Doesn't the OS look like it was supposed to be for a circular screen?

[iolinux333]

Think about it?

I think they've been working on the OS for years expecting a circular touch screen. Something must have happened recently to force them to square, like the flat bit on the bottom of the 360?

All those circles everywhere in the OS that are supposed to zoom in... and then turn into a rectangle?!? I doubt that was the original intention.

 

[psylence2k]

Think about it?

I think they've been working on the OS for years expecting a circular touch screen. Something must have happened recently to force them to square, like the flat bit on the bottom of the 360?

All those circles everywhere in the OS that are supposed to zoom in... and then turn into a rectangle?!? I doubt that was the original intention.

A square/rectangular face is just more functional/practical IMO. It gives the most face real estate once you've set the restrictions for watch length/height. It also makes it easier to use the buttons on the side and I would imagine easier for app creation/writing/use.

As far as the OS goes I think the circular app icons just aesthetically look better than a bunch of squares. They would theoretically have to turn into squares after zooming in or else you would be wasting screen space.

 

[antiprotest]

Nah I don't think that's enough to indicate anything.

 

[jafingi]

No. Circular smart watches are not what Apple want.

They have the circular forms to praise the original watches. Apple has really went into depth with designing the Watch with "old-school" watches in mind.

You should read this article outlining many of their thoughts, and the effort Apple has made with research etc. inspiring them to make the Apple Watch: http://www.ablogtowatch.com/apple-watch-hands-on-review/

 

[APlotdevice]

The iPod nano has round icons. Don't read too much into it.

 

[HaruAoki]

No I don't think so, the deign of the watch looks great and apple puts a lot of work into the deign of a product pulse with a square you get more screen place a circular you will have cut off on the edges of the product.

 

[Piggie]

No I don't think so, the deign of the watch looks great and apple puts a lot of work into the deign of a product pulse with a square you get more screen place a circular you will have cut off on the edges of the product.

It depend how you place the circle.

Level with the sides, you get less display as you point out.
Level with the corners you get more display.

There is no right or wrong, or pro or con, it all depends how you choose to look at it size wise.

I'm sure there is room in the market for round and square smart watches just as there has always been round and square mechanical and digital watches.

Tastes vary. Like many things, there is no RIGHT.

 

[Rogifan]

Apple VP Greg Joswiak was asked about the watch at the re/code conference and said text reads better on a square display. Seems to me this is a case where Apple went the route of function over form. Circular display might look better aesthetically but it's easier to read information on a square/rectangular display. Hence why we don't have round phones, tablets computers and TVs.

 

[Zedcars]

Apple VP Greg Joswiak was asked about the watch at the re/code conference and said text reads better on a square display. Seems to me this is a case where Apple went the route of function over form. Circular display might look better aesthetically but it's easier to read information on a square/rectangular display. Hence why we don't have round phones, tablets computers and TVs.

Since the primary use for displaying text on an Apple Watch will be for conveying small pieces of information, rather than medium to long text based information, I think your point is mostly irrelevant. You can't compare a gadget with such a tiny screen with those other bigger screened gadgets in a meaningful way when it comes to displaying text. I think it would be perfectly fine to read small amounts of text on a small display.

 

[Rogifan]

Since the primary use for displaying text on an Apple Watch will be for conveying small pieces of information, rather than medium to long text based information, I think your point is mostly irrelevant. You can't compare a gadget with such a tiny screen with those other bigger screened gadgets in a meaningful way when it comes to displaying text. I think it would be perfectly fine to read small amounts of text on a small display.

I've seen screenshots of the Almost 360 where text at the edges was jagged/more difficult to read. IMO circular screens are great for showing a traditional analog watch display and not much else. A lot of work to make everything fit well for what benefit? Because traditional watches are round? Maybe Apple will go there in a future version but there a planty of round ui elements in iOS so I don't think it really tells us anything.

 

[kdarling]

Especially after seeing smaller iPads and larger iPhones, it seems unwise to argue against round watch displays.

If Samsung comes out with an affordable round watch in luxury looking materials, and it sells like hotcakes, then it's virtually guaranteed that Apple will come out with a round watch.

Apple's emphasis on a separate Crown input method demonstrates to me that they want to be independent of the display size or shape.

 

[Piggie]

Whilst this mock-up of the Apple Watch, in round form is a bit thinner than the actual V1 model that Apple are making.

I must say, it looks nice, more 'Watch like' if you can understand that.

And without a doubt, would be loved if it was actually the real thing.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/11/6134981/apple-watch-round-concept-photo-essay

It does work so well with what's on the screen.

Perhaps one day? Though it's very very hard to make the transition to round when you are starting off square, so I can't really see if happening for a long long time.

 

[Rogifan]

I think it's almost guaranteed Apple has prototypes of round watch display. But to me it seems like the epitome of form over function. What makes round better other than traditional watches (that do little else besides displaying the time) have round faces and that's what everyone is used to wearing/seeing? It's like when Steve Ballmer said iPhone would fail because it didn't have a physical keyboard.

 

[goobot]

It depend how you place the circle.

Level with the sides, you get less display as you point out.
Level with the corners you get more display.

There is no right or wrong, or pro or con, it all depends how you choose to look at it size wise.

I'm sure there is room in the market for round and square smart watches just as there has always been round and square mechanical and digital watches.

Tastes vary. Like many things, there is no RIGHT.

Nope, I disagree, this is just like when the og iPhone came out and everyone argued over keyboards on phones vs touch keyboard. Do you see anyone arguing over that anymore? Most people can't accept change, that's it. A square is always better than a circle when it comes to displays, there is no argument.

 

[Piggie]

I think it's almost guaranteed Apple has prototypes of round watch display. But to me it seems like the epitome of form over function. What makes round better other than traditional watches (that do little else besides displaying the time) have round faces and that's what everyone is used to wearing/seeing? It's like when Steve Ballmer said iPhone would fail because it didn't have a physical keyboard.

Well, It's hard to involve technical/mechanical logic when it comes to aesthetics, and preferences.

Perhaps there is something in our minds that feel more comfortable with more organic shapes.

In nature, other than say rocks/crystals, probably virtually all things are more fluid, flowing, curved, round, organic.

We are talking about feelings and emotions here when we are pulling away from plain technology, which is what Apple is trying to do and move into fashion.

People don'g go around wearings angular/square/rectangles generally.
Technology is hard and sharp and crisp, perfect straight lines and so forth.

When it comes to fashion we are stepping way away from the sheer logical and practical form of something.

Everyone should drive rectangular cars like vans as it maximizes the given space, but they don't they buy low, sweeping ones, often with reduced room as it's appealing from a visual/style look.

I agree with you, logically you do one thing.
Shops SHOULD be just warehouses with racks full of box's on, like trade stores. but that's not what people like.

I agree a square shape for a screen to show straight lines of text, and the most text on the screen is technically the most efficient and logical thing.

That does not mean that it's always right for everyone.

When moving into fashion, and taste perhaps we have to give up on what's the most technically logical and practical?

----------

Nope, I disagree, this is just like when the og iPhone came out and everyone argued over keyboards on phones vs touch keyboard. Do you see anyone arguing over that anymore? Most people can't accept change, that's it. A square is always better than a circle when it comes to displays, there is no argument.

As I said above.

From a technical standpoint, yes, you are correct.
I totally agree.

However, we are being told again and again, this is not wanted to be seen as a tech gadget, it's wanted to be seen as fashion/style/jewelry.

And in that aspect, what's most practical or logical technically pretty much vanishes into non existence. It's a different world.

One only has to look at various things women choose to wear for the sake of fashion to think OMG why would you wear/use/select THAT.
but offer them something more practical and they'd not be seen dead with it.

----------

Again, I'm not in any way saying a square watch is wrong, or that a round watch is right.

I'm simply saying two things:

1: If the Apple watch was round, and the UI was made to take advantage of the round shape then people here would love it, and mock other square attempts at smart watch design.

2: Some people, irrespective of technical/practical reasons, may just prefer the look and more organic/natural style of something round over something square.

I can accept both these points above.

 

[Rogifan]

^^
If Apple came out with a flat tire display just so it would be round instead of square I'd be mocking it just like I do with the Almost 360. Apple has a lot of smart engineers and no doubt many of them are working on this project. I have a hard time believing Watch display is square because they couldn't figure out how to do circular. If Moto can do a circular display then surely Apple could. Most likely they determined UI elements would work better with the square display. Or there wasn't a way to get a round display and hide the bezels without the display being massive and looking awkward on your wrist. No one has really made a good argument for why circular is better outside of pure aesthetics.

 

[Piggie]

^^
If Apple came out with a flat tire display just so it would be round instead of square I'd be mocking it just like I do with the Almost 360. Apple has a lot of smart engineers and no doubt many of them are working on this project. I have a hard time believing Watch display is square because they couldn't figure out how to do circular. If Moto can do a circular display then surely Apple could. Most likely they determined UI elements would work better with the square display. Or there wasn't a way to get a round display and hide the bezels without the display being massive and looking awkward on your wrist. No one has really made a good argument for why circular is better outside of pure aesthetics.

Indeed, I agree with you.

For 'computing reasons' square is the logical and sensible choice. totally agree.

I like the idea of the 360 moto, but like you, I don't like the blank area at the bottom. I don't think anyone "Likes it" just that right now some people are willing to put up with it.

I'm sure everyone hopes that, perhaps in a few years time such a watch like the 360 moto could be say 1/2 or even 3/4 the current thickness, and lose this dead area.

And yes, you are right, it is mostly aesthetics, however, I would like to say again, once you stop saying your product is a piece of tech, and you start promoting it, full on, as piece of fashion/jewelry, then you are entering a world where non logical non practical, just aesthetics becomes more and more important.

I'm sure everyone would agree how technically and medically bad a ladies very high heel shoes are.
They do the job bad, they are hard to walk in, they damage your foot, however none of those technical facts matter.

So, whilst I indeed agree with you from both our technical viewpoints of what's right and logical, I can accept that our, lets say technically correct viewpoints, may well could for less and less for items that move into this category

 

[Rogifan]

Indeed, I agree with you.

For 'computing reasons' square is the logical and sensible choice. totally agree.

I like the idea of the 360 moto, but like you, I don't like the blank area at the bottom. I don't think anyone "Likes it" just that right now some people are willing to put up with it.

I'm sure everyone hopes that, perhaps in a few years time such a watch like the 360 moto could be say 1/2 or even 3/4 the current thickness, and lose this dead area.

And yes, you are right, it is mostly aesthetics, however, I would like to say again, once you stop saying your product is a piece of tech, and you start promoting it, full on, as piece of fashion/jewelry, then you are entering a world where non logical non practical, just aesthetics becomes more and more important.

I'm sure everyone would agree how technically and medically bad a ladies very high heel shoes are.
They do the job bad, they are hard to walk in, they damage your foot, however none of those technical facts matter.

So, whilst I indeed agree with you from both our technical viewpoints of what's right and logical, I can accept that our, lets say technically correct viewpoints, may well could for less and less for items that move into this category

And that's why I think Apple spent so much time on using high quality materials and on the watch bands. But still to me the Almost 360 looks like a cheap watch trying to look expensive. Now there's a gold version coming out but it's not real gold, it's not even gold plated. It's more like gold tone. It reminds me of a Timex I could pick up at a department store. IMO if you're going for the luxury watch look you go all in or you don't go at all.