7 ms·

I'm an (unhappy) Apple Watch owner, but this is one thing which has gotten me to back the new Pebble on kickstarter -- Alexa is the most useful audio platform I

by rdl 10y ago

I'm an (unhappy) Apple Watch owner, but this is one thing which has gotten me to back the new Pebble on kickstarter -- Alexa is the most useful audio platform I've encountered so far.

alttab 10y ago
You won't be dissapointed, although you may want to get an android phone. The benefits outweigh the costs.
- hauget 10y ago
  I thought Pebble Core didn't need a phone? Or am I mistaken?
  - yurisagalov 10y ago
    It doesn't. The Pebble Core is a completely standalone computer with GSM/WiFi/Bluetooth.
  - untog 10y ago
    The OP's post is ambiguous - replacing an Apple Watch with a Pebble Core doesn't make much sense, but replacing it with a Pebble watch doesn't make sense in this context either as it doesn't have Alexa.
    - alttab 10y ago
      My thought was the OP has an Apple Watch, thus obviously an iPhone. If they want to buy into the Pebble ecosystem, it'd be a better experience with an Android phone, not to mention you get amazing features like an external battery and an actual choice in software.
      - untog 10y ago
        The Pebble Core seems like a very different proposition to a Pebble Watch though - it runs Android itself and doesn't depend on a phone. So much more viable if you have an iPhone, though obviously a totally different form factor. Not sure what you mean by "external battery" - both Android and iPhone have external batteries available.
        rdl 10y ago
        I assume he meant a removable internal battery. I'd rather have some other way to hard-disable the phone, because integrated un-replaceable battery is a big win for sealing/size/durability, but I admit that's one of the advantages of the android world. The biggest advantage of Android is being able to run third-party ROMs, override core functionality, etc., though.
        alttab 10y ago
        Yup, hence my "actual choice in software" bit. Generally it seems all you do with iPhones is lease them from Apple.
        paulcole 10y ago
        >The biggest advantage of Android is being able to run third-party ROMs, override core functionality, etc., though. The average person has no interest any of that t
        TeMPOraL 10y ago
        That's why smartphones keep sucking more and more with time. Building products for the lowest common denominator get you shit, shallow products that don't use even a fraction of their potential.
        paulcole 10y ago
        >The biggest advantage of Android is being able to run third-party ROMs, override core functionality, etc., though. The average person has 0 interest any of that.
        10y ago
      - rdl 10y ago
        I'm Apple Watch/iPhone. I'm probably anti-watch now, thanks to shitty experience with the AW -- I won't be replacing it with another watch of any kind. However, I'm super interested in the Core for many non-watch applications. I also hate android for many reasons and am unlikely to move away from iPhone except to something entirely new/better than either, which doesn't particularly appear to be in the pipeline. In the next couple years I want to get rid of all uncontrolled radios on my person, though, so I'll probably be switching to a de-radioed iPhone or iPad or iPod Touch or something.
        borski 10y ago
        Why don't you like the AW?
        alttab 10y ago
        What's to "hate" about android? When is the last time you used one? Android has closed the Gao with iPhone, and surpassed it in many ways.
- zepto 10y ago
  What does android phone have to do with it?
  - intopieces 10y ago
    It's my understanding that the Android app that interacts with Pebble (the watch) is more robust and better supported.
    - canuckintime 10y ago
      I don't think "better supported" is the most apt description. As I understand it Pebble puts similar level of resources into both the Android and iOS support but there's simply more restrictions on iOS which means fewer features compared to Android.
notatoad 10y ago
From my reading of this, Alexa has not been announced for the new Pebble watches, only for the Pebble Core (the GPS/3G/IoT module)
- hauget 10y ago
  And it won't. Alexa CAN NOT run on Pebble watches. Alexa needs a proper mini-PC like a smartphone or raspberry pi to run. Let's not forget Pebble watches are just mini-programmable controllers that run a modified version of FreeRTOS and have a nice compact screen that fits on your wrist, and a mic. TL;DR: you need a smartphone to run Alexa.
  - tbranyen 10y ago
    Well sure... but Pebble also isn't running Dragon Naturally speaking directly on your watch. It hits a "cloud" API with your audio and gets results back. Why couldn't they do this exact same thing with Alexa? And from what I read you need to provide your own SIM to get Alexa working, why would that be the case if you were required to use a phone?
    - rtpg 10y ago
      The Pebble Core takes a SIM card
    - jeeva 10y ago
      The Pebble Core is actually a very small screenless Android-running machine. It has more in common with your phone than your Pebble (assuming Android / Pebble owner ;)).
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    > TL;DR: you need a smartphone to run Alexa. Or Pebble Core :). Which seems to be intended to let you leave your smartphone at home when you go outside. But I can't wait to use it as a companion. Google Now generally sucks, and the only way I found to make it usable is to hack it with Tasker. I don't mind carrying Core all the time, along with the smartphone. (I just need to figure out how to keep it alive for the whole day with the 3G always on.)
mandeepj 10y ago
If Apple sees it is gaining some traction then you know what is going to happen - Siri coming to Apple watch Edit - Sorry, I thought Siri is not on apple watch
- tlrobinson 10y ago
  Siri is on the Apple Watch. https://www.apple.com/watch/more-to-love/ https://www.apple.com/watch/more-to-love/ However, unlike Pebble Core, it requires your phone to be nearby for Internet connectivity. My theory on Pebble Core is it's a way for Pebble to get experience building products with cellular radios. In another generation or two I wouldn't be surprised if Pebble watches could connect directly to the internet.
- sumitgt 10y ago
  isn't Siri already on Apple watch?

by rdl 10y ago

I'm an (unhappy) Apple Watch owner, but this is one thing which has gotten me to back the new Pebble on kickstarter -- Alexa is the most useful audio platform I've encountered so far.

alttab 10y ago

You won't be dissapointed, although you may want to get an android phone. The benefits outweigh the costs.

hauget 10y ago
I thought Pebble Core didn't need a phone? Or am I mistaken?
- yurisagalov 10y ago
  It doesn't. The Pebble Core is a completely standalone computer with GSM/WiFi/Bluetooth.
- untog 10y ago
  The OP's post is ambiguous - replacing an Apple Watch with a Pebble Core doesn't make much sense, but replacing it with a Pebble watch doesn't make sense in this context either as it doesn't have Alexa.
  - alttab 10y ago
    My thought was the OP has an Apple Watch, thus obviously an iPhone. If they want to buy into the Pebble ecosystem, it'd be a better experience with an Android phone, not to mention you get amazing features like an external battery and an actual choice in software.
    - untog 10y ago
      The Pebble Core seems like a very different proposition to a Pebble Watch though - it runs Android itself and doesn't depend on a phone. So much more viable if you have an iPhone, though obviously a totally different form factor. Not sure what you mean by "external battery" - both Android and iPhone have external batteries available.
      - rdl 10y ago
        I assume he meant a removable internal battery. I'd rather have some other way to hard-disable the phone, because integrated un-replaceable battery is a big win for sealing/size/durability, but I admit that's one of the advantages of the android world. The biggest advantage of Android is being able to run third-party ROMs, override core functionality, etc., though.
        alttab 10y ago
        Yup, hence my "actual choice in software" bit. Generally it seems all you do with iPhones is lease them from Apple.
        paulcole 10y ago
        >The biggest advantage of Android is being able to run third-party ROMs, override core functionality, etc., though. The average person has no interest any of that t
        TeMPOraL 10y ago
        That's why smartphones keep sucking more and more with time. Building products for the lowest common denominator get you shit, shallow products that don't use even a fraction of their potential.
        paulcole 10y ago
        >The biggest advantage of Android is being able to run third-party ROMs, override core functionality, etc., though. The average person has 0 interest any of that.
      - 10y ago
    - rdl 10y ago
      I'm Apple Watch/iPhone. I'm probably anti-watch now, thanks to shitty experience with the AW -- I won't be replacing it with another watch of any kind. However, I'm super interested in the Core for many non-watch applications. I also hate android for many reasons and am unlikely to move away from iPhone except to something entirely new/better than either, which doesn't particularly appear to be in the pipeline. In the next couple years I want to get rid of all uncontrolled radios on my person, though, so I'll probably be switching to a de-radioed iPhone or iPad or iPod Touch or something.
      - borski 10y ago
        Why don't you like the AW?
      - alttab 10y ago
        What's to "hate" about android? When is the last time you used one? Android has closed the Gao with iPhone, and surpassed it in many ways.
zepto 10y ago
What does android phone have to do with it?
- intopieces 10y ago
  It's my understanding that the Android app that interacts with Pebble (the watch) is more robust and better supported.
  - canuckintime 10y ago
    I don't think "better supported" is the most apt description. As I understand it Pebble puts similar level of resources into both the Android and iOS support but there's simply more restrictions on iOS which means fewer features compared to Android.

notatoad 10y ago

From my reading of this, Alexa has not been announced for the new Pebble watches, only for the Pebble Core (the GPS/3G/IoT module)

hauget 10y ago
And it won't. Alexa CAN NOT run on Pebble watches. Alexa needs a proper mini-PC like a smartphone or raspberry pi to run. Let's not forget Pebble watches are just mini-programmable controllers that run a modified version of FreeRTOS and have a nice compact screen that fits on your wrist, and a mic. TL;DR: you need a smartphone to run Alexa.
- tbranyen 10y ago
  Well sure... but Pebble also isn't running Dragon Naturally speaking directly on your watch. It hits a "cloud" API with your audio and gets results back. Why couldn't they do this exact same thing with Alexa? And from what I read you need to provide your own SIM to get Alexa working, why would that be the case if you were required to use a phone?
  - rtpg 10y ago
    The Pebble Core takes a SIM card
  - jeeva 10y ago
    The Pebble Core is actually a very small screenless Android-running machine. It has more in common with your phone than your Pebble (assuming Android / Pebble owner ;)).
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  > TL;DR: you need a smartphone to run Alexa. Or Pebble Core :). Which seems to be intended to let you leave your smartphone at home when you go outside. But I can't wait to use it as a companion. Google Now generally sucks, and the only way I found to make it usable is to hack it with Tasker. I don't mind carrying Core all the time, along with the smartphone. (I just need to figure out how to keep it alive for the whole day with the 3G always on.)

mandeepj 10y ago

If Apple sees it is gaining some traction then you know what is going to happen - Siri coming to Apple watch Edit - Sorry, I thought Siri is not on apple watch

tlrobinson 10y ago
Siri is on the Apple Watch. https://www.apple.com/watch/more-to-love/ https://www.apple.com/watch/more-to-love/ However, unlike Pebble Core, it requires your phone to be nearby for Internet connectivity. My theory on Pebble Core is it's a way for Pebble to get experience building products with cellular radios. In another generation or two I wouldn't be surprised if Pebble watches could connect directly to the internet.
sumitgt 10y ago
isn't Siri already on Apple watch?