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[TxdoHawk]

My first impression there is wow that strap looks cheap/terrible.

That's a terrible product shot. I had the Zenwatch, and band seemed by far like the nicest leather band out of any Android Wear watch.

I stopped wearing watches and haven't worn one in years. Better part of a decade. I don't see myself ever wanting to wear one again. This use of tech seems backwards to me.

Before I picked up a Zenwatch, I hadn't worn a watch regularly in about as long. As I've said in other threads, to really appreciate what a smartwatch does you have to live a lifestyle where the time/hassle saved pulling your phone out of your pocket constantly is worthwhile. It's not going to be an everyman device, never will be.

Myself as an example: I'm constantly busy at work fixing desktops/registers. Managers will frequently text or call me about problems. Some of these texts/calls are worth responding to, some are not, but I don't know in advance. I can be working on something, someone texts me, I flip my wrist, see it isn't an emergency, and can be back to what I'm doing in a flash.

Now again, what portion of the population really needs that? Probably a very small percent. But it's one of those things where once you get used to it, you don't realize how nice it is until you forget your watch one day and instinctively flip your wrist to check everything.

 

[Hasney]

Looks like another nice device for people that want to wear a screen on their wrist instead of something that resembles an actual watch. Motorola and LG are the only companies out there on the right track (but still not quite there).

I think Moto have got it down if they change the CPU and Android Wear begins to support circular devices better.

 

[Fliesen]

Looks like another nice device for people that want to wear a screen on their wrist instead of something that resembles an actual watch. Motorola and LG are the only companies out there on the right track (but still not quite there).

you do know that watches are circular for one singular reason: because the minute hand goes all the way round, right? - there's no natural, ergonomic, reason why a watch should be of circular shape.

on your wrist, a circular shape is an artificial reduction in useable screen real estate. the Moto 360 and LG G watch are are as much "form over function" as it gets.
they look neat, but i don't think "resembling an actual watch" is a category that manufacturer's should aim for.
To get the same amount of useable screen real estate (i.e. pixels) as a rectangular screen, a circular screen would have to be roughly 10% wider. Let alone the fact that designing a UI that properly and efficiently fills a circular display with information is a lot tougher.

I wouldn't say modern smartphones "resemble an actual phone" from way back when.

 

[DOWN]

I must admit, as odd as a circular screen is, I think I'd prefer it when it comes to a smart watch. My current analog is circular and I like that classic shape.

Also, I don't understand people acting like watches aren't useful or fashionable. Sure, some people get big watches that are super tacky and they somehow don't realize it, but the classic styles are a great combination of function and fashion.

 

[Corgi]

eeeh, i disagree.

There's a non-functional, but design-reason, why Apple refrains from eliminiating the bezel on the top and bottom of the phone.

the round home button is part of their design language.
the round home button is clearly used as a main design feature of their iDevices.

It's the entire reason to put that (some might say tacky) shiny metal ring around the TouchID sensor - to emphasise the circular home button even more.

it's the one unifying design feature of their iDevice lineup and it's something that stands out from the competition as they have all now gone for either slimmer bezels or software buttons altogether.

That's why they're trying so hard giving their little spinny dial some kind of weird "identity" - 'the digital crown'!
it's meant to be as iconic in design as the click wheel or the home button. That's why it's als off-center, imho.

they don't even show a full, not cut off watch body in any of these pics, yet there's one that's ENTIRELY a closeup of the digital crown.

Never realized the white iphone's had a gold/silver ring around the touch ID. don't see one on my black.


yeah, mentioned the crown earlier. Problem is, they can't really patent that... and I expect many android watch folks will have something similar in a year.

 

[iMax]

It's the entire reason to put that (some might say tacky) shiny metal ring around the TouchID sensor - to emphasise the circular home button even more.

It's actually a capacitive sensor to enable the Touch ID chip.

 

[Servbot24]

and the apple watch design isn't that distinct compare to the competition. Can you at a glance tell the difference between the apple watch and like a zen watch or any other squarish android watch?

Unless you specifically look for the dial on the side, you probably can't (and I expect samsung or other places to rip that off in a year or 2)

This is extremely distinct from the Apple Watch. It never even occurred to me when seeing the picture that it might be the same thing.

 

[Veritigo_X]

you do know that watches are circular for one singular reason: because the minute hand goes all the way round, right? - there's no natural, ergonomic, reason why a watch should be of circular shape.

on your wrist, a circular shape is an artificial reduction in useable screen real estate. the Moto 360 and LG G watch are are as much "form over function" as it gets.
they look neat, but i don't think "resembling an actual watch" is a category that manufacturer's should aim for.

I wouldn't say modern smartphones "resemble an actual phone" from way back when.

Are watches not a fashion accessory as much as a functional device? I generally don't wear a watch for the actual function of checking the time. So...yeah, I want a watch I wear to be more form than function.

 

[Fliesen]

It's actually a capacitive sensor to enable the Touch ID chip.

i wasn't aware of that, i still think they wouldn't have needed to make it so shiny. I still stand with the fact that they love their round home button and they love their digital crown.

Are watches not a fashion accessory as much as a functional device? I generally don't wear a watch for the actual function of checking the time. So...yeah, I want a watch I wear to be more form the function.

well, then you're saying that all watches have to be round because: ... it looks better? nothing to argue about then, as we're clearly talking taste here, then.
I just wouldn't say that any smartwatch is a failure, because it doesn't go for skeumorphic design - somethin Apple has been mocked for up until iOS 7.

 

[iMax]

i wasn't aware of that, i still think they wouldn't have needed to make it so shiny. I still stand with the fact that they love their round home button and they love their digital crown.

Yup! That's how Reachability works by double tapping the ring. But of course you're absolutely right—it's not just a functional feature. It's their signature. Just like the iPod and the Apple Watch will be.

 

[DOWN]

I had been wondering how Apple Watch authenticates your ID when using Apple Pay since there's no Touch ID. Apparently, when you put it on, your phone asks for a code/fingerprint to unlock the watch functions and as long as you keep the watch on (which sensors can check), you can use Apple Pay.

 

[Fliesen]

Yup! That's how Reachability works by double tapping the ring. But of course you're absolutely right—it's not just a functional feature. It's their signature. Just like the iPod and the Apple Watch will be.

whoa! it totally doesn't work if you intentionally don't touch the ring but only the middle of the sensor. my mind's super blown right now!

I had been wondering how Apple Watch authenticates your ID when using Apple Pay since there's no Touch ID. Apparently, when you put it on, your phone asks for a code to unlock the watch functions and as long as you keep the watch on (which sensors can check), you can use Apple Pay.

yup, this has been known right after the reveal event. You authenticate the watch with your phone and it'll be "good" until you take it off. Or your heart stops for a minute.
You have to "activate" the touchID sensor of your phone with your device password the first time after each restart of your phone as well.

 

[dallow_bg]

Are watches not a fashion accessory as much as a functional device? I generally don't wear a watch for the actual function of checking the time. So...yeah, I want a watch I wear to be more form than function.

If you're talking about the shape, square and rectangular watches are pretty normal.
They've been around for over 100 years.

 

[iMax]

Are watches not a fashion accessory as much as a functional device? I generally don't wear a watch for the actual function of checking the time. So...yeah, I want a watch I wear to be more form than function.

 

[Veritigo_X]

well, then you're saying that all watches have to be round because: ... it looks better? nothing to argue about then, as we're clearly talking taste here, then.
I just wouldn't say that any smartwatch is a failure, because it doesn't go for skeumorphic design - somethin Apple has been mocked for up until iOS 7.

It is definitely a matter of taste. Every watch I own has a round face. I just don't see why it can't be an option since people have different tastes.

If you're talking about the shape, square and rectangular watches are pretty normal.
They've been around for over 100 years.

I know rectangular watches have been around, they just aren't as common. Especially when it comes to men's watches. I'm sure I'm not the only person out there that would never even consider buying a rectangular watch no matter how functional it is.

 

[Hasney]

This was my first smartwatch anyway. Time? An afterthought.

 

[Blackhead]

I had been wondering how Apple Watch authenticates your ID when using Apple Pay since there's no Touch ID. Apparently, when you put it on, your phone asks for a code/fingerprint to unlock the watch functions and as long as you keep the watch on (which sensors can check), you can use Apple Pay.

Apple Pay is also used via the iWatch side button (well one press opens that wierd emoji/heartbeat messenger thingie but a doublepress is for ApplePay apparently). I'm surprised Apple hasn't advertised that more; Apple Pay is will be a killer feature for gen 1 imo. But then my other killer feature is notifications management and Apple hasn't mentioned much of that either.

 

[Chittagong]

I can't believe we are so close to a new era in technology, one that allows me to know what time it is, anywhere I go, all the time.

Also, I really hope they allow me to use a sports strap on a more expensive Apple Watch.

 

[Fliesen]

It is definitely a matter of taste. Every watch I own has a round face. I just don't see why it can't be an option since people have different tastes.

sure, i welcome any option. It's still functionally inferior and a pain in the ass to optimize your smartwatch-app UI to make proper use of the screen without either putting pointless blank space along the edges or cutting off information at the corners. Even Google themselves haven't properly optimized the OS(!) to the round watch design yet.

developers are going to hate circular smartwatches.

Those who specifically code their interface for the round screen are going to make some really pretty apps, though, that's for sure.

 

[DOWN]

Apple Pay is also used via the iWatch side button (well one press opens that wierd emoji/heartbeat messenger thingie but a doublepress is for ApplePay apparently). I'm surprised Apple hasn't advertised that more; Apple Pay is will be a killer feature for gen 1 imo. But then my other killer feature is notifications management and Apple hasn't mentioned much of that either.

Well, you do use the button, I was talking about how it knows to let you make the payment without having Touch ID (which is how the phone knows to allow payments since the fingerprint shows that it's you). It basically makes sure that when you first put the watch on, you have to authenticate that you can use the features and Pay, so when you go to click the button later, the sensor checking that the watch is on a wrist knows it has been on the same wrist it authorized already.

 

[Servbot24]

It is definitely a matter of taste. Every watch I own has a round face. I just don't see why it can't be an option since people have different tastes.

There are plenty of options from other brands.

All of our media is built around square interfaces. It's the natural shape that Apple would gravitate towards. Apple is not about giving a variety of options, they are about delivering a singular, inevitable product. Something that feels absolute and final. It's a big reason for their success, and offering a round watch option would be a massive mistake for that reason and many others.


I know someone is gearing up to laugh at the word "final", but they're being intentionally obtuse.

 

[iMax]

Apple Pay is also used via the iWatch side button (well one press opens that wierd emoji/heartbeat messenger thingie but a doublepress is for ApplePay apparently). I'm surprised Apple hasn't advertised that more; Apple Pay is will be a killer feature for gen 1 imo. But then my other killer feature is notifications management and Apple hasn't mentioned much of that either.

It should automatically light up when you pass the watch near a contactless terminal.

 

[mrklaw]

I'm not in the Apple ecosystem, so the Apple Watch is absolutely useless for me. But I do like the idea of smartwatches, I want a smartwatch, and I want to see the smartwatch industry succeed. So I'll definitely be keeping on eye on the Apple Watch. Hopefully Apple can announce some stuff at this conference to help with the rather rocky reception the Apple Watch got.

likewise, I don't have an iphone - I'm playing with a moto 360 for a couple of weeks and its ok but a little clunky. I hope that apple will introduce some ideas that android wear will shamelessly copy. Likewise in the other direction (apple really needs to open it up more to 3rd parties to make things like watch faces)

 

[Blackhead]

Well, you do use the button, I was talking about how it knows to let you make the payment without having Touch ID (which is how the phone knows to allow payments since the fingerprint shows that it's you). It basically makes sure that when you first put the watch on, you have to authenticate that you can use the features and Pay, so when you go to click the button later, the sensor checking that the watch is on a wrist knows it has been on the same wrist it authorized already.

Yes, you're right. I was just piggybacking on your comment to say that in addition to think about authorizing ApplePay on the iWatch with touchID via the phone, Apple also added a quick way to use ApplePay on the iWatch with the button press. I'm not sure getting a phone out your pocket for ApplePay is that much faster than getting a NFC creditcard out your wallet but ApplePay on your wrist should definitely be the fastest.

I wonder if that button will also be used for HomeKit or that hotel room key thingie...

There are plenty of options from other brands.

All of our media is built around square interfaces. It's the natural shape that Apple would gravitate towards. Apple is not about giving a variety of options, they are about delivering a singular, inevitable product. Something that feels absolute and final. It's a big reason for their success, and offering a round watch option would be a massive mistake for that reason and many others.


I know someone is gearing up to laugh at the word "final", but they're being intentionally obtuse.

Apple will make a round watch within 5 years imo

 

[Veritigo_X]

There are plenty of options from other brands.

All of our media is built around square interfaces. It's the natural shape that Apple would gravitate towards. Apple is not about giving a variety of options, they are about delivering a singular, inevitable product. Something that feels absolute and final. It's a big reason for their success, and offering a round watch option would be a massive mistake for that reason and many others.


I know someone is gearing up to laugh at the word "final", but they're being intentionally obtuse.

My complaint is the lack of options from other brands. But I get that this is an emerging tech and more options will appear in time. I guess I generally think of a watch as something to differentiate yourself from other people, not wear the exact same thing that a million other people are wearing.

sure, i welcome any option. It's still functionally inferior and a pain in the ass to optimize your smartwatch-app UI to make proper use of the screen without either putting pointless blank space along the edges or cutting off information at the corners. Even Google themselves haven't properly optimized the OS(!) to the round watch design yet.

developers are going to hate circular smartwatches.

Those who specifically code their interface for the round screen are going to make some really pretty apps, though, that's for sure.

As an android dev I can relate to the struggles. I tried messing with a round UI when the Moto 360 was first out, but ended up giving up. I'm not even close to being the best UI dev out there though and I'm sure more talented people can make great apps designed around a round UI (and currently are making great apps). It just seems like a cop out to say "oh we're used to designing UIs around square devices, let's just stick to that since it's easier."

 

[Graphics Horse]

This was my first smartwatch anyway. Time? An afterthought.

Mine turned into a robot.

 

[Corgi]

Do people even get much use out of apple pay?

Used it twice. Once at mcdonalds. once at a panera's bread.

 

[Hasney]

Do people even get much use out of apple pay?

Used it twice. Once at mcdonalds. once at a panera's bread.

Does it just work anywhere that accepts contactless payments?

I just have an NFC Visa card and it works well almost anywhere. Most places have the terminals up in the UK now, at least in a city.

 

[Mitch]

Do people even get much use out of apple pay?

Used it twice. Once at mcdonalds. once at a panera's bread.

I've used it twice at Subway.

 

[SuperPac]

Do people even get much use out of apple pay?

Used it twice. Once at mcdonalds. once at a panera's bread.

For a program that started 6 months ago I'd say that's pretty good. As adoption grows, and if you can use it from your wrist then I can only see getting more and more use out of it.

I've used it wherever/whenever possible. Toys R Us, McDonalds, Panera, to pay for a cab and then at Walgreens the week Apple Pay launched and before they pulled it. Sure maybe that's a handful of times so far but that'll continue growing.

 

[Majine]

Can you view receipts on Apple Pay, like in the Passbook app?

 

[LyleLanley]

Do people even get much use out of apple pay?

Used it twice. Once at mcdonalds. once at a panera's bread.

I use it almost daily.

 

[iMax]

Can you view receipts on Apple Pay, like in the Passbook app?

They're stored in 'Settings...'

 

[subrock]

Clearly this topic is divided, but I actually prefer the fact that the Apple Watch Is off until you raise your wrist. I would hate to have a constant visual distraction from this thing, so basically opting in to distraction by lifting your wrist to me is ideal.

 

[Hasney]

Clearly this topic is divided, but I actually prefer the fact that the Apple Watch Is off until you raise your wrist. I would hate to have a constant visual distraction from this thing, so basically opting in to distraction by lifting your wrist to me is ideal.

The adaptive always on display of the 360 is off by default as it does drain the battery. If you want it to look like that, you take one hell of a penalty.

 

[Corgi]

is there no smartwatch with something similar to the moto X always on minimal display mode thingy?

 

[The Elite]

Will other companies besides Apple and Pebble be making smart watches for iOS?

 

[Hasney]

is there no smartwatch with something similar to the moto X always on minimal display mode thingy?

That's what the 360 has. Ambient display.

 

[gatti-man]

I just hope the price isn't something ridiculous like 400 or 500. I'll probably pay it too bc I'm an idiot and miss my android watch for work.

 

[infiniteloop]

I just hope the price isn't something ridiculous like 400 or 500. I'll probably pay it too bc I'm an idiot and miss my android watch for work.

They've already stated starting at $349, so most options will be over 400-500.

 

[Blackhead]

Clearly this topic is divided, but I actually prefer the fact that the Apple Watch Is off until you raise your wrist. I would hate to have a constant visual distraction from this thing, so basically opting in to distraction by lifting your wrist to me is ideal.

You can do that as well on Android wear. Again the only difference is that Android wear gives the option of having a ambient watchface always-on. If you find that distracting or useless then turn it off

 

[Fliesen]

As an android dev I can relate to the struggles. I tried messing with a round UI when the Moto 360 was first out, but ended up giving up. I'm not even close to being the best UI dev out there though and I'm sure more talented people can make great apps designed around a round UI (and currently are making great apps). It just seems like a cop out to say "oh we're used to designing UIs around square devices, let's just stick to that since it's easier."

not just easier, but more space efficient.

to get the same AREA, a circle needs to have a diameter that's roughly 11% longer than the a square of equal size. i don't think that bulk (i prefer smaller, lighter watches) is a worthy trade-off.

Also, rectangular UIs exist because we consume text based information in lines. and most of the information on our smart watches would be text based.
if you scroll these lines, to not get cut off, as they currently do on AndroidWeat you'd need to ... shrink them, as they scroll? that doesn't sound optimal to me either?

but i'd love to be prooven wrong, i'm no UI designer so maybe i lack the imagination, but i don't see how you can make "lines of text" work better on a circular device, regardless how well you layout or morph it.

You can do that as well on Android wear. Again the only difference is that Android wear gives the option of having a ambient watchface always-on. If you find that distracting or useless then turn it off

yeah, i don't see how anyone would argue for there NOT to be an ambient mode, unless that'd dictate the use of some otherwise inferior display technology (which it doesn't).

what i believe to be the least talked about feature that could be the serious game changer would be the "taptic engine". If the notifications are literally unperceivable by others (instead of the audible vibration motor buzz of some devices), that's gonna be really, really neat.

 

[Blackhead]

not just easier, but more space efficient.

to get the same AREA, a circle needs to have a diameter that's roughly 11% longer than the a square of equal size. i don't think that bulk (i prefer smaller, lighter watches) is a worthy trade-off.

Also, rectangular UIs exist because we consume text based information in lines. and most of the information on our smart watches would be text based.
if you scroll these lines, to not get cut off, as they currently do on AndroidWeat you'd need to ... shrink them, as they scroll? that doesn't sound optimal to me either?

but i'd love to be prooven wrong, i'm no UI designer so maybe i lack the imagination, but i don't see how you can make "lines of text" work better on a circular device, regardless how well you layout or morph it.

Why the fuck do you need lines of text on a goddam Smartwatch? I mean Apple even preferred to offer an emoji/heartbeat thingie instead of a keyboard.

This reminds of the whole 3.5" is the perfect size for a smartphone. When Apple offers a round iWatch in ~5yrs nobody will care that it is not optimized for text.

 

[Fliesen]

Why the fuck do you need lines of text on a goddam Smartwatch? I mean Apple even preferred to offer an emoji/heartbeat thingie instead of a keyboard.

This reminds of the whole 3.5" is the perfect size for a smartphone. When Apple offers a round iWatch in ~5yrs nobody will care that it is not optimized for text.

i'm not saying i wanna read a book, but many informations will be conveyed through written words, and if we include some scrolling, a rectangular UI is best suited.

i was just saying that there's a reason tablets don't look like this

and that's because of photos and text dictating rectangular layouts. (to be most efficiently displayed)

 

[Veritigo_X]

not just easier, but more space efficient.

to get the same AREA, a circle needs to have a diameter that's roughly 11% longer than the a square of equal size. i don't think that bulk (i prefer smaller, lighter watches) is a worthy trade-off.

Also, rectangular UIs exist because we consume text based information in lines. and most of the information on our smart watches would be text based.
if you scroll these lines, to not get cut off, as they currently do on AndroidWeat you'd need to ... shrink them, as they scroll? that doesn't sound optimal to me either?

but i'd love to be prooven wrong, i'm no UI designer so maybe i lack the imagination, but i don't see how you can make "lines of text" work better on a circular device, regardless how well you layout or morph it.

Hmm... maybe we don't agree on what these smart watches should be used for. I don't want to read lines of text on my watch. I want simple media controls for my phone, maybe read a short text, some fitness functions. Reading anything longer than a one sentence text would be done on my phone. The less text displayed the better.

 

[badcrumble]

Clearly this topic is divided, but I actually prefer the fact that the Apple Watch Is off until you raise your wrist. I would hate to have a constant visual distraction from this thing, so basically opting in to distraction by lifting your wrist to me is ideal.

I think it's a sensible decision for plenty of reasons, but I also think it's important to acknowledge that it seriously diminishes the fashion appeal that Apple clearly cares about. If it's jewelry for your wrist like any other high-quality watch, you *want* people to be able to see the watch face.

 

[Blackhead]

i'm not saying i wanna read a book, but many informations will be conveyed through written words, and if we include some scrolling, a rectangular UI is best suited.

i was just saying that there's a reason tablets don't look like this

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/o9L3YjyJ_IY/0.jpg

and that's because of photos and text dictating rectangular layouts. (to be most efficiently displayed)

Hey, it's possible to use a triangle screen if you scroll text like the Star Wars intro . But seriously people are already using the Moto360, LG Watch R. Reading text on it is not as bad as some claim and, if you prefer the round, the tradeoff is well worth it despite some cutoff corners.

 

[Dany]

I'm curious to see how thus works. I wish it was more autonomous of a devise.

 

[Fliesen]

Hey, it's possible to use a triangle screen if you scroll text like the Star Wars intro . But seriously people are already using the Moto360, LG Watch R. Reading text on it is not as bad as some claim and, if you prefer the round, the tradeoff is well worth it despite some cutoff corners.

it's nowhere near bad, it's just space less efficiently used than on a square watch. and of course, since, for many, it's also - if not mainly - a functional fashion accessory, it'd be a worthy tradeoff.

But last i checked, many Android Wear apps were scrollable panes like Google Now ... that's a UI paradigm that (to me) is inferior on a round screen.

even google now is badly optimized. the margin on the left is used so the text doesn't get cut off immediately when scrolling. The watch could be 10mm less wide, if it was square.

GMAIL on the LG G Watch R, look at that (rather pointless) whitespace

other than watch faces, most apps currently don't make efficient use of the round screen.

All i am saying is, that i can't imagine a case where a round screen would be FUNCTIONALLY SUPERIOR in conveying information than a square one. I could name a few where it'd be inferior.
Which is the main reason that many smartwatch makers go for the rectangular screen, i presume.
That's all i'm saying. round watches sure are pretty, but i don't like bulky watches, which makes me unwilling to carry weight on my wrist that 90% of apps just use to display whitespace around a, at its core, rectangular UI.

 

[Corgi]

still find it silly for round face smart watches. Analog watches I get because clocks are circles... you don't need that limitation for smartwatch right?

besides the new pebble any other smartwatches atm are going for the curved look?