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Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

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Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#21

Post by jadyoyster »

jrowley wrote: post #4
jey wrote: post #2

Who's the target audience for this? Doesn't nearly everyone have a smartphone with an accelerometer, or will very soon?

If you don't want to bring your big expensive smart phone with you while running, this could be an alternative. But as a runner I love having my pace on my wrist watch - it has fundamentally changed how I run. So I think they missed the boat on this (because it doesn't apply to me) but in reality there are a lot of runners who don't care about pace and might love such a device. And additionally I don't like taking my…

The Core is made to be combined with the watch, so you should be able to have pace on your wrist without having to carry your phone.

Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#22

Post by knowaveragejoe »

digi_owl wrote: post #12

Seems Pebble has lost their direction. Their original product was excellent. A information UI on your wrist. But then came their update, and it was all about "timelines" (thanks but no thanks, i know where this is going having dealt with Facebook and Twitter "timelines"). And now this, whiskey tango foxtrot...

First, pebble's timelines has nothing at all to do with Facebook or Twitter's concept of timelines in terms of what content appears there.

Second, this is just one thing they've released today. You should check out the new watches. I'm not sure why that isn't on the front page. They are a much larger leap forward and a significant price drop to boot.

Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#23

Post by heynk »

> "Pebble’s first impulse was to supercharge the smart watch, building in GPS and accelerometers and cellular antennas and earphone plugs, so it could combine the virtues of an always-connected smart watch, fitness tracker and music player."

Maybe I'm wrong, but as a runner this is what I think I want. I never run with a phone, just my GPS/HR watch. Lots of them already have MP3 storage with bluetooth headphone capability. I don't really know any that have 3g functionality and can play Spotify, which is where all my music is organized currently. I don't really want a full smartwatch (or maybe I do), but I would like to be able to send pre-composed texts to a few contacts, for example. And a full Strava app. And a camera :)

This market is referred to as 'Standalone Smartwatches', but I haven't found one that really excites me. I'm sure it has to do with the limited space and high cost of that kind of device.

Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#24

Post by montecarl »

sz4kerto wrote: post #3
jey wrote: post #2

Who's the target audience for this? Doesn't nearly everyone have a smartphone with an accelerometer, or will very soon?

I don't fancy running with my 5.7" phone, to be honest.

I didn't until I bought a running belt (flipbelt). Its a tight spandex belt that you wear around the top of your shorts. My phone stays pressed flat against my back and I forget it is there. The belt is hidden by your shirt so it doesn't even look like you are wearing it.

Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#25

Post by erohead »

diego_moita wrote: post #16
yurisagalov wrote: post #8

I posted this on Twitter, but re-posting on HN for further discussion... A lot of people are going to be talking about how Core is a wearable for runners, but if that's all, we (and _especially_ we at HN) are missing the bigger point. The Pebble Core is what the Raspberry Pi should be - a fully functional computer so small it fits on a keychain. One way of thinking about the Pebble Core is as the new CPU at the heart…

That's what I thought, an upgraded and packaged version of Photon & Electron[1]. But Pebble needs to get serious about openness if they want this thing to catch on. There are already dozens of companies trying this on Ali-Express, Indie-Gogo, Kickstarter, etc. It is not enough to be "developer friendly", they need an API that gives open access to all the hardware, including Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS controllers. They p…

Core runs Android 5.0 AOSP, will be easy to root and has an unlocked SIM. Pretty open, lots more to come!

Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#26

Post by diego_moita »

erohead wrote: post #25
diego_moita wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I thought, an upgraded and packaged version of Photon & Electron[1]. But Pebble needs to get serious about openness if they want this thing to catch on. There are already dozens of companies trying this on Ali-Express, Indie-Gogo, Kickstarter, etc. It is not enough to be "developer friendly", they need an API that gives open access to all the hardware, including Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS controllers. They p…

Core runs Android 5.0 AOSP, will be easy to root and has an unlocked SIM. Pretty open, lots more to come!

This is just fantastic! Now I do want one, can't live without it!

Thank you Eric!

Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#27

Post by TeMPOraL »

digi_owl wrote: post #12

Seems Pebble has lost their direction. Their original product was excellent. A information UI on your wrist. But then came their update, and it was all about "timelines" (thanks but no thanks, i know where this is going having dealt with Facebook and Twitter "timelines"). And now this, whiskey tango foxtrot...

> Seems Pebble has lost their direction. Their original product was excellent. A information UI on your wrist.

Yeah, I agree. Mind you - I still love Pebbles; I'm a happy owner of Time, upgrading from the Classic. But I liked them much better when they were about "information UI on your wrist" - i.e. a tool. Now it seems to be marketed as a toy for people obsessed with sports. I don't like that direction personally (and I sadly accept I'm probably not the target audience anymore).

Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#29

Post by dominotw »

caractacus wrote: post #6

As a runner, I really don't see the point. I have a gps watch (Garmin) that records distance, time, pace, cadence, etc etc and shows it all to me on my wrist. Sure, there are people out there who just want to track a run but the use case for this - particularly with no display - seems very very limited.

>As a runner, I really don't see the point.

You can send a SOS and listen to spotify.

Re: Pebble goes off wrist with Core, dedicated running gadget

#30

Post by JustSomeNobody »

caractacus wrote: post #6

As a runner, I really don't see the point. I have a gps watch (Garmin) that records distance, time, pace, cadence, etc etc and shows it all to me on my wrist. Sure, there are people out there who just want to track a run but the use case for this - particularly with no display - seems very very limited.

I don't like anything on my wrist or arms when I run. Maybe I can clip this somewhere on me that is not noticeable.
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