Look, we love concept renders as much as any tech enthusiast. The only
thing we ask is that designers do a bit of homework before creating a
concept for a new device. Unfortunately, very few designers bother to
consider things like battery life or the best use case for a product.
That lack of consideration is on display in a new iWatch concept render.
The concept is beautiful with a titanium unibody design, a circular
display with "Retina display" (whatever that means), and chamfered
edges. The strap is a rubber nylon mix that has a woven design for
better breathability, and a "Mag-Twist Lock" rather than a normal clasp.
Aside from the circular design, which doesn't make much sense for a
smartwatch, all of that is okay.
Of course the concept quickly devolves into fantasy. We'll start
with the "Retina display" which supposedly can show HD videos, and the
4G radio that would allegedly exist in this product. Those two things
alone would mean that you are looking at a smartwatch with about three
hours of battery life, especially given the size of it, because there is
no way the battery is all that big. Even worse, the concept doesn't
even bother considering the best use of a smartwatch, because it gives
video playback, and if you check the app icons, there is Apple Maps,
Game Center, and the camera app (though we don't see a camera on the
device).
Even ignoring the rumors that Apple is working on a device with a
flexible display and a focus on health tracking, this concept makes even
less sense as a smartwatch as the Samsung Galaxy Gear. The general
consensus right now is that the best smartwatch on the market is the
Pebble, which features a black and white display, and a limited set of
features. And, that limitation is exactly why it is the best. There are
certain uses that make a smartwatch a great idea, but pushing too hard
and adding features that don't make sense, quickly ruins the product. Of
course, that's an engineering point of view, not a designer.
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