- Watch got into a stuck state where it just would not respond
- However, a bug report was quickly answered with helpful advice
- New iOS support app update added basic weather and health tracking
- Given that this watch does not have heart rate support (the one coming in December does, I believe)
- App works with my older Pebbles, as do a lot of the watch faces
- However, since the watch faces are not the work of the Pebble developer but independent developers from what could be eight or more years ago, many of the most popular watch faces require support apps or other support that just no longer exists
- Finding watch faces that actually work beyond basic time information is a challenge
- I’ve heard Android support is better, but, I have an iPhone
- My older watches had trouble charging due to terrible contact issues between the charging cable and the watch; time will tell if this watch will develop those same issues. The USB-C dongle that comes with the new watch looks beefier, so hoping for the best
- Watch advertised as taking 20mm watch bands. It actually takes 22mm bands. I’d measured the watch before ordering the bands and gotten 22mm, figured I, a dumb American with no understanding of modern weights and measures, had measured wrong, ordered the 20mm watch bands and found that yup, too small, by 2mm.
- The silicone watch band that comes with it feels cheap. I really want a better watch band.
- I have the uncomfortable feeling that most of the watch band ads on Amazon are scams.
So, all in all, my Apple Watch 4 (I’d said 3 before, it is a 4) is, aside from the running out of power a lot issues, a better watch. It is more integrated with the iPhone, all the health and weather and everything else just works, and works better. I know it can handle being submersed for a long period of time. I can take and make calls from it. It is just better all around.
The Pebble, however, is more open. Anyone with a dev kit can write and publish their own watch faces or other apps, no hoops to jump through. The e-ink display is striking, I like it a lot. And since it draws less power, it will (when they turn on the low-power Bluetooth code) last 30 days between charges.
I’m wearing it now in place of my Apple Watch. It’s a nod toward minimalism and simplicity. It’s unusual and a little nerdy… like me, I guess.
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