Samsung Announces Round 'Gear S2' Smart Watch

[Mr Fusion]

It's a watch for crying out loud, u ain't playing angry birds on it..

Some forumers here, and Apple itself, seem to miss that concept. A smartwatch should, first and foremost, be a watch. And a good-looking one at that. There are a few rectangular classic watches on the market that are classy, but Apple Watch evokes images of the geeky "calculator watch" of the 80s rather than classic watch design. Circular watches are much more common, and Apple would've been wise to use a circular design. Remember they're trying to shed the image of a geek gadget. In this regard, they failed miserably.

Functionality is a distant second to appearance. Those who argue rectangular displays are more functional are correct, but that doesn't make it the right choice for a smartwatch. Form needs to outweigh function. Circular watches aren't optimal, but they look way better. If you want excellent functionality, you need to pull your smartphone out of your pocket. Smartwatches are there to compliment it, not replace it. If you're concerned with viewing photos and other media optimally on your smartwatch, you're using it wrong.

That Huawei watch is the closest thing I've seen to something I'd be willing to put on my wrist without feeling like a total dork. It's probably still too thick or bulky, the materials are cheap or it's poor build quality, but at least they got the overall design right. Regardless of sales figures, Apple really missed the mark on this one.

 

[Sevanw]

You can always tell how nice a Sammy device is by the level of illogical hate from the blind loyalists. So yeah, these two devices are a stunner in design.

 

[r0k]

I like the look of the new gear watch better than I like the look of my Apple watch. I think Apple did square to maximize battery package as well as to allow easy transition for existing developers. I've seen an article on the interwebs about an octagon shaped battery to maximize battery in a round case such as a watch. I suspect Samsung is using this roundish battery. I'm sure if Apple decides to pick up the roundish battery, a later version of Apple watch might emerge rounded, though this might break some UI layout templates and conventions for iOS that are all based on square form factors. Perhaps Apple could display square apps in the middle of the round display with tick marks and moving dots for hours, minutes seconds still visible on the outer perimeter around the 3rd party developer's UI.

 

[laurim]

You might as well ask why almost all the rectangular ones are also so huge.

So far, only Apple seems to have put in the extra effort to go smaller.



A bit ironic, considering you've said that you wore a round watch yourself, which wasn't exactly tiny:



You even showed us a picture and gave us a sense of the size of what you wore/wear:






What? Think of how many apps in it use a round UI.

View attachment 578425



No comment.

I'll say this for you. You've been pretty consistent since the beginning about not liking a round smartwatch display.

Of course, many iOS fans were also consistently against phone screens larger than 4". Opinions often change when opportunity presents itself.

Heck, just go back and look at the early forum threads when people thought the iWatch would be round. People were praising the idea.

Thanks for stalking my posts. I'm flattered. My old dumb watch was TOO BIG. When I flexed my wrist backwards it dug into my arm. I only chose it because I was into something a little Steampunkish at the time so it was supposed to look old-fashioned. And it made my skin break out. I posted those pictures because people were trying to claim the Watch coming out was going to be too big and I wanted to show it wasn't. I love my WATCH. It's the perfect size and makes many tasks easier for me. I love the way it looks. It looks modern and understated. It is classic and goes with everything. And everything on it is totally readable with my 51 year old eyes. A guy I work with has a Moto360. It's huge even on a man's wrist. NO THANKS.

I design for a living so I understand how difficult it is to efficiently use a round space for text. Most people here obviously don't understand this. Including you.

 

[darkwng]

Is it just me or does this "new" watch look a lot like some of Ziiro's watches. I only recognize this, because I was interested in getting a Ziiro a while ago.
http://www.ziiiro.com/

 

[laurim]

A round watch is just more aesthetically looking and fits nicer on a wrist. This is how the Apple Watch looks to me:

Maybe you should stay at higher quality hotels for a change.

P.S. You know they make round soap, too, huh?

 

[MrX8503]

The Watch is 12.2mm thick for the 38mm watch and 12.46mm thick for the 42mm. Apple does not include the the bottom sensor array in their measurements. This is verified in Apple's official schematics of the watch:



https://developer.apple.com/watch/bands/Band-Design-Guidelines-for-Apple-Watch.pdf

Sneaky Apple

 

[jkruehne]

Tizen OS's have always used round icons. maybe Apple copied Samsung here

doesn't the iPod nano 6th or 7th gen. have had round icons? (maybe Tizen was earlier before that? or not?) anyhow

 

[MrX8503]

I like the look of the new gear watch better than I like the look of my Apple watch. I think Apple did square to maximize battery package as well as to allow easy transition for existing developers. I've seen an article on the interwebs about an octagon shaped battery to maximize battery in a round case such as a watch. I suspect Samsung is using this roundish battery. I'm sure if Apple decides to pick up the roundish battery, a later version of Apple watch might emerge rounded, though this might break some UI layout templates and conventions for iOS that are all based on square form factors. Perhaps Apple could display square apps in the middle of the round display with tick marks and moving dots for hours, minutes seconds still visible on the outer perimeter around the 3rd party developer's UI.

I doubt it has anything to do with battery shape. Look at the curved tiered MacBook battery.

Apple went with square because it's smaller and maximizes screen real estate.

 

[laurim]

Some forumers here, and Apple itself, seem to miss that concept. A smartwatch should, first and foremost, be a watch. And a good-looking one at that. There are a few rectangular classic watches on the market that are classy, but Apple Watch evokes images of the geeky "calculator watch" of the 80s rather than classic watch design. Circular watches are much more common, and Apple would've been wise to use a circular design. Remember they're trying to shed the image of a geek gadget. In this regard, they failed miserably.

Functionality is a distant second to appearance. Those who argue rectangular displays are more functional are correct, but that doesn't make it the right choice for a smartwatch. Form needs to outweigh function. Circular watches aren't optimal, but they look way better. If you want excellent functionality, you need to pull your smartphone out of your pocket. Smartwatches are there to compliment it, not replace it. If you're concerned with viewing photos and other media optimally on your smartwatch, you're using it wrong.

That Huawei watch is the closest thing I've seen to something I'd be willing to put on my wrist without feeling like a total dork. It's probably still too thick or bulky, the materials are cheap or it's poor build quality, but at least they got the overall design right. Regardless of sales figures, Apple really missed the mark on this one.

Nothing you said made any sense to me. If you want form over function where time is the main function, get a dumb watch. I bought a smartwatch for the FUNCTIONS. And those FUNCTIONS display best on a rectangular display. Just a fact. All I'm seeing are men desperate to have a "statement" piece of jewelry. I've never been a flashy jewelry wearer so I can't relate. Maybe some enterprising person will design a snap-on round frame with sparkles on it for this crowd.

 

[nocturnum]

All of brainless fanboys aside, Samsung nailed it with this one. With support for iOS, this suddenly looks like an attractive option. Sorry Timmy, you should spend less time in front of the mirror.

 

[MikePLP]

DOA like their six previous generations.

 

[MikePLP]

Nobody is going to write apps for this, DOA.

 

[Rogifan]

All of brainless fanboys aside, Samsung nailed it with this one. With support for iOS, this suddenly looks like an attractive option. Sorry Timmy, you should spend less time in front of the mirror.

As if this post isn't dripping with fanboyism.

 

[Mr Fusion]

Nothing you said made any sense to me. If you want form over function where time is the main function, get a dumb watch. I bought a smartwatch for the FUNCTIONS. And those FUNCTIONS display best on a rectangular display. Just a fact.

If you were worried so much about function, you should've just duck taped an iPhone to your wrist.

Enjoy having people snicker at you for wearing your geeky calculator Apple Watch.

 

[bobob]

We always knew that, no matter how well the Apple Watch functioned, it would always look a million times better than the Coin Dozer toys from Samsung.

We don't have the same tastes then.

...not to mention the 15 people who liked miniroll32's post.

I didn't know because 15 people liked something, it meant I had to like it as well.

How did you take that from what I wrote?

Read my comment again.

It doesn't mean that you have "to like it as well", it means that your taste differs from 15 other MacRumors members in addition to miniroll32.

 

[billy the fish]

DOA like their six previous generations.

DOA like their six previous generations.

And this somehow pleases you?..

 

[billy the fish]

These people are just like Samsung...trying to scream loudly to fight for relevance. You know why I don't care? Samsung is insignificant to me...I will never spend a dime on any of their products. And they're insignificant to Apple. Apple won the war.

Have you heard yourselves.. Without Samsung who's going to be able to produce high quality bits in huge volume.. Apple needs Samsung.. You my friend are the type of person who turns folk against Apple..

 

[mrmiagi]

If you were worried so much about function, you should've just duck taped an iPhone to your wrist.

Enjoy having people snicker at you for wearing your geeky calculator Apple Watch.

I DID! Love it!

 

[nocturnum]

As if this post isn't dripping with fanboyism.

Only if you could comprehend, then it wouldn't.

 

[billy the fish]

Right... "Game Changer".. Come see me in 6 months when holiday sales are in. I'm pretty sure they'll get their ass kicked hard by the Apple Watch.

You do realize it is their 7th, yes, 7th model and people like you have been clapping wildly at most of them.. You can track the threads of you want. Just imagine being the poor sap who bought those craptastic barely supported turd watches Samsung has foisted onto the world for 2 years straight. Think they're buying this one?

Why so angry my friend, it's a watch..

 

[laurim]

If you were worried so much about function, you should've just duck taped an iPhone to your wrist.

Enjoy having people snicker at you for wearing your geeky calculator Apple Watch.

I've had my Watch since June. The only attention it draws is people curious about it and wanting to see how it works. I'm happy to show it to them. As a matter of fact, I think that's why my client had a guy run to an Apple store and buy one for every person on their team during our event. Nope. Not one snicker, ever.

 

[chitoac]

They're even uglier in person. I'd pay money NOT to wear it, I'd be embarrassed to have that on my wrist in public.

That along with its inflated price tag, terrible battery life, required cell phone and it's inevitable irrelevancy after 12 months when the new one comes out and the old one can't get updates.

USELESS. And more of a headache than anything. It doesn't solve any problems especially since I've already got a cell phone on me at all times.

lol what a troll.

 

[Rogifan]

If you were worried so much about function, you should've just duck taped an iPhone to your wrist.

Enjoy having people snicker at you for wearing your geeky calculator Apple Watch.

Gee I've had my Apple Watch for over a month now and not one person has snickered at me. Most people don't even notice it which is certainly fine by me. I'm not wearing it to get attention.

 

[SteveBlobs]

Why is this on MacRumors frontpage?

Because some of us like to know what the competition is up to. It's like asking why does Fox News ever mention Democrats.