Pebble owners that link the smartwatch to an iPhone on the Verizon network can now use the iOS app's Text Reply feature to respond to text messages that show up on their wrist.
Previously the feature was only available to users on AT&T, but the newly released version 3.11 update to the Pebble app brings the same functionality to Verizon users as well. After enabling the option via the updated app, Verizon customers can now send emoji, customizable canned responses, and voice replies, although the latter is limited to Pebble Time owners.
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Other improvements brought by the update include more accurate sleep tracking, additional support for daytime naps longer than an hour, a snooze feature that offers up timeline alerts closer to the actual time of an event, and additional vibration patterns for Time-series Pebble owners.
The smartwatch company has also seen fit to rename its accompanying iOS app, from 'Pebble Time' to simply 'Pebble', indicating that all Pebble devices will be able to run firmware 3.0 and later.
Pebble is a free download for iPhone on the App Store. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
That is some fugly watch.
To be fair, that is an older monochrome model. But I agree, other than the round, most Pebbles are not that great looking IMO.Still, there is a lot to like about Pebble watches. They were the first to get most of a smartwatch right and still have some advantages over the current crop from Apple or Android ware. It is hard to over state the appeal of an always on screen with a week of battery.
To be honest, if Apple allowed better access to the OS, I think I would prefer a Pebble over my Apple Watch.
I had a Pebble Time a couple of weeks ago... I used it for 1.5 weeks and then returned it to Best Buy after Pebble announced a workforce reduction. They literally said they are hurting for money... so yeah... the writing is on the wall... and I decided to not keep a smart watch that may not be supported in the near future. Too bad though. It is a nice little device with fantastic battery life!
They are failing even though their development and production costs were covered by crowdfunding. That's sad.This article is the epitome of why a company like Pebble stands no chance in this space. The moment Android Wear was announced, the Pebble was doomed.
Pebble needs the workaround because Apple doesn't allow other devices to send texts through the phone. On Android the watch can do a lot more. I like my watch a lot and I use it to workout. I don't want to sweat on and throw weights around with a $300 device on my wrist. People around here are so eager to throw more money at Apple.The clear advantage that Apple and Android manufacturers have is their own ecosystem. iMessage, Apple Music (iTunes), phone calls, system notifications, the list goes on. Pebble has no chance to compete in a space where their 2 biggest competitors, Apple and Google, hold the keys to all the features Pebble needs to interface with. Sure, the Pebble has a loyal crowd who CAN do all sorts of stuff, but the functionality is neither simple nor efficient. Pebble will be out of cash soon.
Read the comment above: you can send a text with your watch via AT&T and now Verizon, but your phone doesn't have a record of that text being sent. These kind of cheap workarounds are confusing to uneducated customers and highlight the lack of the essential functionalities anyone would expect when dropping $150+ on a smart watch.