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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

#31

Post by lhoff »

ClassyJacket wrote: post #10

After the disaster that was the Galaxy Watch 4, I've given up completely on Android Wear - it is just too slow, even right out of the box, and the battery life is abysmal. Going flat at 7pm without anything extra installed and with 4G off is unacceptable. So I'm trying to move to a simpler watch with just basic smart features and longer battery life, but one where I can customize the watchface with code. I ended up g…

You might want to look into the Amazfit and Mi Band Devices that are supported by Gadgetbridge[1]

I haven't looked into the process of watchface creation but there is a huge collection[2] that can be installed via Gadgetbridge. It also has the benefit that its privacy friendly without any cloud connections and fully opensource.

[1]https://www.gadgetbridge.org/ [2]https://amazfitwatchfaces.com/

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#32

Post by odiroot »

I'm one of them. Still love it. The built-in compass and the third-party app that integrates with Google Maps are priceless to me. Using physical buttons as opposed to touchscreen is another great feature.

All these years, I haven't found a replacement.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#34

Post by capableweb »

solarkraft wrote: post #27

That few? I wasn't a huge fan of Pebble, the company - they didn't sell replacement parts, for instance (the watch for geeks? yeah, sure). For some crazy reason, though, to this day, this watch is still almost the only one that gets such a basic thing right: Telling the damn time. The formula is as simple as it is unreplicated: - Always telling the time - Good battery life - Buttons Why nobody else makes such a watch…

Basically the only reason I got the smartwatch I got, is because it always displays the time, even if it runs out of battery, that it can vibrate when I receive phone calls, it keeps track of my heart rate and sleeping activity. The battery also lasts days rather than hours, which is pretty nice.

I don't exactly know which model it is, but it's a Garmin watch with the traditional hour/minute arms and a tiny little screen. But it really kicks ass at telling me the time :)

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#35

Post by haunter »

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…

> a screen that barcode scanners can easily read for authentication into the gym and library

Only Pebble can do this? Apple Watch does that too, like literally I use mine for the same cases you described

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#36

Post by Cthulhu_ »

amelius wrote: post #28
SentientAtom wrote: post #3

If it works for you, why would you migrate to a different product with features or performance outside of your needs? We are so deep into a disposable society that we eagerly await the NEXT BIG THING (TM) without ever evaluating what our need consists of or whether we have any need for an upgrade to begin with.

True. But perhaps 16k people sold their Pebble because they wanted a shiny new watch, and they were bought by 16k other people who can't afford that new watch.

sort-of-smart watch, you can get watches that tell the time for $5 or less.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#37

Post by yonaguska »

Gigachad wrote: post #24
SentientAtom wrote: post #3

If it works for you, why would you migrate to a different product with features or performance outside of your needs? We are so deep into a disposable society that we eagerly await the NEXT BIG THING (TM) without ever evaluating what our need consists of or whether we have any need for an upgrade to begin with.

The pebble was a bit of a gimmick. It was the start of the future but on its own it was kind of worse than a regular watch. It looked ugly, had a terrible screen, didn’t have any of the stuff you mostly do with a smartwatch now. And half the features no longer work.

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 few days.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#38

Post by darau1 »

SentientAtom wrote: post #3

If it works for you, why would you migrate to a different product with features or performance outside of your needs? We are so deep into a disposable society that we eagerly await the NEXT BIG THING (TM) without ever evaluating what our need consists of or whether we have any need for an upgrade to begin with.

I know a guy that bought every new Samsung flagship device as soon as they hit stores. He said he just has to upgrade.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#39

Post by mikepurvis »

andrepd wrote: post #11
ghaff wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s interesting to me that when the Apple Watch was coming out (and maybe more broadly when fitness bands etc. were becoming available) there was a pretty widespread sentiment that younger people didn’t want watches because why would they? They always had their phones.

Honestly, I still don't see the value in a smartwatch. Paying with nfc with your wrist? That's probably the only use case I can see. But then it's not worth it having to charge yet another device daily

I was in this position as well but after about a year of a FitBit Luxe, I'm a convert. Fitness-wise, I like the heartrate and GPS tracking for walks and bike rides, and length-counting for lane swims. I like that it's an easy interface to input my weight and see that as a trend over time. And I like the sleep tracking and smart-wake alarms quite a bit.

Notifications I could take or leave; they're not super reliable but have occasionally been useful.

Battery life is IMO fine; I charge it once or twice a week while sitting at my desk or having a shower.

I know I could cobble together these capabilities from a suite of other apps— Strava, Apple Health, whatever. And I get annoyed that certain things on the watch aren't more customizable. But the overall package is more than good enough for my basic needs, and has motivated me to make (and stick to) real lifestyle changes, which is ultimately the point, at least on the fitness side.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#40

Post by guerrilla »

darau1 wrote: post #38
SentientAtom wrote: post #3

If it works for you, why would you migrate to a different product with features or performance outside of your needs? We are so deep into a disposable society that we eagerly await the NEXT BIG THING (TM) without ever evaluating what our need consists of or whether we have any need for an upgrade to begin with.

I know a guy that bought every new Samsung flagship device as soon as they hit stores. He said he just has to upgrade.

I would hate it if everyone (or even many people) did this, but it's nice to know someone outside of Samsung has tried them all, but then again, I guess you wouldn't ncessarily get very neutral reviews from such a person.
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