Skip to main content

Foursquare, Yelp, and new app features coming to Pebble watch

best pebble apps version 1401948617 header 3

Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky announced some large updates are coming to the popular smartwatch today. The Kickstarter-famous gadget for wrists will be getting a brand new iOS app, and a brand new developer kit packed with new features (which means better apps).

When we reviewed the Pebble last June we had a lot say about the budding smartwatch. It was a pretty good device, but was held back by a limiting SDK. Based on what we’ve seen so far though, the next few weeks for Pebble appear to be really exciting.

Today’s live Google Hangout with Migicovsky offered a lot of new announcements, starting with a brand new iOS 7 app for Pebble. Past versions of the iOS app for Pebble could not send all your notifications from iOS to the smartwatch, but with iOS 7 this problem has finally been solved. This update will finally unlock all of the features of the Pebble to iPhone owners.

The SDK update added a bunch of features that will unlock all the potential we thought the Pebble has been missing. These features include added memory capabilities that allow you to save data and settings on your Pebble apps, the inclusion of new APIs for the accelerometer, GPS, camera, and other capabilities of your smartphone.

Finally, Pebble has announced some new partnerships. For one, Pebble has partnered with CloudPebble, offering the ability for developers to more easily create apps for their smartwatches all from their browsers, as opposed to being stuck on a single development application. Apps from Foursquare, GoPro, iControlHome, and Yelp will become available later this year.

The SDK update is in beta now and will be rolling out soon.

Joshua Sherman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joshua Sherman is a contributor for Digital Trends who writes about all things mobile from Apple to Zynga. Josh pulls his…
I record interviews for work. These are my favorite free recorder apps
The iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro's voice recording apps running together.

The Voice Recorder app on a phone (left) and the Voice Memos on another phone Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Before you head to the app store on your phone to buy a voice-recording app, take a moment to consider the apps that may already be installed on your phone. Why? In my experience, they're likely all you really need. I’ve recorded interviews and voice-overs for work for years, and I’ve found the two best examples come preinstalled on your phone already, so they’re entirely free to use.

Read more
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cases: 10 best ones so far
Two Galaxy Z Fold 5 phones next to each other -- one is open and one is closed.

Samsung’s next-generation foldable is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This iteration has some notable improvements, including a new hinge design that eliminates the gap from previous generations when the device was folded. You also get a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the outside while having a 6.7-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the inside, with both screens having a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, they're about as nice as you could ask for.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is made with premium materials, and the triple-lens camera system packs in a 50MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP camera on the inner display. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip inside for the best performance and power efficiency.

Read more
Google Pixel Tablet just got its first big discount and it’s worth a look
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

Tablets are a dime-a-dozen these days, with offerings from all the great brands including Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and more. So, if you really want to stand out in a sea of similar tech, you need to do things a little differently. That's what Google's Pixel Tablet offers. How? It comes with a unique speaker dock that can be used to both charge the device and offer room-filling sound -- almost like a smart speaker add-on. Better yet, when your Pixel Tablet is docked it benefits from the Hub Mode, turning the device into a smart display, with digital photo frame support, smart home controls, and hands-free Google functionality. Of course, it could set you back at full price, normally $499 unless you find it included in a roundup of the best Google Pixel deals. Well, guess what? Thanks to a Best Buy Google Pixel Tablet deal, you can get it today for $439 and save $60. Hurry, though, it's part of Best Buy's recent 48-hour sale so it won't stick around for long.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel Tablet
Okay, okay, so in our Google Pixel Tablet review, Joe Maring did give it less than stellar remarks, but he called out its reliable fingerprint sensor, comfortability during use and excellent speaker dock. Honestly, how many tablets come with a matching speaker dock that transforms the entire experience? This tablet also marks a "lot of firsts" for Google, as it's the first tablet from the company in nearly five years, the first Android tablet in eight years, and can be converted into a smart home display with the speaker dock. All of which are notable milestones.

Read more