Pebble Smartwatches Looking Better Than Ever with Latest Update

Pebble has been offering relatively affordable smartwatches for several years now — in fact, its original wearable, which debuted with huge success on the crowd-funding platform Kickstarter, is credited with making modern smartwatches popular.
While the company currently offers several different models with a variety of designs and features, all of them tend to fall short of the competition when it comes to a few key areas.

For one, all Pebble smartwatches feature e-paper displays. Some of the products — like the Pebble Time, Pebble Time Round and Pebble Time Steel — feature color e-paper displays, but none of them have touchscreens, which you'll find on the Apple Watch, Samsung Gear products and pretty much all other Android Wear devices.

The upside is that these watches offer much longer battery life, since they don't have an LCD or OLED screen sucking up energy.

One other area where Pebbles have been relatively lackluster is its fitness tracking capabilities. While the Pebble app store has long offered apps like RunKeeper for monitoring your workouts, and the latest watches do offer basic daily step and sleep tracking thanks to Pebble Health. But, thanks to a recent update, this functionality is expanding, moving this data beyond your watch face.
The News
As Pebble announced in a blog post on its site, it's updated Pebble Health to display activity data over time — not just for a given day — and it's added automatic tracking for runs and long walks, including instant watch notifications with a summary of your activity after completing a walk or run (along with more in-depth data on the smartphone app.

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Plus, users will now get "insights and encouragements" to help provide motivation.

More activity-tracking data is definitely a good thing — especially if you're looking to choose a smartwatch that can also function as a fitness tracker — but what's especially important about this update is that Pebble's integrating this information with its mobile apps for Android and iPhone.
Previously, you could only view your health data on your Pebble watch screen, and given the small size it's no wonder you weren't able to pore tons of stats. However, with Pebble Health integrated with the company's mobile apps, you'll be able to pull up your activity info on your smartphone and get a more comprehensive picture of how much you move. You'll be able to view your latest activity levels and compare them with your average, plus you can see stats like calories burned, step distance and active time.
That's not even all the news: In addition to updating its fitness tracking to display much more info in its smartphone apps, Pebble's adding a new Smart Alarms feature to its official Alarms app. This functionality appears to mimic fitness trackers that specialize in sleep monitoring and optimization by waking you up when you're in your "lightest sleep." This means that the monitor could go off as early as 30 minutes prior to your set wakeup time, based on where you are in your sleep cycle.
The last aspect of the update will only concern iPhone users, as Pebble owners with an Android phone have had access to these features for some time. The iOS Send Text app will now allow you to start a text conversation from your wrist, and you can choose from a pre-written (canned) response or use a voice note to interact with contacts. You'll also be able to reply to incoming calls with either a canned response or voice note. It's not exactly as advanced as taking a call on your smartwatch, but it's important functionality for those who want to use their wearable without constantly needing to take out their phone.
As for how to get these updates, you'll need to update the smartphone app (via the appropriate app store on your phone) as well as your Pebble smartwatch firmware. As you'll see once you complete this updates, the app interface has changed as well, moving to a four-tab layout divided between Health, Watchfaces, Apps and Notification.
Why This Update Is Important
First of all, it's important to note that the new Pebble Health features only apply to Pebble Time devices, so if you own an older Pebble watch, you won't be able to enjoy the fitness data. However, Pebble Health itself is only available for Pebble Time watches, so if you have an older watch from the company this is either irrelevant or an extra push to get you to upgrade. (The cheapest device with Pebble Health is the Pebble Time, which starts at $150.
So, assuming you do own a Pebble Time Series watch or are considering buying one, why does this update represent a big improvement? Well, it paints a much fuller picture of your activity and movement, going beyond simple summaries displayed on your wrist to show you data over a span of days, letting you compare your most recent activity to past workouts and more. This is essential if you want a smartwatch that can handle activity tracking as well as on-wrist notifications and other non-workout-related tasks. When Pebble Health only revealed a limited glimpse of your activity info on your watch screen, it was hard to convince yourself that these smartwatches could compete with an activity tracker from the likes of Fitbit or Jawbone. However, now that you can access much more data from your smartphone app, a Pebble Time smartwatch can likely handle your activity tracking needs — unless you're a professional athlete (like a swimmer) or have specific fitness-monitoring requirements.
The bottom line is that this update makes Pebble devices much more competitive with both other smartwatches and basic fitness trackers. It's especially great news for those who already own a compatible device, but if you're on the market for an affordable wearable, the Pebble Time Series is looking more appealing than ever before.

The Ten Best Games of 2015

It's that time of year again. Those of us who review film, TV, video games, or whatever can possibly be reviewed, look back on the last 12 months and try to pick their favorites. Again, we're asked a direct question that can be hard to answer: Was it a GOOD year? I'll say this: It was better than 2014, a year of growing pains for the next-gen systems. I'll also say this: Not really. The year started strongly with some must-play titles releasing in the first six months, but most of the year-end titles disappointed to varying degrees. Yes, a few of those titles are on the list below, but they never really competed with the top two titles for Game of the Year like we hoped they would. And a few of the year-end titles ("Star Wars: Battlefront," "Rainbow Six: Siege," "Assassin's Creed Syndicate") were straight-up disappointments. Let's think positively. Let's hope 2016 starts as strong as 2015 did and keeps it up from there. And let's celebrate the year that was with its ten best games.
Runner-ups (alphabetical): "Assassin's Creed: Syndicate," "Battlefield Hardline," "Just Cause 3," "LEGO Dimensions," "LEGO Jurassic World," "Life is Strange," "Madden NFL 16," "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain," "NBA 2K16," and "Wolfenstein: The New Order"

The Order: 1886. Sony

10.  "The Order: 1886"

Yes, it's too short. Yes, it's repetitive. I agree. So, why did it make this list? It's this simple: Very few games this year excelled at world-building. When I play a narratively strong game like this, I want to enter a different world. Think of Rapture in "Bioshock" or the universe of the "Mass Effect" games. The world of "The Order" is fully-realized and immersive. In fact, it's disappointing that we never saw DLC for it and that the game has been poorly received to the degree that a sequel is unlikely. Never say never.

Guitar Hero Live. Activision

9.  "Guitar Hero Live"

I would have wagered that "Rock Band 4" would have been the more creatively vibrant of the two music games released this year. I would have been wrong. While "Rock Band 4" is undeniably fun, it is also undeniably a retread of what the franchise has done before. In fact, it's almost impossible to differentiate from "Rock Band 3." It's not unlike a remastered last-gen game now available on the next-gen. On the other hand, the people behind "Guitar Hero Live" considered what the PS4 can do that the PS3 cannot, and offered a unique experience with live performers instead of animated ones and streaming music channels to play along with. I'm not convinced the new fret system is superior to the old one, but "Guitar Hero Live" took a dead franchise and rebuilt it from the ground up instead of just reviving it. 

Game of Thrones. Telltale Games

8.  "Game of Thrones"

Telltale Games is arguably the most important video game company working today. They have two games on this list and I'd call both must-plays. At times, this was the superior of their two 2015 offerings, but the end left enough cliffhangers and question marks to drop it to 2nd place and a few spots down this list. It's still an incredibly satisfying piece of storytelling, a game that doesn't just recreate what works about the George R. R. Martin books and HBO shows as much as it is feels like another chapter in this multi-character tale. The decisions forced upon you in "Game of Thrones" are some of the most memorable in any game this year. Most often, there's not a "good" choice to make--just bad and worse.  

Call of Duty: Black Ops III. Activision

7.  "Call of Duty: Black Ops III"

Another year, another "CoD." I totally get many gamer's exhaustion with this franchise, one that doesn't take enough creative risks, especially when it comes to map design, and I'm not here to proclaim "Black Ops III" as the breakthrough in multiplayer gameplay that Activision touted it as being. All I'll say is that "Black Ops III" remembered to be something that too few multiplayer games were in 2015: fun. With the addition of new specialists and their unique weapons, "Black Ops III" delivered the most robust multiplayer game of the year. It's the one I've gone back to the most, and I can't wait to see what the map packs bring. I still think these games fall just short of their potential, especially in the campaigns, but for sheer playing time value, I'd be dishonest if this wasn't on the list. 

Fallout 4. Bethesda

6.  "Fallout 4"

Speaking of playing time, it's easy to plug dozens of hours into this excellent RPG, and that's just time spent looking at your inventory. My experience with "Fallout 4" has been an exercise in the scales of video game justice. On one side of the scale, there is the sheer scope of this game, one of the most impressive worlds of the year, and the emotional gravity of the main story. On the other side, balancing it out, is the repetitive combat, dull crafting, and unacceptable degree of glitchiness. Every time I felt like "Fallout 4" was going to transcend its flaws and become an honest GOTY contender, something would annoy me. Still, it's an incredibly enjoyable experience, the kind that can really drain your time. Especially when you spend two hours looking at your inventory. 

Until Dawn. Sony

5.  "Until Dawn"

In 2015, after three decades of gaming, I'm mostly looking for video game experiences that feel unique, that redefine the way I play games. Is "Until Dawn" as ambitious as "Fallout 4" or even "Black Ops III"? Hell no. But I enjoyed every single second of it because it felt like something I wasn't used to playing in today's market. That's something that a lot of people forget about video game critics. We play almost everything. And so a truly strange title like "Until Dawn," which is essentially a hybrid of "Heavy Rain" and "Scream," stands out more. It helps that I'm a big horror fan, catching many of the references made by Larry Fessenden and his crew. I would absolutely love it if enough people played "Until Dawn" to inspire sequels and copycats. We need more games that expand what we expect when we hold a controller in our hands. 

4.  "Batman: Arkham Knight"

I know. I contradict myself. While most of the best games of the year expand the language of their form, sometimes you just want an old-fashioned action game done right. Enter the folks at Rocksteady and the best pure action game of the year. I played almost every minute of "Arkham Knight," save for a few Riddler trophies still circulating around town. And I enjoyed almost every minute of it (save for some of the tank missions perhaps). The narrative of "Knight" really gets what makes a great Batman game work. It incorporates a number of major and minor DC characters, and the way The Joker has been reimagined as a crazy devil on Bruce Wayne's shoulder is hilarious and truly insightful into what makes the Dark Knight tick.  

Tales From the Borderlands. Telltale Games

3.  "Tales From the Borderlands"

Telltale Games revolutionized the downloadable title with "The Walking Dead" but 2015 saw them top their greatest achievement to date with this amazing sci-fi/comedy/action/adventure. At first, I kind of just presumed that "Tales" would preach to the converted, working as a playful adventure for fans of 2K's "Borderlands" franchise (of which I am undeniably one). I was wrong. "Tales From the Borderlands" stands completely on its own, whether you've ever even played a "Borderlands" game or if you hate one. The storytelling here actually most recalls Joss Whedon's "Firefly" in its blend of comedy and space action. And then, out of nowhere, it gets actually moving. I'll miss these characters more than any others from 2015.

2.  "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt"

In terms of world creation, nothing in 2015 comes close to "The Witcher 3," the year's best RPG. The characters and narrative of "Wild Hunt" are strong enough to earn the game a spot on this list, but it competes for GOTY for another reason: more than any title this year, I felt like I was a small part of the universe of this game. I felt like NPCs were living their own lives and that danger lurked around any corner. Deep into the game, "The Witcher 3" has new things to show you, new worlds to explore, new enemies to fight, and new allies to make. It is as dense and complex as your favorite fantasy fiction, complete with fantastic combat and inventory mechanics to boot. It's one of the best games of the '10s. 

Bloodborne. SCEA

1.  "Bloodborne"

And then there's pain. Again, video game critics get accustomed to playing games in a certain way, often to do so quickly so they can move on to another assignment. It's often when we can get truly immersed in a game's world and forget about the review we have to create that a title rises above the pack. Few games of this generation have been as addictive as "Bloodborne." First off, good luck playing it casually. It's a game that demands concentration and strategy in a way that few action games do. And once you immerse yourself in the world long enough to not die every 2 minutes, it gets under your skin. There are parts of "Bloodborne" that are honestly terrifying. Most of all, it's a game that rewards success in ways we just don't see enough. Look at the titles above. I have probably killed 100,000 enemies in various games this year, but it's the victories against the bosses of "Bloodborne" that felt like actual accomplishments. 

The Best Smartwatches of 2015

With 2015 winding down to a close, now is a great time to take a look back over the year's top tech releases. In this post I'll run through the best smartwatches that came to market, including biggies like the Apple Watch as well as smaller gadgets that nonetheless offer impressive features.
Apple Watch
It's no surprise that the most-hyped smartwatch to date earns a place on this list. Though this device earned a ton of press due to being an Apple product, the Apple Watch is also a great smartwatch in its own right.

Highlights include great activity features thanks to Apple HealthKit; a wide variety of bands and configurations; and top-notch integration with the iPhone. Of course, the biggest disadvantage is the high starting price: The lowest-end Apple Watch Sport model costs $349, which is clearly no chump change.

Pebble Time 
I reviewed the Pebble Time, the first smartwatch to feature Pebble's new chronological operating system, several months ago, and I found plenty to like. Though this wearable features a e-paper display rather than a touchscreen AMOLED or LCD, it offers amazing battery life — think days, not hours. The Timeline operating system is also a great, intuitive way to view notifications from your email, calendar and other apps. Luckily, Pebble is bringing this interface to all of its devices, so you don't have to spring for the Pebble Time ($200 when not on sale) if this is the biggest draw for you. On the other hand, Pebble just announced Pebble Health activity-tracking features exclusively for the Pebble Time lineup, so it might be worth considering one of the devices in this range if fitness is a priority for you.
Samsung Gear S2
It took Samsung a while to find its groove when it came to smartwatches — all the products with confusingly similar names didn't help — but it seems to be on track thanks to the Gear S2. Currently on sale for $250, this device features a round display and a complementary circular software interface which you can navigate with the watch's rotating bezel.

Perhaps the biggest downside of the Samsung Gear S2 is that it runs a Tizen-based operating system, not Android Wear, so you won't necessarily have access to as many apps. 

Fossil Q Founder
When Fossil announced that it would be entering the smartwatch market and acquiring fitness-tracker brand Misfit, the tech world was abuzz. The accessory maker and veteran watch manufacturer is a perfect candidate for combining stylish design with function, and the Android Wear- powered Fossil Q Founder looks to be a great smartwatch. The stainless-steel design is attractive and classic, thanks to a round display, and thanks to Android Wear it has access to a wide variety of apps. At $295, it's not cheap, but it's still cheaper than the Apple Watch, which doesn't come with a round display.
Pebble Time Round
Yes, another Pebble smartwatch is here to round out the list. The latest release from Pebble, this model stands out for its circular watch face, which helps elevate the brand's offerings from early-adopter geek gadgets to attractive products that can appeal to a wider audience. Starting at $249, it's not cheap — especially considering that the display isn't a touchscreen; it's e-paper — but it's a good-looking option, and one I'd suggest to first-time smartwatch users thanks to its straightforward software.