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Apple Watch with cellular is effectively iPhone mini. There are 3d printable cases to make it into a bar phone. https://makerworld.com/en/models/1022751-watch-

by synack 24d ago

Apple Watch with cellular is effectively iPhone mini. There are 3d printable cases to make it into a bar phone. https://makerworld.com/en/models/1022751-watch-phone#profileId-1004458 https://makerworld.com/en/models/1022751-watch-phone#profile...

Electricniko 24d ago
There are a lot of aluminum cases that transform the watch into an ipod, and some of them are advertised to be used as a phone as well.
jerlam 24d ago
The Apple Watches have also been getting bigger. The first Apple Watches came in 38mm and 42mm sizes. That "large" Apple Watch is the size of the current "small" Apple Watch (42mm).
- dylan604 24d ago
  > The Apple Watches have also been getting bigger. A large watch face has always been a style people into watches go for. It's not just a digital smartwatch trend.
  - coffeebeqn 24d ago
    Pretty much All watch manufacturers have <40mm models.
    - SpicyLemonZest 24d ago
      The 42mm measurement on an Apple watch is the lug-to-lug size, which usually corresponds to about 37mm in standard watch size.
    - dylan604 24d ago
      And the sky is blue. Your comment does not dispute the fact that larger watch faces is a style people like. Because you don't does not invalidate others do
  - naravara 24d ago
    This was a style thing that tended to ebb and flow. The trend in the 2000s was to have really big watch faces but by the 2010s people were calling them “dinner plates” and it started to be viewed as kind of tacky and ostentatious. Smart watches ended up recalibrating people’s expectations but, if they hadn’t shaken things up, I think we’d be leaning towards smaller faces by now. In fact, fashionable youths these days are wearing those vintage Casios which come in at 35mm to 39mm.
- thejazzman 24d ago
  Mostly by shrinking the bezels tho
  - jerlam 24d ago
    The 42mm refers to the case size. You are right that screen is bigger on the new models with the same case size.
throwuxiytayq 24d ago
I'd like to see anyone try to use this for, like, anything at all. A video of someone posting a HN comment on this thing would absolutely make my day.
- deleted 24d ago
  [deleted]
- RankingMember 24d ago
  Yeah, nah, this isn't anywhere near an iPhone mini in usability. I can appreciate it as a design exercise, but as an actual daily driver? Hell no
- jareklupinski 24d ago
  unfortunately for me at least the handwriting recognition still seems to be at the "Eat Up, Martha" phase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlG_uEd1we0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlG_uEd1we0
RankingMember 24d ago
To go on a different tangent, I want a round Apple Watch. I know it's not the most efficient use of space, but dangit I don't want the weird little (but constantly-growing) square! If I have to have something on my wrist all day, I want it to look nice and not like a brick.
- Reason077 24d ago
  Try Garmin if you want a round smart watch. They get good reviews and the sporty types who own them swear by them. Can’t imagine Apple ever doing this, though, because a round display is pretty terrible for displaying the sort of content and UI elements that iPhone/Apple Watch users are used to. Much of the UI and all existing apps would need to be completely redesigned.
  - RankingMember 24d ago
    Yeah I fully admit I'm yelling at clouds here. I have looked at Garmin and they're likely to be be what I eventually settle on. I have my own issues with their design philosophy, or more particularly, the design philosophy of their operating systems and back-end UX, but they're a far sight better aesthetically to these eyes. The watches by "nothing" are also pleasing to the eye but don't seem to be really be good at doing what i want (responsive heart rate monitoring, sport features).
  - gregglain 23d ago
    I have a Garmin for the express reason of battery life. I get 2-3 weeks per charge and it's "oh I should charge it eventually" "about to start a jog - oh it's a 6%, ok charge it tomorrow..."
- einpoklum 24d ago
  Crazy idea: Just get a regular round watch :-P Even better idea: Get a Casio FX-91 [1]. You'll get used to its shape pretty quick - like the 100 Million other humans who already have. Good chance it will still be produced 30 years from now, too, so if you lose it or break it you can get a new one. Costs a tenth of an Apple watch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_F-91W https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_F-91W
saagarjha 24d ago
Aside from the fact that it doesn't run iOS and like every other aspect of it?

by synack 24d ago

Electricniko 24d ago

There are a lot of aluminum cases that transform the watch into an ipod, and some of them are advertised to be used as a phone as well.

jerlam 24d ago

The Apple Watches have also been getting bigger. The first Apple Watches came in 38mm and 42mm sizes. That "large" Apple Watch is the size of the current "small" Apple Watch (42mm).

dylan604 24d ago
> The Apple Watches have also been getting bigger. A large watch face has always been a style people into watches go for. It's not just a digital smartwatch trend.
- coffeebeqn 24d ago
  Pretty much All watch manufacturers have <40mm models.
  - SpicyLemonZest 24d ago
    The 42mm measurement on an Apple watch is the lug-to-lug size, which usually corresponds to about 37mm in standard watch size.
  - dylan604 24d ago
    And the sky is blue. Your comment does not dispute the fact that larger watch faces is a style people like. Because you don't does not invalidate others do
- naravara 24d ago
  This was a style thing that tended to ebb and flow. The trend in the 2000s was to have really big watch faces but by the 2010s people were calling them “dinner plates” and it started to be viewed as kind of tacky and ostentatious. Smart watches ended up recalibrating people’s expectations but, if they hadn’t shaken things up, I think we’d be leaning towards smaller faces by now. In fact, fashionable youths these days are wearing those vintage Casios which come in at 35mm to 39mm.
thejazzman 24d ago
Mostly by shrinking the bezels tho
- jerlam 24d ago
  The 42mm refers to the case size. You are right that screen is bigger on the new models with the same case size.

throwuxiytayq 24d ago

I'd like to see anyone try to use this for, like, anything at all. A video of someone posting a HN comment on this thing would absolutely make my day.

deleted 24d ago
[deleted]
RankingMember 24d ago
Yeah, nah, this isn't anywhere near an iPhone mini in usability. I can appreciate it as a design exercise, but as an actual daily driver? Hell no
jareklupinski 24d ago
unfortunately for me at least the handwriting recognition still seems to be at the "Eat Up, Martha" phase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlG_uEd1we0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlG_uEd1we0

RankingMember 24d ago

To go on a different tangent, I want a round Apple Watch. I know it's not the most efficient use of space, but dangit I don't want the weird little (but constantly-growing) square! If I have to have something on my wrist all day, I want it to look nice and not like a brick.

Reason077 24d ago
Try Garmin if you want a round smart watch. They get good reviews and the sporty types who own them swear by them. Can’t imagine Apple ever doing this, though, because a round display is pretty terrible for displaying the sort of content and UI elements that iPhone/Apple Watch users are used to. Much of the UI and all existing apps would need to be completely redesigned.
- RankingMember 24d ago
  Yeah I fully admit I'm yelling at clouds here. I have looked at Garmin and they're likely to be be what I eventually settle on. I have my own issues with their design philosophy, or more particularly, the design philosophy of their operating systems and back-end UX, but they're a far sight better aesthetically to these eyes. The watches by "nothing" are also pleasing to the eye but don't seem to be really be good at doing what i want (responsive heart rate monitoring, sport features).
- gregglain 23d ago
  I have a Garmin for the express reason of battery life. I get 2-3 weeks per charge and it's "oh I should charge it eventually" "about to start a jog - oh it's a 6%, ok charge it tomorrow..."
einpoklum 24d ago
Crazy idea: Just get a regular round watch :-P Even better idea: Get a Casio FX-91 [1]. You'll get used to its shape pretty quick - like the 100 Million other humans who already have. Good chance it will still be produced 30 years from now, too, so if you lose it or break it you can get a new one. Costs a tenth of an Apple watch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_F-91W https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_F-91W

saagarjha 24d ago

Aside from the fact that it doesn't run iOS and like every other aspect of it?