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Introducing Pebble Time

kickstarter.com

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Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#351

Post by alistairSH »

wmeredith wrote: post #276
alistairSH wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another option is the latest Fenix from Garmin... https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/wrist-worn/feni... While it isn't a true smart-watch, it does provide alerts from your phone. I imagine for many users, that's enough. If I hadn't stopped wearing a watch completely a few years ago, I'd probably buy this one.

I hate to say it, because they're local here in Kansas City, but I'd stay away from Garmin if you want your device to integrate with anything else. I bought a GPS of theirs last year. I've never experienced frustration like I did trying to download a map from the internet and put it on this device. I now have SIX Garmin applications on my computer that I have to use to manage the device. (I'm not kidding.) Garmin Bas…

Wow. That is awful. I use their fitness devices (Edge 500 and one of the ForeRunners) and they've had some issues (bugs in the firmware), but nothing like that. Both integrate with Garmin Connect (the web site) using the Garmin Express app (OSX).

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#352

Post by Brakenshire »

joshuapants wrote: post #247
baldeagle wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you want a normal watch combined with a fitbit, check out: http://www.withings.com/us/withings-activite.html

Wow, that's a smart watch I could actually use. 8 month battery life, doesn't look awful, not priced terribly (for the version with silicone band). The only thing holding me back is that it seems to require a phone app. Right now my phones are Windows and Blackberry; it'd be nice if I could just use a web app in the browsers on those.

Yeah, I agree. It's a possibility that their android app might not require play services, though, and will work on your Blackberry (and my CyanogenMod).

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#353

Post by themartorana »

DenisM wrote: post #343
jusben1369 wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To play devil's advocate let's do this from the perspective of the VC/Banker guys: 1) "Can we have $10 million to build the next wave of our watch?" 2) "Woah. There's a good chance AppleWatch will crush you. It's all anyone talks about. We'll lose our money and you'll waste 2 - 3 years of your life. Not sure it's a good idea" In the old days 3) was i) nothing happened as the VC guys feared risk or ii) They did lend/i…

How exactly do VCs win when the company crowd-raises $6m? Seems to me they make exactly $0 and receive 0% of equity, because they are not involved at all.

Except there are already VCs in the equation, so any profitability helps them. It also doesn't dilute their shares, and they don't have to decide if they should risk doubling down on the second round.

If I were a VC, this would definitely help validate my investment while requiring a total input of about zero from me. What business gets all the cash up front!!?

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#355

Post by stock_toaster »

baldeagle wrote: post #171
eitally wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really just want a "normal" watch that has some "smart" features. I already have a sports tracker (Garmin Forerunner), and I have given up wearing my Moto360 because it's almost never useful in compelling enough ways that I don't just pull my phone out after seeing a notification ... and I have to charge it nightly.

If you want a normal watch combined with a fitbit, check out: http://www.withings.com/us/withings-activite.html

That looks amazing. Why haven't I seen this until now?

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#356

Post by delecti »

msrini wrote: post #290

We are developing a smart sensor strap for Pebble time: check it out: http://www.gethbeats.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWqbaX94_lA

Your site is fairly low on information, mind if I ask a few questions?

So this would be a replacement 'watch band' for the Pebble Time, which provides biometric data to it? Your website seems to suggest it'll work with any device, will it still interface with the "smart accessory port" on the Time? Do you have advance information about the protocol/form-factor that the sensors, or are you going to finalize that part of the design once it's available? Also, I'm not sure I understand why it's called "contactless".

Seems very interesting though. It seems most wearables lean either towards "interface for your phone" or "fitness device", so something that boosts the Pebble's biometric tracking could be pretty cool.

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#357

Post by mod »

freehunter wrote: post #133
myth_buster wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree with you in parts. I've a pebble while my wife has an android watch. The killer feature on the android phone is voice commands. I agree that when in public it's a privacy concern to use voice commands hence an alternative is necessary. But its incredibly convenient and useful to control your phone and watch say when you are driving or at home. It's incredibly useful to set reminders just by saying "Ok Goog…

Basically the only things I use voice commands for is "set a timer for..." while cooking or "remind me at noon to..." when I need a time alert. Oh, and saying "What's my name" and having Siri respond "Your name is , but since we're friends I get to call you Captain James T Kirk". But that's just personal amusement.

I'm not sure if it works with Siri, but my favorite google voice command is "remind me to {do something} when I'm at {some place}"

I use it for stuff I forget to buy when I'm shopping, mostly. The stuff you don't buy often, like "remind me to get deodorant when I'm at Kroger."

Also the timer-type reminders/alarms are great.

I really wish it was easier to compose notes and the like. I finally found how to reliably get a newline with the voice keyboard (by saying "period newline"...the period is required).

"Her" was pretty inspiring for all of the voice-related stuff. But I'm still weird about using voice commands in public. If everyone was, I'd get over it.

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#358

Post by BostonEnginerd »

maxerickson wrote: post #265
twrkit wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pebble is getting a very cheap line of credit with theoretically no obligation to repay (hence why any money you give in a KS is a 'donation' or 'pledge').

There's a contract to deliver on the promises made: https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use#section4 The language isn't real strong though: If a creator is unable to complete their project and fulfill rewards, they’ve failed to live up to the basic obligations of this agreement. To right this, they must make every reasonable effort to find another way of bringing the project to the best possible conclusion for backe…

I was burnt by Kickstarter when a project didn't deliver. In this case, it was obvious fraud -- the guy walked away with about $15k. There was an article written about it:

http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2013/02/9807-kickstarter-fra...

The response that I got from Kickstarter was basically "Sorry, that sucks" and "Try contacting the creator through Kickstarter or through Facebook". They wouldn't provide any other contact information for the product creator.

I understand that they're responsible for the production of the product, but they do profit from the transaction. The right thing to do would have been to at least refund the 5% that they collect as a gesture of goodwill. I understand that projects fail, but they should be at least partially responsible for outright fraud.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/500095192/md-pen-minima...

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#359

Post by BostonEnginerd »

maxerickson wrote: post #265
twrkit wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pebble is getting a very cheap line of credit with theoretically no obligation to repay (hence why any money you give in a KS is a 'donation' or 'pledge').

There's a contract to deliver on the promises made: https://www.kickstarter.com/terms-of-use#section4 The language isn't real strong though: If a creator is unable to complete their project and fulfill rewards, they’ve failed to live up to the basic obligations of this agreement. To right this, they must make every reasonable effort to find another way of bringing the project to the best possible conclusion for backe…

I was burnt by Kickstarter when a project didn't deliver. In this case, it was obvious fraud -- the guy walked away with about $15k. There was an article written about it:

http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2013/02/9807-kickstarter-fra...

The response that I got from Kickstarter was basically "Sorry, that sucks" and "Try contacting the creator through Kickstarter or through Facebook". They wouldn't provide any other contact information for the product creator.

I understand that they're responsible for the production of the product, but they do profit from the transaction. The right thing to do would have been to at least refund the 5% that they collect as a gesture of goodwill. I understand that projects fail, but they should be at least partially responsible for outright fraud.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/500095192/md-pen-minima...

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#360

Post by arrrg »

Mvandenbergh wrote: post #46
arrrg wrote: post #6

It's a bland gadget. I'm really not sure about that approach. It's so cheap and uninspired. Whatever you think about the overall shape of the Apple Watch, at least it's not a bland gadget. It seems to pay meticulous attention to all the micro details that make jewelry jewlery and not a bland tech toy. (Seems to because obviously no one has looked at it in detail. But first indications are good.) This one does not. I'…

It would be a mistake to try and out-compete Apple on the exact same turf because they'll always be out-spent by a comical margin. Much better to maintain their current aesthetic and brand (and price point!).

Hm, I think you might be completely right. I mean, it seems like there are more than enough people who want this and that you can turn this into a decent and very cool business. They don’t have to compete on the turf Apple is competing and can still do tons of cool stuff (and they do and, hey, I genuinely think their software here looks really, really cool). And that thing with me not liking the physical design is then just a subjective taste thing, nothing more.

Also, we don’t even know if a watch that is visibly not a tech gadget (like the Apple Watch aspires to be) will even be successful. In a very real sense the Pebble is more proven as a product than what Apple is doing.

(Also, on a personal level: Yeah, I don’t like the look of this Pebble, sure, but I currently don’t even wear a watch at all and currently I am not even convinced I will ever get an Apple Watch. That’s not at all a promising case study for Pebble to really put resources into making this a non-gadget watch.)

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