Pebble KS on tan leather NATO, Fuzzy English Plus watchface

I picked up the 22mm tan NATO some years ago for a Seiko project, and it has been lying in my drawer since. These tan straps are easy to find on eBay, and seem to be made of an artificial leather, even though they are stamped as "leather". They are rather stiff and thick, which is why I have never really used them. However, this particular one was thin enough to fit between the springbars and case, so I broke it in by twisting it for a while until it became more supple. I tried to oil it, but it doesn't seem at all absorbant. The look, however, is rather nice and would match nicely with brown shoes and belt (or a Brooks leather bicycle saddle, for thos so inclined ;-).

Fuzzy English Plus was originally Fuzzy French Plus, which I re-programmed to English and changed the text size of the auxilliary information to improve legibility. This is my "non-work" watch face as I tend to grasp the time more intuitively seeing it in this fashion - at work I need to keep an eye on upcoming appointments so I tend to use Smartstatus or Smartwatch Pro here.

LaTex Date Watchface

LaTex Date is a watchface for the Pebble smartwatch. Want more information about the Pebble?

LaTex Date

HBTeicher

LaTex Date Website

Adaptation of Steven Schmatz's LaTex-derived watchface "Math Geek".

- Includes Date function
- Includes Pebble battery status indicator.
- Bluetooth status: icon as well as inverted screen on loss of connection.

This watchface was compiled using Paul Rode's "Watchface Generator".

PEBBLE - when it's hip to be square!

New watchface - Fuzzy English Plus

Fuzzy English Plus is a watchface for the Pebble smartwatch. Want more information about the Pebble?

Fuzzy English Plus

HBTeicher

Fuzzy English Plus Website

English version of Bryan Denny / Mandaria Software's "Fuzzy French"


- Shows the current fuzzy time in English (updates every five minutes).
- Shows the current date in English.
- Shows the current week number
- Shows the current time in 24H format (updates every minute).
- Vibrates from 8am to 8pm at the top of every hour.

This is an unofficial landing page for Fuzzy English Plus in the Pebble appstore. It is provided by pblweb.com.

Pebble KS, oiled brown leather NATO, LaTex Math watchfaces

Pebble KS, oiled brown leather NATO strap, Gadgetwraps Titanium wrap, LaTex Math watchfaces with bluetooth connection/ battery status... IMHO the original Pebble takes "dressing up" rather well!

Pebble versatility: watchfaces

Pebble is an extension of your smartphone, transferring relevant information from your pocket to your wrist, when and as you need it. But the plethora of available watchfaces also makes the Pebble a versatile and ever-changing alternative to a traditional watch.

Pebble versatility: wraps, straps and bracelets

One of the great things about the original Pebble is its ability to be transformed by a combination of straps, bracelets and wraps, from professional to sporty. Here with the Titanium Gadgetwraps and Nato/ shark steel mesh strap from wjean28 (eBay).

Pebble Titanium Gadgetwrap on WJean shark mesh

Another great combination: Titanium GadgetWrap and wjean28 (ebay) 22mm "Shark" mesh. The wrap is tough and easy to fit, completely transforming the Pebble, while the mesh band is flexible and breathable for summer/sport use.

Smartwatch+ let me keep an eye on the temperature as well as battery status while allowing me to control the volume on my audiobook. ISmoothrun let me track my pace via the Pebble.

Pebble Original or Pebble Steel - versatility vs. looks?

Sunday morning run - is the inability to use NATO Straps for wear outside clothing a dealbreaker for you with respect to Pebble Steel? As a runner I am on the fence, as with a Gadgetwraps wrap the Original Pebble has exactly the same functionality as the Steel, is almost as attractive and is more versatile... I can't decide whether the looks/versatility tradeoff is worth 250USD! I would like to hear if others have had the same #firstworldproblems dilema...





For me, the Pebble is about versatility. The fact that the Pebble Steel precludes NATO straps means that I will probably pass on it. While it looks nice, the functions are the same but the versatility is reduced. As a watch geek, I do hope Pebble will consider reaching out to the community when designing the next Pebble. The current steel straps are folded-link bracelets which signal "cheap" to most watch collectors, and I am afraid any sales of Pebble-specific bracelets will be offset by a reduction in potential Pebble Steel sales to people like me. I only hope that Pebble will offer a quick-adjustment, quality sports strap so that I can justify buying a Pebble Steel after all ;-)

Puttin' on the Ritz - dressing up Pebble with NATO straps and Gadgetwraps

Puttin' on the Ritz: fitted this excellent Titanium Gadgetwrap this evening and test drove a few NATO / watchface combinations. No need to upgrade to the new Pebble steel here :-) ... the versatility of NATO Straps is great, even allowing me to strap the Pebble outside my winter running jacket!

Review: Smartwatch Pro and Smartwatch+ (SDK1)

 Smartwatch+, (modified) inverted and including weeknumber.

Smartwatch Pro is a watchface, Smartwatch+ is an app (now also a watchface). I use iSmoothrun twice a day, and Smartwatch Pro automatically goes over to the Sport app, while Smartwatch + required me to leave the Smartwatch+ app before the Pebble would open the Sport app... so Smartwatch Pro was just a touch more convenient. This has changed in later updates, and a Smartwatch+ watchface is now available.

Smartwatch Pro (modified) with larger text and showing weeknumber.

I have been using Smartwatch Pro as the screen real estate is used to show calendar events and time, while the Smartwatch+ app uses screen real estate to also show current weather. As I use the Danish weather service on the iPhone to check coming weather forecasts (rather than current weather) I have been using Smartwatch Pro. If Smartwatch+ would show accurate weather forecasts instead, I would consider using Smartwatch+ again as forecast on the wrist would be very convenient.

Otherwise both apps are superb, and apart from the above points I would have a hard time choosing. Both are being upgraded to SDK2, and I suggest supporting both developers by buying their apps and trying them out - I often alternate!

iSmoothrun now with Pebble integration

iSmoothrun GPS app for iPhone has finally been successful with introducing Pebble compatibility for its app. While RunKeeper is a fantastic app, iSmoothrun offers more of the functions I need, is faster and with a better interface IMHO, and still allows uploading to RunKeeper so I can keep all of my activities over the last years together.

The app automatically changes to speed (km/h) when I am recording a a cycling activity, and pace (min/km) or heartbeat when recording a running activity. It is also compatible with the Danish (European) iPhone setup - under RunKeeper I had to set up using US settings to eliminate the Runkeeper "box" bug in the display when using Runkeeper, and then change back to the Danish settings afterwards. This is a great improvement!

I met a friend while out running yesterday and was able to pause and leave the Pebble/iSmoothrun screen, go to the music screen and stop the podcast I was listening to, restart the podcast and return to iSmoothrun and continue my run without issues - all without digging my iPhone out of my backpack!

The current version only allows (heartbeat or) current pace, which is delayed by about 10-15s so only really useful if you run relatively consistently. However, I understand average pace or workout average pace may be an option in future versions.

Pebble Smartwatch at Berlin Marathon 2013: Watchnote, Smartwatch Pro and iSmoothrun.

I would like to share my very positive user-experience using the Pebble Smartwatch at the Berlin Marathon 2013:

(click photo to enlarge)

Before leaving for Berlin by train from Denmark, I made a note in Watchnote app for Pebble with all the details of train times to and from Berlin, bus routes, hotel adress, trams to and from the hotel to the starting line etc. and sorted them in chronological order. This was amazingly convenient as I could stand in the crowded trains passages with a bag in my hand and call up the next train departure time and number, making it easy to scan the bulletin boards without having to dig up my iPhone each time. On the trams I could check where to change trams without having to stand up an extricate my iPhone.

I had set up my iPhone calendar with my agenda, showing where I needed to be next, allowing me to keep on schedule using Smartwatch Pro watchface: race-number pickup at Tempelhof, check in to Hotel (tram number) already on my wrist, when to head off to meet up with friends (tram number again!) etc.

On race morning, my Pebble vibrated me awake 5 minutes before my iPhone went off, allowing me to collect my thoughts in peace without waking anybody else. Smartwatch Pro watchface told me when to quit breakfast and which tram to catch. A quick reboot and re-pair of iPhone and Pebble to be on the safe side and then race-time: iSmoothrun for iPhone worked flawlessly with Pebble to keep me on pace, and let me know when I was flagging! I had my iPhone on a reserve battery in my Camelback, a Bluetooth earpiece to hear split times and the Pebble running full time. After 4.5 hours the iPhone was 100% charged, the earpiece had gone from 11 to 10 hours talk time and the Pebble was still going strong with no weak battery indicator.

All in all, a great succes for technology, and a perfect example of what the Pebble can be used for! Kudos to the dedicated developers who give us apps like iSmoothrun, Watchnote and Smartwatch Pro and allow the Pebble to reach its potential!