Pebble: E-Paper Watch

[wallcraft]

The Pebble: E-Paper Watch for iPhone and Android is a Kickstarter project that was looking for $100,000 but they’ve raised over $6 million from more than 42,000 backers and still have 24 days to go in their campaign.

Pebble is the first watch built for the 21st century. It's infinitely customizable, with beautiful downloadable watchfaces and useful internet-connected apps. Pebble connects to iPhone and Android smartphones using Bluetooth, alerting you with a silent vibration to incoming calls, emails and messages.

The screen is described as "E-Paper", but the watch needs recharging once a week and the FAQ says:

Q. Does it have a backlight? A. Yes, Pebble has a backlight to view the display at night.

E-Ink, and so far as I know any type of E-Paper, must use a frontlight, rather than a backlight. Still, this is the best E-Paper watch so far.

[RainingLemur]

Oh this is really cool. I saw an image with the 3 watches come up on an image dump, and was intrigued by what it looked like (eink watch) but there wasn't any information to go on.

I may have to kick a few bucks in. This is something I'd love to play with and see what other functions can be performed with my phone.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The screen is described as "E-Paper", but the watch needs recharging once a week

I wouldn't be surprised by this. An ereader lasts longer, but not if you use it continuously, and not if you use it for more than reading. This comes with bluetooth and I'm guessing that that uses some of the battery.

[Ninjalawyer]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I wouldn't be surprised by this. An ereader lasts longer, but not if you use it continuously, and not if you use it for more than reading. This comes with bluetooth and I'm guessing that that uses some of the battery.

You're right, the big battery drainer is going to be the bluetooth connection between user's phone and the watch; I wonder how big a battery impact the apps will have.

I really like the look of it (maybe not for work though), and the fact that it's so functional could get me to wear a watch again.

[Kumabjorn]

Would anyone by happenstance know if there exists an e-ink GPS?
Would be great on a golf course.

[ScotiaBurrell]

very nice!

[Latinandgreek]

I've been toying with the idea of getting my husband and myself these watches. I really like the red one with the black band.

Also, it's Canadian!

[wallcraft]

The major paradigm shift with these watches is the weekly charging. Really really old watches used to require winding, but then self winding and year-long battery watches came along. However, we are now so used to weekly (or more often) charging of our portable devices that this does not seem a big deal any more.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The major paradigm shift with these watches is the weekly charging. Really really old watches used to require winding, but then self winding and year-long battery watches came along. However, we are now so used to weekly (or more often) charging of our portable devices that this does not seem a big deal any more.

I like the way it goes: you stop wearing a watch because your phone takes that function, then you wear a watch again because the watch takes on or extends functions of your phone.

We live in an interesting technological age. It's like seeing evolution in action and devices evolve to survive.

[Rob Lister]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I like the way it goes: you stop wearing a watch because your phone takes that function, then you wear a watch again because the watch takes on or extends functions of your phone.

We live in an interesting technological age. It's like seeing evolution in action and devices evolve to survive.

The Dick Tracy Watch-phone was a briefly (somewhat) popular techno-toy 20 years or so ago; all the coolest kids had one. The problem of course was it had to be charged almost daily and the phone function was almost unusable; the form factor made it tedious to dial, talk or listen.

Miniaturization and other technologies, including battery, have come a long way since, so this is almost doable. Voice recognition could be used to dial. But unless they develop a non-tedious way of hearing, it won't take off. Earphones are a little passe, or quickly getting that way.

Maybe an implant directly in the ear! I mean, who wouldn't be willing to have a little out-patient surgery for technological convenience?

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by Rob Lister

Maybe an implant directly in the ear! I mean, who wouldn't be willing to have a little out-patient surgery for technological convenience?

You're talking about Futurama, aren't you?

[Cyberman tM]

Looks nice, but I can't help noticing (and pointing to it) this line in the FAQ:

Q. How does it charge? A. We include a special USB cable. You can charge Pebble using your computer or any wall USB charger.

What exactly is a "special USB cable"? That reeks of "USB connector that only we possess so you have to carry the cable at all times and you won't get an adapter anywhere".

It's definitely a non-standard connector. From their update about how they're waterproofing Pebble:

Pebble's USB cable is custom cable because the watch will be waterproof and can't have a big hole for the regular USB socket. We will be selling extra cables as well.

As much as I loathe non-standard USB connectors, this one's understandable.

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by cyvros

As much as I loathe non-standard USB connectors, this one's understandable.

Actually, not really.

The Motorola "Defy" cell phone is also waterproof (half an hour, a meter deep), but uses a standard USB Micro connector:

http://images.fonearena.com/blog/wp-...-micro-USB.jpg

The trick is the covering - it snaps into place and seals it. I have personally checked that it works, first thing when I got it.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Cyberman tM

Actually, not really.

The Motorola "Defy" cell phone is also waterproof (half an hour, a meter deep), but uses a standard USB Micro connector:

http://images.fonearena.com/blog/wp-...-micro-USB.jpg

The trick is the covering - it snaps into place and seals it. I have personally checked that it works, first thing when I got it.

The Defy is much larger than a watch though. I expect this will have slightly indented external contacts and a sharp indentation on a surface at a right angle to them which the connector will fasten with.