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Pebble smartwatches will now work with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
A new update brings Pebble smartwatch support to the Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and future Android devices that only support 64-bit apps.
What a day to be alive if you're a Pebble smartwatch owner. Although official support for the watch ended ages ago, the device has been kept alive thanks to the efforts of the team at Rebble. Recently, a new update was issued for Pebble smartwatches that provides compatibility for the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro. So if you're a long time Pebble user, and you've got a Pixel 7 series smartphone, it's now possible to get the watch up and running on your device.
This new app helps Pebble watches continue working with new Android phones
The new Sideload Helper app from the Rebble project makes it much easier to install apps on Pebble watches from newer Android phones.
Pebble was one of the first modern smartwatches when it launched on Kickstarter in 2012. It became popular for its long battery life, massive library of applications, and open software, and was later followed up by several more models. Pebble shut down in 2016 after running out of funds, but not before the company updated its watches to continue functioning without a central server. The community-run 'Rebble' project has continued to keep the watches alive with updated software, and now Rebble has released a new app to keep Pebble watches functional on newer devices.
Gadgetbridge is an open-source replacement for the Android app of Pebble, Mi Band, Amazfit, and other smart bands
If you do not want to use the closed source vendor app for your smartband, check out Gadegtbridge, an open-source alternative!
Purchasing a Smart Band or a smart wrist-based fitness tracker means that you not only purchase a product, but you also purchase yourself into an ecosystem of services controlled by the manufacturer. The functionality that is present on your smart band flows to you through the manufacturer, meaning that your data always goes through one extra pair of hands than is required. For most smart bands, you have to create an account with the manufacturer and continue tracking your activity and data through the manufacturer's app -- something that may not appeal to everyone in this privacy-conscious world. Enter Gadgetbridge, an open-source app that focuses on removing the manufacturer out of the equation.