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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

#311

Post by theodric »

dont__panic wrote: post #265
rchaud wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sad that tech did away with replaceable batteries. I would love to use my 5-inch 16:9 Samsung phone from 2016. It still works fine, but the battery barely lasts an hour. Instead I have to use one of their gigantic replacement phones with a ridiculous 21:9 ratio.

As long as you have a phone that's reasonably well designed, it's usually not too much trouble to replace the internal battery every 2-3 years. I think our culture is really wasteful with batteries. I can't believe that my iphone doesn't have a built-in setting to cap charging at 80%. Studies show that you can decrease battery wear to negligible levels by doing this. Yet my Android e-ink tablet, my iphone, my smartwa…

You can get a gizmo called a Chargie that lets your phone control charge rate and max charge% over Bluetooth to this little interposer dongle that sits between the charger and phone. Getting enough to equip all my usual charge points would exceed the cost of a replacement battery, but I guess if they last for more than one phone it's possibly worthwhile.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#312

Post by andrepd »

rchaud wrote: post #209
helsinkiandrew wrote: post #202

I've got a friend who still uses a Palm Pilot (circa 1998) as a daily calendar manager/notepad. Works at Google and delights in telling younger colleagues it's a Pixel 8 prototype.

I'm sad that tech did away with replaceable batteries. I would love to use my 5-inch 16:9 Samsung phone from 2016. It still works fine, but the battery barely lasts an hour. Instead I have to use one of their gigantic replacement phones with a ridiculous 21:9 ratio.

I'm in the exact same position. Only now that my 5-inch 16:9 from 2016 completely died (and I can't get replacement batteries anywhere) did I begrudgingly buy a Pixel 4a.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#313

Post by jonny_eh »

bryceacc wrote: post #310
etothepii wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll buy an Apple Watch, but I'd pay through the nose for an Apple Watch with four buttons. Steve Jobs obsession that the mouse should have only one button was probably right for the computer, but the input device had over 80 buttons minimum. (Keyboard) Clearly whoever makes the call about Apple Watch buttons doesn't swim, sprint or cycle. All the marketing about "sports" is to make you feel sporty not because it's a…

what would you map those buttons to?

Lap? Reset? The buttons on there only talk to the OS, apps don't have their own buttons to use.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#314

Post by jonny_eh »

helsinkiandrew wrote: post #202

I've got a friend who still uses a Palm Pilot (circa 1998) as a daily calendar manager/notepad. Works at Google and delights in telling younger colleagues it's a Pixel 8 prototype.

I got a Palm in 2002 for school, but only every played games on it. Sold it and bought a Gameboy Advance. I still have it and use it :D

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#315

Post by andrepd »

dont__panic wrote: post #265
rchaud wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sad that tech did away with replaceable batteries. I would love to use my 5-inch 16:9 Samsung phone from 2016. It still works fine, but the battery barely lasts an hour. Instead I have to use one of their gigantic replacement phones with a ridiculous 21:9 ratio.

As long as you have a phone that's reasonably well designed, it's usually not too much trouble to replace the internal battery every 2-3 years. I think our culture is really wasteful with batteries. I can't believe that my iphone doesn't have a built-in setting to cap charging at 80%. Studies show that you can decrease battery wear to negligible levels by doing this. Yet my Android e-ink tablet, my iphone, my smartwa…

If you are on Android and have root, you can install ACC (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/mattecarra.accapp/). It lets you customise the charging profile of your phone as well as see battery statistics, but out of the box it

1. Caps charging to 80%

2. Pauses charging if it gets too hot, until it's below 40°C

If you sporadically need full capacity (travelling, etc), just hit the "charge once to 100%" button and you're good to go.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#316

Post by czx4f4bd »

edejong wrote: post #163

There still is no good replacement for these properties of the Pebble 2 smartwatch: - > 7 days battery life - HR monitor (useful as a sports watch) - - toned down to fit different clothing styles - hackable - high-contrast, always-on screen - buttons I am currently wearing a Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire sportswatch, which comes close.

This thread brought back so much nostalgia for me. The Pebble was one of the greatest recent examples of "less is more" in tech design. Mine sadly died not long after they were discontinued, but I loved it. Since then, I got a Huawei watch (I forget which model) and I currently have an Apple Watch, but neither has ever really felt as useful to me. It's funny, they're capable of doing a lot more, but somehow they don't feel as fun or desirable to use as the Pebble did.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#317

Post by palata »

porcc wrote: post #225
tekchip wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surprised this hasn't been mentioned on this thread yet. Hardware wise the closest is probably the Pine Time from Pine64. Software and services wise this isn't on pebbles level though. https://www.pine64.org/pinetime/ As others mention hybrid watches are probably the closest alternative.

Pinetime can't hold a candle to the bangle.js: https://banglejs.com/ The bangle.js: - ships significantly faster - has an always-on display with similar 4 week maximum battery life - can be updated without flashing - has a thriving app ecosystem

I wonder: could one possibly run a custom ROM like bangleJS on a Garmin?

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#318

Post by modeless »

Pfhortune wrote: post #290

Folks ITT will talk about watches that are similar in hardware, but what was magic about Pebble was the software and ecosystem. The OS was just a delight to use, fast, wonderfully animated, and let you sideload whatever you want. I've tried a couple of Garmin watches (Vivoactive 3 and Forerunner 55) and the Amazfit Bip, and this is where they all fall completely flat. The UX is just horrible by comparison. It's like…

Pebble's software was second to none. They built an entire operating system and app store, to run on microcontrollers! Multiple orders of magnitude less RAM and power consumption than Android or Apple watches, but the user experience was excellent and the app store had tons of stuff in it.

I once interviewed a candidate who came from Pebble. He had the most impressive interview performance of any candidate I've ever interviewed.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#319

Post by gambiting »

rchaud wrote: post #280
bitwrangler wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are many You-tube videos showing step by step. If you're slightly handy with small screws it's not hard. I've replaced my Samsung battery twice over the years. Look into it before you cast doubt and lose hope.

I might go to a shop, but I'm not going to fiddle around with a screwdriver and a YouTube video for something manufacturers themsleves let you do in 5 seconds. However, that does not leave me with workable alternatives. I respect what Fairphone is trying to do, but €500 for a replaceable battery phone with internals several years old isn't the right choice for me.

>>but I'm not going to fiddle around with a screwdriver and a YouTube video

But.....why? It's hardly any effort. Saying "I won't fiddle around with a screwdriver" is a stance as respectable as someone saying they are proud of not being able to do maths or know basic geography facts.

Re: Over 16k people still use a Pebble smartwatch

#320

Post by aembleton »

edejong wrote: post #163

There still is no good replacement for these properties of the Pebble 2 smartwatch: - > 7 days battery life - HR monitor (useful as a sports watch) - - toned down to fit different clothing styles - hackable - high-contrast, always-on screen - buttons I am currently wearing a Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire sportswatch, which comes close.

Amazfit Bip S - https://www.amazfit.com/uk/amazfit-bip-s.html

- 40 day battery life

- HR monitor

- 11.4mm thickness

- Always on transreflective screen

It's not hackable, is a bit thicker and only has one button but unlike the Fenix 7 it is very affordable.

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