The idea that people want to leave their phone behind and go watch-only seems to fly in the face of the trend toward larger-screened smartphones. With the exception of a few niche scenarios, like wanting to receive text messages while out for a run, I don't see the evidence that this is something people are truly clamoring for. Phones are portable enough that people don't mind carrying them.

Couldn't agree more. I think there's much better and use for increased battery capacity than going full Dick Tracy.

 

[Thai]

Wouldn't you like a bit of variety to the design though? If not a circular watch then give some us more case options and not just materials and finishes. Does every single Apple watch that is released in the future have to be exactly the same shape as it is now?

I like for Apple to advance the current design...maybe make it thinner...maybe more curvy around the wrist. A round watch is fine...but as noted above, i do not want it to fragment an already complicated OS. In the future, i think that there will be more sensors and more capability built into the Watch. So, building two versions of one OS that does a lot of things will be complex i would imagine.

 

[Thai]

This is AccuWeather on Android Wear 2.0...notice that the two sides of the words are left blank to allow for data to be presented in the middle of display...so, in essence WASTED SPACE/BEZELS/PIXELS on the sides! And yet, you still have the cut-off phenomenon! And people here criticized Apple for the (minimal) bezels on the Apple Watch?!!

 

[lederermc]

The best feature I would want is make it affordable.

 

[ErikGrim]

This is AccuWeather on Android Wear 2.0...notice that the two sides of the words are left blank to allow for data to be presented in the middle of display...so, in essence WASTED SPACE/BEZELS/PIXELS on the sides! And yet, you still have the cut-off phenomenon! And people here criticized Apple for the (minimal) bezels on the Apple Watch?!!

I've said this a million times. For a circular watch you can essentially square the circle to find the usable space for anything other than circular displays (i.e. time / activity rings)

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I'm already happy with the battery life. Bring 3rd party watch faces.

 

[dwsolberg]

I'm not sure a cellular connection on a smartwatch would be very useful. There are only a handful of very rare situations where carrying my phone in my pocket is inconvenient or impossible. Having those gaps filled with connectivity would be a "nice to have" feature, but it's not a game changer. In my opinion, an always-on watch face would be a far better way to spend increased battery capacity.

The idea that people want to leave their phone behind and go watch-only seems to fly in the face of the trend toward larger-screened smartphones. With the exception of a few niche scenarios, like wanting to receive text messages while out for a run, I don't see the evidence that this is something people are truly clamoring for. Phones are portable enough that people don't mind carrying them.

I get what you're saying, but personally, there are times I'd like to be without my phone just because I don't want to have to deal with a phone or the phone gets in the way. For example, at the beach, it would be nice to not worry about someone stealing your phone when you're out swimming. Or it would be nice to bike somewhere without your phone, or take a walk with the dog, or just hang out when you really don't want to deal with a lot of technology. A cellular watch still allows you to stay in touch, find your friends, pay with Apple Pay, but it's not a drain on your attention in the way a phone is. For me at least, it would be freeing.

 

[Otaviano]

This is AccuWeather on Android Wear 2.0...notice that the two sides of the words are left blank to allow for data to be presented in the middle of display...so, in essence WASTED SPACE/BEZELS/PIXELS on the sides! And yet, you still have the cut-off phenomenon! And people here criticized Apple for the (minimal) bezels on the Apple Watch?!!

A better example for why I think they should not do a circular watch could not be made.
[doublepost=1488139714][/doublepost]

I like for Apple to advance the current design...maybe make it thinner...maybe more curvy around the wrist. A round watch is fine...but as noted above, i do not want it to fragment an already complicated OS. In the future, i think that there will be more sensors and more capability built into the Watch. So, building two versions of one OS that does a lot of things will be complex i would imagine.

Definitely thinner, probably the only Apple product that needs to get thinner. The ugliest aspect of the Apple Watch design in my opinion is the thickness. It does not hug your wrist, but rather is a box that sits a top it.

 

[Thai]

If you want a modern example of circle failure...here is Huawei Watch 2 with AW2.0:

Look at all the wasted "bezel"....

 

[Thai]

Look at all the wasted space.

 

[OllyW]

Look at all the wasted space.

l know the feeling.

 

[Thai]

l know the feeling.

View attachment 690546

Lol hmm those corners are useful, no? Wasted space is up to owner.

 

[Mac 128]

l know the feeling.

View attachment 690546

Me too :

 

[OllyW]

Lol hmm those corners are useful, no? Wasted space is up to owner.

Sometimes it's nice to have an elegant analogue face with no distractions. It's possible to make much better use of the space but Apple insist on making it exclusive so I'm blaming them.

 

[Thai]

Sometimes it's nice to have an elegant analogue face with no distractions. It's possible to make much better use of the space but Apple insist on making it exclusive so I'm blaming them.

Hermes face sure is nice. But I am pretty happy with this:

 

[OllyW]

Hermes face sure is nice. But I am pretty happy with this:

I wouldn't class that anywhere close to being "an elegant analogue face with no distractions" .

 

[Mac 128]

I wouldn't class that anywhere close to being "an elegant analogue face with no distractions" .

Wow that's a horrible watch face. I can't believe Apple allows that kind of configuration -- it's a complete distracting mess.

 

[Thai]

I wouldn't class that anywhere close to being "an elegant analogue face with no distractions" .

Didn't say that did I? Just saying that I like that face since I can't get Hermes.

 

[Thai]

There is always this:

 

[Thai]

Wow that's a horrible watch face. I can't believe Apple allows that kind of configuration -- it's a complete distracting mess.

Maybe, but i love that face...very useful for me and helps motivate my lazy ass to exercise. For me, i bought a unique SMARTwatch, not a device trying to look like a Timex. I think that is the mistake of so many smartwatches out there...they are an incredible useful device...but then gets put to the side because you gotta look like a traditional watch, with all the limitations of a traditional watch design. I am happy that Apple went unique rather than trying to make it look like cheap ass copy of a Timex. And apparently, sales figures so far favors Apple's unique ways...while smartwatches that copies traditional watches have failed and continues to fail miserably...see the latest examples of Android Wear 2.0 (LG and Huawei interpretations).

 

[ErikGrim]

Me too :

Not quite. Real world comparison:

 

[44267547]

I wouldn't class that anywhere close to being "an elegant analogue face with no distractions" .

This had me laughing. Quite the opposite with all the clutter.

That's what I like about the Solar Face without the complications. I just want a clean, less cluttered Watch Face. Complications are nice, but at least you have the option to remove them if you so wish.