A prototype of the first Apple Watch was exhibited. Enough to discover the software interface, but also the case, very different from the final design.
Un prototype d’Apple Watch // Source : Apple Demo
In 2014, Apple launched its very first connected watch, theApple Watch, with all the success we know him. But as always, this first model has had internal predecessors. This Sunday, the leaker Apple Demo has unveiled photos of a prototype Apple Watch.
The interest of this prototype was not so much to evaluate the design of the watch, since it differs in many respects, but above all to develop the internal software of the Apple Watch, the future watchOS 1.0.
My favourite UI development test screen on the Prototype Apple Watch. The “Springboard zoom” app (located in Lisa Tester) shows an interactive representation of the home screen. #appleinternal pic.twitter.com/qF7Ge9qd8D
— Apple Demo (@AppleDemoYT) December 27, 2020
The various images put online thus make it possible to discover a software interface that is already very close to the final version, with a system of color bubbles to navigate through the various applications. Initially, however, this menu was called « SpringBoard zoom » and was designed as an application in its own right.
A prototype with a very different design from the Apple Watch
On the device side itself, this prototype already featured a square screen, where several connected watches of the time, such as the Moto 360, were already choosing a circular screen. A button below the screen with what appears to be a stick was to be used for navigation, while two keys on the left also allowed interaction. Finally, Apple made the choice of the touch screen with a button and its digital crown, the famous « digital crown ».