Pebble smartwatch. Pebble SmartWatch review. Packaging and accessories
The first smart wristwatch in history, the Pulsar Memowatch, appeared back in 1982. Thirty years this type electronic devices remained highly specialized and, in fact, only this year became fashionable and widespread. In addition to smart watches from world-famous IT brands (Samsung and Sony), more and more solutions are emerging from out-of-the-box startups like Pebble Technology.
Modern “smart” watches can be divided into three categories: full-fledged watch phones with a built-in module cellular communications, models with a color screen capable of playing the role wireless headset, and finally, simple and energy-efficient solutions that only display notifications from a smartphone. Pebble falls into the third category.
As soon as Pebble Technology posted a message on the Kickstarter website about raising funds for the production of a “smart” watch with a monochrome energy-efficient screen costing only $150, donations poured in like a river. Instead of the initially required $100 thousand, pre-orders were made in excess of $10 million. Even after a year and a half, no one managed to beat this Kickstarter record.
⇡ Design
The biggest drawback of most modern smartwatches is the design, or rather the almost complete absence of it. The models available on the market today are more reminiscent of children's wristwatches than premium (based on their cost) accessories for adults. Pebble was no exception - even youth and sports watches look more solid against their background. However, after a couple of days you get used to the “toy-like” nature of the Pebble and stop considering it a problem.
It’s good that Pebble, unlike many competitors, turned out to be thin and light, thanks to which they look harmonious even on a sophisticated lady’s hand. The watch case is made of plastic: it is glossy on the front, and matte on the sides and back. As practice has shown, the protective coating of the screen is not so easy to scratch: after a week of use, the watch has not lost any of its “marketable” appearance. There are five body color options available: black, white, grey, red and orange.
The Pebble strap is made of rubber that bends well and hopefully won't wear out too quickly. However, there are no hardware components inside the strap, and it can be easily replaced if desired. But it is strictly not recommended to disassemble the watch itself - it may lose its water resistance. Yes, the watch is resistant not only to raindrops, but also to immersion to a depth of up to fifty meters.
On the right side of the Pebble there are three buttons (scroll up, confirm an action and scroll down), and on the left there is a return button (aka power on) and a magnetic connector for recharging. Only a proprietary USB cable is supplied with the smartwatch. If you lose it, you can buy a new one on eBay.
⇡ Technical specifications
| Pebble Smartwatch | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 1.26-inch, Memory LCD, 144x168 pixels |
| CPU | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 80 MHz |
| Memory | 128 KB RAM, 32 MB ROM |
| operating system | Pebble OS |
| Wireless connection | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, electronic compass, light sensor |
| Battery | 130 mAh |
| Waterproof | Pressure up to 5 atmospheres (depth up to 50 m) |
| Dimensions (LxWxD) | 52x36x11.5 mm |
| Weight | 38 g with standard strap |
| Price | $150 in USA (from RUB 7,000 in Russia) |
The Pebble uses a monochrome Memory LCD display made by Sharp. The brighter the lighting around, the clearer the image on the screen is visible. True, in bright sunlight the protective coating of the screen glares. And if there is not enough light, you can turn on the backlight - trust the light sensor, or, to be sure, shake your hand. Unlike E-Ink, Memory technology LCDs are not characterized by long delays when redrawing images.
The Pebble smart watch is powered by the STM32F2 ARM processor from STMicroelectronics. This chip is built on Cortex-M3 architecture and produced using a 90-nm process technology. It accelerates to a peak frequency of 80 MHz only when absolutely necessary, so as not to waste battery power.
⇡ Initial setup
To test the capabilities of Pebble smartwatches, we used two smartphones: Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 ( operating system Android 4.2) and Apple iPhone 4S (iOS 7).
When you turn it on for the first time, Pebble asks you to install the service application of the same name on your smartphone, which can be found in Google Play And App Store It's not difficult to get it running. The application requests permission to turn on the smartphone's Bluetooth module, after which it begins searching for devices available for connection. Once connected, it checks for new firmware versions and, if there are none, reports that the smart watch is ready to work.
By the way, on iOS 6 the Pebble service application completely refuses to install. And in the case of the iPhone 4, even with iOS 7, the watch works in a limited mode (it only notifies about calls and SMS). The reason for this is the outdated Bluetooth 2.0 protocol. The recommended version for Pebble is Bluetooth 4.0.
Looking ahead, let's say that in this moment official firmware Pebble does not support the Cyrillic alphabet and it will not be officially available in the near future. Therefore, in order for Russian-language contact names and message text to be displayed correctly, it is necessary to install modified firmware. Fortunately, this is extremely easy to do: just upload the PBZ firmware file to Dropbox and open it on your smartphone using a cloud storage client. Then the Pebble service application will do everything on its own.
The latest stable firmware version at the time of writing is 1.13, but version 2.0 is already being tested, which allows a significantly larger number of iOS applications to send notifications to the watch. You should first look for the latest versions of modified firmware on the pages of forums.getpebble.com.
⇡ Standard features
According to the developers, Pebble should become a second screen for a smartphone, but nothing more. Therefore, Pebble has neither a camera nor a speaker with a microphone, which are now fashionable to be built into more expensive models of smart watches.
Time and date. By default, Pebble offers a choice of three home screen options (Watchfaces): a text clock on English language, analogue watch with moving second hand, as well as digital time and date.
Phone calls. As soon as you call someone on your smartphone, the Pebble begins to vibrate cyclically. The vibration strength is selected at a comfortable level: the signal is clearly perceived by the hand, but does not irritate.
The options for dealing with an incoming call on Android and iOS are different. In the first case, there is only one option - to reject, while in the second - to reject and respond. The watch stops vibrating and returns to the main screen. On an Android smartphone, the melody stops, but the call continues to come. That is, completely dropping the call, thereby making it clear to the caller that there is no time to talk now, will not work.
On the iPhone, the call is dropped, but when there is an incoming call, the watch displays question marks instead of the Cyrillic contact name. So far, even the modified firmware does not help solve the problem.
SMS. After installing modified firmware with Cyrillic support, Pebble allows you not only to quickly find out about the presence of new incoming SMS, but also to read their Russian and, more recently, Ukrainian text. Large messages are divided into several screens, which are scrolled through using side buttons.
Email and calendar. Pebble has a similar situation with emails and calendar reminders. True, you need to first go to the settings service application Pebble allow interaction with Gmail, " Google Calendar"and the standard Android email client.
Music player. Well implemented in Pebble function control the audio player on your smartphone. You can pause playback and switch tracks. True, all this only works within one playlist.
Alarm. The Pebble doesn't have a speaker, so the alarm can only vibrate. The main thing is not to put the watch on something soft before going to bed, otherwise you may not hear the vibration in the morning.
⇡ Third party applications
In the case of an Android smartphone, almost any instant messenger or task manager can send notifications to the Pebble smart watch. To do this you need to install the application from Google Play 
Having programming experience, you can create an application for Pebble yourself. The specialized development environment Pebble SDK will help with this.
⇡ Battery life
On a single battery charge, Pebble smart watches can work for 4 days in round-the-clock synchronization mode with a smartphone and up to 7 days if you turn off Bluetooth at night. A very good result, especially when compared with the autonomy of smart watches with a color screen. Naturally, the battery of the smartphone to which the watch is connected also drains a little faster.
⇡ Conclusions
You can buy a Pebble on the official website for $150, and this also includes the cost of regular delivery to any country in the world. For express delivery (3-5 days) you will have to pay an additional $25. In Russian retail, Pebble is sold at about one and a half to two times more expensive, but the goods will be delivered many times faster. The price, of course, is rather high, but compared to solutions from Samsung and Sony, Pebble looks advantageous. Especially if there is no need for a color screen and voice calls.
Pebble will be useful primarily for those who, due to the specifics of their work, need to quickly respond to incoming calls and messages. In this case, you don’t have to take your smartphone out of your pocket every time—you can simply leave it on the table among stacks of papers. In the crush of the capital's metro, Pebble is an absolutely irreplaceable thing.
The editors would like to thank the CLICK online store for providing the Pebble smart watch for testing.
The smartwatch category is finally starting to come into its own. More and more models are appearing with Android Wear, manufacturers are also testing their own solutions, and the Apple Watch immediately grabbed as much as 70% of the market. Nevertheless, Pebble still gathers a lot of fans, and we’ll find out how it will be with Pebble Time.
Pebble Time Watch - Reviews
Pebble Time appearance and quality
Let's be honest, when it comes to the styling of the new Pebble model, it's a big step back from the Pebble Steel. However, metal versions of Pebble Time smartwatches will also be announced in the near future.
So far, the first series of this product resembles a small soap dish tied to the wrist. This impression, however, dissipates as soon as the Pebble Time comes into your hands. IN Everyday life its design turns out to be not so catchy. And if you take into account the device’s interface, it looks more like a “geeky” accessory.
The Pebble Time display diagonal is 1.25 inches, the top part is made of 2.5D scratch-resistant glass. Around the panel is a relatively thick metal frame with a PVT coating that tends to get dirty but is easy to clean. The rest of the body is made of polycarbonate. The four function keys that control the Pebble Time smartwatch (non-touch screen) are sometimes difficult to press, but the gadget is very durable. The watch can also withstand being submerged in water up to 30m deep, so there's no need to worry about rain or washing up.
The silicone strap was also surprising. It is very soft, flexible and pleasant to the touch. Even after prolonged wear there is no rash or irritation. The device uses standard fasteners, so you can replace it with another 22 mm wide bracelet.
The case of the Pebble Time smart watch, according to the description, is 9.7 mm. The figure seems significant, but in reality they fit perfectly to the hand and there are no problems when wearing them. A few minutes after the device is put on your wrist, you simply forget about its existence. The device is very comfortable for everyday wear, which cannot be said about all gadgets from the smartwatch category.
Operation and display
As already mentioned, the Pebble Time screen is not touch-sensitive, and is controlled by 4 buttons. The controls are simple and intuitive. The button on the left is to return to the previous tab, the buttons on the right are to navigate through the menu. For the first time, Pebble has a color display. The device doesn't use LCD technologies like IPS or AMOLED, so you shouldn't expect rich, vibrant colors. They are a little fuzzy and dull. Despite this, the display itself is quite pleasing to the eye. There is one drawback - the screen is placed deep under the glass, which reduces viewing angles.
The display backlight has been redesigned. Now its duration and brightness can be adjusted at will. It is also better practiced to activate it with a flick of the wrist. Previously, this required an overly noticeable gesture. Now the sensor has become more sensitive.
Interface
The new smartwatch from Pebble uses a somewhat unusual interface. The menu map, icons, animations look funny, even somewhat childish. But it fits perfectly into overall design Pebble Time. The animations are a little drawn out, but they are just as charming, so the developers can be forgiven.
Pebble is the first company to use the Timeline interface. This is very useful for those who use the calendar frequently. Simply pressing up/down is enough to see the past, present and future events recorded in the organizer, as well as the weather, sunrise and sunset times, etc. It is incredibly convenient, allowing you to easily view everything that is expected during the day.
This is not to say that the Pebble Time smartwatch provides the same capabilities as competitors with Android Wear or Apple Watch. But this was not the intention of the developers. They wanted to create a smartwatch that would be the perfect complement to a smartphone, and not copy it. And they succeeded perfectly.
Notifications always arrive on time, informed about them through vibration on the wrist. WITH latest update we can change the vibration intensity or use the “do not disturb” mode.
Unfortunately, at the moment, Pebble Time owners can only use all the features with Android devices. The functionality for iPhones is currently very limited. But most likely this defect will be corrected in the near future.
Applications
When synchronized with a smartphone, the device gains access to a catalog of additional applications. The list is not as extensive as that of competitors, but we have to admit, there is nothing useless here. Exceptionally functional additions. Previous models provided for the installation of only 8 applications. Time allows you to set up to 50. Here you can find not only functional “apps”, but also designs for dials.
Synchronization is carried out through an application installed on the phone. And here also some problems arose. It has been significantly improved compared to previous versions, but there are still some shortcomings. It also starts draining your smartphone’s battery, which has been confirmed on several phones.
Pebble Time and everyday use
The manufacturer promises about seven days of operation on a single charge. In fact, with continuous use of Pebble, the time is reduced to about 4 days. But even this is an excellent result compared to most competitors, which typically require daily charging. Pebble Time reaches a full charge in just 50 minutes, after which it is ready to use for another 4-7 days.
SmartWatch is a rather controversial technology. First of all, because the manufacturers have not yet decided on its purpose. Many developers are trying to replace phones directly with watches, which seems quite pointless. Is it really that difficult to get a smartphone out of your pocket? But Pebble took a different route and created a device that perfectly complements the functions of phones. And we have to admit that this is perhaps the best of the options offered. Not everything about this device is perfect, but the company has chosen the right direction.
Bottom line
First of all, Pebble Time's unusual style and simple everyday use make you get used to the smartwatch.
The rather limited number of color options compared to the competition is a concern - but for me they are quite sufficient, although I think one would expect a lot more from such equipment.
However, given the battery life and how much time we use our iPhone, the Pebble Time smartwatch is basically the only alternative to the Apple Watch, but at a significantly lower price.
However, the Pebble Time smartwatch costs between $249 and $300 (depending on whether we're talking about the plastic version or the steel version).
Pros:
Inexpensive smart watch or fitness tracker.
The battery lasts much longer than almost any other smartwatch on the market.
Minuses:
The heart rate sensor is very sophisticated.
Not much different from the previous version of Pebble Time.
The first samples of Pepple 2, from Pebble's most recent Kickstarter campaign, recently began shipping to backers.
On September 30, after successfully funding their third Kickstarter campaign, smartwatch pioneer Pebble began shipping the first wave of Pebble 2 watches to backers. 
This model includes a completely new watch feature, a heart rate sensor, which the company uses in its devices for the first time, as well as all the features of Pebble OS, which have been significantly improved since the introduction of the Pebble Time line in early 2015. 
Apart from the heart rate sensor, Pebble 2 did not greatly expand its functionality compared to previous versions, so I had to look for reasons to recommend it myself.
Specifications:
Battery: up to 7 days;
Sensors: heart rate sensor, three-component accelerometer, photodetector;
Screen: 1.26 inches, liquid crystal, electronic paper, LED backlight;
Compatibility: 4.3 and higher; iOS 8 and above;
Dimensions: 39.5mm x 30.2mm x 9.8mm, plus 1.4mm overhang reverse side, in which the heartbeat sensor is located.
In May 2016, I met with Pebble CEO Eric Migicovski at his company's Redwood City, California office. We were sitting across from each other in the conference room when Eric pulled one device out of a black Pelican container and handed it to me. 
I remember he told me something like “This is Pebble 2,” but I didn’t immediately accept his words. Despite this statement, I initially thought that I was holding in my hands the first smart watch from Pebble. It was only a few seconds later that I began to notice slight differences.
The side buttons on the Pebble 2 didn't stick out as much and were closer together. This watch was also thinner than the previous ones. It was impossible not to notice the heartbeat sensor located on the reverse side. It emitted intense green light and searched for a pulse. 
I wore them for the next week and the nostalgia never left me. It's a very comfortable watch, quite lightweight, so much so that I sometimes forgot it was on my wrist until it was time for the next alert and a slight buzzing sound reminded me that it was still there. You also still have the option to replace the standard Pebble 2 straps with your own 22mm straps.
The direct disadvantage of the fact that the creators improved the old design instead of completely redesigning it was the 1.25-inch Pebble display
2. Before that, I wore a 42mm Apple Watch with a 1.65-inch screen for several weeks, and after that the screen on the Pebble 2 looks very small. 
It's all about the heart
The more intense competition between smartwatch manufacturers became, the more often Pebble was criticized for not rushing to expand the functionality of its products. Together with the Pebble Time line, the company launched Pebble Health, designed to count steps and track sleep quality. But these devices still did not have a heartbeat monitoring function. 
The situation changed with the release of Pebble 2. In the development of this watch, the company used an optical sensor similar to that used in Fitbit and even in .
The user can select an option directly on the watch display that displays a regular reading of the number of heartbeats, or view a graph of readings through the Pebble application, available for devices running on iOS. 
I tried comparing the Pebble 2 heart rate sensor with Samsung Gear IconX earbuds and Apple Watch Series 2, all three devices showed almost identical results during controlled tests. The essence of the test: I sat still with Workout mode activated on all three devices to ensure constant recordings heart rate.
In addition to these few tests, I found a couple of anecdotal reports that while I was wearing the Pebble 2, my heart rate increased to 150 beats per minute and then dropped back down to my normal 70-80 beats. And one report showed that my heart rate once increased to 197 beats per minute in the middle of the night while I was sleeping. I believe I would have woken up if my heart had actually been beating that fast in the middle of the night. 
Looking through previous heart rate recordings on the Apple Watch and an older device, I never found a record of such high results, especially during sleep. 
Here's another case. I took off my Pebble 2 watch in the middle of the day and left it on the table. Later, after lunch, I put them on again and noticed that they had recorded the period that they had been on the table like a dream. Except I didn't sleep. I didn't even wear a watch.
When I raised this issue with Pebble, a representative informed me that the watch cannot automatically detect whether a person is wearing it or not. And to prevent erroneous sleep data from being recorded, the watch should be charged when you take it off.
It's the ultimate Pebble, but is it good enough?
Pebble Timeline, quick access to your favorite apps, and instant launch are all preset features of Pebble 2.
According to Pebble, the battery lasts seven days. My experience has shown that it lasts for five days.
The screen is easy to read in sunlight, as expected from e-paper. The buttons are elastic, and at the same time, they are not difficult to press. Voice commands work reliably.
Thus, on all points related to performance, the Pebble 2 can be given high scores, but, on the other hand, the same can be said about the Pebble Time watch. Same notifications, apps, display quality (plus color!), time battery life, voice control and general impression. Well, except that there is no heart rate sensor.
Buy right now or wait?
The longer I used the Pebble 2, the more I doubted what to ultimately recommend. At $129, the Pebble 2 is a bargain whether you're considering it as a fitness tracker or a smartwatch.
This is the conclusion I came to: Pebble 2 is suitable for those who are not yet sure whether they need a smart watch or a fitness tracker. It has all the basic features and won't break your budget.
At the same time, in November, Pebble is going to start shipping Pebble Time 2, with a set of functions almost identical to Pebble 2. But Pebble Time 2 will have a color display 53 percent larger than the current version of Pebble Time (which means that it will be as big as the Pebble 2 display). 
So for all those who want a bigger battery and an improved display, you should wait for the Time 2, as this will be the Pebble smartwatch you've been looking for.
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The current situation in the smartwatch market is in many ways reminiscent of the years and months before the start of sales of the smartwatch itself. first iPhone. To date, not a single manufacturer has managed to release a truly breakthrough device that can instantly reshape consumer expectations. , and others have so far gotten away with niche models, and are now feeding consumers with prototypes and demonstrations - but not finished products. There are compromises to be made.
If you were looking for a smart bracelet, the choice among the best options would be limited to only two models - and. But if you just want a smartwatch that makes it easier to use your smartphone and have a constant stream of incoming messages and alerts, you only have one option. It hasn't had a single competitor for two years, and there doesn't seem to be any time before the release of the iWatch.
This Pebble.
Many gadgets seem interesting on paper and in pictures, but in real use they turn out to be inconvenient, ill-conceived, and too narrowly focused. "Smart watch" Pebble– an example of a rare, strictly opposite situation. This is a thing that is ideal for everyone who has so far looked askance at the entire market of wearable devices. For example, I didn’t see any benefit in using them. Or was upset by typical shortcomings and limitations.
No. 1. Huge selection of software and watch faces
With its tiny size and light weight, Pebble has own App Store. In the official application for iOS and Android, owners of the above-mentioned smartwatches can download and install any of tens of thousands of watch faces. Today, no other similar device has such a choice: from countless stylizations of analog watches down to the second hands to the most informative digital watches displaying the current weather, wind force and lunar cycle.
Pebble supports up to eight simultaneously installed watch faces (or programs). Switching between them is instantaneous, just press one of the side buttons in standby mode. The remaining “clocks” are added to your personal storage - in the memory of the Pebble iOS application. This system allows you to select a couple of dozen dials to your liking and change them at your discretion at any time.
Want something modern to go with your sportswear? Or maybe in the style of a famous artist or video game? How about something tailored to a real watch manufacturer? All this and much more is available in the Pebble store. I almost forgot: everything in this store is free.
No. 2. Down with useless notifications from iPhone
Push notifications on iOS are sometimes as annoying as email spam. Alerts for incoming SMS, messages from social networks and installed applications Today they pour almost non-stop into the ears of smartphone owners. And every time they have to take the device out of their pocket - and put it back in disappointment. The ratio of information noise that distracts from business becomes alarmingly high.
Pebble owners make it simple. They just look at watch and move on.
Game notifications appear on the watch screen
All notifications(SMS, WhatsApp, games, reminders, etc.) received on the iPhone are instantly displayed on the Pebble screen, accompanied by a vibration signal. One glance is enough to understand who or what bothered you. It seems like such a small thing, but the convenience is simply incredible. After all, now you don’t need to check your smartphone at all. Everything important that happens in your social networks and instant messengers will always be in sight - without unnecessary movements. Why do you need Google Glass when you can see everything on your own watch?
To display Cyrillic on the Pebble screen, spend 5 minutes updating the clock.
No. 3. Music playback control
I don’t know about you, but I use headphones without a control unit. Until now, many models of vacuum plugs, interesting from an audiophile point of view, are not equipped with such a simple thing - or cost twice as much just because of the presence of a remote control on the cable. It would seem, what does Pebble have to do with it?
In standby mode, the Pebble user can control music playback at a distance of one click. The screen displays the artist, album and title of each track. Using the side buttons you can instantly scroll through songs, and using a simple combination you can adjust the playback volume. Nothing else is needed for complete happiness of a music lover.
Controlling music playback on your iDevice via Pebble can be convenient in other scenarios. For example, when connecting an iPhone to home acoustics: You can change tracks on the go without going near your speaker or smartphone. Smart watches act as a mobile control panel and do their job flawlessly.
No. 4. A week of real battery life
Very often, future iWatch owners complain: they say that the battery life of the new Apple gadget is unlikely to be long. The idea is logical: fit capacious battery inside a portable watch is no easy task. The creators of Pebble solved it very simply, eliminating not the consequence of the problem, but its very cause.
Pebble has a small black and white screen. This fact scares off a good half of potential buyers. And in vain. Specially designed display from Sharp solves a lot of important problems that owners of future smart watches will definitely face. For example, the visibility of information in direct sunlight. Everything Pebble shows you is perfectly visible in almost any situation. And in the dark you can activate the screen backlight.
So, thanks to the energy-efficient display, Pebble can work for a week. With active use of this watch, including a constant connection via Bluetooth, auto-backlight turned on, and regular installation and removal of new programs, the Pebble will work longer three days. There is nothing else like it on the market. And it is unlikely to happen in the near future.
No. 5. Silent vibration alarm clock
Bachelors and single people don't need to worry about others. In particular, you can set screaming alarm clocks on your phone at least for four o’clock in the morning. If other people sleep lightly next to you and don’t need to wake up at the same time as you, you desperately need a Pebble.
The clock memory stores up to 4 alarms at any time. Since the watch has no speakers at all, the signal is transmitted exclusively through vibration. I've never slept while relying on Pebble. They are a great awakening - but only for the one who is wearing them. Everyone else continues to sleep as if nothing had happened.
No. 6. Water protection
Partial protection from water will not interfere with any gadget. Especially the iPhone. The creators of Pebble thought in advance about those who would not want to take off their favorite watch in bad weather. The official water protection level is 5 atmospheres. Basically, this means that you can shower in the Pebble without much fanaticism or getting caught in the rain.
However, numerous examples from the lives of Pebble owners prove: you can easily swim in them both in the pool and in the sea - with the watch completely submerged. This summer I sank the first generation Pebble in the Black Sea for a whole week, and nothing bad happened to them. Even the company's official accounts in in social networks confirm the safety of swimming in their smartwatch. You can dive into them to a depth of 40 meters. In general, there is no need to remove them at all :)
Pebble Classic or Pebble Steel?
Thanks to luck and good management, a successful Kickstarter project turned into a thriving business capable of generating new products on its own. Therefore, at the beginning of 2014, it entered the market a new version Pebble. However, it doesn't have to be better. Rather, it is an alternative. Pebble Steel– these are the same watches, but in high-quality packaging. Including in the literal sense.
If you've avoided Pebble simply because of their sporty, somewhat youthful design, you'll instantly like the Steel. These watches were originally made for those who wear long-sleeved shirts, jackets and generally follow their dress code. A more traditional, rectangular shape, real glass instead of clear plastic, high-quality metal buttons and body.
Clickable
The Pebble Steel comes with two different straps - black leather and steel, as well as a tool for replacing them. Then it depends on the preferences of the individual. Personally, I think leather looks better. Perhaps because the excess of metal along with the digital display evokes parallels with a cheap calculator watch :) I’m sure many Steel owners will disagree with me, and that’s absolutely normal. That is why we are given choice.
In technical terms, regular Pebble and Steel are almost no different from each other. If you're being picky, the display contrast in metal models is still higher than in the classic series. In other words, the white color is a little whiter there, and the black color - well, you get the idea. Plus, the manufacturer has solved the problem with “gasoline” stains on the displays of regular Pebble. At least there was nothing like that on our Steel. Due to flat glass rather than convex plastic, the watch looks twice as good in the light and does not give wavy, distorted reflections.
The advantages of Pebble Steel over the regular model are obvious. One of the disadvantages is that the first ones do not come with a rubber bracelet. This means that playing sports in Steel will be inconvenient. Also, you should not get carried away with swimming with a leather strap, as well as running. In general, the model is not at all sporty and not for everyday use - more for work and meetings. The vibration motor in Steel is slightly weaker than in the first version, and at the same time louder. That's basically it.
So, very soon users will be able to touch the next new product from the company - the Pebble Time smart watch. Previously, we saw a quite successful Pebble Watch model from this manufacturer, which turned out to be attractive due to its high level of autonomy. What will Pebble be pleased with this time?
general information
Pebble Time is truly a smartwatch that stands out from its competitors. Who else can boast such high autonomy with a color screen? Agree, each of us has become truly paranoid about the battery charge on our smartphone, and it is very sad to discover that the gadget did not have time to last until the end of the day.
With the Pebble Time smartwatch, this problem will remain with its owner - the battery will last a whole week, and sometimes more.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Pebble
CPU
Battery
- Capacity, mAh: no data
- Operating time, days: up to 10
Physical parameters
- Dimensions, mm: no data
- Weight, g: no data
- Detachable strap: yes
- Case/strap color: black/black, grey, bronze
Additionally
- Protection from water, shock: yes
- Control music player: There is
- Camera control: yes, application installation required
- NFC: no
- Price, $: 280
Screen
Actually, the screen is perhaps the first thing worth noting about the Pebble Time smartwatch. A color display is a real breakthrough for the company, but with a color screen one would expect a decrease in the level of autonomy. However, Pebble has taken care of everything - thanks to the fact that the screen reproduces only 64 colors, power consumption is very low. You don't need anything more on a smartwatch screen. The resolution is also low, only 144X168, so the edges of text or images are jagged.
All this will not be an obstacle to using the Pebble Time smartwatch, since this device is not intended for viewing photos and videos; smartwatches will be used to save you from having to fish your smartphone out of your pocket or bag every time it rings.
Appearance
Like the Pebble Time predecessors with black and white screens, this model has two options - a plastic model and a steel one, which will appear towards the end of the summer. Of course, the device looks less impressive when compared to the Apple Watch or flagship Android Wear models like the Moto 360. Wide frame looks somewhat out of place and does not at all make one think of a smart gadget, although overall the design is harmonious. The rubber strap in three colors is completely hypoallergenic and comfortable to use.
There are 4 buttons on the body of the Pebble Time smartwatch, but there is no sensor. At first it seems that this is inconvenient, but coupled with a successful system, such control is quite acceptable.
The Pebble Time smartwatch can be submerged up to 30cm, but unless you have a waterproof smartphone within reach, it will be completely useless.
Functions
Quite remarkable new feature for Pebble - if you press the “down” button, a 48-hour timeline breakdown opens, where appointments, reminders, and weather forecasts are located. If necessary, you can rewind the scale back and see what notifications were received earlier.
You can also assign the up and down buttons to quick access to other functions - for example, to control the music player or to track the distance traveled.
There is information that Pebble plans to release so-called “smartstraps” as an addition to the main device, which will include, for example, GPS or additional batteries.
Under the down button there is a tiny hole that can be confused with an emergency reset hole for the device, but in fact it is a microphone with which you can dictate SMS replies or messages in instant messengers.
No installation required to receive notifications for social media messages, missed calls and SMS, and breaking news third party application– just synchronize your smartphone with the device.
By the way, this smartwatch supports applications and watchfaces for Pebble, but most of them are not yet optimized for a color screen and are displayed in monochrome mode.
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Results
Undoubtedly, Pebble Time has its drawbacks - nothing more than functional design, modest display. This smartwatch is not for those who want to attract attention with a fashionable gadget.
However, there are many more unique sides and strong points. The user will forget about the eternal worry whether he has set to charge his smart watch or not. In addition, Pebble Time can work with almost any smartphone, which certainly gives you freedom of choice. This watch just works without the distraction of endless adjustments and glitches. In addition, the price is relatively low - $280 per copy, which is much cheaper than the Apple Watch or top-end Android Wear smartwatches.
