pebble steel
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Check out our latest wearable buyer's guide
Since we first posted our buyer's guide this summer, one of the most awaited wearables, the Moto 360, was released and is now starting to encircle the wrists of Android users everywhere. While it did have some battery woes at launch, recent software updates have addressed the issue, keeping this definitively watch-like device as one of our top selections this year. It's obviously not the only quantifying and notifying option out there, so for a quick refresher on some of our other top picks you can head to the gallery below. You can also check out our full listing of phones, laptops, tablets and wearables that could help flesh out your holiday wishlist. There's still more to come over the next few months, and we'd love to hear your input (in the comments below) on what items you'd like to see included.
Pebble's appstore rolls out on iOS, starts beta testing on Android
Pebble's smartwatch appstore has arrived as promised and it's loaded with over 1,000 apps and watchfaces. Our review of the new Steel watch has more details on how it all works, and users with the iOS companion app will see the new features right away. An Android version isn't quite ready for release, but a beta APK is up on Pebble's developer website if you want to try it out early. There are known issues with the pairing process and a few things to be aware of when loading new apps, while any new issues will be listed on the blog as they're discovered. Assuming you're ready to sideload the app on your phone or tablet then the file is available here, iOS users can hit iTunes for an update.
Weekly Roundup: Pebble Steel review, Google Glass prescription frames and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Pebble's smartwatch app store arrives on iOS Monday, Android soon after
Pebble shipped its new all-metal "Steel" smartwatch earlier this week, and now reveals that app store updates for its iOS companion software will roll out on Monday (the Android version is about to launch in beta and will follow soon after). Until now, wearers have had to hunt through a myriad of app developers and third-party sites to download new watchfaces or apps. Once the apps (and older Pebble devices) get updated and paired wirelessly over Bluetooth, you'll only need a Pebble account and two clicks to load new software from a phone or tablet. Since the watch itself can only have up to eight apps loaded at any given time, easily managing the thousands of choices available is an important new feature. We took a long look at the store and its apps (including software from ESPN, GoPro and Foursquare) in our review of the Pebble Steel, owners should keep an eye on their mobile devices Monday for access.
Daily Roundup: prescription frames for Google Glass, Pebble Steel review and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Pebble Steel review: at last, a stylish smartwatch
Smartwatches are supposed to be pieces of jewelry that are just as personal as the smartphones they're attached to, yet rarely are they thought of as fashionable. We've seen a handful (or is it wristful?) that are hip, ornate and sporty, but we've also admittedly endured plenty of ugly options as well. Sadly, none have successfully matched the opulence brands like Seiko, Rolex, Citizen and Victorinox are known for on the analog side. Granted, not many companies are in a position to even try this. Without a strong developer platform and guaranteed return on investment, few (if any) smart watchmakers want to take the risk. It makes a lot of sense, then, that a company like Pebble is taking advantage of what appears to be a completely untouched segment of the smartwatch market. In just a short year, the nascent watchmaker quickly gained the experience, resources, platform and developer support required to even try tackling such a project. The result is the $249 Pebble Steel. It's designed to be a more elegant version of the original Pebble, with few changes to overall functionality. So, have we finally found a smartwatch that you can feel comfortable showing off to your business partners on the golf course?
CES 2014: Mobile roundup
While this year was predictably quiet for smartphones, we weren't expecting it to be this quiet. Only a small sliver of companies announced new handsets at the show, and the ones we saw -- with the exception of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact -- didn't impress. Even tablets, which have had pretty healthy showings in years past, failed to make an appearance. Naturally, this left a gaping void that needed to be filled by something, and wearables were up to the task. Read on as we take a look back at just a few of this week's mobile highlights.
Daily Update for January 7, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some of the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Pebble introduces the Steel, an all-metal smartwatch with an elegant look (video)
To say 2013 was a good year for Pebble is a huge understatement. The company started out at last year's CES showing off functional versions of its iconic smartwatch -- you know, the one that generated over $10 million on Kickstarter in a matter of weeks -- and it ended the year by announcing it had pushed more than 300,000 units and was planning to launch a dedicated app store. But while the watch has a healthy ecosystem, loyal following and a sporty look, the Pebble isn't exactly the kind of device you slap on your wrist for wine-tastings or galas at the local art gallery. For those types of events, you'll need a premium-looking smartwatch, but good luck finding one; you'll probably just opt for your traditional Rolex or other fancy piece of wrist jewelry over anything else on the market. Fortunately Pebble didn't come to CES empty-handed this year. CEO Eric Migicovsky announced the Pebble Steel at the company's press conference this morning, which takes the original Pebble watch and encapsulates it in an all-stainless steel, CNC-machined body. If you like the idea of the Pebble, but don't think it radiates enough elegance or class, the $250 Steel may be more up your alley. The new device will be available alongside its predecessor on January 28th, but you can pre-order it beginning today. So what did we think about Pebble's new look? In a nutshell, we like it (although the jury's still out on the name itself). Keep reading below to get our full take on the new watch, and enjoy the image gallery and hands-on video first.
