These days all smartwatch manufacturers seem to favor the old-school rounded look for their watches – LG Urbane, Lg Watch R, Pebble Time Round, Swatch, Moto360.
Apple’s smartwatch is different from all of these watches since it is rectangular. Apple’s move seemed like a forced attempt to change the way people wear watches, to show that carrying a square watch on your wrist can be just as classy. Unfortunately, consumers always preferred round watches (and smartwatches). According to an editor of Retail Jeweller, nearly 80% of ordinary watch sales are round faced devices. For the vast majority of people, a rounded watch feels more nostalgic, but more importantly, more stylish than a rectangular watch.
However, Apple’s rectangular-shaped smartwatches was not that of a bad idea if we take into account some of the disadvantages of the rounded design. The screen manufacturing is significantly more costly with circular devices. But the biggest issue remains app design. For example, it would be hard to find a convenient way to fit a text message or notification on a circular device. One of the main complaints with smartwatches is that they do not allow users to input text on their devices.
One possibly explanation why square smartwatches are not as appreciated by consumers, is that people do not want to carry computers on their wrists, but rather, well, watches.
It is not the first Apple shifted the design of one of their product lines. For instance, the iPod Nano. The iPod Nano was released in 2007, and it was one of Apple’s attempts to return to the original iPod Classic, before the company decided they want to return to the candy bar format again.
The company is possibly attempting a similar move with the new Apple smartwatch. By releasing both the square and rounded devices, Apple will have a market advantage over Android smartwatches.
Tim Cook said that the Apple Watch is possibly the most personal device the company created so far. “It’s ot just on you, it’s with you,” said Cook. What Apple has to understand now is that in order to sell such a product it cannot just impose their design on the market. Apple learned from their mistake and is currently giving consumers the choice to buy a rounded smartwach.
Rumors say that Apple will stick to circular wearables and that a third generation of smartwatches might roll out by the end of 2017.
Apple’s smartwatch is different from all of these watches since it is rectangular. Apple’s move seemed like a forced attempt to change the way people wear watches, to show that carrying a square watch on your wrist can be just as classy. Unfortunately, consumers always preferred round watches (and smartwatches). According to an editor of Retail Jeweller, nearly 80% of ordinary watch sales are round faced devices. For the vast majority of people, a rounded watch feels more nostalgic, but more importantly, more stylish than a rectangular watch.
However, Apple’s rectangular-shaped smartwatches was not that of a bad idea if we take into account some of the disadvantages of the rounded design. The screen manufacturing is significantly more costly with circular devices. But the biggest issue remains app design. For example, it would be hard to find a convenient way to fit a text message or notification on a circular device. One of the main complaints with smartwatches is that they do not allow users to input text on their devices.
One possibly explanation why square smartwatches are not as appreciated by consumers, is that people do not want to carry computers on their wrists, but rather, well, watches.
It is not the first Apple shifted the design of one of their product lines. For instance, the iPod Nano. The iPod Nano was released in 2007, and it was one of Apple’s attempts to return to the original iPod Classic, before the company decided they want to return to the candy bar format again.
The company is possibly attempting a similar move with the new Apple smartwatch. By releasing both the square and rounded devices, Apple will have a market advantage over Android smartwatches.
Tim Cook said that the Apple Watch is possibly the most personal device the company created so far. “It’s ot just on you, it’s with you,” said Cook. What Apple has to understand now is that in order to sell such a product it cannot just impose their design on the market. Apple learned from their mistake and is currently giving consumers the choice to buy a rounded smartwach.
Rumors say that Apple will stick to circular wearables and that a third generation of smartwatches might roll out by the end of 2017.
