Wearable Technology ... smart watches, activity trackers, smart glasses, vr headsets, smart clothing, and more!

Pebble Smartwatch.

Pebble Pedometer App

Pebble Pedometer is a new fitness tracking app coded by Jathusan Thiruchelvanathan that provides Pebble Watch wearers with an onboard, independent pedometer. A very simple app to use, Pedometer tracks only one category of data, the number of steps taken, and then calculates the corresponding calories burned. And, surprisingly, the exercise tracking data provided by Pebble Pedometer turns out to be quite useful and fairly accurate.


The mechanical pedometer was first envisioned by Leonardo Da Vinci as a device with military applications but did not achieve true commercial success until a “10,000 steps per day” health craze swept through Japan in the mid 1960s. Today, electronic pedometers are popular with fitness aficionados and are incorporated into a variety of watches and stand alone fitness bands. However, with the recent proliferation of personal smartphones, distance tracking via GPS has usurped the need for a traditional pedometer as it provides greatly enhanced accuracy and popular route tracking capabilities. However, for those wishing to lighten their electronic load while dashing about the countryside, the Pebble Watch Pedometer app provides a simple, reasonably accurate alternative for tracking your caloric expenditure.

Pebble Watch Pedometer Calories Check

To evaluate the accuracy of the Pebble Pedometer app, we went for a 1,000 step walk and every 100 steps we recorded the step count displayed on our Pebble watch. We found that Pedometer correctly tracked our movement to within 4% (+/- 4 steps per 100) of the total number of steps taken. Next, we went for an average-paced walk tracking our route via GPS with the free Nike+ Running app for iOS. The Nike+ app showed that we traveled 2.8 miles, with an average pace of 17’09” per mile and that we had burned 305 calories. In addition, we entered our GPS obtained distance travelled into the About.com Walking Calories Calculator which gave us a 223 calorie burn. Pebble Pedometer showed that we went 4251 steps and burned 193 Calories, approximately 30% less than the Nike+ app and 15% less than the About.com calculation. Although this seems like a significant disparity, from our experience with the consistency of data collected by high-end fitness bands, Pebble Pedometer’s tracking data is extremely impressive and falls well within the market acceptable range.

Now, the question is will we actually ever use the Pedometer app? Likely not. We can capture more accurate, complete, and useful data from a number of free apps available for our smartphones. Also, Pebble Pedometer doesn’t allow us to automatically sync with our favorite online health data repositories like MyFitnessPal. Nonetheless, we love Pedometer for the app that it is: simple, accurate, provides useful data, and is absolutely FREE. And, if you prefer to run or walk without your smartphone banging against the side of your thigh, this app also precludes the need for a dedicated fitness tracking band. So, in conclusion, we say well done Jathusan Thiruchelvanathan … thanks for getting the fitness ball rolling by providing one of the first truly useful exercise tracking apps for the Pebble Smartwatch.


Source

Pebble Watch: [Company Website]

Top 5 Smartwatches Of 2019

We are constantly discussing and evaluating all smartwatches and smartwatch apps from concept through production, including after-sale firmware and software updates, attempting to determine the best smartwatch. At this time, the market is still in its infancy and there is no smartwatch that truly stands above the rest. It appears to us that, in their race to get a product to market first, wearable computing manufacturers have besieged consumers with mostly incomplete product offerings. However, many of these can and will be improved with firmware and software updates. In addition, there are literally dozens of smartwatches, currently in development, that are posed to be released by the end of the year, including smartwatch offerings from electronics and computing powerhouses such such as Apple, Google, and Samsung. Nonetheless, if you love being an early adopter, like we do, here are our five favorite smartwatches as they exist today:


1. Pebble Smartwatch *Best Smartwatch of 2017*

Pebble Watch and Pebble Steel
#1 Best Smartwatch – Pebble Smartwatch

The Pebble Smartwatch is unanimously the crowd favorite. It set a new record for crowd source funding on Kickstarter while still in the concept phase and its popularity has not since waned. The Pebble’s creators had the vision, had the experience, and most importantly, effectively marketed the hell out of this device even before the first unit shipped. In fact, we would dare to say that the Pebble single-handedly ignited the smartwatch market frenzy that is just beginning to really surge.

We feel that, although the Pebble Smartwatch is your best choice right now, it is still an incomplete product. We base this statement largely upon the complete lack of useful software. And, while we are sure that such software will be forthcoming, it is not available yet. However, the strength of this watch lies in its technical specs, in its ability to be upgraded through firmware and completed through software, and in the fact that its sheer popularity ensures that useful and productive apps will be available shortly.

UPDATE: Pebble Technology started shipping the Pebble Steel on January 28, 2014. The new smartwatch has basically the same internals as the original Pebble, adding a more sophisticated steel case and band and an additional leather strap. We are putting the new Pebble Steel through its paces right now and will be posting a review shortly …

• Compare prices on Amazon

2. Martian Smartwatch

Martian Voice Command Watches
#2 Best Smartwatch – Martian Voice Command Watch

The Martian Smartwatch is the most elegant of the currently available smartwatches. Whereas the Pebble is designed as a stand alone smart device that functions in tandem with the user’s smartphone, the Martian is designed to be used simply as an extension of the smartphone. Nonetheless, the Martian Smartwatch offers hands-free voice commands, messages and alerts display, and smartphone camera control. These features, combined with sophisticated styling, makes the Martian Smartwatch a top choice for someone not looking to carry a full-fledged computer around on their wrist.

• Compare prices on Amazon

3. i’m Watch Smartwatch

I’m Watch Smartwatch
#3 Best Smartwatch – I’m Watch

The i’m Watch is by far the best modern looking smartwtach available today … not surprising considering it is Italian made. It has great looks, great specs, and just feels solid. The problem with this smartwatch, like most of the contenders, is that the firmware and software just feel unfinished and incomplete. However, this shortcoming can be easily remedied should the much need updates be released. If i’m Watch can get the firmware and software right, we could see this beautiful piece of gear easily rising to the number one spot on our top 5 list … it is just that pretty.

• Compare prices on Amazon

4. Sony Smartwatch 2 SW2

Sony Smartwatch 2 SW2
#4 Best Smartwatch – Sony Smartwatch 2 SW2

The most recent addition to our Top 5 smartwatch list is the Sony Smartwatch 2, a just released upgrade from Sony’s first crack at the emerging smartwatch market. Although, before it was released, we felt that it was simply a rehash of the original Sony Smartwatch 1, now that it has arrived it has turned out to be much more. Not evolutionary, but a true contender given the current state of smartwatch technology. If this watch was not limited solely to Android phones, and included iOS and the iPhone into its fold, it would be ranked higher on our list of best smartwatches. Be sure to read our upcoming in-depth review of the Sony Smartwatch 2.

• Compare prices on Amazon

5. ConnecteDevice Cookoo Smartwatch

ConnecteDevice Cookoo Smartwatch
#5 Best Smartwatch – ConnecteDevice Cookoo

Rounding out our favorite smartwatches list is the Cookoo Watch. It is simple, unpretentious, and has few features. However, it is well designed, well constructed, and intended, like the Martian Passport, to function as an extension of the wearer’s smartphone, not a replacement of it. And, like our other picks, its software is incomplete with the feel of a beta. Nonetheless, once this issue is resolved, this sporty casual entry will definitely have a place in the emerging smartwatch market, thus warranting inclusion onto the list of our top 5 favorite smartwatches.

• Compare prices on Amazon

Extra Smart Watch News

Our 5 Favorite Smart Watches Currently In Development

CES 2014 saw a plethora of new smartwatches being dangled before consumers anxious for wrist-worthy tech. Some looked quite promising and some a bit tired and uninspired. However, as you can see, the developing trend is toward better aesthetics, making the watch look more like a sophisticated timepiece and less like a 1980s Casio Digital. In addition, many of the manufacturers seem to be making a point of significantly refining their existing software to enhance usability before complicating the device further by introducing new cutting edge features before they are ready. Excited to see what is on the horizon? Below is a constantly evolving list of what we feel are the five most interesting smartwatches currently in development. Let us know which are your favorites!

1. Martian Notifier

Martian Notifier Smartwatch
#1 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – Martian Notifier

Although it only ranks #2 on our list of Top 5 Best Smartwatches, the Martian Victory is currently the watch that we wear everyday. That is why its soon-to-be released younger sibling, the Martian Notifier, sits atop our list of favorite smartwatches in development. The Victory is a sophisticated mechanical watch infused with cutting edge wearable smart tech … exactly what we want from a smartwatch. The 2nd generation Notifier expands upon this ideal by further refining the elegant look of the original and by focusing upon and enhancing the features that typical smartwatch aficionados use on a daily basis … alerts and notifications and voice commands that actually work. We have no desire to play Tetris on our wrist, we want a gorgeous mechanical/smart hybrid that seamlessly makes us more productive and efficient, not more bogged down by the technology it deploys. It looks as if Martian, again, has a winner on their hands with the Notifier. And, in Ferrari red, it is simply one of the best looking watches we’ve ever seen. We can’t wait to get the Martian Notifier in the door and put it through its paces … stay tuned for an upcoming in-depth review!

2. (Insert Name Here) by META

MetaWatch Premium
#2 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – MetaWatch Premium

We absolutely LOVE the new META Watch “Art of the Glance” design philosophy being integrated into their yet-to-be-named smartwatch. As defined in their recent video teaser, “Art of the glance is about being able to casually glance at your digital life without being consumed by it.” To develop this new vision, META engaged former Vertu luxury phone designer Frank Nuovo to use fashion to take the edge off their smartwatch technology … something their line desperately needed. In addition, META has chosen to focus upon further refining the basic functionality of their watches as opposed to cramming more half-baked features into the device like the rest of the industry. This path is unique among current wearable tech developers and we REALLY like it. Gives us a smartwatch that looks great and “just works” and you can have that highly coveted spot on our wrist at any price. The new META smartwatch appears to be taking a significant step toward making that dream a reality.

3. ConnecteDevice Cogito Original

ConnecteDevice Cogito Watch
#3 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – ConnecteDevice Cogito Original

We were big fans of the simplicity and overall look and feel of the original ConnecteDevice Cookoo. Although a solid first attempt, it was just a bit too simple and buggy to knock the other smartwatch contenders from our collective wrists. The ConnecteDevice Cogito Original addresses these issues by adding a digital display to provide caller ID and other pertinent alert data and by ironing out some of the bugs complained of in the first gen Cookoo. And, the Cogito watch accomplishes this feat while maintaining its uncluttered elegance and simple sophistication … it is just gorgeous with the stainless steel bezel. We are looking forward to taking this second generation model for a spin and seeing if it is indeed The One.

4. Neptune Pine

Neptune Pine Smartwatch
#4 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – Neptune Pine

The Neptune Pine is gargantuan and completely blurs the line between smartwatch and wrist-mounted computer. However, there is definitely a market for such all-encompassing wearable tech and the Pine just may knock Pebble out of its early lead. Another unique feature of the Pine is that it is actually, itself, a full fledged Android phone, thus obviating the need to keep a pocket-bound smartphone in tow. Sporting a 1.2Ghz dual-core SnapDragon processor, 32GB of memory, and a 5MP camera, the Neptune Pine is truly a stand-alone device thus enabling the wearer to somewhat lighten the digital load. However, we are anxious to find out whether the convenience and efficiency of having your complete digital life right on your wrist outweighs the intrusive bulk one must necessarily endure by donning a smartwatch of this magnitude. Only time will tell …

5. Razer Nabu Smartband

Razer Nabu Smartband
#5 Favorite Smartwatch In Development – Razer Nabu

The Razer Nabu Smartband is the best of a new breed of fitness bands no longer content with simply tracking physical activity. As such, it incorporates features traditionally found in smartwatches such as caller ID, message and alert notifications, and rudimentary information pulled from popular social apps. It is elegant, inconspicuous, and can exchange your social profile with a simple handshake. It blurs the line between activity tracker and smartwatch and will definitely find a home in the rapidly expanding smartwatch market, especially with the active crowd. It was difficult to categorize the Razer Nabu and we couldn’t decide whether to put it in our List of Favorite Upcoming Smartwatches or our List of Favorite Upcoming Activity Trackers … so we included it in both.


More Smartwatches

Would you like to see what else is available and what is currently in development? Mash the link and check out our ever-expanding comprehensive list to compare smartwatches.

Pebble Watch and Pebble Steel: The Complete Guide

The Pebble Watch and the Pebble Steel are out in front of the current smartwatch and wearable technology revolution. Pebble’s overwhelming Kickstarter success and early market lead have resulted in relative early-adopter saturation and a strong base of app developers. This is why, in spite of its lackluster technical specs, Pebble finds itself in the #1 spot on our list of best smart watches.


Pebble was not the first smartwatch to market, but it was the first to achieve true commercial success … and it did so before it even shipped its first watch. Pebble sought venture capital via online crowdfunding portal Kickstarter, hoping for $100,000 in presale commitments to get the ball rolling. That goal was blown through in a matter of hours, ultimately realizing more than 68,000 watches presold for over $10,000,000 in funding … AMAZING!

The Pebble Watch and Pebble Steel possess the same internal components, with the Steel sporting a more sophisticated case and band. Pebble smart watches are designed to function independently, but also act as an extension of the user’s smartphone providing message alerts and app interaction. It is in this smartwatch/smartphone interoperability that a synergy is created and the Pebble really shines. Leading version 1.0 of the wearable tech market, Pebble Watch and Pebble Steel are currently the crowd favorites.

Pebble Watch Price

The Pebble Watch has a MSRP of $149 and the more sophisticated looking Pebble Steel is priced at $249. Quite reasonable prices for cutting edge wearable technology.

• Compare prices on Amazon

Pebble Watch Tech Specs

Display – 1.26″ 144×168 Monochrome E-Paper; Processor – 120MHz ARM Cortex-M3; Memory – 64kB RAM; Storage – 32Mb Serial Flash; Wireless – Bluetooth 4.0 LE; External Connectors – Proprietary USB Data/Power; Sensors – 3-Axis Accelerometer, Digital Magnetometer; Power – 3.7V Lithium Ion @ 130mAh (5-7 Days Per Charge); Haptic Feedback – Vibrating Motor; Waterproof – 5 ATM

Pebble Watch Compatibility

The Pebble Watch And Pebble Steel run the proprietary Pebble OS. However, Pebble smart watches are compatible with both iOS and Android based smartphones. The Pebble App Store can be downloaded for FREE from the Apple App Store and from Google Play.

Pebble Watch Firmware

The Pebble Watch And Pebble Steel are currently running firmware version 2.0.1 which was released on February 11, 2014.

Pebble Watch Software

Software is downloaded to the Pebble Watch and Pebble Steel using the Pebble App Store app which is available for both iOS and Android.

Pebble Watch Apps

Pebble Watch Pedometer App – April 1, 2014
Pebble Watch Pedometer is a new fitness tracking app coded by Jathusan Thiruchelvanathan that provides Pebble Watch wearers with an onboard, independent pedometer. A very simple app to use, Pedometer tracks only one category of data, the number of steps taken, and then calculates the corresponding calories burned. And, surprisingly, the exercise tracking data provided by Pebble Pedometer turns out to be quite useful and fairly accurate.

Pebble Watch Reviews

Pebble Watch Review – February 19, 2013
The Pebble E-Paper Watch has finally materialized, for better or worse. The Pebble is not a novel idea, but is novel in its implementation when compared to other currently available smartwatches. Unfortunately, while the ability to check notifications from your wrist without digging into your pockets every time your pants vibrate is extremely convenient, the Pebble smartwatch reminds me of using a first generation iPod … and using it now, not when it was first released in 2001.

Pebble Watch How To

No Pebble Watch And Pebble Steel How To articles have yet been written.

Pebble Watch News

Pebble Steel Smartwatch Unboxing – March 1, 2014
Our Pebble Steel unboxing ceremony has been completed and here are the pics to show you what is included. The simple and elegant packaging is adequate, yet not quite remarkable. The Pebble Steel Smartwatch itself is, likewise, not great but not bad … definitely an upgrade over the original Pebble Watch, but not really a leap forward. Still, as the market stands today, the Pebble Steel is the best smartwatch for your money.

CES 2014: Pebble Steel Smartwatch Announced – January 6, 2014
The Pebble Steel Smartwatch was just announced at CES 2014. Sporting the some old e-paper display, a small ROM bump from 4MB to 8MB, and a dated looking steel case and band, there doesn’t seem to be much justifying the price bump to $249. On a positive note for app developers, since the internals remain unchanged in the Pebble Steel, everything you coded for the original Pebble smartwatch will work on the new model.

Pebble Smartwatch Drops To $119 – December 16, 2013
The Pebble Smartwatch just received another significant price drop and is now available for only $119 on Amazon. Having taken Kickstarter early adopters by storm at a MSRP of $149, the Pebble Smartwatch was selling for $199 on Amazon just two months ago, dropped back down to the original MSRP of $149 in the beginning of December, and has now undercut just about all smartwatches currently available.

Pebble Smartwatch Black Friday Deal – November 28, 2013
Pebble Smartwatch has just announced a Black Friday deal. If you purchase a Pebble Smartwatch today or tomorrow (November 28th-29th) you will receive a 15% discount, or a total price of $130 versus the regular $150. Although not a huge savings, this is the first discount we have seen on what is presently the most popular smartwatch available.

Pebble Smartwatch Hits Best Buy – July 2, 2013
The Pebble Smartwatch has departed the public venture capital site Kickstarter and arrived at mainstream sales portal Best Buy. Having crushed sales records on the popular niche crowdfunding site, Pebble is now setting its sights on the average consumer and hoping to continue its dominance of the emerging smartwatch market.

Pebble Smartwatch Home Automation Hack – April 30, 2013
Crowdfunding star, Pebble, just got an exciting new feature added to its popular smartwatch: home automation. Enrico, of new programming blog Makr.co, has managed to put the freshly released Pebble smartwatch SDK through its paces and has squeezed out an alpha version of one of the first truly useful open source apps for the smartwatch. The app is tentatively called SmartHomeWatch.

Pebble Smartwatch Update, Mediocre Faces SDK – March 18, 2013
Pebble Technology, makers of the Pebble Smartwatch, just announced the impending release of a new developer SDK. Unfortunately, in addition to the sad state of firmware and software already available, it appears that the upcoming SDK is also only an alpha release. Still, as Pebble is undoubtedly the most popular smartwatch currently available, this release should energize the bustling early-adopter crowd.

2013 – Year Of The Smartwatch – March 6, 2013
Rarely is a new technology released to the public that defies categorization. As computers, laptops, touchscreen tablets, and smartphones have slowly melded into a single industry of personalized tech gadgets, now comes a new curious item to add to this growing list: the smartwatch. For decades, a number of interesting technologies have been thrust upon the common wristwatch, but relatively few have been received with any amount of overwhelming success. As we push into 2013, dozens of companies are scrambling to place an advanced new product into the emerging smartwatch market … a market that is sure to explode in the coming months.


More Smartwatches

Would you like to see what else is available and what is currently in development? Make the jump and see our ever-expanding list of smartwatches.

Source

Pebble Watch and Pebble Steel: [Company Website]

Pebble Smartwatch Drops To $119

The Pebble Smartwatch just received another significant price drop and is now available for only $119 on Amazon. Having taken Kickstarter early adopters by storm at a MSRP of $149, the Pebble Smartwatch was selling for $199 on Amazon just two months ago, dropped back down to the original MSRP of $149 in the beginning of December, and has now undercut just about all smartwatches currently available.


What does this mean for the Pebble Smartwatch? It is hard to say. Typically, such a significant drop in price indicates the impending release of v 2.0 of a first generation product or that the company making such drastic cuts is experiencing financial difficulties. However, with regard to the Pebble Smartwatch, there have been no rumors of a next generation model being tested and Pebble Technology’s balance sheet appears to be stronger than ever. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that Pebble has lowered the price to near cost in order to saturate the market, hoping to create a user-base strong enough to withstand the onslaught of smartwatches poised to woo consumers in 2014. And, considering the smartwtch technology anticipated to arrive in the near future, entrenching themselves in this emerging niche just might not be a bad idea. While the Pebble Smartwatch currently holds the #1 spot on our Top 5 Favorite Smartwatches list, we have a sneaking suspicious that the top spot will be up for grabs in 2014.

Compare Pebble Smartwatches

In the mean time, if you have been sitting on the sidelines waiting to break in to smartwatch technology, at only $119 you can hardly go wrong. We aren’t sure if this is a temporary price cut or if $119 is the new standard. So, if you are on the fence about acquiring a Pebble, now just may be the time to jump on over to Amazon and pick yourself up an early Christmas present.

• Compare prices on Amazon


Source

Pebble Smartwatch: [Company Website]

Pebble Smartwatch Black Friday Deal

Pebble Smartwatch has just announced a Black Friday deal. If you purchase a Pebble Smartwatch today or tomorrow (November 28th-29th) you will receive a 15% discount, or a total price of $130 versus the regular $150. Although not a huge savings, this is the first discount we have seen on what is presently the most popular smartwatch available.


The Pebble Smartwatch is by far the most popular smartwatch as judged by its kickstarter subscription rate and post crowdfunding sales. It set a new record on Kickstarter while still in the concept phase and its popularity continues to grow. The Pebble’s creators had the vision, had the experience, and most importantly, effectively marketed the hell out of this device even before the first unit shipped. In fact, we would dare to say that the Pebble single-handedly ignited the smartwatch market frenzy that is just beginning to really surge. With strong support from developers and early-adopters, the available software ensures that everyone will find apps to enjoy for a long time to come.

• Compare prices on Amazon

• Download the App for free on iTunes


Source

Pebble Smartwatch: [Company Website]

Pebble Smartwatch Hits Best Buy

The Pebble Smartwatch has departed the public venture capital site Kickstarter and arrived at mainstream sales portal Best Buy. Having crushed sales records on the popular niche crowdfunding site, Pebble is now setting its sights on the average consumer and hoping to continue its dominance of the emerging smartwatch market.


The wearable computing revolution is just starting to heat up and the Pebble smartwatch is poised to take an early lead. By transitioning from the role of a popular technophile and early adopter wait-listed device to a mainstream revenue generating machine distributed by electronics giant Best Buy, Pebble has provided itself an opportunity to continue its dominance by again being the first to market. On July 7, the Pebble smartwatch will be available both online and in store for $149 through Best Buy. This is a large step for the fledgling company that, until recently, only distributed the connected watch via its Kickstarter campaign page. Such a move does not necessarily guarantee a successful product. However, it does serve to enhance visibility and shore up the shoddy manufacturer to end user distribution issue that has plagued the startup thus far.

Pebble Smartwatches At Best Buy

The Pebble smartwatch arrival at Best Buy arrival comes one week after Sony announced that its updated Sony smartwatch 2 would be shipping in September. This gives Pebble the summer to make a marketing push and cement a firm foothold in this emerging market. Surely, Sony’s new device will also find shelf space at Best Buy, giving Pebble its first bit of competition and consumers their first chance to compare smartwatches side-by-side. Having alternate options from which to chose will likely cause cannibalization of Pebble’s current market dominance. However, early adopters will benefit as Pebble will be forced to update their product and get on the ball with regard to their lack of features and available apps. Apple, Google, and Samsung have also declared their intention to enter the wearable computing market and all three will likely develop products that will far outshine the current Pebble smartwatch. Accordingly, for Pebble, it is a good thing that they are rolling out their product now.

We are encouraged to see a current generation smartwatch finally available through a mainstream outlet such as Best Buy. The more that the public is exposed to wearable computing tech, the more that they will want it. Such consumer demand will in turn motivate more visionary developers to bring additional advanced products to market, thus further fueling the evolutionary cycle. Although only the first step to mainstream acceptance of smartwatch technology, Pebble’s arrival signals the upcoming wave of wrist-borne devices that will landing upon our shores in short order. For more on this surge, check our list of favorite smartwatches.


Source

Pebble Smartwatch: [Company Website]