If you previously wrote off Pebble smartwatches for their limited functionality , you might require to start paying care again . The latest Pebble microcode adds new fitness- and eternal sleep - trailing feature film , while also make it easier to send out text messages from a partner off iPhone .
On the fitness side , Pebble Time smartwatches can now mechanically detect long walks and runs . From thePebble Timeline , users can see how long the use survive , how far they go , and how many calories they burned .
Sleep trailing is also make better with a wise wakeup feature in Pebble ’s Alarms app . Users who hold out their watches to sleep can get bombilate during a tripping sleep cycle , up to 30 minutes before their scheduled wakeup time .
Both the sleep and fittingness datum now feed into detailed overview in Pebble ’s iOS and Android apps . A dedicated Pebble Health section ply graph on daily , weekly , and monthly bodily function , along with elaborated facial expression at individual workout .
As for schoolbook messaging , Pebble Time watch now have a “ charge textual matter ” app for paired iPhones , like to the one that arrived on Android in February . This give up for either tin messages or voice dictation . Just one catch : you may only get off school text content from an iPhone with AT&T or Verizon , as Pebble has made arrangement with those carriers to handle SMS straight off . Apple ’s limitation on Io do n’t allow for Pebble to rap into the iPhone ’s Messages app .
Most of the new features are only available on the Pebble ’s second - generation watches , which include the $ 150Pebble Time , $ 250Pebble Time Steel , and $ 200Pebble Time Round . For original Pebble and Pebble Steel owners , the latest firmware sum the ability to answer to SMS or phones call by text , but that ’s about it .
Why this weigh : Pebble is still the underdog of the smartwatch concern , and has beengoing through problematic timesas venture financing dry up , but that has n’t block up the product from getting a fortune more useful . In late month , Pebble improved its sleep tracking ( with nap support ) , contribute custom vibration patterns , allowed watch confront to show fittingness data , and tied Pebble Health into Google Fit and Apple ’s HealthKit systems . It ’s starting to palpate like a more complete smartwatch platform , and a fine alternative to heavyweights like the Apple Watch if you ’d rather have long battery living ( or a much slimmer intention than most smartwatches ) and an always - on presentation .
