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Can the iWatch have a mechanical watch?

iCore24

iCore24

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 6, 2013
388
52
Michigan
I was wondering if its possible to have a real mechanical smart watch with a lcd screen on top of it?

So when the screen is off, you could see the real mechanical watch, but when the screen is on, it covers the real watch and you see only the screen.

Could this be possible?
 
Could you have a mechanical watch with an LCD over it? Sure. That's physically possible to do, although it does place a number of limitations on the LCD such as no backlight.

Marketable, practical, and economically viable? Probably not so much. I wouldn't hold out any hope whatsoever of such a device becoming commercially available.
 
boast said:
Where would you fit the battery?
Click to expand...

They both could share the same battery.

I was thinking also if they could add a ink display instead of the mechanical?

There has to be a way to view the clock without the lcd. They could make it so it activates when your wrist is turned, but the other ideas would be so much cooler :cool:
 
iCore24 said:
They both could share the same battery.

I was thinking also if they could add a ink display instead of the mechanical?

There has to be a way to view the clock without the lcd. They could make it so it activates when your wrist is turned, but the other ideas would be so much cooler :cool:
Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea. An E-Ink display under an OLED display would leave a lot of space for battery. I am sure they already have it mostly figured out, and I can't wait to see what they come up with.
 
That would actually look awesome. I would rather them get the battery right on the smartwatches first though :)
 
iCore24 said:
I was wondering if its possible to have a real mechanical smart watch with a lcd screen on top of it?

So when the screen is off, you could see the real mechanical watch, but when the screen is on, it covers the real watch and you see only the screen.

Could this be possible?
Click to expand...

Possible for sure, but why?
 
Lol, I want to meme generate Bart writing on the chalkboard over & over: "I will not refer to the Apple Watch as iWatch".
 
iCore24 said:
Well its a reality now! Some one did exactly my idea. I should sue them ;)

https://kairoswatches.com
Click to expand...

https://kairoswatches.com said:
* Please note, the photos and video are intended for visualization purposes only. Actual production model may vary in size and design details. The transparent display is 40% to 60% transparent depending on the type of display you choose (TOLED Dot Matrix vs. TOLED ICON). In contrast, the video shows a 100% transparent state during off mode. This was done to show the design of the watch. Actual photos are available below at “Prototype to Production” section of the website. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Click to expand...

This pretty much says it all for me...
 
It's certainly a possible area some watchmakers may explore in the future.

Not everyone (public / consumers) wants to feel they are wearing a computer with a screen on their wrists.

Like Books, and Papers, there will always be those who love a real mechanical watch. These things are all about your own personal taste.

I've no doubt that there could easily be a future market for what we might think of as "Real Watches" but have an overlay, that's invisible for the most part, but can come into view for things such as notifications or other information when needed.

This is something I feel many here are not yet actually "GETTING"

There does not have to be a Winning Watch.

Apple does not have to win anything, no one has to beat Apple.
Not everyone will want what Apple is offering, There is a potential huge marketplace out there for hundreds of different watches offering different people what they need.

The trick is going to be, who can offer "Enough" for most people and spread this "Enough" across the widest range of devices.

They could be seen, in the long term as the winner of this type of product.

Apple could well be the technically most advanced, but this is not a games console or PC war, it's a watch with some notifications, and not everyone wants or needs the technically most advanced.
 
iCore24 said:
Well its a reality now! Some one did exactly my idea. I should sue them ;)

https://kairoswatches.com
Click to expand...

THIS!!!!!!!


This is the direction I thought Apple would take it's watch. Instead, we get a concept that never really tried to push the boundaries of either the digital technology or established timepiece technology. What was delivered is essentially an iPod Nano (on a wrist strap) when the world was ready for something more grown up like what's shown in the video.


I believe that this concept is where the smart watch technology will turn. This concept gives the user a true jewelry timepiece that's paired with simple yet beneficial smart capabilities.

I will buy this!
 
Last edited:
MaloCS said:
THIS!!!!!!!


This is the direction I thought Apple would take it's watch. Instead, we get a concept that never really tried to push the boundaries of either the digital technology or established timepiece technology. What was delivered is essentially an iPod Nano (on a wrist strap) when the world was ready for something more grown up like what's shown in the video.


I believe that this concept is where the smart watch technology will turn. This concept gives the user a true jewelry timepiece that's paired with simple yet beneficial smart capabilities.

I will buy this!
Click to expand...

I have to admit, the concept in the video is great. transparent LCD = best of both worlds.

 
Technodynamic said:
I have to admit, the concept in the video is great. transparent LCD = best of both worlds.

Click to expand...

Again - the images and video on that site are fake. They have a disclaimer which states that the LCD isn't actually completely transparent.
 
I do wish all companies would stop making computer models of things they are going to sell.

I'd much rather see a rough, honest real photo of a device in prototype form, perhaps some aspects finished, others still to be done, than some dam CGI mockup of what it won't look as good as.

I would rather be happy the final thing is better than early photo's and we are all happy it looks so nice now it's done.

That for the final product to not look as good as the final real deal.

Things look too perfect most of the time.

I'd rather be amazed at the unveiling than let down it's not as I'd seen in CGI.
 
MaloCS said:
THIS!!!!!!!


This is the direction I thought Apple would take it's watch. Instead, we get a concept that never really tried to push the boundaries of either the digital technology or established timepiece technology. What was delivered is essentially an iPod Nano (on a wrist strap) when the world was ready for something more grown up like what's shown in the video.


I believe that this concept is where the smart watch technology will turn. This concept gives the user a true jewelry timepiece that's paired with simple yet beneficial smart capabilities.

I will buy this!
Click to expand...
Apple does not produce silly mash-ups like this.
 
Hah!

The transparent display is 40% to 60% transparent depending on the type of display you choose (TOLED Dot Matrix vs. TOLED ICON). In contrast, the video shows a 100% transparent state during off mode. This was done to show the design of the watch
Click to expand...

AKA: "No, it isn't anywhere near as see-through as it looks in our mockups."

You're charged immediately. No refunds, for any reason.

They're at least 4 months beyond their initial shipping estimate, and only had the first serious prototypes in hand a couple weeks ago. (And the vast majority of the updates they've posted have been "HEY! LOOK AT HOW COOL WE ARE!" not actual technical progress updates.)

Sorry, but I have a feeling this is going to vanish in to thin air soon. I'm sure they had good intentions, but they don't seem to have been prepared to actually make the product.
 
MaloCS said:
THIS!!!!!!!


This is the direction I thought Apple would take it's watch. Instead, we get a concept that never really tried to push the boundaries of either the digital technology or established timepiece technology. What was delivered is essentially an iPod Nano (on a wrist strap) when the world was ready for something more grown up like what's shown in the video.


I believe that this concept is where the smart watch technology will turn. This concept gives the user a true jewelry timepiece that's paired with simple yet beneficial smart capabilities.

I will buy this!
Click to expand...

Apple doesn't do pie in the sky things that aren't realistic. I'm sure Apple has lots of crazy futuristic prototypes but if they're not ready for primetime Apple is not going announce them. Get back to me when this particular watch actually ships and gets good reviews.
 
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