Moto 360

[kdarling]

Well, the apple watch has a saphire back for wireless charging.

No sir, it doesn't. It's composite for the Sport, otherwise ceramic.

And the Huawei watch has a saphire screen, at a higher resolution, for $50 more than the Moto 360.

Yeah, but $50 is still a lot to many people.

Heck, the Moto 360 apparently outsold everyone last year even with other round competition, and I suspect a big reason was because it was often sold for much less than any other.

As for not having a speaker, I totally agree. I think Google screwed up by not at least making it an option. I understand that they've taken a certain path, but many of us would still like to be able to at least answer a call from another room.

 

[Oohara]

Finally a hands on with the new 360:

I can't believe it still has the flat tire though. The round display would be so stunning without it. One of the most frustrating design decision fails in mobile tech atm IMO.

 

[bandrews]

Finally a hands on with the new 360:

I can't believe it still has the flat tire though. The round display would be so stunning without it. One of the most frustrating design decision fails in mobile tech atm IMO.

I'd rather the flat tyre over those massive, clunky cases on every other smart watch. 360 still the only Android Wear that doesn't look like a cheap knock off of a luxury maker.

 

[epicrayban]

Finally a hands on with the new 360:

I can't believe it still has the flat tire though. The round display would be so stunning without it. One of the most frustrating design decision fails in mobile tech atm IMO.

I think it's worth it for the near bezel-less design. Quite easily the best looking smartwatch.

 

[tbayrgs]

I think it's worth it for the near bezel-less design. Quite easily the best looking smartwatch.

Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I disagree...the Huawei is much nicer looking, very slim bezel, and no flat tire. I actually think the Gear S2 is nicer looking as well. The dead part of the display on the Moto 360 is such a visual flaw, my eye is drawn to it every time I see one.

 

[Oohara]

I think it's worth it for the near bezel-less design. Quite easily the best looking smartwatch.

Ya, well we all have our own tastes of course To me that interruption of a perfect circle almost literally feels like having a toothpick stuck in the corner of my eye

Of the watches above I still prefer the Apple Watch. The bezel looks huge on those schematics but in practice I find that it really melts into the curved glass edges so that it appears nearly bezel-less. While the bezels on the ZenWatch 1 and 2 are horrendous because they stick out so clearly.

So for me, I would have preferred a slightly wider 360 with a thin bezel and curved glass to cover it up, so that it could have a perfectly round watch face.

 

[spriter]

I think it's worth it for the near bezel-less design. Quite easily the best looking smartwatch.

Heh no Huawei Watch in that line-up I see.

Then again, if I was Motorola, I'd leave it out, too.

 

[Oohara]

Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I disagree...the Huawei is much nicer looking, very slim bezel, and no flat tire. I actually think the Gear S2 is nicer looking as well.

OMG that is literally the 360 done right. (As far as the exterior goes, at least.)

 

[spriter]

OMG that is literally the 360 done right. (As far as the exterior goes, at least.)

Exactly. And when the software is the same there's even more focus on the hardware.

Props to Moto for the 360 last year but they've stood still this time, almost HTC-like. And when everyone else is pressing forward, standing still is going backwards.

 

[Rogifan]

So why would someone who wants an Android Wear or a round smartwatch get a Moto 360 over the Huawei watch? Are they being sold in the same markets? Does the 360 have more features or better battery life?

 

[tbayrgs]

Heh no Huawei Watch in that line-up I see.

Then again, if I was Motorola, I'd leave it out, too.

Did Motorola produce that graphic? I'd leave the Huawei off as well. Probably a good idea to proofread and get the specs of the Apple Watch correct as well (38mm, not 36mm).

 

[Rogifan]

Exactly. And when the software is the same there's even more focus on the hardware.

Props to Moto for the 360 last year but they've stood still this time, almost HTC-like. And when everyone else is pressing forward, standing still is going backwards.

Does the Huawei watch have an ambient light sensor? I've heard that's the reason the 360 has the flat tire.

 

[tbayrgs]

Does the Huawei watch have an ambient light sensor? I've heard that's the reason the 360 has the flat tire.

No, but isn't the entire point of having an ambient light sensor to conserve battery? The Moto 360 fairs no better in that regard than it's competitors so why even bother?

 

[Oohara]

No, but isn't the entire point of having an ambient light sensor to conserve battery? The Moto 360 fairs no better in that regard than it's competitors so why even bother?

I guess it is to enable auto brightness as well, according to that video this is what the Huawei lacks and it does seem a little bit annoying. Hardly a deal breaker though IMO, and in any case far better than a flat tire...

 

[tbayrgs]

I guess it is to enable auto brightness as well, according to that video this is what the Huawei lacks and it does seem a little bit annoying. Hardly a deal breaker though IMO, and in any case far better than a flat tire...

Good point. That being said, if I can set the brightness at a reasonable level and leave it alone, and still get 1-2 days of battery life (same as the 360), then I'd be perfectly happy. Regardless, I'd personally find it less annoying than having to see that flawed display layout.

 

[spriter]

Good point. That being said, if I can set the brightness as a reasonable level and leave it alone, and still get 1-2 days of battery life (same as the 360), then I'd be perfectly happy. Regardless, I'd personally find it less annoying than having to see that flawed display layout.

Agreed. Did this on the Apple watch (medium brightness) and never missed it. Set it and forget it.

 

[epicrayban]

Yeah, Huaweii watch is pretty nice, indeed. Hadn't noticed that one.

I also agree the Gear S2 looks pretty sleek.

Both full circles.

Moto 360 definitely has competition.

 

[Rogifan]

Yeah, Huaweii watch is pretty nice, indeed. Hadn't noticed that one.

I also agree the Gear S2 looks pretty sleek.

Both full circles.

Moto 360 definitely has competition.

To me Samsung's Gear 2 looks kind of cheap compared to Moto, LG and Huawei. But with the tech press right now anything that's round automatically gets high praise. Would the tech press ignore Moto's black bar if the displaj was a rounded rec instead of round?

 

[kdarling]

I'm too busy to look, but I thought I heard that the new Moto 360 has GPS as an option on one of its versions.

Is that true? Any reviews of that yet?

Thanks! Have to run.

 

[tbayrgs]

I'm too busy to look, but I thought I heard that the new Moto 360 has GPS as an option on one of its versions.

Is that true? Any reviews of that yet?

Thanks! Have to run.

I believe that's exclusive to the Sport model--not many details on it yet.

 

[kdarling]

To me Samsung's Gear 2 looks kind of cheap compared to Moto, LG and Huawei. But with the tech press right now anything that's round automatically gets high praise.

That's because the cool factor of a round display is currently still a bazillion times that of an old style rectangular wrist device

Fashion-wise, round watches outsell square by about a factor of 9 to 1, so there's that, too.

Would the tech press ignore Moto's black bar if the display was a rounded rec instead of round?

The tech press ignores the large black bars on ALL sides of the Apple Watch's rounded rectangular front, with its display that uses less than half the front area. Apple simply hides it better with curved black glass and black app backgrounds.

 

[jasonklee]

The tech press ignores the large black bars on ALL sides of the Apple Watch's rounded rectangular front, with its display that uses less than half the front area. Apple simply hides it better with curved black glass and black app backgrounds.

No offense, but you are embarrassing yourself with this disingenuous and hyperbolic refrain.

 

[spinedoc77]

Finally a hands on with the new 360:

I can't believe it still has the flat tire though. The round display would be so stunning without it. One of the most frustrating design decision fails in mobile tech atm IMO.

It's not a fail, it's a reality in order to get no bezel. A fail IMO is that stupid fake divers bezel on the LG watch.

I'm a bit bummed that they couldn't make it thinner though, it's still kind of looks like you strapped a can of tuna fish onto your wrist. It's still by far the best looking smartwarch though.

 

[spinedoc77]

That's because the cool factor of a round display is currently still a bazillion times that of an old style rectangular wrist device

Fashion-wise, round watches outsell square by about a factor of 9 to 1, so there's that, too.



The tech press ignores the large black bars on ALL sides of the Apple Watch's rounded rectangular front, with its display that uses less than half the front area. Apple simply hides it better with curved black glass and black app backgrounds.

Apple's bezel are awful. They hide them well, but as soon as you run a color or white app you realize just how much bezel is there. It's not as bad as the pebble, but it's in the same league of ugliness. ANY apple watch owner who says anything about moto's flat tire lost all credibility as soon as they bought their watch.

 

[spinedoc77]

No offense, but you are embarrassing yourself with this disingenuous and hyperbolic refrain.

He has an excellent point. How consumers and the press overlook that monster bezel but talk endlessly about the tiny flat tire of the moto is beyond me.