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Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

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Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#391

Post by wkat4242 »

pedalpete wrote: post #321
rendx wrote: post #269

Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries Article 11 Removability and replaceability of portable batteries and LMT batteries 1. Any natural or legal person that places on the market products incorporating portable batteries shall ensure that those batteries are readily removable and replaceable by the end-user at any time during th…

We regularly get contacted by people in Europe who want to buy our product, but we haven't been providing support due to the cost of certs, and other regulatory needs (medical/wellness device). We want to help people in the EU, but with laws like replaceable batteries, it's going to push us further and further away from being able to do that. Our product is designed to be refurbished, but not user-replaceable. At the…

> Do people replace their phones because the battery isn't good anymore, or is it more likely they've broken the screen, cameras, etc to the point where it doesn't make sense to replace those anymore? Or they just want the newest thing?

This is why repairability isn't restricted to just the battery. And buying the newest thing every year is kinda frowned upon here in the EU now. I'm sure some people still do it but most people aren't flashing their new phone around anymore. And phones have become boring anyway. The latest Samsung S25 is mostly the same as the S23, exact same form factor, cameras. Just a bit faster and a bit more memory.

But the government sets a baseline here to stimulate sustainability. I really agree with it, this planet has to be usable for a lot longer. And economic growth isn't everything.

We have to move away from consumerism for the sake of it and I think we're making good inroads here in the EU. Not to mention it means there's more money left over for important stuff like doing things with friends.

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#392

Post by scratchyone »

malyk wrote: post #351
Tempest1981 wrote: post #343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if there was a single button audio recording app Would the watch require 1 or 2 hands to record audio? The ring seems easier to use while biking. Or driving.

Can't you just say "Hey siri, add a note"? I add reminders, send texts, etc. that way.

Yeah, there's lots of places you can't speak out loud bc it's disruptive to others though. Personally I set a lot of Siri reminders, but it's weird and uncomfortable to talk loudly at your phone in public spaces so I can only use it at home or outdoors. If the ring can follow through on the promise of being able to whisper to it, that's fairly valuable imo

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#393

Post by wkat4242 »

jeremyjh wrote: post #333
ddoeth wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Me too, i hate that I would have to throw out a fully functioning device if the battery dies.

I understand that sentiment but I think its arbitrary. People buy lots of products that don't have a useful life exceeding two years. For example, every pet toy ever sold. Some will have higher impact for manufacturing and disposal than this ring.

This is exactly the problem they're trying to tackle. Repairability goes further than just batteries.

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#394

Post by scratchyone »

eichin wrote: post #300
lo_zamoyski wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Having 20 different 3-second thoughts transcribed to notes that I have to process every day sounds more like added complications than problem solving. Frankly, I'm surprised this is a selling point, because I think it attaches too much importance to our "ideas". If it's a good idea that you'll pursue in earnest, you'll come across it again. And if you don't, so what? I say this as someone who does quite a bit of re…

For me it's more observations than ideas - "check out new restaurant/bookstore I saw while driving in Arlington" while not getting distracted from the actual driving...

i would also see this as being super useful for things you need to buy. i often notice halfway through cooking something that i'm running low on an ingredient. that's one of the worst times to have to stop and pull out a phone haha, but if i don't write it down i won't remember to get this random niche ingredient later

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#395

Post by wkat4242 »

fao_ wrote: post #367
widowlark wrote: post #349

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is, I believe, the definition of a free market choice

And this is why regulation exists, QED lol

Yes, a free market isn't the answer to everything. It will never optimise for sustainability unless this is a conscious consumer choice factor. It's way too important to leave it to that though. Hence regulation.

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#396

Post by scratchyone »

modeless wrote: post #253
h14h wrote: post #123

I'm sold enough on this form factor to take a flyer on a pre-order. I've been hunting for ways to minimize friction when quickly capturing random thoughts and this is a novel idea that seems to go further than anything else I've tried. The lack of battery charging/replacement is a bummer, but slimness is far more critical for a ring than just about any other device so I understand the tradeoff. I've also seen stories…

I don't understand why people who are probably OK with ordering Doordash once in a while are up in arms about a disposable device that weighs a couple of grams, lasts for years, and is recycled. You can easily spend more on a single Doordash meal for two people and I guarantee a few Doordash meals have more impact on the environment than this minuscule device ever could.

personally, i worry about what happens when it doesn't last for years. a software bug causes high power draw, or you set your ring down and something gets pushed against the recording button for a few hours, or you fall asleep laying on it. given it only has a 15-hour recording life, this happening just once could be the end of your $75 device

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#397

Post by [deleted] »

bigiain wrote: post #356
dmitrygr wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good thing that there are plenty of markets outside of EU

Cynical thinking ahead. What has been long considered one of the most wealthy markets is a country descending into a billionaire controlled kleptocracy. And they're pissing off every other country in the world with tariff blackmail and punishment (or extra judicial executions) for any country that fails to bend the knee and fawn obsequiously enough to their leader. One of the most populous markets is a country that m…

[deleted]

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#398

Post by DrammBA »

kstrauser wrote: post #316
wing-_-nuts wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's hyperbole and I think you know it. I'm pretty sure they explicitly exclude medical devices.

It's not hyperbole at all. Fortunately, your link basically says it doesn't apply to something you wear on your hands or arms: > By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the following products incorporating portable batteries may be designed in such a way as to make the battery removable and replaceable only by independent professionals: > (a) appliances specifically designed to operate primarily in an environment that…

> Edit: It's easy to downvote. I cited the relevant law. If I'm wrong, cite other law that explains why.

> Please don't comment about the voting on comments. It never does any good, and it makes boring reading.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#399

Post by scratchyone »

sippeangelo wrote: post #306
giamma wrote: post #148

I think the design is bad: my girlfriend would never wear it. Maybe they know already and that's why the webpage contains only picture of male hands. Given the many smartwatches on the market which can do so much more, are lightweight and some of them with acceptable battery life (Garmin, Suunto, Amazfit), a smartring is of very little interest to me. But I often struggle to understand why certain products fascinate…

The overmoulding is seriously ugly. Gold and navy blue?! Silver and medical grey? Only the black is passable.

Yeah, I have to wonder what lead them to these color choices. Not sure why they wouldn't include a white option or any other good neutral colors that actually go with silver and gold. And I think the number of people willing to wear a matte black ring is quite low, especially among women.

Re: Pebble Index 01 – External memory for your brain

#400

Post by wkat4242 »

Fnoord wrote: post #210
mikestew wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cellphone that’s buried in my handbag? I think you missed the expressed use case (admittedly, a few paragraphs into TFA): ”Before, I would take my phone out of my pocket to jot these down, but I couldn’t always do that (eg, while bicycling). I also wanted to start using my phone less, especially in front of my kids. ”

Stop using your phone less in front of your kids. Start using your ring/watch/whatever_else more in front of your kids. Honestly, it isn't about what you use (that is just hype). You can read the paper all day if you want. I grew up with a father who was listening to radio and watching TV all the time (to be fair: he was disabled, including legally blind). It isn't about using your phone less in front of your kids. I…

> Apart from the yet another device with microphone (24/7 on, I suppose) and Bluetooth

Considering the tiny non-rechargeable battery I can guarantee it's not on 24/7 because then it would literally last a day :)

Unlike a smartphone which often does listen for a wake word all day without much impact on battery life, this really couldn't.

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