The Pebble smartwatch, which generated a colossal amount of hype when it emerged on Kickstarter, has essentially kick-started the market for wrist-worn gadgetry, and while the team behind this wondrously successful device have worked tirelessly in updating and improving it, there’s also a feeling that Android Wear and the new Apple Watch range will be too much for an outfit like Pebble to compete with. Nevertheless, the Pebble is still in a very strong position all told, and today, has pushed a significant firmware update that includes a myriad of features. Details, as ever, can be seen after the fold.
Like many, Pebble has also been waiting for the release of iOS 8, which occurred worldwide a short while ago, and with firmware version 2.5, there’s a neat new ability to dismiss notifications that have been pushed via the new software. Provided your device is running on iOS 8, you’ll be able to usher a single notification away by tapping on the X button, and if you wish to clear the feed completely, simply hold the X button down for a couple of seconds.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past couple of years in the modern digital industry, it’s that emojis are here to stay. For better or for worse, those little icons are now an ingrained part of the conversation, and recognizing their ubiquity, Pebble has thrown in emoji support with firmware version 2.5. Previously, users would only see those annoying little white boxes, but from here on in, a winky smile or a sarcastic thumbs-up will not be missed; thank goodness for that!
The Compass app is also launching alongside the new firmware, and can be downloaded right now from the Pebble Appstore. Whether you’re into your orienteering or simply enjoy messing around with cool apps, the new Compass feature is well worth picking up.
As ever, the firmware update includes its fair share of performance enhancements and bug fixes, so even if you’re not particularly piqued by any of the aforementioned features, any nagging problems that you’ve run into recently may well be solved in this release.
So, if you’re a Pebble owner, pick up the latest firmware directly from the Pebble app for iPhone and Android, and do let us know of any cool features / glaring bugs by dropping a comment below.
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.
