Replacement for Pebble Time

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Replacement for Pebble Time

michaelmurfy

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#207241 15-Dec-2016 14:11

I've been using a Pebble Time lately - was borrowing it until my Pebble Time 2 shipped which is not going to happen anymore. I need to give it back. Been looking for a replacement watch without much success (didn't want Android Wear - just wanted something that does Fitness + Notifications that isn't a Fitbit) however found the Tic Watch.

Seems to be a watch powered by what seems a skinned, watch friendly version of Android (not Android Wear by the looks) with some pretty nifty features and a good pricepoint in line with the Pebble Time 2.

Anyone tried or looked into these?

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#1689405 15-Dec-2016 14:30

Looks nice, but the show stopper for me is:

Battery life: 300mAh battery. Up to 1.5 days - 2 days of mixed use.

I charge my Pebble time once every 4 or 5 days. That is the pebbles killer feature for me.. I will watch this thread with interest!

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davidcole

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#1689474 15-Dec-2016 15:04

If you just want fitness (i assume steps + gps) and notifications, have you look at the garmin vivoactives? I have the 1st model (fairly big square jobby, heart rate taken via chest strap - which is my preference). The 2nd version has optical HR and is oriented differently so it doesn't look as large.

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michaelmurfy

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#1689483 15-Dec-2016 15:25

@BuffyNZ That is my problem - I was thinking either the latest Samsung watch or going without. There is nothing at all in line with the Pebble. I've got a Pebble Steel I can likely live with until a new "Pebble-like" watch launches however I don't have too much faith in Fitbit launching one at a good pricepoint with a robust design like the Pebbles were. I think this watch comes in close - but has a power hungry OLED screen (ugh).

@davidcole Yeah had a look at those but they're pretty pricey and also seem a bit of a step back from what the Pebble Time offers. Like, I could likely source another Pebble Time but I don't know how long they'll last now Pebble isn't alive.

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#1689500 15-Dec-2016 15:43

So people seem to be going to Vector smart watch and some seem to be going to Amazfit. Others are just holding onto their pebbles.

I am going gear fit 2 (as i got one at the same price as my pebble 2 return on amazon) and also tic watch

https://www.reddit.com/r/pebble/comments/5i681l/to_shreds_you_say/ (amazfit for $99US)

Also more info on what fitbit will be doing

https://developer.pebble.com/blog/2016/12/14/first-steps-forward-with-fitbit/

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#1689511 15-Dec-2016 15:58

Oh for the tic watch it is nice, I am down to about 40% each night (5am - 9pm) but I have all notifications on, just turn the dumb side scroll thing off as that is a battery drainer.

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#1689574 15-Dec-2016 16:33

I was a little sad to see the Pebble announcement.

I have Pebble Steel which I'm very happy with. The 5 or so days between charging, the MisFit app, the notifications, the ability to control the music on my phone and canned SMS messages are excellent reasons for owning a Pebble.

I had been thinking about something newer in the Pebble range but with Pebble selling out to FitBit I guess the Steel will see plenty of service yet.

I haven't looked but have you looked on Ebay? You might pick up a new or nearly new Pebble there?

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#1689643 15-Dec-2016 17:17

I was a happy pebble owner (had 2). Moved to android wear a few weeks back. It's ok. It's not pebble. The ui is not even close to optimised. Google now is the best feature. I usually charge every night but it only ever gets down to 80%. The apps suck, which was surprising. Pebble had lots of great apps.

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Technofreak

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#1689648 15-Dec-2016 17:35

Just been looking around. Might grab a Pebble 2, pity it's only monochrome (unlike the Pebble Time), but pretty good features for the price and has a HRM. It's the latest from Pebble and there will be no more Pebble devices.

Will be interesting to see what FitBit do however I suspect they won't continue with the Pebble concept.

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waikariboy

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#1689687 15-Dec-2016 19:12

just seen this on my youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMijFH1El0k

they seem very good. I have Apple Watch and I'm enjoying this.

Balm its gone!

michaelmurfy

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#1689717 15-Dec-2016 20:18

waikariboy:

just seen this on my youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMijFH1El0k

they seem very good. I have Apple Watch and I'm enjoying this.

Yes thats what I saw.

Pebble Times are pretty cheap right now so could be tempted to buy another one - they're excellent watches and I really hate to see Pebble go (considering I've been a supporter since the very first Kickstarter) but good to see there are some other options out there (just not as good).

@mdf will be happy to buy your Pebble if you're selling ;)

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#1689794 16-Dec-2016 00:21

I've got a Garmin Vivoactive HR and I find it really hard to view the screen in daytime as it's so dull even when "brightness" is at a max! I've also tried out their app with notifications enabled and the app isn't that nice to be honest. Vivoactive HR keeps disconnecting from the phone as well which in turn makes the notification feature rather useless!

I've just got a Gear Fit 2 here and loving it's usefulness (while not being a complete smartwatch) despite its mediocre battery life of just 2 days! The magnetic charging is pretty nice and easy to use though! Also significantly cheaper than Vivoactive HR. Notifications come through same time as phone and the screen has got such amazing colour to it! IMO very good money for the features you get with it, despite the crap battery life - Fitbits have great battery life in my tests, namely the Charge 2 and Blaze! The Blaze would have to be my other choice as third-party app notifications are now enabled.

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mdf

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#1692246 19-Dec-2016 15:10

michaelmurfy:

waikariboy:

just seen this on my youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMijFH1El0k

they seem very good. I have Apple Watch and I'm enjoying this.

Yes thats what I saw.

Pebble Times are pretty cheap right now so could be tempted to buy another one - they're excellent watches and I really hate to see Pebble go (considering I've been a supporter since the very first Kickstarter) but good to see there are some other options out there (just not as good).

@mdf will be happy to buy your Pebble if you're selling ;)

Sorry it's been a while. But in the while it's barely left my wrist so no chance I'm selling unfortunately. I was worried about ongoing functionality, but Eric Migicovsky's more recent statements have reassured me a bit. There's not really any replacement for Pebble's functionality so I will be looking after my current ones!

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#1693158 21-Dec-2016 11:37

Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is on sale today at PBTech for ~$70 odd. Seems to have all the functions you might want to use (tho no apps I'm guessing).

michaelmurfy

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#1693199 21-Dec-2016 12:11

mdf: Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is on sale today at PBTech for ~$70 odd. Seems to have all the functions you might want to use (tho no apps I'm guessing).

Looks like a sportsball tracker though which I don't want :)

I ended up repairing my old Pebble Steel (for now) but parents have also bought me a withings activité steel for xmas. Needing something that looks good for work and does fitness tracking whilst not at all looking like a fitness tracker. I'll just wait for a viable Pebble alternative to come out on the market :)

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#1693239 21-Dec-2016 13:50

I'm waiting for my one of these to arrive: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/smartwatch-powered-by-you-matrix-powerwatch-watch-fitness#/

If it works as advertised (and I'm sure it will) then no more battery problems !!

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