Pebble is not the first SmartWatch ever. There were already "experiments" as the MetaWatch, who made it only to the wrists real hardcore nerds. They ran either hours or had not always on display. Had to configure it is often best to have a computer science degree behind.
However, Pebble is the first true "normalo" -Smartwatch ever. And to this day is still the best. In the wake of this extremely successful product all the main manufacturers are trying frantically, even to bring Smart Watches on the market and to copy that success anyway. Unfortunately, they were not looking closely enough. Most manufacturers have obviously still not understood that a SmartWatch just not a "shrunken mobile phone", but make very different criteria this product suitable for daily use as quickly as possible CPU, lots of memory and a burst of color:
A clock must be robust. Not too bulky. Easy. Waterproof. Read in the sun. Always on. And long live without recharging.
All of this can the Pebble. And all this can its competitors NOT!
To achieve these objectives Pebble is limited in many respects to the essentials. No super strong processor - the infected already in the coupled Smartphone! No ultra-hyper-HD color display - but for one that is always on and always readable. The housing is relatively small and very light, but still surprisingly robust. I also had significant concerns about the plastic, but in spite of my not boring everyday life with children can be seen to this day not a single scratch on it.
The bracelet is made of good but cheap looking plastic. It can be replaced with one of thousands from the normal aftermarket Allerweltsuhren at any time. Leather, metal, fabric - no problem.
The battery lasts 7-8 days with normal use and is charged as in Apple devices by means of a magnetic charging contact. The contact is shaped so that it can even load on the wrist the clock without removing, WHILE you sit at the computer for example. Once fully charging takes less than an hour; and when it is time scarce and in a hurry, then you can "refuel" in less than 10 minutes enough energy for a full day.
Due to their temporal appearance projection the Pebble also scores with an extremely wide range of Apps, which cover the full range of possibilities that you can imagine. Starting with thousands of dials on call control, music control, sports and sleep monitors, bicycle speedometer displays, directional arrows for maps, notes, news feeds, calendars, remote control of the smartphone camera and, and, and ...
The smartphone app for the Pebble is visually very chic and well structured. It provides with its integrated AppStore easy access to the wide range of software and makes the management of favorite apps and dials a cinch. The regularly published software updates are thus done in a few seconds and with a tip. Unfortunately, at least, the Android app (especially the Store) reacts very sluggish in the operation in some areas and is annoyed with partly seconds long waits at each wiper and tip.
I would not want to miss the Pebble still in everyday life. There's an app (canvas), by which one can bits of information put together by Gusto directly on the smartphone as a desktop publishing program freely scale and position in graphic boxes for Android, then the resulting, highly individual "Display" on the Pebble upload.
The answer, end and start calling without taking the phone out of your pocket (or free Bluetooth Headset Appeal provided) is felt not only in the car soon as a blessing. Even SMS and other notifications are much faster and more discreet in view. Booked in the WLAN? Current temperature outside? Weather forecast? The next date? A glance to the wrist is sufficient for all. And because you really get used to very quickly.
Disadvantages? Is there - but not many. Topping the list of disadvantages is certainly the limit of a maximum of 8 apps that you can simultaneously charge the Pebble. Really annoying but that is really only in the first "game phase" where you would prefer to try tens of apps at once. Later, you realize then that the number of really quite good place used in everyday apps in this grid square - and if you need some games other, there on the smartphone app since version 2.0 Pebble unlimited "Cache" for sloped hunter-gatherers, they put in a few seconds from the Apps will be transferred from the clock and upload less frequently used apps on the clock can.
The resolution of the Pebble displays could be a little more subtle - a shortcoming which is likely to resolve pending with the next generation of Pebble. However, for normal viewing distance, individual pixels are hard to see. And of course, the display is only black and white. Clear sees the nifty HD AMOLED display of the Galaxy Gear contrast, ten times better! But only as long as it is turned on - so rare.
Conclusion:
Bottom line makes the Pebble in terms of everyday practicality simply everything right - and this is in my view the most important criterion for a wearable at all. And at a price that is well below that of major competitors is even. 5 Stars!
