6 ms·

I think it's all aesthetics. While iPhones are sleek and stylish, the only thing that they are replacing are convergent previous technology devices without muc

I think it's all aesthetics. While iPhones are sleek and stylish, the only thing that they are replacing are convergent previous technology devices without much stylistic precedence (unless you count the late 90s early 2000s "slightly ergonomic plastic" as a style) so nobody puts up much of a fuss. The Apple Watch is clearly an Apple designed product and it serves its function, but its replacing what has long been a style accessory with its own traditions and norms (particularly roundness), something you wear on your body and is visible to others at all times. When I see an Apple Watch, I don't think "Cool, that person has a smart watch.", I think "That's an ugly watch.". Round watch faces at least return to the classic shape. My ideal smart watch would be round with mechanical arms and a mechanical crown, but with a color eInk dial/face with a high refresh rate (I'm not sure if there is current eInk tech which meets these specs yet). I do not want to look like I'm wearing a compass on my arm, though. (I got curious, this is similar to what I'm describing, but still way too large and not quite the same: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gligo-e-ink-smartwatch-hassle-free-with-style#/ https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gligo-e-ink-smartwatch-ha...)

nradov 8y ago
It's just a matter of what people are used to. In a few decades a round watch with mechanical arms will seem odd and ugly to most consumers. Style is always in flux.
- notahacker 8y ago
  I dunno, we've had digital watches with square faces and at least some additional functionality over analogue ones since the 70s and the consensus continues to be that the analogue watch faces look classier
stcredzero 8y ago
When I see an Apple Watch, I don't think "Cool, that person has a smart watch.", I think "That's an ugly watch.". Round watch faces at least return to the classic shape. I think you're onto something there. My ideal smart watch would be round with mechanical arms and a mechanical crown, but with a color eInk dial/face with a high refresh rate (I'm not sure if there is current eInk tech which meets these specs yet). I do not want to look like I'm wearing a compass on my arm, though. One of my coworkers has a rather large, round, positively can-like Android smart watch. I look at it, and think, That's way too thick for a watch. It has a flatter back, which I think is a plus. Another thing I just realized: Traditional watches often attach to the wristband much closer to the wrist than many smart watches. This helps them "disappear" when being worn.
- untog 8y ago
  The best smart watch from a physical perspective is the Pebble Time Round, IMO. Just a shame the company went bust. And when they can't get the kind of OS-level hooks that Apple has the writing was always going to be on the wall.
- aedron 8y ago
  Curved OLED is where it's at for smart watches.
qu4z-2 8y ago
I'm definitely with you on the "Traditional watch" front. I was looking into smart watches recently and decided the so-called Hybrid Smartwatches were definitely more my style. I ended up getting a Nokia Steel HR. The display isn't eInk and it doesn't have a second hand, but it does fitness tracking and unobtrusive notifications, while still looking like a watch. The Gligo looks good too, and I hope more hybrid manufacturers start making decent eInk watches, but it would honestly bother me having it display the time digitally under the analog hands.
- barbecue_sauce 8y ago
  Yeah, I would prefer if the eInk display was used to emulate the ticks and numbers of a more traditional watch dial than actually display the time. (For instance, I actually really like the classic Timex Expedition dial. It's not high-end, but it's simple and clean.)
- rospaya 8y ago
  HR user here. I'm very satisfied with the functionality, the fact that I can forget about the battery and that it's basically a normal watch with advanced functions. Most of my usage is for notifications and fitness. What I'm not happy is that the 40 mm version is kinda ugly since the rim is too wide and that there's no two way communication so I can't change a song on my phone or decline a call.
- dawidw 8y ago
  Is it really smartwatch? I mean are you able to install some software there from Play Store for example?
  - llampx 8y ago
    Begs the question: what is a smartwatch?
  - qu4z-2 8y ago
    It does not have an app store. On the other hand, it monitors my step count, heart rate, and exercise sessions. It lets me set alarms that trigger during the lightest part of my sleep cycle, and it displays notifications from my phone. It's certainly at least a smarter watch. EDIT: And given how poorly optimised smart watches are for glancing at the time, and the constant need to charge them, I'd argue you can barely call those a "watch" :P
scottlocklin 8y ago
"Smart Watches" remind me of the calculator watches engineers used to wear back in the day. It ended up being kinda sorta retro cool, but is incredibly nerdy. There are very attractive square watches; Glashutte Original Senator 70s, Cartier Tank, Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso. Apple watch utterly fails at looking as good. It looks like a Dick Tracey TV-watch stuck on someone's wrist. Otherwise I have no idea what one of these things is for, other than letting large corporations know about your heart rate. I like my ordinary Swiss and German watches; the engineering is fun to appreciate, they look kewul, give me something to nerd out about with salesguys that doesn't involve knowledge of sports, plus they tell me what time it is.
- microtherion 8y ago
  I really don't get the fascination for mechanical watches. "engineering fun to appreciate"? Are you telling me you're thrilled to see a $4000 device (looking at the Jaeger Lecoultre) that will tell you the time (within a few seconds) if you remember to wind it up regularly? I mean, you do you, by all means, but I don't get it.
  - scottlocklin 8y ago
    I used to do experimental atomic physics, some of which involved a lot of time in the machine shop; small and well made mechanisms please me. Having one strapped to me is cool. If you look at it and all you see is $4000 rather than the skill and artistry which went into designing and making it, well, have fun with your 'smart watch.' FWIIW I also like 80s era calculators and obscure slide rules. Knowing there is a technical improvement doesn't require you to use it.
    - microtherion 8y ago
      > the skill and artistry which went into designing and making it Well, sure there was skill and artistry involved. But there is skill and artistry involved in designing and building smart watches as well. > FWIIW I also like 80s era calculators Hopefully not to the point that you're carrying a $10000 TI-57 everywhere and swear that today's calculators just don't measure up to it...

nradov 8y ago

It's just a matter of what people are used to. In a few decades a round watch with mechanical arms will seem odd and ugly to most consumers. Style is always in flux.

notahacker 8y ago
I dunno, we've had digital watches with square faces and at least some additional functionality over analogue ones since the 70s and the consensus continues to be that the analogue watch faces look classier

stcredzero 8y ago

When I see an Apple Watch, I don't think "Cool, that person has a smart watch.", I think "That's an ugly watch.". Round watch faces at least return to the classic shape. I think you're onto something there. My ideal smart watch would be round with mechanical arms and a mechanical crown, but with a color eInk dial/face with a high refresh rate (I'm not sure if there is current eInk tech which meets these specs yet). I do not want to look like I'm wearing a compass on my arm, though. One of my coworkers has a rather large, round, positively can-like Android smart watch. I look at it, and think, That's way too thick for a watch. It has a flatter back, which I think is a plus. Another thing I just realized: Traditional watches often attach to the wristband much closer to the wrist than many smart watches. This helps them "disappear" when being worn.

untog 8y ago
The best smart watch from a physical perspective is the Pebble Time Round, IMO. Just a shame the company went bust. And when they can't get the kind of OS-level hooks that Apple has the writing was always going to be on the wall.
aedron 8y ago
Curved OLED is where it's at for smart watches.

qu4z-2 8y ago

I'm definitely with you on the "Traditional watch" front. I was looking into smart watches recently and decided the so-called Hybrid Smartwatches were definitely more my style. I ended up getting a Nokia Steel HR. The display isn't eInk and it doesn't have a second hand, but it does fitness tracking and unobtrusive notifications, while still looking like a watch. The Gligo looks good too, and I hope more hybrid manufacturers start making decent eInk watches, but it would honestly bother me having it display the time digitally under the analog hands.

barbecue_sauce 8y ago
Yeah, I would prefer if the eInk display was used to emulate the ticks and numbers of a more traditional watch dial than actually display the time. (For instance, I actually really like the classic Timex Expedition dial. It's not high-end, but it's simple and clean.)
rospaya 8y ago
HR user here. I'm very satisfied with the functionality, the fact that I can forget about the battery and that it's basically a normal watch with advanced functions. Most of my usage is for notifications and fitness. What I'm not happy is that the 40 mm version is kinda ugly since the rim is too wide and that there's no two way communication so I can't change a song on my phone or decline a call.
dawidw 8y ago
Is it really smartwatch? I mean are you able to install some software there from Play Store for example?
- llampx 8y ago
  Begs the question: what is a smartwatch?
- qu4z-2 8y ago
  It does not have an app store. On the other hand, it monitors my step count, heart rate, and exercise sessions. It lets me set alarms that trigger during the lightest part of my sleep cycle, and it displays notifications from my phone. It's certainly at least a smarter watch. EDIT: And given how poorly optimised smart watches are for glancing at the time, and the constant need to charge them, I'd argue you can barely call those a "watch" :P

scottlocklin 8y ago

"Smart Watches" remind me of the calculator watches engineers used to wear back in the day. It ended up being kinda sorta retro cool, but is incredibly nerdy. There are very attractive square watches; Glashutte Original Senator 70s, Cartier Tank, Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso. Apple watch utterly fails at looking as good. It looks like a Dick Tracey TV-watch stuck on someone's wrist. Otherwise I have no idea what one of these things is for, other than letting large corporations know about your heart rate. I like my ordinary Swiss and German watches; the engineering is fun to appreciate, they look kewul, give me something to nerd out about with salesguys that doesn't involve knowledge of sports, plus they tell me what time it is.

microtherion 8y ago
I really don't get the fascination for mechanical watches. "engineering fun to appreciate"? Are you telling me you're thrilled to see a $4000 device (looking at the Jaeger Lecoultre) that will tell you the time (within a few seconds) if you remember to wind it up regularly? I mean, you do you, by all means, but I don't get it.
- scottlocklin 8y ago
  I used to do experimental atomic physics, some of which involved a lot of time in the machine shop; small and well made mechanisms please me. Having one strapped to me is cool. If you look at it and all you see is $4000 rather than the skill and artistry which went into designing and making it, well, have fun with your 'smart watch.' FWIIW I also like 80s era calculators and obscure slide rules. Knowing there is a technical improvement doesn't require you to use it.
  - microtherion 8y ago
    > the skill and artistry which went into designing and making it Well, sure there was skill and artistry involved. But there is skill and artistry involved in designing and building smart watches as well. > FWIIW I also like 80s era calculators Hopefully not to the point that you're carrying a $10000 TI-57 everywhere and swear that today's calculators just don't measure up to it...