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

[robogobo]

Always-on display and done.
[doublepost=1483536868][/doublepost]At the moment they're still squeezing circular watch faces into a rectangle though, which makes the faces smaller than they could be. So there's room for compromise here. They could very easily make a circular design that leave complications on the edge when rectangular info such as text and photos is displayed.

As for being circular. I am going to say HECK no. I really think a circular screen on a smart watch is just freaking stupid and backwards. There is a reason why watches were circular and why the watch face is circular, but that does not apply now that we have moved away from mechanical watches.

Why would we be hindered by that when there is no reason for it? A circular screen is just awful for display information, it's not good for anything other than telling the time. So I really hope this never happens.

 

[5105973]

Always-on display and done.
[doublepost=1483536868][/doublepost]At the moment they're still squeezing circular watch faces into a rectangle though, which makes the faces smaller than they could be. So there's room for compromise here. They could very easily make a circular design that leave complications on the edge when rectangular info such as text and photos is displayed.

Some of the Samsung watch faces I've downloaded for my Gear S2 watches have always-on alternate faces that activate when the regular face powers off. (The full featured face draws too much power to always be on, though there is an option to have it always be on as well). I must say, once you get used to having an always-on form of display, for the time at the very least, it is disheartening to go back to a completely black screen. Even with raise to wake, I find it is preferable to have the time always displayed so I can casually peek at it without having to press a button or flick my wrist so obviously to activate my display.

 

[Otaviano]

That's one person's design of the hardware with no effort put into software. You don't think Apple could come up with something for a round face?

They did come up something. Not using a round face.

I just think a round face on a digital watch makes about as much sense as a rotary dial on a smart phone would.

 

[Channan]

They did come up something. Not using a round face.

I just think a round face on a digital watch makes about as much sense as a rotary dial on a smart phone would.

Some people want their watches to look like actual watches, not tiny computers on their wrist.

 

[kepler20b]

honestly, no circle = no buy for me.

 

[ErikGrim]

Some people want their watches to look like actual watches, not tiny computers on their wrist.

You do know actual watches come in other shapes than circles yeah?

 

[NamE_O]

No one believed the Apple Watch would be the next iPhone, including Apple. It's an add-on device that requires an iPhone to use. They understood that limitation. They don't market it as if everyone needs one in the way they do the iPhone. It's targeted at a specific audience rather than a general audience.

Again, you're making assumptions that because this product isn't on the wrists of everyone it's a failure. The fact is that they're doing very well with it and the Apple Watch has contributed to their earnings in a great way.

Umm, people had hoped it to be, but it turned out it's not. That's how it went. Try search some articles about the "iWatch" rumors and people's general reactions to those before Apple Watch was introduced. A lot of people had high expectations of Apple's version of the smartwatch, only to be disappointed that it's nothing different from every other smartwatch that has been available for years.

Also, do people "need" an add-on device? Isn't an add-on device something that's nice to have but isn't really needed? And, well, yes it is something that needs an iPhone to work and has limitations. But there were also multiple rumors that indicate Apple's ultimate goal with the watch is to make it a standalone device that's independent of the iPhone. And Apple is clearly proving them right themselves with their Series 2 watch. Series 2, compared to the 1, has the GPS which makes it less dependent on the iPhone. And rumors of Series 3 potentially supporting cellular data are coming up now. All of these go towards the direction where the watch eventually wouldn't need an iPhone to work.

Don't get me wrong though, I believe in the potential of smartwatch. Just that it's not ready yet and needs more work done to be something that people need.

As for the watch contributing to Apple's earnings... I don't hold Apple stocks. I couldn't care less about whether Apple earns billions or trillions of $$$$. What I do care, however, is how great of a product they make. And the watch isn't "great" for most people yet, although I do believe it will eventually be in the future.

 

[imola.zhp]

Improved battery life? I can almost get 2 days out of my series 0 that I just picked up on Black Friday for $190 shipped.

So unless the next OS eats battery I'll stay with it probably until it gets broken or wet.

 

[bunnicula]

Some people want their watches to look like actual watches, not tiny computers on their wrist.

[doublepost=1483632147][/doublepost]Is this not a watch?

http://usa.hermes.com/watches/nantu...roduct-watch-cape-cod-nantucket-pm-67407.html

How about these?

http://www.cartier.com/en-us/collections/watches/all-watches/tank/tank-solo.html

 

[OllyW]

[doublepost=1483632147][/doublepost]Is this not a watch?

http://usa.hermes.com/watches/nantu...roduct-watch-cape-cod-nantucket-pm-67407.html

How about these?

http://www.cartier.com/en-us/collections/watches/all-watches/tank/tank-solo.html

My dislike for square and rectangular watches is not restricted to the Apple Watch.

 

[Otaviano]

Some people want their watches to look like actual watches, not tiny computers on their wrist.

I think those people should go and purchase actual watches then.

The thing is you really can't say anything positive for a circular screen except for it fits your aesthetic idea of what a watch should look like. Other than that it offers absolutely no advantages. Not in terms of usability and accessibility of information. Certainly not for developers who will have the impossible task of trying to design interfaces that morph the two styles of Apple Watch.

In my opinion circular screens on smart watches are for companies who are willing to throw anything at the wall hoping something sticks. Apple should focus on the things that can really drive smartwatch adoption forward.

First, 4G connection.

Second, battery life that lasts days with the censors continuously working. It's cool it takes your heartbeat from time to time, but the real interesting health data will be when those censors are able to be constantly monitoring.

Third, a device that anticipates what you want to do. The smartwatch needs to get a lot smarter. The dock was a cool idea, but not enough. The watch should anticipate why you are glancing at it. If you are in the kitchen, maybe it automatically replaces a complication with the timer complication. If I got out for a run at a certain time every other day, maybe it learns to replace a complication the second you come out the house. Playing music through an Apple device and the now playing screen should be readily available. The goal should be that you never have to go into that honeycomb screen.

That's my two cents.

 

[kdarling]

You do know actual watches come in other shapes than circles yeah?

Yes, however 9 out of 10 actual watches for sale today are round.

The thing is you really can't say anything positive for a circular screen except for it fits your aesthetic idea of what a watch should look like.

The Apple Watch was pushed as a fashion item. From an aesthetic standpoint, it fails without a round version.

If/when Apple brings out a round version, who's crazy enough to bet that it won't outsell the current 1980s wrist computer terminal look by a mile?

Other than that it offers absolutely no advantages. Not in terms of usability and accessibility of information. Certainly not for developers who will have the impossible task of trying to design interfaces that morph the two styles of Apple Watch.

Android programmers did it. Easier than expected. And round is terrific for the quick glance kinds of info that wrist devices are supposed to deliver, like showing a circular radar like view of your surroundings / friends / weather. Not to mention it's excellent for thousands of popular analog watchfaces

Fashion aside, I agree with you that cellular connections, like some Android/Tizen watches have, are handy.

Also, as someone who has worn a watch all his life -- and does not always drag a cell phone around -- better battery life is paramount to me, at least as far as showing the time goes!

I've gone back to wearing a Martian watch because it has a regular clock that runs for years, and the only thing needing charging is the Bluetooth notification and speech sections.

 

[Otaviano]

The Apple Watch was pushed as a fashion item. From an aesthetic standpoint, it fails without a round version.

A ridiculous mistake trying to sell it as a fashion item. Something they clearly have done an about face on.

Android programmers did it. Easier than expected. And round is terrific for the quick glance kinds of info that wrist devices are supposed to deliver, like showing a circular radar like view of your surroundings / friends / weather. Not to mention it's excellent for thousands of popular analog watchfaces

Android Wear, is that still a thing. They got apps for it? Last I heard it wasn't selling so well. How often do you need a "circular radar like view"? What about all the things it is awful for? Like reading any textual information. Email. Messages. Twitter. News Alerts. Any kind of list view. Any kind of interaction screen where you need to offer multiple buttons. Or when it can play video. Do you shrink video down to fit the circular screen?

And do not get me started on the analogue watch faces. What on earth is the point of using an analouqe watch face on a digital watch? The equivalent would have been if they offered a rotary dial screen as an option on the iPhone.

It's a digital watch, it should own what it is instead of aping something it is not.

It just makes no sense to me, and that Apple the company who drives forward and removes the headphone jack is going to make a round watch strictly because of the sentiment that watches need to be round when the only reason they were round was because of the machanics that made them work. Mechanics which are no longer a hinderance.

 

[kdarling]

Android Wear, is that still a thing.

Yeah, it is. Android Wear v2 is coming early 2017, with some neat additions.

As for circular screens, they do just fine with text in the middle. We've already been over this bogus complaint many times before. Anyone who tries to bring up text display has to explain (1) why they're not using a bigger screen for it, if text is that important, and (2) why people buy the smaller Apple Watch which displays less.

And yeah, some things work great in circles. Just look at all the Apple Watch apps that are circular.

One of my favorite Android Wear apps is a tip calculator which uses a circular slide rule like entering method.

And do not get me started on the analogue watch faces. What on earth is the point of using an analouqe watch face on a digital watch? The equivalent would have been if they offered a rotary dial screen as an option on the iPhone.

There are two types of people in the world. Those who like analog watchfaces, and those who do not. (Often because they never learned to read one.)

I think those who like digital clocks are more prone to be okay with a computer screen on their wrist.

 

[bunnicula]

My dislike for square and rectangular watches is not restricted to the Apple Watch.

I absolutely understand people preferring a round watch face. I only posted those because people insinuate on here all the time that the AW having a rectangular/squarish watch face makes it NOT have "real" watch face and that not having it be round somehow makes the AW look like an aberration. This is just not true as there are plenty of watch faces out there that are not round and have been popular for years.

Luxury brands make them. So does Timex.


[doublepost=1483640839][/doublepost]

Yeah, it is. Android Wear v2 is coming early 2017, with some neat additions.

As for circular screens, they do just fine with text in the middle. We've already been over this bogus complaint many times before. Anyone who tries to bring up text display has to explain (1) why they're not using a bigger screen for it, if text is that important, and (2) why people the smaller Apple Watch which displays less.

And yeah, some things work great in circles. Just look at all the Apple Watch apps that are circular.

One of my favorite Android Wear apps is a tip calculator which uses a circular slide rule like entering method.



There are two types of people in the world. Those who like analog watchfaces, and those who do not. (Often because they never learned to read one.)

Those in the latter group are more prone to be okay with a computer screen on their wrist.

*glances at Hermes AW2 on her wrist*

Nope. No problem reading analog watch face. It's 1:27 pm.

 

[kdarling]

I absolutely understand people preferring a round watch face. I only posted those because people insinuate on here all the time that the AW having a rectangular/squarish watch face makes it NOT have "real" watch face and that not having it be round somehow makes the AW look like an aberration.

I don't recall anyone saying that per se.

Many people do say that it would look better to them if it was round.

Ah. Perhaps you mean the way that some people say that the current shape looks like a computer terminal (or iPhone/iPod) on your wrist?

Well, it does!

It sure doesn't look like a Tank or a Santos or any of those other famous rectangular watches people like to bring up. Those have pretty darned big watch lugs, for one thing. And a more squared off shape, instead of the Apple Watch's signature rounded pillow shape by J. Ive.

As already noted, it reminds me of the first iPhone. Or a lady's purse pill box:

It's an okay unoffensive shape, but it's just bland to me. Your impression may vary

 

[Channan]

I think those people should go and purchase actual watches then.

The thing is you really can't say anything positive for a circular screen except for it fits your aesthetic idea of what a watch should look like.

That's all I bothered to read because that's all that mattered to me. I didn't buy my watch specifically for the features it offered. I bought it because it looks nice and does a little more than a traditional watch does. I don't want to look like I'm wearing a computer on my wrist. I want to look like I'm wearing a watch, and I've had multiple people tell me how shocked they were when they found out my watch was a smart watch.

You do know actual watches come in other shapes than circles yeah?

Yes. And I also know they're not nearly as common because most people agree they don't look as nice. Regardless, the Apple Watch doesn't look like a traditional watch, even a square one.

 

[ErikGrim]

And I also know they're not nearly as common because most people agree they don't look as nice.

[citation needed]

 

[kdarling]

[citation needed]

Go to any website where dozens of multiple brands of watches are sold. Count the number of round and the number of rectangular. It'll usually be about an 8 or 9:1 ratio.

"Round-faced watches are, of course, the most common. "

- World of Watches blog

"Last of all, it needs to be remembered that these watches, although smart, are still watches and it's well worth looking at the market trends for some advice. The wrist-worn horology business has been at full tilt for well over 100 years and any tech company intending on getting into it needs to have done its homework.

"According to the Ruth Faulkner, the editor of Retail Jeweller, this is what they should have figured out:

"Round watches are much more popular and probably make up 80 per cent of the watches on sale. I'd say women's watches are more often square than men's..."

- wareable.com: Round v square faced smartwatches: We ask the experts which is best

Which might be partly why the Apple Watch looks feminine to a lot of people. Along with its soft rounded shape.

(btw i love/hate your avatar. it creeps me out every time!)

 

[Channan]

Go to any website where multiple brands of watches are sold. Count the number of round and the number of rectangular. It'll usually be about an 8 or 9:1 ratio.

"Round-faced watches are, of course, the most common. "

http://blog.worldofwatches.com/face...d-watch-shape-now-discounted-by-up-to-95-off/

"Last of all, it needs to be remembered that these watches, although smart, are still watches and it's well worth looking at the market trends for some advice. The wrist-worn horology business has been at full tilt for well over 100 years and any tech company intending on getting into it needs to have done its homework. According to the Ruth Faulkner, the editor or Retail Jeweller, this is what they should have figured out:

"Round watches are much more popular and probably make up 80 per cent of the watches on sale. I'd say women's watches are more often square than men's, for example the popular Cartier Tank and Longines classic watches."

http://www.wareable.com/smartwatches/round-v-square-smartwatches-which-is-best

Which might be partly why the Apple Watch looks feminine to a lot of people. Along with its soft rounded shape.

btw i love/hate your avatar. it creeps me out every time!

Thanks for saving me time. Lol

 

[TwoBytes]

I think a lot of people are just use to a round face because we live in a generation of growing up with round watches - all the expensive ones are if you discount the 80's Casio calculator ones.
These people spending lots on round watches are the same type of people with disposable income spending on the AW. Personally, i'm happy with the square. Whatever gives most real estate. Saying you want a round watch because watches are round is like saying you want a rotary dial telephone shaped iPhone. I understand not everyone is saying that but 'round looks nice' is subjective due to round watches being common.

 

[democracyrules]

I think those people should go and purchase actual watches then.

The thing is you really can't say anything positive for a circular screen except for it fits your aesthetic idea of what a watch should look like. Other than that it offers absolutely no advantages. Not in terms of usability and accessibility of information. Certainly not for developers who will have the impossible task of trying to design interfaces that morph the two styles of Apple Watch.

In my opinion circular screens on smart watches are for companies who are willing to throw anything at the wall hoping something sticks. Apple should focus on the things that can really drive smartwatch adoption forward.

First, 4G connection.

Second, battery life that lasts days with the censors continuously working. It's cool it takes your heartbeat from time to time, but the real interesting health data will be when those censors are able to be constantly monitoring.

Third, a device that anticipates what you want to do. The smartwatch needs to get a lot smarter. The dock was a cool idea, but not enough. The watch should anticipate why you are glancing at it. If you are in the kitchen, maybe it automatically replaces a complication with the timer complication. If I got out for a run at a certain time every other day, maybe it learns to replace a complication the second you come out the house. Playing music through an Apple device and the now playing screen should be readily available. The goal should be that you never have to go into that honeycomb screen.

That's my two cents.

The comment above is excellent and totally hitting the nails. Awesome!! Totally agree!!

 

[kdarling]

I think a lot of people are just use to a round face because we live in a generation of growing up with round watches - all the expensive ones are if you discount the 80's Casio calculator ones.

Nope, there are expensive non-round watches as well.

However, some things just can't be done on a non-round watch, such as a rotating bezel

Personally, i'm happy with the square. Whatever gives most real estate.

As noted many times before, there are a lot of problems with that argument. Starting with the fact that Apple's Watch has some pretty poor display real estate to start with, as over 50% of its face is bezel.

More importantly, even Apple sells a smaller version of its watch with less display real estate. So basically you're arguing that millions of those buyers are wrong. But they're not, because people want to buy something that looks good on them, and that's more important than display size or shape.

Saying you want a round watch because watches are round is like saying you want a rotary dial telephone shaped iPhone. I understand not everyone is saying that but 'round looks nice' is subjective due to round watches being common.

Oh poo You could say the same thing about people wanting a Milanese, steel link, or leather watch band, just because they look nice and are traditional with watches. Ditto for stainless or gold cases.

Sorry, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with people wanting something traditionally fashionable. Nothing at all.

The upshot is, if you're arguing against traditional shape and want to emphasize text display quantity, then this is the design you should desire most:

 

[TwoBytes]

The upshot is, if you're arguing against traditional shape and want to emphasize text display quantity, then this is the design you should desire most:

View attachment 682099

Honestly, i'd quite like a watch like that. A bit thinner and less bezel, but there abouts.

 

[kdarling]

Honestly, i'd quite like a watch like that. A bit thinner and less bezel, but there abouts.

Ah, then you're in luck. They're available pretty cheap on eBay these days.

It's the Samsung Gear S from 2014, and has 3G built in so you can use it as an independent cell phone if you wish.

Check this old thread to see what users here thought:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/galaxy-gear-s-owners-chime-in-here.1815896/

Actually, thanks for the reminder. I keep swearing I'm going to get one just for the fun of it.