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Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

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Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#141

Post by x86x87 »

toolz wrote: post #81
bunderbunder wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of raw materials that go into modern electronics are produced using slave labor, and the “recycled” devices tend to end up poisoning the environments of people in similarly disadvantaged communities. I don’t know enough about these things to know whether buying more or less of these devices directly helps enslaved people, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to observe that rampant consumerism does fuel the postcol…

It's also important to recognize consumerism has driven a lot of innovation which has benefited humanity. I venture to say one of the most impactful advancements in human history is providing access to the internet in almost every spot on the globe. That was influenced at least in part by so many people owning smart phones. A sufficiently technologically advanced human species might be the only thing capable of stopp…

Hmm. A sufficiently technologically advanced human species may greatly accelerate the arrival of the next extinction event.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#142

Post by jjice »

mikestew wrote: post #137
jjice wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tactile buttons, easy replies, and the epaper display. Such a simple combination, but I don't think we'll ever see a new one again. Seeing the time without having to shake my wrist like a maniac was such a game changer. Haven't used a smart watch in 6ish years, so maybe they're better. From what I understand though, they still don't have always on displays for time, right? I hope I'm wrong and that they do.

From what I understand though, they still don't have always on displays for time, right? Apple is on the fourth version that has an always-on-display, and Google's new Pixel watch has it. Can't say about any others with any confidence, but I'd be surprised if Apple/Google are the only ones.

Oh thank god. I'm just ignorant.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#143

Post by fullstop »

arsome wrote: post #130
ZaoLahma wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a Big Brand Flagship Phone (tm), the Samsung Galaxy S9, in 2018. They stopped upgrading the OS with new functionality in 2020 only two years after its release, and this year they stopped providing security updates! Considering how much functionality and information is on that phone that could affect my life in absolutely fantastically negative ways if it was hacked (online accounts including owned licenses f…

I've always been curious about this one - what kind of exploits are you concerned about that could wind up with those sorts of consequences? Most of the security updates tend to patch things which are local only or barely exploitable in the first place. Assuming you're not installing entirely untrustworthy software on daily basis, it's probably not much of a difference. Looking at the latest Android security report,…

Regarding installing untrustworthy software, you also have to be mindful of software which has been acquired by another entity. Your trusty file manager could turn into something entirely different just by applications automatically updating.

This happened with ES File Explorer.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#144

Post by olau »

bombcar wrote: post #124
ZaoLahma wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a Big Brand Flagship Phone (tm), the Samsung Galaxy S9, in 2018. They stopped upgrading the OS with new functionality in 2020 only two years after its release, and this year they stopped providing security updates! Considering how much functionality and information is on that phone that could affect my life in absolutely fantastically negative ways if it was hacked (online accounts including owned licenses f…

This alone is a huge reason that the iPhone is doing well - iOS 16 still runs on the 8 and iOS 15 releases are still getting patches: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/supported-models-iphe... https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213490

Interesting perspective. I have an iPad 3rd generation where Apple doesn't allow OS updates and doesn't allow installing a non-Apple browser engine. So it's essentially getting bricked as web sites start relying on features not implemented in the ancient Safari engine on it. Twitter, for instance, refuses to load. Youtube does work okayish, as long as you don't log in.

Once it's completely bricked, I'm throwing it out and not getting anything with an Apple logo. Unless something like the EU manages to make them open up.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#145

Post by adregan »

maratc wrote: post #99
yonaguska wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And it had an insanely long battery life, I could respond to, and read text messages without opening my phone. It didn't have unnecessary stuff- it was simple and met my watch needs. I don't have a smartwatch now, because I'm not interested in having yet another computer on my wrist. I guess I've just decided to settle for a gimmicky automatic watch, it doesn't even have an alarm! And it dies if I stop using it for a…

> settle for a gimmicky automatic watch You probably mean the marvel of mechanical engineering that has zero dependency on the outside world, needs no software updates, and will still continue running as new for years after all the smart watches will turn into useless pucks?

Minimal dependency: you will have to get it serviced from time to time, but I find that charming—like getting a pair of shoes resoled or renewing a piece of wooden furniture. You’re extending the life of the object, some beyond your own lifespan.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#146

Post by gnicholas »

SyneRyder wrote: post #92
diego_moita wrote: post #13

I use 5 of them! And I have one more with a wasted battery that I intend to replace. And I'll still buy some more, because I want to have them available for the rest of my life. There are things that only the Pebble does: - button only interface that you can handle in the dark without glasses - a screen that barcode scanners can easily read for authentication into the gym and library - a TOTP app (authentication toke…

> And I have one more with a wasted battery that I intend to replace. I wish Rebble would offer a paid mail-in service to replace the batteries, to have someone trusted & reliable do the work. I'm down to about 2-days battery life on my Time Steel. I do have a replacement Time Steel that I bought on eBay, but I'd love to get this one fixed. I love Rebble, but I wish they did more to round out the service. I'm really…

Totally agree. I’ve been looking into replacement and it’s not something I’m comfortable doing on my own.

One tip: put your Pebble in airplane mode each night. For me, it extends my battery life substantially. I mapped long-hold left button to toggle this setting, for ease of use.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#147

Post by Avamander »

blueblob wrote: post #64
falcolas wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not in my opinion. The closest I’ve found are hybrid watches which will forward alerts (but generally with no text), but certainly nothing with the screen, battery life, and OSS vibe.

You guys seem to be more informed than me since I didn't use the pebble. Do you know how the pinetime compares?

In spirit it's extremely similar, but as it doesn't have large finances behind it, it lags behind in terms of features.

It's totally usable, but it doesn't have a vibrant app store like Pebble did for example.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#148

Post by fullstop »

xrd wrote: post #133
delecti wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One problem with the smartwatch market is that it's hard to know what "comparable" means to any given person. I've found an Amazfit Bip to be a totally satisfactory replacement for my Pebble Time, but it doesn't cover every single usecase. It does have a battery life measured in weeks though (usually 3-4 for me, less if I use the GPS to track a bunch of exercise), which is a pretty nice selling point.

Do you build your own apps for it? I'm interesting in understanding how hackable it is? For example, can you write an app that pulls the GPS data from a run off it, or is that data readily accessible somehow?

Not OP, but you can't really make your own apps for it. There are third party clients for it, though, and you can export data through them.

I like mine, except for the fact that the front fell off and I had to glue it back on. The battery lasts for 3 or 4 weeks, you can receive notifications (but not respond to them) and it looks fairly stylish.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#149

Post by Retric »

olau wrote: post #144
bombcar wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This alone is a huge reason that the iPhone is doing well - iOS 16 still runs on the 8 and iOS 15 releases are still getting patches: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/supported-models-iphe... https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213490

Interesting perspective. I have an iPad 3rd generation where Apple doesn't allow OS updates and doesn't allow installing a non-Apple browser engine. So it's essentially getting bricked as web sites start relying on features not implemented in the ancient Safari engine on it. Twitter, for instance, refuses to load. Youtube does work okayish, as long as you don't log in. Once it's completely bricked, I'm throwing it ou…

What 10 year old iPad alternative is still receiving updates?

I get the annoyance, but I just don’t know of viable alternatives.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#150

Post by Angostura »

olau wrote: post #144
bombcar wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This alone is a huge reason that the iPhone is doing well - iOS 16 still runs on the 8 and iOS 15 releases are still getting patches: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/supported-models-iphe... https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213490

Interesting perspective. I have an iPad 3rd generation where Apple doesn't allow OS updates and doesn't allow installing a non-Apple browser engine. So it's essentially getting bricked as web sites start relying on features not implemented in the ancient Safari engine on it. Twitter, for instance, refuses to load. Youtube does work okayish, as long as you don't log in. Once it's completely bricked, I'm throwing it ou…

For context, this model was discontinued 10 years ago
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