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Some Apple Watches Plagued By Sticky Digital Crowns

Some Apple Watches Plagued By Sticky Digital Crowns

May 1, 2015

Juli Clover, MacRumors:

With any new Apple product launch, there are always several issues that pop up in the days following release, and the Apple Watch is no exception. Thus far we’ve seen sensor issues with customers who have dark wrist tattoos and problems with bands that don’t lock. It appears there’s another minor problem Apple Watch users are encountering — malfunctioning digital crowns.

Yikes. I’d argue that a borked Digital Crown is something more than a “minor problem.” I’d also argue that it’s a good reason to get rid of the thing altogether for version two, as it exists primarily as a fashion cue in the first place. How important that horological homage will be for future sales is anyone’s guess, but mine is “not very.”

The technology exists to replace the complex scrolling mechanism of the Digital Crown with a clickable touch sensor — a la Magic Mouse — on the side of the Apple Watch chassis, and a sole depressable button is a more long-lasting proposition than a spinning wheel/clicker combo. Moving parts, after all, are the weakest links in mobile tech, and along with the Taptic Engine, I expect the Digital Crown to lead the pack in problems throughout Apple Watch’s first-generation lifespan.

I guess it’s just a question of whether design or utility will win out.

And I guess that really depends on how long Jony Ive stays on-board at Apple.