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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?
Wearable tech shows promise but has a long way to go
Wearables! Are you tired of hearing about them already? If you followed CES coverage this week, you might be a little weary of hearing the term. Like it or not, "wearables" or tech that you wear will be coming to your house sooner or later. For now the tech is still in the early stages, as batteries and components have shrunk enough to make the first truly useful products feasible. If you step outside the term itself, you'll soon find that this all connects to the Internet of Things, which expands to stuff like the Aria scale from Fitbit or this basketball with a sensor in it. Tech is also following the path of the Invisible Computer, and will soon be embedded in everything from our socks to our brains. Wrist-based computing? I never had a calculator watch, I had a UC-2000. This was Seiko's data watch, and it was pretty awesome. With only 2 kilobytes of memory, however, you had to load either BASIC or productivity apps or games, but not all at once. Still, that watch charged via conduction, and its base had a keyboard and thermal printer! There's really nothing like this today (witness this Casio watch), but it is on the horizon. For now, wrist computers, aka smart watches, are mostly two varieties: a companion for your smartphone, or a sensor-laden device for health tracking. Of course, not all wrist devices are even watches, many provide very little feedback without a companion app. Fitness trackers are the hottest space right now, as Nike's FuelBand sets the pace for wrist sensors with feedback, and Fitbit's Force has some smart watch aspects. Looking at customer satisfaction on these devices remains a challenge, however. We're not used to charging our watches every day. Durability continues to be problematic. And no one is going to break this market wide open without just a tad more fashion sense. Pro tip, manufacturers: Normal people don't necessarily want their private sensor networks to be blinged out. Oh and I don't even know what to tell you about these wearable abominations. On the wrist, I can say that there is definitely opportunity here. Tech challenges abound, but I've already noted my fondness for the Pebble platform, which is only going to get better. As a second screen and "helper" for your mobile, a wrist-based companion makes a lot of sense. Yes, Samsung makes some terrible, creepy ads promoting the Gear, but there's a lot more utility than you might imagine in such a device. Two years ago Marc Perton wrote a piece about smart watches that's worth a read if you're interested in the history and landscape of this space. Since then, however, the market has rapidly expanded. There's even a self-contained phone for your wrist, not that there haven't been previous attempts. Which brings us to Apple. There's no doubt in my mind that Apple has experimented with watch designs. And I have little doubt that hiring a Burberry exec brings even more fashion sense to whatever Jony Ive's team has cooked up previously. But as we know, Apple will not release a watch until it is just right. For this, I am thankful. I saw someone mention that maybe smart watches won't have an "iPod moment" where one particular device leads the pack by a mile, and I think that may be somewhat true, given that most of what we've seen are tied to another device for maximum utility. If Apple's watch turns out to be completely dependent on the iPhone, then you'll just see more fragmentation. If Apple creates a device that can stand on its own, however, look out Gear, Pebble, etc. Your body is a wonderland... of data The wrist is the most sensible wearable tech because we're all used to having tech on our wrists. I've struggled to use my Fitbit regularly because it's one more thing I have to remember every day (sort of the opposite of how tech should be simplifying our lives). Plus, if you forget it enough you might wash the darn thing and kill it. No one is doing this with a watch, because you just wear the darn thing -- it provides a use beyond fitness tracking. But there are many bits of data to be gleaned from the context of your person. That is, there's a lot more sensing that could be done once you break away from the wrist. Folks have been talking about computers being embedded into clothing, but we're a long way from that point. The next few years we'll see more tech jewelry, really. Like the Fitbit, these devices will attach to your person and track specific things. Sony's Core product, shown at CES and intentionally vague, is a great example. Logging more about your life can lead to habit awareness, leading to change. This is powerful stuff, but the fact that we're just starting to see the beginning of product cycles from the likes of Sony tells you none of this is fully baked yet. Thus far we've seen pulse oximeters, fat counters, heart rate monitors and other devices trickle into health and fitness buff hands, but I have yet to see an army of normal people parading around wearing much more than a simple pedometer. That's going to change slowly, I think. When these devices get more fashionable, reliable and less expensive, mass adoption will occur. They must not look and feel like geeky toys, they must be simply part of your life. The eyes have it And then there's Google Glass. I can understand the aspirations of Glass, but I'm not convinced it will catch on. People are passionate about their faces, and Glass is perhaps the most intrusive of all wearable devices. That said, it isn't stopping companies like Lumus from launching similar devices. I can eventually see where we would have displays that provide a sort of heads-up display for our lives, but there are a bunch of technologies that have to get better before we get there. Glass is an interesting experiment, but in the end it's sort of like the original Mac portable: A good idea on paper that'll need a lot of work to become useful for regular people. Then again, gamers seem to be OK with devices like the Oculus Rift, and that product just keeps getting better. You're already wearing one! If you have an iPhone 5s, you're sort of already wearing a computer, aren't you? One of the most remarkable things about the 5s is the M7, which turns your iPhone into a basic fitness tracker. The more I have to charge, keep track of and worry about my Pebble and Fitbit (which is now dead anyway) the more I see the sense in allowing my iPhone to track my movements. My iPhone is with me all the time, even when I sleep, although I realize I'm probably a weirdo. For wearables to become mainstream, they are going to have to get better or disappear entirely into things we already use. I'm sure the exhibitors at CES are already counting their chickens, but we'll check in at the end of the year to see if any specific products really break out from the pack. Stay tuned!
Kickstarter ends 2013 with $480 million in funding, proof that dreams came true
Kickstarter is now a relatively mature company, but that doesn't mean that it has stopped growing -- far from it. The crowdfunding pioneer says in its year-end review that it generated $480 million in pledges from three million people during 2013, a big jump from the $274 million and 2.2 million contributors that it attracted in 2012. It's also eager to show that the contributions of years past have led to real products. It notes that big-name 2012 projects like the Oculus Rift and Pebble reached backers last year, while more recent successes like the Veronica Mars movie are on the cusp of release. Not everything that Kickstarter touches will turn to gold, but its results suggest that crowd power is here to stay.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky
Kickstarter success story Pebble was the darling of last year's CES, helping to usher in a year in which wearables were all the rage. The smartwatch maker's CEO Eric Migicovsky will be joining us to discuss what the company has up its proverbial sleeve for 2014, along with the company's Product Evangelist -- and familiar face around these parts -- Myriam Joire. January 7, 2014 2:00:00 PM EST Follow all the latest CES 2014 news at our event hub, and check out our full stage schedule here.
Daily news roundup for January 7, 2014
Good morning! Welcome to the morning news roundup for January 7, 2014. Pebble introduces the Steel watch. Can't wait for the rumored iWatch? Pebble has got you covered with their new watch that won't look anything like Apple's. Broadcom SDK eases Apple AirPlay implementation. Chipmaker Broadcom has introduced a new software development kit that makes it easier for manufacturers to add Apple's AirPlay audio wireless streaming support to products. The BBC iPlayer is now more popular on tablets than on any other platform. The BBC has announced that viewing of its iPlayer streaming service on tablets like the iPad has overtaken PCs for the first time ever. It's another sign that we are in Steve Jobs' post-PC era. Apple to announce its quarterly earning on January 27. Apple will announce its all-important holiday earnings on January 27 at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET. As usual, iPhone and iPad sales are the things investors will care about most, but so are forward-looking statements. Apple's 'Red Friday' Lunar New Year sale coming up on January 10 in Asia. Apple will be taking part in its annual 'Red Friday' Lunar New Year sale this Friday, January 10. Red Friday in Asia is similar to Black Friday in America. No word yet on Apple's deals, but if you live in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan or Thailand, you'll find out soon enough. Man sues Apple for a pattern of discriminatory behavior. A Mr. Terel Gray (or "Terrel Gray") has sued Apple over what he claims to be a pattern of discriminatory behavior at its retail stores. This is a very odd story -- the filing itself is full of typos and grammatical errors, and even spells Mr. Gray's name two different ways.
Evening news roundup for January 6, 2014
Good evening! Here's the Apple news for Jan. 6, 2014: There are a couple hours left until midnight, which means if you haven't downloaded the final gift from Apple's 12 Days of Gifts, you'll need to hurry up and do so. The giveaway ends with a mini album from The Rolling Stones. Apple will announce its Q1 2014 earnings on Jan. 27 at 5 PM ET/2 PM PT. An audio webcast will be provided after the earnings release. We will have full coverage of the earnings report on TUAW. The latest numbers from ComScore show that Apple's hold on the US smartphone market has risen to 41.2 percent. Even though Android runs on a larger percentage of phones, iPhone usage continues to far outpace the Android competitors with Samsung phones coming in at 26 percent. It's not the best time of year for the Nest thermostat to be having issues, and a 4.0.1 update has been rolled out to address WiFi and battery problems. However, Nest tells TechCrunch that the 4.0 release isn't behind Nest having issues with cycling on and off or just not working altogether. Customers like Clayton and Richard (seen above) have been flocking to social media to report Nest problems ranging from annoyance to disaster. Some say they've come home or woken up in the middle of the night to a freezing cold house. When they investigate their Nest, they find it turning on and off repeatedly, or suddenly out of battery. In some cases it's shut off or down their heat. One unlucky customer had his pipes freeze because his house got so cold. Pebble unveiled a $250 Steel version of its smartwatch for CES this year. It's up for pre-order now and will be on sale Jan. 28. The company also said it's preparing to open its own app store by the end of this month. Finally, kick back and relax with some of these features that appeared on TUAW earlier today: The Book and I: How the iPad has changed my reading life 8 Time Machine excuses that don't make sense Cut the Rope 2 perfects the art of having in-app purchases without being a jerk Waterfield Designs Outback Solo bag for iPad Air: Style and substance The most frustrating thing you've never noticed about your iPhone's home screen Rumor Roundup: '2014 is the Year of (x)' 10 tips for getting the most out of your Apple TV
ZTE's BlueWatch brings Pebble-like features to China (hands-on)
Trends rule at CES, and one of the biggest themes we've noticed before the show even officially begins is wearables. Smartwatches, HUDs/glasses and fitness trackers are popping up all over the place, and ZTE is hoping to be part of the excitement by showing off a prototype of its upcoming smartwatch known as the BlueWatch. It's due in the first half of this year in China, but the company isn't ready to discuss details on expanding it outside the country yet. The early model we saw was admittedly not a final unit, so we won't make final judgments on the device just because of a few tweaks that still need to be made (as you can see in the above image, the unit we demoed suffered from bleeding lights underneath the display and wasn't as bright as we'd like). There was, however, one particular thing that stood out to us when we played with it. While we're not going to call it a Pebble clone, the BlueWatch at least has quite a few similar traits. It uses a small e-paper display, tethers via Bluetooth, it features the same trio of buttons on the side to help you navigate the UI and it boasts three watchfaces and a menu setup that Pebble fans will feel eerily at home using. Additionally, you'll notice a home button on the left, next to a magnetic charger port. Of course, it's not all alike; the BlueWatch uses a different build and non-detachable wristband. Since the device doesn't have a SIM, it doesn't take calls; however, you'll be able to receive notifications, use the pedometer and check on your social networks like Twitter and Facebook. We're still awaiting word on more opportunities for third-party developers, but at the moment it doesn't seem quite clear. As we're currently seeing a beta product, we have a feeling that we could see a few enhancements in several areas as the project develops.
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.
App Store coming to Pebble smartwatch early next year
There's no shortage of apps and watchfaces specially made for the Pebble smartwatch, but the experience of finding your favorites can be a rather frustrating (and confusing) one. Current users have to hunt through a litany of apps and third-party websites like mypebblefaces.com to customize (or download) the perfect watchface -- and perhaps a game or two -- and once you've unlocked that achievement, it's on to the official Pebble app to get it installed. The watch needs a centralized App Store to restore peace and order to such chaos, and Pebble's officially announced that such a service is in the works and should be available to consumers in early 2014. The new App Store will be included as part of the official Pebble App and will come with seven categories: Remotes, Games, Notifications, Tools & Utilities, Watchfaces, Sports & Fitness and Daily. Of course, none of that matters if they're all empty, so to ensure that the nascent Store has a solid number of options when it launches, Pebble is now inviting developers to submit their apps as of this morning. Since the App Store won't support older apps, devs will need to make sure their apps run on version 2.0 of Pebble's SDK, which launched a couple months ago. And if you're particularly endeared to a certain third-party site or service that isn't available in said App Store, you're still covered -- Pebble will continue to allow you to install apps the traditional way.
New Pebble appstore and SDK 2.0 brings more functionality and ease of use to the smartwatch
Pebble, which started as a Kickstarter project, has been on an amazing growth curve. While the smartwatch market is still young, I feel like Pebble has hit a sweet spot for consumers. The use of an e-ink display maximizes battery and lowers cost; plus the water resistance and interchangeable bands are all consumer-friendly moves. Yet the hardware (more capable than you may think) limited developer access, so developers were unable to implement some hardware features -- until today. SDK 2.0 for Pebble introduces four new APIs: JavaScript, Accelerometer, Data Logging and Persistent Storage. Having already seen a sneak peek at a few apps using 2.0, I can tell you that the best is yet to come for Pebble. As for consumers, the Pebble app for iOS will become a more cohesive experience and do a better job of showcasing useful things for your Pebble (see below). The appstore will have categories (see above), making it that much easier to browse. But the big news is you'll soon see (as in early 2014) more useful apps filling up the store!
Pebble smartwatch update brings 'do not disturb' mode and snooze alarm
The Pebble smartwatch is all about getting mobile notifications more efficiently, but what about when you don't want to see those notifications at all? The new PebbleOS v1.14 update rolling out can help there with enhanced notification management that adds a "Do Not Disturb" mode that blocks updates for a set period of time. The Alarms app has received considerable attention as well, with the ability to create multiple alarms, toggle specific ones on/off, or edit alarms, and a new "Snooze Alarm" feature. Users can manage all notifications more quickly and in a few new ways too, with the ability to swap between Notifications On / Phone Only / Notifications Off, which are located under a dedicated menu in settings. Finally, among other miscellaneous tweaks, users with iOS devices will see notifications faster, and developers can check out beta 3 of the Pebble SDK 2.0. To get the latest update, all you'll need to do is open up the app on your Android or iOS device to begin the process.
If you're an early adopter, a Pebble makes a nice gift
Chris Velazco wrote a great TechCrunch piece on wrist-based wearable tech and where it is right now; I recommend you go read it. Then come right back. We're in the walking fish stage of wearable computers The landscape he describes reminds me of the early home PC market, awash with weirdo designs that flopped (remember when Atari made computers?) and stalwart manufacturers sometimes introduced sideshow products (the IBM PC Jr, which was admittedly pretty cool). Except we've had wearables for a while -- Casio calculator watches, Palm OS and the Seiko UC-2000 plus a variety of headgear and other oddball input/output devices. What we're seeing now is the supply chain catching up to the vision of wearable computing. We're finally getting to the good part. Fitbit (my One is pictured above, cheekily attached to my Pebble) is one of those good parts. Nike's Fuel products are definitely a bright spot of hardware and software, even beyond "wearables." But Pebble intrigues me more, as I feel it is the future of wearable computing for a while. Watches, in particular, are a product we know, one that feels familiar. Watches make a lot of sense as another screen for even the most die-hard smartphone aficionado. And no, I'm not talking about doing everything from your wrist -- because that's ridiculous. Why Pebble? In light of the primitive nature of the market, I've been trying a Pebble for a few weeks. I must say that if you have a friend or family member on your gift-giving list who is "into" gadgets, it's a really cool watch. You can shower with the Pebble on your wrist and never miss a message (well, until for reasons unknown the watch-to-phone link is severed, but reliability is a moving target). There are dozens of watch faces to download using apps like this. Plus, there are a handful of fun apps like an old Game and Watch style game or two. Pebble is not perfect, as crashes and oddities persist, but in the short time I've had mine it has gotten more stable. A caveat for iOS users is that due to differences between the way iOS and Android provide security around messaging and other functions, some Pebble-connected iOS apps are more limited than the equivalent Android apps -- but I love the Pebble so far. The hardware Much has been written about the hardware, so let me just add that while the connection to your iPhone can be finicky at times (and that's a bummer when you come to rely on playing music to find your iPhone!), it's still reliable more often than not. I don't fault the Bluetooth on Pebble. The watch itself won't stand up to heavy shocks, but it is perfectly OK in the shower. The exposed metal contacts stick to the included USB charger by way of a magnet. My only complaint is a lack of information while charging. But isn't this completely unnecessary? Watches connected to your smartphone sound ridiculous until you're carrying something to your house and get a message about when company will arrive. This happened to me and all I had to do was glance at my wrist. The Future! With push notifications you can customize what you get sent to your wrist, too. I found the ability to start and stop music on my iPhone handy when I lost the darn thing one night -- in my house. Oh, and you can decline calls even when iOS doesn't provide the option on the phone's screen. I found dozens of everyday scenarios for the Pebble that warrant me wearing a watch after about 4 years of not wearing watches. No, a smartwatch isn't necessary for life. But it sure is nice. In light of "Apple picking" stories it might also save you some heartache. But yes, it is for early adopters I can't stress two things enough here: One, that Pebble is really cool and has a ton of potential. Two, that Pebble isn't living up to its potential yet. A lot of stuff has a beta feel. The store is woefully small, and watch faces are often a bit silly. There's a clunky app (for now) that allows me to see calendar events, and promises more -- but none of the features work. And calendar is spelled wrong. For more on how wonky it can get (but still work enough), be sure to read this tag-team review of the Pebble at TechCrunch. While I do suggest getting Pebble for the gadget geek on your list, please keep in mind we're in the early days of these devices. I think the Pebble will some day be seen as the Apple II of the wearable shift in personal computing for the masses. After all, aren't wearables the most personal of mobile computers? I can't wait to see the Pebble line advance, and the company grow along with the industry. It also keeps me dreaming of a watch designed by Apple.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Peripherals
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Peripherals sound about as exciting as a trip to the dentist, but trust us: Companion devices have plenty to offer, and some even have a wow factor. Just take the Pebble smartwatch, for example; it lets you view notifications (as well as the current time) directly from your wrist. Especially well-heeled types can shell out for a VR headset or 3D printer, but we're sure your loved ones will be thankful for a cutting-edge hard drive all the same.
Pebble's e-paper smartwatch now available on Amazon
Pebble's slowly been expanding the places you can buy its e-paper smartwatch, but today it's landed at the biggest retailer of them all. Ahead of the Thankgiving celebrations, the company took to Twitter to announce the availability of the Pebble at Amazon, where you'll now be able to buy black and red models (rocking the new software update) for $148.99. While you'll still find them at Best Buy stores and sold by AT&T, Amazon's promise of free next-day Prime delivery might sway you if you're on a post-turkey impulse buying binge.
Pebble update for iOS 7 brings Notification Center support
The improved Notification Center has been a highlight of iOS 7 for many users, and now it's a highlight for Pebble smartwatch owners as well. Last Monday, the Pebble team released an update for the watch that brings full Notification Center support. In a blog post the company boasted about the update: Pebble is now fully integrated with iOS 7 and works seamlessly with Notification Center. This means that any notifications you've enabled in Notification Center on your iOS 7 device will appear on your Pebble -- just like that. It's easier than ever to pick and choose which updates you want to see on your watch. This includes notifications beyond calls, texts and emails, such as Calendar, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Flickr, Dropbox, WhatsApp, Flipboard and more. A new Pebble app for iOS will enable this functionality and is under review by Apple. Expect an update in the iTunes Store soon. You can watch a video of how the new iOS 7 integration works below. Pebble iOS Notifications from Pebble Technology on Vimeo.
Weekly Roundup: Nexus 5 review, Peripheral Vision with Ayah Bdeir, Steam Controller hands-on 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.
Facebook likes wearable technology, but the tech's not quite ready to like back
We've become accustomed to posts flooding our news feeds proclaiming that a friend has just completed a 5-mile run or taken their 3,000th step of the day, but that's not enough for Facebook. At a recent hackathon held at its headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., the company partnered up with Google, Jawbone, Fitbit, Recon and Pebble to see what a few handpicked developers could do to combine Facebook's services with their hardware. The goal? To create some new, novel and practical uses for wearable technology.
Visualized: Pebble's insides exposed in rare transparent casing (hands-on)
Once upon a time, Pebble engineers crafted a small number of watches with a completely transparent casing. They were never intended to be used for public consumption (hence the discoloration from the product's glue), but rather were conjured up as internal validation devices. After enduring heaps of strenuous testing, only one of the watches is still functional -- and our old friend Myriam Joire brought it with her to Expand. After taking a peek at the watch, it's easy to see why it would've been so ideal for internal testing purposes: you can see virtually every part of the watch, both inside and out. The gallery below won't feature any new information that the iFixit teardown hasn't already revealed, but it's fascinating to have a closer look at a different kind of Pebble that we haven't seen before. Update: We've been told there are actually a couple other functional ones floating around the ranks of Pebble, but they're still quite rare.
Pebble CEO bets big on developers for the smartwatch's future
Pebble has come a long way since its debut way back in April 2012, having sold more than 190,000 smartwatches and growing the company from 11 employees to 40 in the span of a little over a year. Now that the hardware has proven immensely popular, the company is shifting its focus to software, and nowhere is that more evident than its big announcement this week. It not only seriously expanded iOS 7 support, but it also introduced the second version of its SDK, which should hopefully get its nascent developer community excited about making even more apps for the eponymous smartwatch. Eric Migicovsky, CEO of Pebble, sat down at Expand NY to give a little more insight into the origins of Pebble and the vision of the company going forward.
Live from Expand: Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky
The age of the smartwatch, it seems, is upon us, thanks in no small part to the success of Pebble. What began life as a record-breaking Kickstarter success has grown into a wearable phenomenon. We sit down with the company's CEO to discuss Pebble's successes and where it goes from here. November 9, 2013 3:55:00 PM EST Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from New York City right here!