Tag: Google

Pebble is pouring it on today. First, the big announcement this morning. The Redwood City start-up unveiled three new wearables. Follow-ups to the original Pebbles, called the Pebble 2 ($99 USD via Kickstarter) and Pebble Time 2 ($179), and, perhaps most interestingly, a screen-less fitness tracker called Pebble Core ($69). The...

"Hey gang, it's time to write the next chapter in wearables." Pebble continues to out-innovate its rivals. It's much larger rivals; the Apples, Googles, and Samsungs. Take heed, today the Redwood City-based (so long expensive Palo Alto office) start-up announced not one, not two, but three -- count 'em -- new...

Why on earth does a smartwatch need a speaker? Or a ridiculous, microscopic keyboard? And this idea that a smartphone needs to be "standalone" and function just like a smartphone?! I think I learned the answer: This morning I watched the Android Wear 2.0 deep dive at the Google I/O...

"Our biggest platform update yet." Well, how's that for amazing response time?! Yesterday, I lamented the need for a reboot of Google's smartwatch operating system Wear. And Apple's WatchOS. And Samsung's Tizen. And... on and on. Save for Pebble's OS. That one's a keeper, even if the company's long-term viability is a...

"Mobile. Approachable. For everyone." Google's evolution of its clever VR project Cardboard is here. Well almost. Clay Bavor's reveal of "Daydream" was easily the best highlight so far at Google I/O here at Shoreline in Mountain View. Once again, Google is keeping it simple, and I think that's a smart idea. Daydream...

As has been widely reported today, Google unveiled its answer to Amazon Echo. Yep, oh no. It's called Google Home. And like Echo (and it's smaller sibling Tap), it's a small plastic cylinder -- a smart speaker -- that sits in your home, and responds to voice commands. You can book...

Some are saying smartwatch sales, and the overall wearable market, have grown at a decent clip over the past twelve months. Fitbit reported 25% year-over-year growth. Xiaomi (a surprise to be sure) at 41%. Garmin 27%. Overall, shipments increased about 67% y/y. I'm admittedly a smartwatch nerd (ask my wife). But at...

Welcome to the new flesh! We now have yet another reason not to use a phone -- and yet another reason not to talk with each other. Chatbots are coming! And if Facebook has its way not only will we need to make less old school phone calls, but we'll rely less...

For Google the same old does not apply. Case in point: Project Fi. In my initial tests the innovative cell service stands out from the crowd, providing quality coverage, flexible SIM card management for secondary devices, and, maybe best of all, no contracts, no cancellation fees, and bills you can actually...

Update 3.24.2016 - After today's news, seems like I need to make a major revision to this Pebble wish-list. Now at #1: Hoping Pebble, the company itself, can stick it out for the long run.  By all accounts Pebble, a tiny smartwatch maker hanging amongst giants (Apple, Samsung, Motorola, LG, Fitbit), had...