Software Update 2.39.20 – design simplicity: please provide option to keep old watch menu

[jrun1200]

Hello all,

I love my Suunto Race S, a lot. I think it’s a fantastic design for a fitness/smart watch, very calm and basic, but still with a strong and defined character. Very opposite to Garmin and other watches. The same applies to its graphics, its user interface. Perfect! I love how it works exactly for what it’s supposed to without compromise – clear, simple, without trying to chime into the design cacophony of other brands user interfaces. You don’t have to – and also can’t – adjust the watch on every micro level according to your wishes. That’s OK and a main reason why I chose Suunto over its competitors.

Today however, I was surprised (not in a good way) to see the most recent update 2.39.20 was installed automatically overnight and brought with it some changes in the appearance of the menu:

BEFORE, the menu items were all same size (font and icon) arranged in an aligned and very clear way. I think it was perfect like that.

NOW, the menu design got “improved” in order to fit better on the circular screen. This means, the icons and menu text shrink and grow depending on how much “in focus” they are when scrolling. As a result you keep having different icon sizes and font sizes on one screen. This is a huge loss of its original clear appearance, in my opinion.

I understand, that this might be an improvement in readability – you can see more of the previous and upcoming menu item without it being cropped by the circular screen, yes – but I really miss the clarity and simplicity in the original layout. This is also what made SUUNTO stand out against all other competitors, at least for me.

@SUUNTO team: Can you – in one of the future updates – please, please include the option to keep the original menu layout? It was just so good and made my Race S feel like such a perfect union of hardware and software.

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

I hear you. I also think it was better originally, especially for MIP displays.

Perhaps it was redesigned to better fit devices with the crown? To simulate the depth and emphasize the circular feeling of using the crown?

[VoiGAS]

@jrun1200 You are right, also on AMOLED with crown (Race S) it is harder to scroll to the right setting.
The menu was one of the perfect things - I don’t get why anyone would change it

[JernejL]

I was just up to creating a post about this and I was glad to see that others were thinking about the same thing.

I totally agree, the new appearance of the menu is not the best UI design move. Suunto, please please do not stray away from the “less is more” principle that you are known for design-wise. At least make it possible to customise these things, they could be hidden somewhere in the App not to clutter the watch.

Keep up the good work!

[Tieutieu]

To me this new interface is a very cool improvement

[Egika]

and here we are in the same discussion as when the complications changed from circular tapping to individual configuration.

Some liked it, some not.

So every change to the current state will be discussed controversely

[Zdeněk Hruška]

@jrun1200 I am also surprised that the menu is not the same as on my original Ambit 3 Peak after the upgrade. They should leave it as it was before. Please Suunto bring back the Ambit 3 menu back!

[Mattg576]

I’m with @Tieutieu, looks absolutely great on my Race !!

Maybe not as well suited to the smaller screen of the S or MIP of the Vertical perhaps ?!

[gerasimos]

@jrun1200 yes its someway a llitle bit “dizzy” when scrolling not so clear such amoled screens like race series

[Arju Ambin]

Dropping my thoughts here too. I actually like the new animation change in the menu on my (regular) Race. As mentioned above, maybe not as well executed on the Race S and Vertical…

[sorinus]

@Arju-Ambin Not sure about Race as I don’t have it, but I really like it on my Vertical.

[Arju Ambin]

@sorinus I’m sure it’s a matter of preference. Many who likes it will probably not come forth as they are happy about it. I like it too

[cosme.costa]

I like it more now than before and I also think that despite the animation it is even faster than before. SV here.

[larrybbaker]

For my old eyes the new menu is better IMO. SV Ti here and I am loving the new update.

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@Egika this is entirely true. It’s mostly a matter of adapting… To another change

[enriqueescoms]

@jrun1200 I too prefer the previous, simpler and more recognizable design.

But I imagine that Suunto thought that some users might perceive the simplicity as old-fashioned and preferred to give it a little something.

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@enriqueescoms I think that it falls into the general polishing of the UI.

[Stefano M64]

I also like the new scroll with a that small amount of zoom of the central item, the effect is well balanced and give a nice sense of dynamism, however not a huge change from the previous design imho.

[Fenr1r]

@Łukasz-Szmigiel And/or a return to skeuomorphism (your interesting crown->cylinder point) vs flat design.

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@Fenr1r good point about skeumorphism. I thought that we’re past that point, but well - maybe not