The Verge "What if the Apple Watch were round?"

[bigred7078]

I have always preferred circular watch faces, but after seeing how a smart watch like the Moto 360 works with text on screen, I understand why Apple went with the design they chose.

Circular faces sure look pretty, but they are not as practical on a smart watch when trying to read text messages, e-mails, or other types of notifications.

*image lifted from The Verge Moto 360 review...

 

[abshole765]

Still wouldn't buy it.

I buy watches/accessories because I know in 15 years it'll still be ticking.

You going to use your iPhone 6 in 5 years?

 

[ravenvii]

Just for the record. This is what happens when you try to fit text in three different displays: the first one, a square display; the second one, a rounded display of the same size (let's say both are 2" displays); and the third one a smaller, rectangular display (let's say 1,5").

Image

The rounded display is the worst. So let's try with buttons, another extremely common UI object.

Image

Doesn't get any better. You can only fit three buttons (instead of four) and you have to make them shorter than in both the square display of the same size and the rectangular (smaller display). Of course, you can make the button in the middle longer, but why would you want one of the buttons to be bigger than the others?

Let's try with a list. You'll need a list at some point right? IE, when you need to select a song from an album you want to listen.

Image

Ew. Doesn't look good at all.


Yes, you can design new interfaces, but I doubt you can make one without buttons, text or lists usable. You'll need to display text. One of the main features is that it displays a notification (with text) when you get it on your iPhone. So why would them choose the option that displays LESS text from all the options available?

If you think it's possible to solve this problems, please explain me how.

Excellent post. Actually convinced me. Thanks.

 

[douglasf13]

Still wouldn't buy it.

I buy watches/accessories because I know in 15 years it'll still be ticking.

You going to use your iPhone 6 in 5 years?

It depends on what kind of watch you're talking about. The Apple Watch costs something like 7% of what my Omega costs, and every 5-7 years, I have to spend the cost of an Apple Watch just to service the Omega. So, if I live another 50 years, buying an Omega one time vs. buying a new Apple Watch every two years is pretty similar in terms of overall cost for the rest of my life.

If were were comparing a $350 analogue watch to an Omega, I'd pick a life long Omega, but things get a bit hazier when it comes to a smart watch, because of the increased functionality in my work life. Wrist notifications from my phone are pretty handy, so it may be time to get over the idea of Omega wrist jewelry.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

It does look sleek in a way.

But still pointless to be round.

Like someone else said, a watch was round because it was analog.

Its not congruent on a digital device because you're not fooling anyone.

I think it looks sleek but soft. Almost too soft for masculinity. If it was round it would have to be bigger for sure. A full size.

 

[abshole765]

It depends on what kind of watch you're talking about. The Apple Watch costs something like 7% of what my Omega costs, and every 5-7 years, I have to spend the cost of an Apple Watch just to service the Omega. So, if I live another 50 years, buying an Omega one time vs. buying a new Apple Watch every two years is pretty similar in terms of overall cost for the rest of my life.

If were were comparing a $350 analogue watch to an Omega, I'd pick a life long Omega, but things get a bit hazier when it comes to a smart watch, because of the increased functionality in my work life. Wrist notifications from my phone are pretty handy, so it may be time to get over the idea of Omega wrist jewelry.

But in the case of an Apple Watch, or really any watch that relies on technology, it's dated in a year or two. While you may spend $350 on you Omega to have it serviced every 5 or so years, would you be as willing to spend that much every couple years, on top of a new smartphone?

 

[douglasf13]

But in the case of an Apple Watch, or really any watch that relies on technology, it's dated in a year or two. While you may spend $350 on you Omega to have it serviced every 5 or so years, would you be as willing to spend that much every couple years, on top of a new smartphone?

Probably. I could see myself re-buying new versions of the Apple Watch every 2-3 years, and selling off the old version, just like with my iPhones.

 

[Patriot24]

I love that the renders show it being about half the thickness of the real Watch.

How good would that design look if it was thicker? Haven't we panned the Moto 360 for that?

Fantasy land.

 

[douglasf13]

I love that the renders show it being about half the thickness of the real Watch.

How good would that design look if it was thicker? Haven't we panned the Moto 360 for that?

Fantasy land.

Agreed. The actual Apple Watch design would also look great if it was that thin. We're just not there yet.

 

[abshole765]

I love that the renders show it being about half the thickness of the real Watch.

How good would that design look if it was thicker? Haven't we panned the Moto 360 for that?

Fantasy land.

Sorta like how the renders of the iPhone 6 don't show the camera sticking out?

Probably. I could see myself re-buying new versions of the Apple Watch every 2-3 years, and selling off the old version, just like with my iPhones.

Yikes.

 

[Sonmi451]

Yes the round render looks really nice. I agree with other posters concerns about texts/objects fitting on the screen though, it's just not optimal. The Apple Watch as-is still looks pretty good. I just think it's a little too thick. I'll have to try it on to see if it's reasonable.

 

[SHNXX]

Probably. I could see myself re-buying new versions of the Apple Watch every 2-3 years, and selling off the old version, just like with my iPhones.

Maybe I'm getting too old but I think selling old iPhones is too much hassle and privacy concern now.
I'm just gonna give mine to family members who don't care for new phones at all.

 

[APlotdevice]

Oh, this is SO easy to predict:

Just as with larger screens, there will be a square versus round debate for years.

- Apple will start out dissing round displays, saying they chose the correct display shape from thousands of prototypes.

- Over time, round displays will begin to steal Apple Watch sales.

- Cook will begin to hedge his statements, switching to saying that round displays "aren't ready yet", while millions of them are sold around the world.

- To no one's surprise, Apple will come out with the "beautiful new" round Apple Watch.

And the cycle will be complete.

I don't think round is going to catch on, for the simple fact that round is not an efficient shape for mass produced electronics. Remember that the substrates which displays and circuit boards are printed on are always cut from a larger piece. And cutting circles creates a lot more waste then rectangles.

 

[kdarling]

I don't think round is going to catch on, for the simple fact that round is not an efficient shape for mass produced electronics. Remember that the substrates which displays and circuit boards are printed on are always cut from a larger piece. And cutting circles creates a lot more waste then rectangles.

True, but circuitry and OLEDs are deposited via a mask only where you want them, so there's really only the waste of sections of blank substrate and that can be recycled.

Circles and rectangles keep clashing in electronics. Square computer chips are cut from round silicon wafers, for example

 

[yalag]

Just for the record. This is what happens when you try to fit text in three different displays: the first one, a square display; the second one, a rounded display of the same size (let's say both are 2" displays); and the third one a smaller, rectangular display (let's say 1,5").

Image

The rounded display is the worst. So let's try with buttons, another extremely common UI object.

Image

Doesn't get any better. You can only fit three buttons (instead of four) and you have to make them shorter than in both the square display of the same size and the rectangular (smaller display). Of course, you can make the button in the middle longer, but why would you want one of the buttons to be bigger than the others?

Let's try with a list. You'll need a list at some point right? IE, when you need to select a song from an album you want to listen.

Image

Ew. Doesn't look good at all.


Yes, you can design new interfaces, but I doubt you can make one without buttons, text or lists usable. You'll need to display text. One of the main features is that it displays a notification (with text) when you get it on your iPhone. So why would them choose the option that displays LESS text from all the options available?

If you think it's possible to solve this problems, please explain me how.

Quoting you so that next time I need to sound like a genius I know where to copy from.

 

[douglasf13]

Maybe I'm getting too old but I think selling old iPhones is too much hassle and privacy concern now.
I'm just gonna give mine to family members who don't care for new phones at all.

It's really easy to send it to Gazelle. I did it last time, and I plan on doing it with my iPhone 5 soon. They give you $140 for an iPhone 5 that has light usage, which takes a considerable chunk out of the few hundred bucks for the new phone.

 

[TTile]

Can people shut up with the Apple Watch being beautiful and stylish now?

This is what Apple should have released. At the very least. What they presented is a shame of a product, looks to a round watch what the first iPhone prototypes looked like to the final product.

Hate when people mentions Steve. But I firmly believe that he would have been outraged if his people had shown him this and said: "This will be our final product". No way. No way.

What? I think the circular one looks like crap in this example. The rectangle is much more glamorous and doesn't look like a "tech" product.

----------

But in the case of an Apple Watch, or really any watch that relies on technology, it's dated in a year or two. While you may spend $350 on you Omega to have it serviced every 5 or so years, would you be as willing to spend that much every couple years, on top of a new smartphone?

If it improves my life/productivity then absolutely.

 

[boast]

That looks amazing.

I wont be reading a bunch of text on my watch. If it can fit a text notification, thats enough for me.

 

[DoctorKrabs]

wow. this is SEXY.

Looks SO much sexier.

Personally, I find the opposite sex pretty sexy.

It makes much more sense to have a rectangular display as proven in the posts before me. You wouldn't want a circular iPad or iPhone.

Grids are essential to good UI design.

 

[joejoejoe]

The problem is that design would need a cut-out for the sensors and have a 4 hour battery life. Also, that crown would be impossible to use.

I know man. All the millions of round watches around the world... all those unusable crowns. So annoying.

 

[Rogifan]

Gotta love computer renders that don't require one lick of engineering.

 

[puckhead193]

Just for the record. This is what happens when you try to fit text in three different displays: the first one, a square display; the second one, a rounded display of the same size (let's say both are 2" displays); and the third one a smaller, rectangular display (let's say 1,5").

Image

The rounded display is the worst. So let's try with buttons, another extremely common UI object.

Image

Doesn't get any better. You can only fit three buttons (instead of four) and you have to make them shorter than in both the square display of the same size and the rectangular (smaller display). Of course, you can make the button in the middle longer, but why would you want one of the buttons to be bigger than the others?

Let's try with a list. You'll need a list at some point right? IE, when you need to select a song from an album you want to listen.

Image

Ew. Doesn't look good at all.


Yes, you can design new interfaces, but I doubt you can make one without buttons, text or lists usable. You'll need to display text. One of the main features is that it displays a notification (with text) when you get it on your iPhone. So why would them choose the option that displays LESS text from all the options available?

If you think it's possible to solve this problems, please explain me how.

Thanks for the post! I can see why they did it the way they did.
While it does look sexy I don't think the UI would be good for messages etc.

 

[Nebrie]

I know man. All the millions of round watches around the world... all those unusable crowns. So annoying.

Traditional watches have a crown like the mockup that you use once in a blue moon. People hate them because they're annoyingly hard to use. You throw that onto a device where you have to use the crown all the time, and it becomes unusable.

 

[carjakester]

i think for a watch in a jewelry sense looks better in a circle, though i do have a square watch and enjoy that just as much. the apple watch would be more Aesthetically pleasing if it was round, but the function wouldn't be as good.

 

[Kiju]

Not a fan. Round just doesn't make sense from a usability standpoint. There's much less versatility with the display.

At the end of the day, I'd rather an efficient piece of wearable tech than something that looks like a watch.