Pebble Time Archives - Argyll Free Press

Pebble Health Software Revamped

May 11, 2016 By Roxanne Briean Leave a Comment

The revolution of fitness trackers and smartwatches is upon us. Slowly but surely, Pebble becomes a worthy rival on the market, as its Time watches keep getting fitness upgrades.

Today, the company announced a new update for Android and iOS for the latest Pebble Health update. The Pebble app on the Time watches – Pebble Time, Time Steel, and Pebble Time Round – has been equipped with some welcome features.

And now that spring has finally arrived in New York City, it’s the perfect time to put those fitness trackers to good use. If you use a Pebble watch to count your paces or monitor your health, the version 3.12 of the smartwatch’s firmware has some new gifts for you.

Mobile Health Snapshot is one of the additions to the smartwatches, and it’s described as a “hub for fitness information and sleep data.” It features a collection of aggregated data by days, weeks and months.

You can also use Pebble Health for long runs and walks, which the phone auto-detects; after a run, the tracking information is delivered to the company’s mobile app.

Users can also opt to receive weekly digests on their watch about daily activity and step summaries, as well as information on naps, sleeping patterns, long walks, and the like. If you realize you have no motivation to exercise, the watch can also offer plus coaching info based on your previous performance.

The Pebble Time update also includes smart alarms designed to wake the wearer when “light” sleep is detected. Depending on sleep cycles, the alarm might go off up to a half hour before the normal wake-up call of the wearer, aiming for optimal restedness.

These features are not altogether new, as other trackers also offer them; however, not many people use them, and Pebble wants to change that. If you use it regularly, the Pebble app can help you regulate your sleep patterns so you get the optimal rest time.

Among the non-health updates for iOS users is the message-reply feature; Android users have been able to enjoy for a while now the fact that you can use the microphone of the Pebble Time watch to send quick replies, or answer a phone call with a text message.
Image Source: Get Pebble

Pebble Time Steel – Elegance Wrapped Around Your Wrist

August 9, 2015 By Nancy Young Leave a Comment

The Pebble Time was already a major hit in US, and European markets, but it seems this isn’t enough for the record-breaking company – their Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is the most funded project to date. So where to now?

The Pebble Time Steel Edition is like elegance wrapped around your wrist. No matter what you’re wearing, the Time will make sure you’re emitting that simple, and respectable vibe.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room first – the Apple Watch. Can Pebble Time compete with Apple’s wearable? Or is it doomed from the get-go? The huge amount of popularity it has garnered over the past couple of years makes the Pebble smart watch more than a worthy challenger.

It’s way cheaper than Apple’s device, about $249, and most important of all, it doesn’t scream Look At Me. It doesn’t have anything that will make others think you are wearing a smartwatch – and this is the exact thing that Pebble Time fans are looking for, as in not looking like a big show-off.

Pebble Time Steel Edition - Elegance and Simplicity Wrapped Around Your Wrist

Pebble Time VS. Pebble Time Steel

The Pebble Time Steel, like Pebble’s other smartwatch models, doesn’t have a touchscreen, and nor does it feature a heart sensor. It simply pushes notifications on your wrist, amongst other things. The thing is, any Pebble wearable can do this, but the Steel Time edition is the better looking of the bunch.

Stainless steel envelopes the watch’s mechanism, and leather straps latch onto you wrist making you look all grown-up, instead of a man-child wearing a toy-watch.

It has a 1.25-inch display, which is amplified tricking you into thinking that the watch’s display is way larger than previous models – which clearly isn’t.

But it’s not just a more design-polished smart watch. It actually does feel better on your hand, and using it is simple, intuitive, and downright fun. I don’t know if this is the Fata Morgana of the modern tech age, but making something look better, ends with it tricking the user into thinking it actually is better.

But the over-sized bezel is a little bit off-putting, and it may seem like you’re wearing a 90s calculator, but that depends on what model you own. Also, the display gets easily scratched, and more worrying, it can get seriously dented if you don’t pay attention to your surroundings – those awful morning hangovers have received yet another reason for humanity to get off of its ass, and find a cure for, uhm, drinking I suppose.

Expect the Pebble Time Steel Edition to be delivered some time between six to eight weeks.

Image Source: 1, 2, 3

Pebble Time Gets a Well Deserved Update

July 24, 2015 By Karen Jackson Leave a Comment

For those of you who have jumped on the Pebble Time trend, your smartwatch is going to get a bigger than a Pebble firmware update.

The company has started to roll out their new firmware today, and it has brought the update number to 3.2 – which adds a ton of new awesome features. Its Android companion hasn’t been forgotten, and it too has received changes here, and there.

The Pebble Time firmware update 3.2 changelog can be read just down below. Notice the improvements added for the blacklight, font size, and vibration settings. One of the biggest features is supporting additional music players.

Blacklight: You can now adjust its time-out duration, and intensity.
Font Size: Basically, you can now play with font sizes – be it in notifications, layouts, or other parts of Pebble.
Vibration: Users have complained that vibration was way too strong, and the company listened to the community out-roar. By default, it’s weaker than the previous default setting. Also, now you can adjust the vibration setting for notifications, alerts, calls, and so on.
Music/Android: Additional music players have been added to Pebble Time’s library, like Pandora, Spotify, Songza, and the company has improved how songs are displayed. The Android app now displays different play, and stop buttons.
Notifications: The best improvement is the addition of Dismiss All. Also, devs have worked on displaying notifications properly.

Bug fixes are present.
Improvements to the stability of Pebble Time.

Pebble Time’s Android app is witnessing improvements, and new features. You now have a search bar which you can use to track down saved apps, or watchfaces that reside in your My Pebble menu. Don’t need to worry anymore that your notification preferences will be set to default when a new firmware comes out – whatever you did in the previous update will be carried on to the next.

If you want to get the new update, you just need to go to Menu > Support > and select Update your Pebble.

If you don’t own a P-time smartwatch, but you’re seriously considering in doing so, you should know that the company has stated that their going to ship their devices by the end of August. We’re expecting to see them in stores a couple of weeks after.

Although, you can go to Best Buy, and acquire it from them today – they have some sort of partnership going on. Also, the company notes that although it’s available at Best Buy right now, Target will have the Pebble Time starting with the 17th of August.

Are you the proud owner of the P-time, or are you considering in buying one? If you do own one, are you thinking of updating it to 3.2? Tell us in the comments section below.

Image Source: 1, 2, 3

5 Smartwatches to Choose from if you Don’t Like Apple

April 15, 2015 By Roxanne Briean Leave a Comment

Apple’s new smartwatch hit stores last Friday, and it has been reported to have sold over 1 million units on launch day – as it was expected.

But not everyone likes Apple, or their OS. Here are 5 smartwatches to choose from if you don’t like Apple.

Motorola Moto 360

It was launched in September of 2014 and at this moment there is a huge price drop of almost $100 if you buy it from Google’s device store – it’s about $165.

If you don’t make it in time, don’t fret, Amazon and Best Buy are also selling the gadget but at a slightly higher price of $180.

It has a beautiful design, it doesn’t feel clunky on your wrist, but it has a low battery life of almost 12 hours. And if your wrist isn’t large enough, it will look entirely goofy on your hand. But all in all, it’s definitely worth it at that price.

LG G Watch R

It’s about $349, almost on par with Apple’s price, but this one actually looks and feels like a watch. It has a bright, clear round display, and its performance is more than acceptable, but it can only be charged with a dock, and its battery lasts about 2 days – a lot more than Motorola’s Moto 360 half-day lifespan.

It measures 46.4 x 53.6 x 11.1mm – it is slightly thinner than the Moto 360, so it will understandably sport the same goofiness on your hand if you have petite arms.

Pebble Time

Now this is a smartwatch that puts everything else to shame – especially in the battery life department, because it can last up to one week. The only thing that I can say it lacks from the Pebble Time is its design – it looks like a toy watch. Its color e-ink display just doesn’t do it for me, even though its perfect for a long lasting battery. It’s only $199, and for what it offers at that price it’s a steal.

MetaWatch Strata

It has the exact same functions as any other smart watch on the market, but it’s cheaper – only $179. It’s only compatible with Android phones, and the iPhone 4S.

ASUS Zenwatch

For only $199, the ASUS Zenwatch sports a beautiful leather band, and all the capabilities of a smartwatch. It has an Amoled Display that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 – so you don’t bump into a desk and shatter your smartwatch into a million tiny pieces.

I’m really digging the path that smartwatches are going on – more battery life, while at the same time focusing on its performance, and utility. Ain’t gonna’ buy one just yet. I’ll wait 2, maybe 3 generations.

How about you? Are you a happy smartwatch owner? Or this trend doesn’t intrigue you?

Image Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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