[HN Gopher] (Re)Introducing the Pebble Appstore
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(Re)Introducing the Pebble Appstore
Author : duck
Score : 256 points
Date : 2025-10-10 21:53 UTC (1 days ago)
(HTM) web link (ericmigi.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (ericmigi.com)
| tomyedwab wrote:
| My app that I published 12 years ago is on there, hah.
| user_7832 wrote:
| > One other great thing that Rebble did was in 2017 - they
| archived and started hosting a copy of the Pebble Appstore,
| before the servers were shut down. New apps uploaded by
| developers since 2017 have also been popping up!
|
| Aah, is this how all previous apps were saved and are now
| available again? That's pretty neat if so!
| daemonologist wrote:
| Yes (and they've been available more or less all along from
| Rebble - they rebuilt and hosted big parts of the backend I
| believe).
| 0xEF wrote:
| Old Pebble watches are still very useful due to the Rebble
| community. I am still rocking my OG Pebble to this day because
| of them, so they get all the kudos, here.
|
| In fact, because my old one still works for my needs, it's
| making it difficult for me to invest in a new Pebble, despite
| wanting to support the project. Part of that is the idea of
| upgrading for the sake of upgrading directly opposes my ethos
| of keeping as many electronic devices out of landfills as
| possible, but part of that is also straight up nostalgia that I
| get to experience every day when I use what essentially
| amounted to the perfect watch for me.
| TheCraiggers wrote:
| I was in the same camp. I ordered one anyway as I figured my
| pebble's battery _couldn 't_ last much longer... Could it?
| Knork-and-Fife wrote:
| How many days does it last now?
| 0xEF wrote:
| I'm not the person you asked, but on my OG Pebble, I get
| about 2 full days of battery on a full charge. However,
| that's down from about 4 or 5 that I recall from early
| adoption of the device.
|
| The battery is clearly unhealthy, but hanging on. When I
| charge my old Pebble, after about 15 minutes or so, it
| claims to be fully charged. It isn't. If I take it off
| the charge after only 15 minutes, it will show a full
| charge, but deplete rapidly, usually within about 20
| hours. If I leave it on the charge for a few hours, then
| use it, I get 2 solid days or sometimes a bit more than
| that.
|
| My OG model is also one of the originals that does _not_
| have the fours screws in the back, making it impossible
| to change the battery should it finally fail. A few years
| back, I picked up some original Pebbles on eBay for
| cheapr since the batteries would no longer hold a charge
| on those, all models that did not have the four screws on
| the back, just to see if I could find a way to open them
| clean. Every attempt I made failed, damaging the display
| and housing.
|
| If you want to try an old Pebble, find one of the ones
| with the screws on the back panel and you can buy fresh
| batteries that will fit. Or get an old Pebble Time/Steel
| model, which are easier to maintain. I see them go on
| eBay for between $30 - $50 USD and maybe like $10 USD for
| a new battery. That's nothing for a basics smartwatch
| with a cool history.
| c22 wrote:
| Why not buy a new Pebble and gift it to a watchless friend?
| outcoldman wrote:
| > No smartwatch on the market since the original Pebble watches
| offers this combination of features...until today!
|
| Is that a lie? What about Garmin Watches?
|
| Sure Google/Samsung/Apple Watches are not "Long battery life",
| because they are not "Always on e-paper screen", but I feel like
| Garmin Watches are.
|
| Obviously some Garmin Watches are pretty expensive, like Fenix (I
| have not used it since I switched to Apple Watch), but there are
| ~200USD watches as well https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/741137/
| with 2 weeks battery life, custom apps, screens, and even GPS.
| Rohansi wrote:
| You don't get 2 weeks battery life with GPS. That drops it down
| to less than a day.
| outcoldman wrote:
| Pebble does not have GPS at all. You don't have to use GPS on
| the watch, if you don't need to. You have an option to choose
| to use it, if you want to. Garmin watches ~2 weeks just as a
| smart watch, 8-50 hours with GPS on. But you will not have it
| on, unless you need it for a specific workout.
| bigfatkitten wrote:
| I get about two weeks from my Garmin Instinct, using GPS
| sporadically as needed.
| useless_foghorn wrote:
| Garmin's Enduro 3 claims 13.3 days[1] of continuous GPS
| tracking with solar recharge and is tested to have 5
| continuous days without[2].
|
| [1] https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-7AD1A592-904
| 4-4... [2] https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-
| and-hiking/gp...
| bananaboy wrote:
| What made you switch to an Apple Watch? I've been tossing up
| between a Garmin Forerunner 955 or an Apple Watch (I have an
| iPhone SE 2)
| outcoldman wrote:
| I have been using Apple Watch since series 0. I believe I
| switched from Garmin fenix 3. I feel like at that time Fenix
| had a lot of issues, I remember there were some about the
| maps, maybe they did not even had them at that time. And I
| was really into hiking. So thought that Apple Watch could be
| a better watch. Workouts were nice, listening music from the
| watch was a good addition.
|
| I have not tried new fenix watches. And I would assume they
| are the same good as Apple Watches as well. But I do like my
| Apple Watch Ultra (2 or 3, whatever was released this year)
| mcny wrote:
| My conspiracy theory is there is something inherently
| rotten at Apple and it is simply not possible to build a
| smartwatch that never mind can match the feature set of the
| apple watch but also the levels of battery efficiency on
| the iPhone paired with a smartwatch different than the
| Apple Watch. I don't know this for a fact but I am sure
| multiple cheap ish Chinese watch vendors would not choose
| to intentionally drain the iPhone battery if they could
| avoid it.
| bigglywiggler wrote:
| I mean, it's Apple's whole strategy to create an
| ecosystem of devices that all work really well with each
| other. Having had some insight about how chinese
| manufacturing operates on the low end it's much simpler
| than that, they just don't really care about things like
| not draining battery life. Their products are built to a
| price point and they are aware of that. If it could be
| built to the same price point without heavily draining
| battery life then it would be.
| vampirical wrote:
| I think there's a simpler explanation. Apple's always
| uses a type of product metric that most companies don't
| use. Those competitor products don't care about phone
| battery drain, so they aren't even trying to do
| _anything_ about it.
| STKFLT wrote:
| Pretty much spot on https://ericmigi.com/blog/apple-
| restricts-pebble-from-being-...
| e_y_ wrote:
| It's not just a theory. It's well documented that Apple
| has a bunch of APIs and protocols (like AirPods
| proprietary low latency wireless instead of Bluetooth,
| NFC was not allowed until years after Apple Pay) that are
| not available to 3rd party developers. They will
| sometimes open things up after they've given their own
| products years of head start because apparently owning
| most of the ecosystem and having undying brand loyalty
| from their users isn't enough.
|
| Actually for many years even to build regular Bluetooth
| devices that did anything besides audio, you needed to
| add a special chip (Made for iPhone chip) to your
| hardware to verify that it was an authorized Apple
| Accessory. Pebble had one, but any 3rd party apps that
| wanted to send data to the watch (like Uber app, sports
| apps, random indie apps) had to get allow listed to
| communicate with accessory devices like Pebble.
| koiueo wrote:
| I can't find the quote in the original post, so I don't know
| the context of that statement.
|
| But generally, Garmins don't allow developing and installing
| 3rd-party apps on their watches
| gbil wrote:
| Isn't garmin connect IQ exactly that ?
|
| Edit: damn autocorrect
| koiueo wrote:
| Yep, you're right. I didn't know about that
| outcoldman wrote:
| Sorry, I guess I was just reading about them, and went to the
| original blog post published on 2025-03-18
| https://ericmigi.com/blog/introducing-two-new-pebbleos-
| watch...
|
| I was able to develop apps for Garmin Fenix 3, which was
| released in 2015 https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/160512/#specs
| it already supported building apps for the watch. They also
| had a funny name for the language they built, something like
| "Gorilla language" or something similar.
|
| EDIT: found it, they call it Monkey-C
| https://developer.garmin.com/connect-iq/monkey-c/
| koiueo wrote:
| Hah, I didn't know that. And I specifically looked for my
| pebble replacement, and contemplated over Garmin.
|
| I guess their marketing dept hasn't been doing their work
| so well.
|
| Thanks for sharing this
| Gigachad wrote:
| The pebble wasn't an epaper display either. It was just a dull
| low power lcd.
| Avamander wrote:
| But e-paper _is_ LCD, e-ink isn't.
| 01HNNWZ0MV43FF wrote:
| No? Wikipedia says E-ink is a specific brand of e-paper,
| and e-paper isn't LCD. Right?
| Avamander wrote:
| Yes. E-paper is a specific name/brand used for
| transreflective LCDs. If I remember correctly, Sharp
| started calling it so. E-ink and e-paper can be called
| electronic paper, but e-paper isn't usually e-ink and
| e-paper usually is LCD.
|
| So, Pebble Time's LCD is indeed e-paper, but is not
| e-ink.
| Gigachad wrote:
| E-Ink is a specific company's name which can't be used to
| describe the same display technology when used by any
| other company.
|
| Today e paper is widely understood to mean the display
| technology which companies like e ink and waveshare use
| for displays which don't need power to retain an image.
|
| You're right that historically it's been confusing.
| Historically e ink was the only company making these
| displays since it was all patented so using their brand
| name as the technology name worked better back then than
| it does today.
| consp wrote:
| Transflective memory cell lcd's are amazing technology for
| the price they cost and the power they use. You trade some
| viberance for that but I'd call that acceptable tradeoff for
| always on.
|
| The "epaper" branding is Sharp's idea. And "epaper" has been
| used for all kinds of things which are not the technology
| eInk has developed and popularized.
| crossroadsguy wrote:
| Lack of GPS essentially killed the resurrected Pebble for me.
|
| If I am buying a smart/tracking watch today, I want these
| things from it:
|
| - Great battery life
|
| - HRM (with decent accuracy; doesn't have to pass those
| "accuracy tests" though)
|
| - GPS (with extremely good accuracy and yes, it has to pass
| those accuracy tests for GPS. And no, if I turn it ON and use
| it and the battery dies quickly, I won't hold it against you -
| that's supposed to happen)
|
| - Do not track me - do not send any data to anywhere unless I
| specifically want it
|
| - Do not need a phone to be connected to function - let me
| export data later if I choose to (hell, if this is the only way
| - I don't mind - BT not being used always isn't so bad - saves
| a bit of battery; if you need me to do this via a USB type C
| cable later, I don't mind that either)
|
| That's all!
|
| -----
|
| If you don't have these features, I don't really mind:
|
| - Show me the incoming call on the screen. - Give me a way to
| reject or silence it. If I want to answer that call, then I'll
| reach out to my phone anyway.
|
| - Maybe show the time and day if I tap it or I am fine if it's
| always shown
|
| - Preferably don't show me notifications from apps in general
| and if you do - give a very granular way to disable specific
| apps (this might already be possible)
|
| - Please sell a non-touchscreen option (but I can live with
| one)
|
| - Do not try to be the smartphone or replicate it somehow and
| end up becoming a Frankenstein in both size and spirit
|
| - Maybe keep it lightweight?
|
| PS. And, for the love of god, do not ever try to hardcode
| special chargers/cables like Philips does for their trimmers.
| Bas----ds sell different cables and different chargers for two
| trimmer models released in the same year very close to each
| other and in close price ranges fulfilling similar functions.
| delusional wrote:
| > Lack of GPS essentially killed the resurrected Pebble for
| me. > GPS > Do not need a phone to be connected to function
|
| I don't really think you're in the target demographic for a
| pebble at all. It sounds like you want a standalone device
| that's essentially a smartphone on your wrist. I know you say
| you don't want it to be a smartphone, but if you want
| battery-life, a GPS, and phone independence, that's the
| product you're going to get.
|
| Pebble is (and was) more of a smartphone companion, it has
| basically no smart functionality on its own.
| crossroadsguy wrote:
| I suspect you might not be aware that certain things can be
| "turned off" on a smartwatch or a computing device, mobile
| or otherwise. But if you knew, then I do not know why you
| still made this comment.
| spiffytech wrote:
| My Garmin (Forerunner 255 Music) feels like it's designed by a
| committee that uses their own product only while working jira
| tickets, and has never used it in anger.
|
| On paper, it should feel like my old Pebble did. In reality
| it's clumsy and poorly thought-out. I look for ways to use it
| less, not more. I can't wait to replace it when the Pebble
| ships.
| lawn wrote:
| I've been using various Garmin watches for ages and I agree.
| The hardware is great, but the software is honestly very
| lackluster.
|
| It's laggy, clumsy, difficult to make apps for, and just not
| very smart. Especially for someone like me who doesn't even
| use it for sports.
| tombert wrote:
| I guess I don't use my Garmin Instinct Crossover to its full
| extent, but I have found it pretty ok for the stuff I did do
| with it, and I like that it looks like a regular watch
| instead of a smartwatch.
| lastdong wrote:
| Love philosophy and the story bringing it back. I really liked
| the originals, but today I don't find the design appealing - I'm
| sure some of you do ofc.
|
| I'm not sure if the best example, but what I can think of atm --
| Looking at what Teenage Engineering is doing (copy Dieter Rams),
| I find their products fun and they feel premium. I think a design
| refresh for pebble could make a big difference.
|
| Probably hard to think about re-design at this stage, and I do
| hope it keeps gaining momentum and support to grow.
| ktallett wrote:
| I would in general agree with you. Although I do feel TE have
| some design flaws regarding structural quality that Braun
| didn't have and watches would struggle with having.
| illwrks wrote:
| I agree, design sensibilities have changed. Like you I would
| love something a bit more utilitarian and clean. It would be a
| nice contrast to everything else out there.
| user_7832 wrote:
| Not perhaps exactly what you're looking for, but Nothing's
| smartwatches might scratch that itch. They've got honestly
| gigantic bezels, but they do a very commendable job on making
| it seem done purposefully done.
| raffael_de wrote:
| Teenage Engineering design is fundamentally fauxstalgic.
| bigstrat2003 wrote:
| > Probably hard to think about re-design at this stage
|
| They did redesign the Pebble Time 2, so that may be more to
| your liking. Sadly as one who still loves the original design,
| it lost its appeal to me, but perhaps my loss could be your
| gain on this one.
| atmosx wrote:
| I haven't used my pebble for years, but as I don't have a
| smartwatch, I might bring it back. Do the iOs integrations
| (calls, messages, etc.) still work as they did? I remember that
| runkeeper would display data to the watch while running.
| zevon wrote:
| Good time to bring it back. You used to have to sideload the
| iOS app for years and the new app makes using an old Pebble
| with an iPhone so much easier. :) I've been using the app for a
| few weeks and it generally works well but not everything is
| already functional. No voice replies, no health tracking, no
| canned messages, yet, for example.
|
| Here's the changelog: https://ndocs.repebble.com/changelog
| timvdalen wrote:
| Hah, one of the apps I published is still in there, fun to see
| jimjimwii wrote:
| I really want to buy a pebble. Can you please reconsider offering
| the watch via retailers when it becomes financially viable?
| lrvick wrote:
| As the original author of the current generation of the Pebble
| Appstore back in Pebble early days, I made a very intentional
| decision to move almost all logic client side to make it easy for
| people to archive and self host with their own API server or json
| snapshots of the existing API. I did this specifically so in the
| event Pebble infra ever went down the community could easily do
| their own thing, and local copies embedded in apps would keep
| working from cache offline, though I never disclosed this as a
| big reason at the time.
|
| It is awesome to see that decision paid off, and the codebase has
| long outlived the original company and still giving our original
| customers (and soon new ones!) value.
|
| In case anyone asks, I would like to state for the record that
| all the appstore code before Rebble modifications was and has
| always been AGPL.
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