Can you improve an app? And would you like a Pebble smartwatch?
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Above: Pebble Steel. Some say it's the best looking smartwatch ever.I'm the happy owner of several Pebble smartwatches. Pebbles work great with UT; the app to interact with a Pebble from a UT device is Rockwork. It offers the full functionality of the Pebble app. And it's in the OpenStore. So far, so nice!
There is just one fly in this delicious milkshake: Rockwork does not allow the use with more than one Pebble. Not even if you only want to connect one at a time; it simply does not have multiple profiles for multiple Pebbles. And since they are really nice watches, and relatively easy to find second-hand, it's understandable to own more than one. But there is no way (so far, and as far as I know) to use more than one Pebble with the same device!
Is this a thing that you would be able to fix? Please let me know! I'm happy to send a fully functional Pebble + a charging cable to the app developer who is willing and able to commit to this.
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@moem Just a note. The potential developer would need at least 2 Pebble devices to develop and test the new feature.
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@jezek Would they really though? They could test by making separate profiles for normal Bluetooth and for BLE... My Pebble shows up as both on my phone's Bluetooth settings page.
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@moem I'm sorry, it was a lame joke.
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Well for proper testing it's true but I guess at that point the developer can just ask someone else to test those test cases.
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@kugiigi said in Can you improve an app? And would you like a Pebble smartwatch?:
the developer can just someones else
I guess there is a "ask" missing here ?
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@keneda Lot's of typo and missing words there indeed
That always happen to me and most of the time the most important word is lost like noornot
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@kugiigi said in Can you improve an app? And would you like a Pebble smartwatch?:
at that point the developer can just ask someone else to test those test cases.
Me, for example.
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If anyone is interested, here's a hint:
it seems that the SailfishOS app Rockpool does have this feature! -
@moem It's a port of Rockwork so I guess it'll be easier to just downstream it
Perhaps it will also be worth contacting the developer of Rockpool. -
@kugiigi said in Can you improve an app? And would you like a Pebble smartwatch?:
It's a port of Rockwork so I guess it'll be easier to just downstream it
If someone is willing and able to do that, that would solve the issue.
(I would have expected that to be called 'upstreaming', as in taking the changes made downstream and take them upstream, but I can't code, so what do I know?)Perhaps it will also be worth contacting the developer of Rockpool.
That is a good idea. If all else fails, I will do that.
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@moem I'm honestly not sure. I just said
downstreambecause I assume Rockwork hasn't been developed as much as Rockpool anymore so the latter is quite ahead in terms of development
Anyway, good luck. Rockpool is definitely a good news
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@kugiigi said in Can you improve an app? And would you like a Pebble smartwatch?:
I just said downstream because I assume Rockwork hasn't been developed as much as Rockpool anymore so the latter is quite ahead in terms of development
Fair enough! You might well be right, and at the same time Rockwork is impressively feature-complete... except for that one missing thing!
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Hi, I have number of pebbles as well and I have had 2 registered with Rockwork. As with the orginal android app I have found that only one watch can be connected at one time.
However, my issue with rockwork is not being able to dismiss notification. -
@ashleycrue said in Can you improve an app? And would you like a Pebble smartwatch?:
Hi, I have number of pebbles as well and I have had 2 registered with Rockwork.
Hello! Can you tell me how? I don't see the option, it's perfectly possible I'm missing something.
As with the orginal android app I have found that only one watch can be connected at one time.
That is fine. That's all I need, as stated in the original post above.
However, my issue with rockwork is not being able to dismiss notification.
Hmm. What happens when you use the back button on the Pebble? Maybe I'm not understanding you right.
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Okay, I'm an official idiot! It turns out that the option to disconnect a Pebble, and connect to another one, appears as soon as you have more than one Pebble connected through Bluetooth!
This is solved. No Pebble for you! Muhahaha!
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@moem at one point I was able to have 2 watches registered but unfortuantely i can't remember how.
With dismissing notifications, if you press the right middle button the first option is dismiss which should dissmiss the notification on the phone as well as the watch, this has never worked. You are correct in saying that pressing the back button dimisses notifications but this is on the watch only.
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@ashleycrue said in Can you improve an app? And would you like a Pebble smartwatch?:
at one point I was able to have 2 watches registered but unfortuantely i can't remember how.
Don't worry about it. I found it. It was right there all this time, I feel right silly now!
if you press the right middle button the first option is dismiss which should dissmiss the notification on the phone as well as the watch, this has never worked.
Ah, very clear now, thank you elaborating!
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@moem This is off topic from improving the app., but here goes.
Do you have a recommendation on which Pebble model to purchase? I'm considering ordering one off Ebay. I see 1 seller with refurbished Pebble Steel watches for $45 + shipping. That's within my budget, but it's a 6 year old watch. What are your thoughts?
Thanks.
Mark
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@mark1250 said in Can you improve an app? And would you like a Pebble smartwatch?:
Do you have a recommendation on which Pebble model to purchase?
Personally I love the Steel. I'll give you some pros and cons:
Pro:
- It's sturdy (glass screen does not scratch easily)
- It's the easiest Pebble to repair (it is screwed shut not glued)
- It has a one of a kind look (I love it!)
- It doesn't even look much like a smart watch
- It can be charged while you are wearing it
- It has very decent battery life (a week or more)
- It's always on, and easy to read in the sun (a general Pebble pro, but still)
Con:
- It's black and white
- It does not have a mic
I also have a Time Steel. This one:
Pro:
- has a colour screen
- has even longer battery life than the Steel
- has a mic (not that I have used that feature yet)
- can take any 22mm watch band
- is just as easy to read in bright light as the Steel
Con:
- does not have the same retro appeal as the Steel
As you can see, most of this is based on personal preference. I own only Pebbles in a metal case, but some people like the lighter plastic versions. Do keep in mind that the first generation plastic Pebbles scratch easily.
I'm considering ordering one off Ebay. I see 1 seller with refurbished Pebble Steel watches for $45 + shipping. That's within my budget, but it's a 6 year old watch. What are your thoughts?
You're saying '6 years old' as if that's old! It really isn't. The battery is replaceable and that's the part that can go bad.
$45 is a fair price if you don't want to tinker and like the idea of an already refurbished watch.
You're getting a lot of bang for your buck. That's part of the charm of slightly outdated tech.Do keep in mind that the ability to load watchfaces and apps depends on the good folks at the Rebble Alliance. But they have said again and again that they do not intend to give up anytime soon.
If you can afford it fairly easily, and would prefer not to buy a fixer-upper or wait for a cheaper options (that might or might not be a good deal), then I think the one you saw may very well be a good option.
Yes, your question was slightly off topic, but as you can probably tell, I don't mind.
