A look back at the Pebble watch
Hey, I remember getting the original Kickstarter version! I still have it in a box in a closet somewhere
The Smartwatch That Was Too Good For This World
Submitted 1 week ago by formerlytomato@lemmy.sdf.org to technology@lemmy.world
https://notthesolution.substack.com/p/the-smartwatch-that-was-too-good
Comments
Nastybutler@lemmy.world 1 week ago
lepinkainen@lemmy.world 1 week ago
I got both and managed to sell them before they became e-waste
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
I liked the idea and when I had the gen 1 pebble it felt pretty neat. It lacked refinement (in both appearance / build quality and functionality though). I think we are putting it on a bit of a pedestal here though. I’d love to see a pairing back of something like the galaxy watch to a simpler, cleaner version with better battery life. I think smart watches are trying too hard to do too much right now and that’s something pebble understood from day 1.
Nastybutler@lemmy.world 1 week ago
I recently switched to a Garmin watch without GPS and can get about 2 weeks between charges. Does everything I want out of a smartwatch plus lots more.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
I had a Garmin. Wasn’t crazy about how it did with messaging. Maybe better now though.
I like to have GPS and an RF payment option for running without a phone or wallet though.
TechAnon@lemm.ee 1 week ago
Everyone hating on the build quality but my Pebble still works and I’ve gone through numerous other smart watches that have all died. Looking forward to the next gen!
formerlytomato@lemmy.sdf.org 3 days ago
Build quality was great, although my Pebble 2 had rubber reversion issues on the side buttons that rendered them unusable. I’m really sad about that because I would’ve totally kept it around if not for that
MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 1 week ago
Though, nowadays, there’s plenty non-smart connected watches.
njordomir@lemmy.world 4 days ago
I heard great things about the Pebble from someone who had one.
Personally, I had a few different smart watches and learned a bit about what I want over the years:
- Mi Bands (Xiomi Devices) that had otherworldly battery life (like a month and a half in some cases) but had trash sensors and were junk without the unofficial apps that made them great
- Some Android Wear/ WearOS smart watches
- a cheap ass POS Temu-equivilant no-name junk watch
- Multiple Garmin devices (touchscreen Venue and button controlled Fenix)
This made me realize a few things:
- I don’t want or need a super-smart watch
- battery life and capable sensors are way more important than stupid flashy shit
- the display tech I want indoors in my office is not the same display I want on a wear-everywhere watch (TFT looks stellar under bright sun)
- buttons beat a touchscreen each and every day of the week and make the watch a convenience rather than a finnicky gadget
To be fair, this is MY use case and yours may differ, but when it comes down to it, I’m sure that I’m not in the market for a wearOS or Apple Watch. I love the button operated TFT screen Garmin watch I’ve been using for a few years and if I don’t replace it with another Garmin watch, it’ll be something like Pine Time, Pebble, or something that works with gadgetbridge.
Captainautism@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 week ago
I kinda miss my Pebble.
FooBarrington@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Me too, very excited for the relaunch!
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 1 week ago
The software is open source now, so hopefully there are multiple options for PebbleOS devices.
mctoasterson@reddthat.com 1 week ago
Anyone got a good recommendation for an affordable smart watch that works with GadgetBridge?
I’m looking to move on from an ancient Garmin that barely holds charge for 2 days…
WagnasT@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Been rocking a pine time for a year or so, it just keeps getting better and it’s insanely cheap.
photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 week ago
Bangle.js 2
lurch@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
i would consider buying a smartwatch, if they weren’t so thick. call me when they are 6mm or less. not gonna wear a lumpy shackle.
JohnSwanFromTheLough@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Normal watches very rarely measure that. 6mm would be considered ultra thin for a quartz watch, I think you’ll be waiting a while for a smart watch to be that thin.
lurch@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
Well, idk, all the watches I have (but never wear any more) are like that. Even one of my old phones was kinda like that (Wiko Highway Pure), just well, phone width and height.
ch00f@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Did iOS integration ever get better? I remember a lot of apps constantly needing to get restarted to reconnect to the watch.
singletona@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Here is hoping the revival is at least as good as the originals instead of a cheap cash grab on the product name and history.
breadcat@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
the original founder is involved and it’s been open sourced so hopefully
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 week ago
The original founder is a hack who has bailed on each of his companies. When Pebble shut down people were supposed to keep their jobs. Many found at the last minute that their jobs weren’t part of the deal.
He then started Beeper, fucked around and found out with Apple iMessage without a plan and then almost immediately gave up, which is wild because Beeper was a paid service. Don’t even get me started on the privacy implications of having them in control of all your bridges and them needing a fleet of Macs online to push the iMessages through. This meant, especially early in development, you were handing a bunch of credentials to Beeper. He then bailed and sold the whole thing to that dickbag Matt Mullenweg.
Eric Migicovsky sucks noodles and I don’t trust him. This definitely feels like a cash grab. This guy has failed upward too many fucking times.