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Pebble Watch: does it have to be close to your phone like the Apple Watch?

D

dagdagdag234

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 15, 2011
148
12
Just curious if anyone knows the difference between the two in terms of proximity -- because I'm interested in a smart watch that has some functionality even if my phone is left behind.

For some reason in all the reviews of the Pebble I can't find a clear answer on this.
 
Thanks. That ends my search. I'm really not interested in a watch that only saves me the great "effort" of reaching into my pocket. Hopefully someday that will change.
 
Pebble watches, and likely Apple Watches, can still be used when not connected to your phone or when out of range of your phone. They will have slightly limited functionality, but can still do basic watch things.
 
Intell, but I'm assuming they can't do more than what a digital watch can do. I would love a smart watch that can at least receive texts without being in range of a phone. We aren't there yet I guess
 
dagdagdag234 said:
Intell, but I'm assuming they can't do more than what a digital watch can do. I would love a smart watch that can at least receive texts without being in range of a phone. We aren't there yet I guess
Click to expand...

Yes we are there .

Posting this from my smartwatch without being tethered to my phone. Speech recognition is amazing.
 
gear-s-black.png
 
Ah, so when I say "we" aren't there yet I guess I mean Apple isn't there yet. Oh well, very pretty device, but I don't wanT a galaxy phone.
 
Unable to speak about the abilities of an unconnected Apple Watch, the Pebble can still do many things. You can access cached images, pages, weather, and other data.
 
Tanegashima said:
It's bound to be stupid.

A smartphone is a device that consumes a lot of power... put it in a wrist... you can't have both...
Click to expand...

I don't understand why anyone would want a keyboard and web browser on their wrist. That is ridiculous, IMO.
 
Rogifan said:
According to Engadget's review the Gear S is an ambitious and painfully flawed device.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/01/samsung-gear-s-review/
Click to expand...

The writer's entire complaint is based around the fact that it requires a Galaxy phone to setup the device.

If they were looking for a standalone watch phone, then it's a valid observation.

But it's not meant to be that. It's meant to be a companion device that can also act on its own if the primary phone is not around.

--

That said, I think it would be cool if they offered a totally standalone watch phone like they have in the past.

Also, I think Samsung and LG and others are stupid to have ignored this tremendous opportunity to put out a non-Geart watch that works with both Android and iOS.

There is pent up demand for a nice smartwatch, and they could've used the months that Apple has given them, to sell to those who don't want to wait.
 
The pebble watch and apple watch assuming the range is similar have quite a long range. I leave my phone in the back room when I work as a barista and it has no problem staying connected.
 
Tanegashima said:
A smartphone is a device that consumes a lot of power... put it in a wrist... you can't have both...
Click to expand...

And still it has 2 days of battery life, which is more than a lot of other smart watches.

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Rogifan said:
I don't understand why anyone would want a keyboard and web browser on their wrist. That is ridiculous, IMO.
Click to expand...
The screen resolution is higher than the 1st gen iPhone. And if I remember correctly there was no problem surfing or using the on-screen keyboard on that one.

You can of course use voice instead of typing if you want to like most modern people do these days.

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kdarling said:
The writer's entire complaint is based around the fact that it requires a Galaxy phone to setup the device.
Click to expand...

I agree - it is a laughable review - and Engadet deservedly gets their a** handed to them in the comments section.

The main point with a device like the Gear S is of course to be an extention of your phone like most other smart watches. No one buys it just to use it as their one and only cell phone, which seems to be the very odd premise for the whole review.

But it has built in GPS and the possibility to pop in a SIM card so you can use it as a stand alone device that has the basic functionality of a cell phone (and more) without your 'main' phone needing to be in bluetooth-distance all the time. I think the idea is great - I hate running or hiking with my phone just to be able to track speed/distance or to listen to music. With the Gear S I could leave the phone at home and still be available if anything important comes up.
 
I left my phone charging the other day and walked about 30-35 feet away and my pebble still got a notification of a text message any further and I think i would have lost the connection. I suspect that the apple watch will have a similar range based on bluetooth limitations.
 
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I use my Pebble with my iPhone 6 Plus to allow me to see and dismiss email messages and notifications without the need to remove my iPhone from my suit jacket pocket.

Only if a message requires a reply do I reach for the iPad or iPhone. The Pebble is also handy for reminding me not to leave the iPhone somewhere
 
Just to add that unlike the Pebble the aWatch will use BT in conjunction with hotspot WiFi to connect to the iPhone. So it may be possible to get a little more range than BT alone under certain circumstances.
 
Julien said:
Just to add that unlike the Pebble the aWatch will use BT in conjunction with hotspot WiFi to connect to the iPhone. So it may be possible to get a little more range than BT alone under certain circumstances.
Click to expand...

Source for this? I believe it's just BTLE as most of these things are?

FWIW I have a pebble and it's great. Now that the firmware has matured somewhat, it's a pretty neat little device. And if you know a little Javascript/C, you can easily make it do whatever you want (e.g. I can turn my lights on and off from mine).
 
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