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Purported Schematics and Details on iWatch Show Rectangular Body, Round Sensor Plate

douglasf13 said:
I love how opinionated people are about the style of their watch, as they stroll around in cargo shorts, a golf shirt and tennis shoes. The last thing I'd want this iWatch to look like is a ungainly, circular approximation of a watch in the jewelry department at Macy's. No one is going to confuse that for a Rolex.

Circular makes sense for an analogue watch with a circular movement, but square makes a lot of sense for digital. Size is my concern. Lately, my Omega has been staying in the drawer in favor of a simple Casio F-91W, because the Casio is just so lightweight and functional.

Dieter Rams hasn't shied away from square for digital watches, so I'd be shocked if Mr. Ives does.

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This.
 
bribri99 said:
I liked where the moto 360 was going until I saw how large and thick it was. Totally ugly. A square can look good if done right. Just like a circle can look bad when done wrong, in this case, what moto looks like.
Click to expand...

The 360 is more than thick. It is comically too big at 46mm which puts it in the "outlier" size in a traditional watch sense.

38mm is the standard mens.
40mm is the large mens sport watches (the entire Rolex SS line for over 60 years)
44mm is the X-Large Panerai size for those who have the stature and physical physique to pull it off -- Hollywood A-List action starts like Jason Statham
47mm is the XXLarge Panerai for the likes of Stallone.

The Moto 360 is 46mm. It has no where the masculine appeal found on something like a Panerai. Thus, it looks like an over-sized girly watch which is not a good thing.

Most nerds will be wearing it and they are no where close as the cast stars of the Expendables who favour 40-44mm Rolex and Panerais. Imagine puny scrawny guys wearing something like a oversize toywatch clown clock next to James Bond with his 40mm. That is the Moto 360.

The whole idea of a watch replacement is silly. If it is gonna be big due to constraints like UI, battery life, etc, make it a wearable band. I rather have a 44mm strap around my wrist than a something pretending to be a museum Movado or RADO at that size. But then again, I'm not in the marklet for a smartwatch when my Swiss 40mm military/tool/pilot/chronograph watches suit me fine.
 
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I think a lot of these comments on smartwatches "needing" round faces are akin to the great Ford quote: "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."

Stop thinking of these new devices as watches. It's so limiting on your perspective.
 
X-X said:
Problem is you have just listed all the Braun watches that didn't sell.

The most successful and iconic Braun watch is this one...

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And those as well...

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But they're round because they use clock arms traveling in a circle. Ive's watch, if it exists, doesn't do that. Therefor its form will follow its function.
 
douglasf13 said:
I love how opinionated people are about the style of their watch, as they stroll around in cargo shorts, a golf shirt and tennis shoes. The last thing I'd want this iWatch to look like is a ungainly, circular approximation of a watch in the jewelry department at Macy's. No one is going to confuse that for a Rolex.

Circular makes sense for an analogue watch with a circular movement, but square makes a lot of sense for digital. Size is my concern. Lately, my Omega has been staying in the drawer in favor of a simple Casio F-91W, because the Casio is just so lightweight and functional.
Click to expand...

Agree, why copy an analogue watch design? Rectangular makes more sense to actually view content.
 
X-X said:
Problem is you have just listed all the Braun watches that didn't sell.

The most successful and iconic Braun watch is this one...

Image

And those as well...

Image
Click to expand...

And those watches are 38mm and ultra thin due to their quartz movement. The Moto 360 is commically big at 46mm. You can fit a Pocket movement. UNITAS 649 in its case due to the sheer girth.

Each MM in size on a watch is significant. 36mm boy, 38mm dressy, 40mm sporty (entire Rolex sports line), 44mm large macho, 46mm is clownsize big.
 
X-X said:
No no, "limited" is what the sales are gonna be for yet another rectangular smart watch.
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Maybe for some android junk. But apple isn't in the business of making junk. If they make a rectangular watch, it will be be better than the me-firsts.
 
So, the straps fit into those rounded, rectangular areas where a cut-out is indicated by pink arrows? There is likely some communication that will pass through the cut-out, possibly from sensors within the band itself?
 
Wishbrah said:
So, the straps fit into those rounded, rectangular areas where a cut-out is indicated by pink arrows? So there is likely some circuitry that will pass through the cut-out, possibly sensors within the band itself?
Click to expand...

Good point. I wasn't sure what to make of that hole - but this makes lots of sense. It'll also get everyone hooting and hollering that they can't use 3rd party straps.
 
Wishbrah said:
So, the straps fit into those rounded, rectangular areas where a cut-out is indicated by pink arrows? So there is likely some communication that will pass through the cut-out, possibly from sensors within the band itself?
Click to expand...

I was thinking the cut-out is just a hole to hold the strap in place. So the strap has a catch that pops out into the hole. Could make it easier to change straps.

EDIT: scrap that actually I don't think that would work as the strap is rotated it would pop out.
 
I know these are blurry schematics, not final product images, but they bring to mind other smartwatches, not high end fashion watches.

The rumored comment from Jony Ive that appeared a few days ago made me think the jewelry side of the market is in trouble.

Not saying it won't be revolutionary, just an observation.
 
X-X said:
No no, "limited" is what the sales are gonna be for yet another rectangular smart watch.
Click to expand...

What's wrong with a square watch? It has to be either square or circular. If it's circular it won't be the first watch with that shape.

Then again...

triangle_tablet.png
 
Trapezoid said:
It's an apple product and will most likely tie in perfectly with the rest of the ecosystem. People are going to want it.
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You know, on that you're actually right. If you're in the Apple ecosystem you don't have any choice, people will have to buy it if they want a smart watch or switch to android.

But does that make it a success? I don't know because there is still the option to just use your phone.
 
douglasf13 said:
Dieter Rams hasn't shied away from square for digital watches, so I'd be shocked if Mr. Ives does.

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Click to expand...

If it looks like that, then I can only say: My wallet is ready! All those people here complaining about square watches, yet this is proof that a rectangular watch can be very stylish.

Heck, if this thing is coupled with a good set of functionality, then I would even consider paying the rumored $400 price tag.
 
X-X said:
You know, on that you're actually right. If you're in the Apple ecosystem you don't have any choice, people will have to buy it if they want a smart watch or switch to android.

But does that make it a success? I don't know because there is still the option to just use your phone.
Click to expand...

Well I guess it depends on how you define success. As a company, I would think apple would define it as getting as many as they can into the hands of buyers. I can't see them having a problem with that.

Whether it has continued success is a different story probably.
 
fortysomegeek said:
The 360 is more than thick. It is comically too big at 46mm which puts it in the "outlier" size in a traditional watch sense.

38mm is the standard mens.
40mm is the large mens sport watches (the entire Rolex SS line for over 60 years)
44mm is the X-Large Panerai size for those who have the stature and physical physique to pull it off -- Hollywood A-List action starts like Jason Statham
47mm is the XXLarge Panerai for the likes of Stallone.

The Moto 360 is 46mm. It has no where the masculine appeal found on something like a Panerai. Thus, it looks like an over-sized girly watch which is not a good thing.

Most nerds will be wearing it and they are no where close as the cast stars of the Expendables who favour 40-44mm Rolex and Panerais. Imagine puny scrawny guys wearing something like a oversize toywatch clown clock next to James Bond with his 40mm. That is the Moto 360.

The whole idea of a watch replacement is silly. If it is gonna be big due to constraints like UI, battery life, etc, make it a wearable band. I rather have a 44mm strap around my wrist than a something pretending to be a museum Movado or RADO at that size. But then again, I'm not in the marklet for a smartwatch when my Swiss 40mm military/tool/pilot/chronograph watches suit me fine.
Click to expand...

10 years ago you would be right, but there has been a trend to bigger watches since then and men seem to prefer chunkier day to day watches. I would say that most men gravitate towards 44-46mm watches these days.
 
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