happyfunball:

 
But maybe I am just getting old/get off my lawn. Also - not a fan of Apple hardware/software or their design language, so fair bit of bias there too.

Well who isn't biased?  Apple deserves some of the flack it gets because its the leader and it should lead and usually doesn't.  It just perfects, markets, and scoops the bulk of the profits.  Seems like cheating.  Personally I gave up on the hate and bought shares instead.  Now I cheer for their marketing instead of getting riled up.

I think we can agree a watch is not about telling the time, its about looking nice.  Its jewellery.  Its a bracelet.  

Apple understood that by making theirs really shiny and high quality.  The other smartwatches seem to be trying to be watches, which they are bad at. The AW looks much nicer in person than in the pictures, which is the opposite of the smartwatches I've seen.  Maybe the S2 will look nice too I'll reserve judgement on that.  Reading email on a round screen seems silly though.

So right now, the Apple watch is the only smartwatch I'd wear in public (ok, the Withings Activite is pretty nice too).  The new Pebble Round could be nice too, I'll have to see it up close. Historically their watches look like an 80's calculator watch so I have my reservations about Pebble.