Pebble version 1.9 rolls out with new watch-face selector, and more

By Joshua Sherman March 18, 2013

Check out our full review of the Pebble smart watch.

We’ve just gotten word straight from Pebble that its iconic smart watch will be receiving the big 1.9 update right now, and should be available for download as a firmware update via the Pebble app. The new update features a new reorganization of the watch-faces, bug-fixes, and prepares for the release of the SDK in April of 2013.

Pebble is a smart watch that was launched via Kickstarter in April of 2012, and in recent weeks has been slowly but surely shipping out to backers of the project while development continues. The 1.9 firmware update’s biggest change is with how the watch-faces are arranged on the device. Previously you’d have watch-faces sit right in the menu screen along with other options, such as ‘Settings’ and ‘Music’. Instead, the Pebble now stores all watch-faces in a special ‘Watchfaces’ menu in the main menu, and lets you cycle through your available watch-faces when on the home screen.

This new update also allows you to select a ‘Default’ watch-face that your Pebble will automatically return to after closing the menu screen. Previously you’d have to manually re-select the watch-face of your choice in order to close the menu and return to your watch-face. This makes the watch much more manageable and allows you to quickly cycle through a variety of watch-faces to show with friends, as well as allows future apps to have the ability to be quickly cycled through for quick information.

The update also includes various bug-fixes regarding functionality with the few applications Pebble is capable of interacting with, such as the phone dialer, Facebook, and Gmail. Most of all, version 1.9 is the big update before Pebble will be releasing its much-desired SDK in April, which will include a Snake game, as well as allow other developers to start making apps for the Pebble smart watch.

There’s also a new watch-face, Wordsquare, pictured above and now available on the Pebble app. Pebble continues to keep backers up to date via its blog page. Feel free to follow the company and figure out when they’ll be shipping out pre-orders for the watch.

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