Pebble Steel - the evolution of smart watches Pebble

From the start of sales of smart watches Pebble one of the main disadvantages of hours, according to users, was their "toy" design - bright plastic case and rubber strap fit geeks and students, but it is not even combined with strict office clothes, not that with the suit. Apparently the developers knew it too, so they released a version of Pebble c beautiful metal casing - Pebble Steel.

Pebble Steel does not differ, except for the body of the "ordinary» Pebble - the same screen with backlight, are clearly visible even in bright sunlight, the same week of work on charging. All already developed programs are compatible with the new version of hours. Therefore, we have to learn a new case. Let's go.

Packaging
H4> Box new hours compared to the previous version looks very cool - instead of small colored glossy boxes we get gothic black "coffin" with relief inscription on the lid:
Despite the fact that the size of the clock is almost not increased, the box has grown in size considerably:
For users of difference rather positive - and give a big box, and handle nicer, but the store is not very much - for the delivery of the same amount of hours we pay more. :)
The inner box is also very entertaining - no cheap lodgements of thin plastic, and the space is divided cardboard partitions with a velvet coating:
Looks cool, but it does have its drawbacks - a watch that just got out of the box are covered with small white fuzz. Mi-mi-mi it or "fu dust" everyone decides for himself.
To get the whole set need to open the first one "window", and then a second:
On the top floor hides a steel screwdriver and strap, and on the last - charging wire.

Components and appearance
H4> Compared with the plastic version of the equipment has not undergone any changes. Add a second metal strap and a small otvertochka to replace it:
Yet we must remember that this is one of the last games in which there are simultaneously two different strap. Prices declined on the site not just - now the steel strap is sold separately for $ 20.
Still have complete instructions on how to change the strap, which is 4 pictures tells how to twist the screw:
The ingenious thing. But how to adjust the metal belt under the arm, it does not say a word at all.
And of course, there is inside the watch:
They exist in two versions - «Brushed steel», silver, and «Black matte», black matte. I like the silver version, so I'll take pictures of her:
Externally, the watch looks good - a black rectangle, but not with smooth edges, and a little "hyped" on the sides. Here's what they look like next to a plastic version:
The screen size is the same, but because of the larger body under the screen appeared a little free space. That there need to push? Of course, the name of hours!
Just remain the number and location of buttons - three on one side:
And with one another. On the same side there is a contact charging:
Charging changed - it's still magnetic, but changed the shape (losing compatibility with older versions). The good news is that it now holds still better than normal. Not happy that she still holds enough to not disconnect the inside of a backpack, which watches are charged from the battery. I have this very common situation for any device, and that the clock can not be charged in this way upsets me.
During charging, the bottom of the clock LED red-orange color. When charging is completed, the color changes to green:
Hours behind nothing but information about hours and 4 screws nothing. Stop 4 screws ?!
Screw it very well. This means that we will watch and discuss, at least partially.

The User Experience, or "Well it, Van?»
H4>

Change Band
H5> Actually, the change of the strap is quite simple (I still mocks instruction in four volumes pictures) and is enclosed screwdriver loosening the belt axis:
After the change of the axis of the strap just need to put back and tighten tight. If you tighten slightly, then over time it starts to get out due to the movement of the strap. It does not fall out, it keeps the strap, but sticks out and does not look as neat.

Fit the metal strap
H5> Metal Strap (though rather to say "bracelet") at hours more or less standard, with a latch, so in the original state it will not hang out unless on very full hands. To make it tight-fitting hand, it is possible to pull out of several segments, reducing this length. Unscrew one of the axes of the bracelet, so it can be spread out on the table and a full-length look at the part of the bracelet, which is adjacent to the clasp:
Arrows as though hinted to us that we should interact with them.
Take a screwdriver, poke it into the notch and try to squeeze out a segment fixation:
Op, happened. Now mount picks up on the outside and take out his:
Once you unhook the hook with other segments of the bracelet should be split into two parts:
Now repeat the operation with another (two, three) segment to reach the desired length of the bracelet:
After that, remove the central part of the box in order not to lose, and the segments are concatenated together:
I must say that it is better to clean the same number of segments on both sides of the strap. This is to ensure that the latch remains in the center of the bracelet, otherwise it changes the balance when wearing and shifts the clock. Not fatal, but interferes.

What strap choose?
H5> I chose the leather. He felt less on the hand, because the softer, and rips the hair like metal (it happens occasionally, but nevertheless occurs). But with a leather strap Water resistance is practically useless - before they have to take a shower because much soaked strap have to shoot and dry, otherwise it starts to smell. With metal no such problem.

Scrabble whether case and bracelet?
H5> Yes, indeed, holding one of the first copies of the hours I wrote (by the way, subscribe ) that black bracelet badly scratched. In fact, it was not so scary - dragging the same instance for 4 months I have not noticed too terrible damage.
{Photo}
scratches Strap On glass no scratches, despite the fact that I was wearing the watch is not very carefully (even more "very casually"). Perhaps this is because the main blow took the frame around the screen - it has a few scratches hardly detectable:
And slightly dented corner, which accounted for most hits:
Metal Bracelet scratched more than the watch case - 4 months it still appeared noticeable scratches:
On a silver watch, which were operated at about the same intensity, scratches are not noticeable at all - neither on the body or on a bracelet. They certainly are, but on the background texture is not noticeable.
Overall, I was expecting the worst, the clock showed themselves quite resistant to damage.

Do Much harder plastic watch?
H5> They are not very strong, but noticeably heavier. If the plastic is not generally felt in the hand, then forget about the steel difficult, although this is partly merit angular body.
38 grams weigh plastic Pebble, 55 - steel with leather strap, 91 - steel bracelet. Himself metal bracelet weighs 58 grams, but it is a maximum length. Leather strap weighs only 12 grams.

What's inside?
H4> We all remember the 4 cogs on the back of the watch, right? And now we have to unscrew them:
Choose the right screwdriver:
Remove the screws and begin to gently lift the lid:
It is not glued at the edges, but it keeps the adhesive on the vibrating motor. Without cover watches look like this:
Next you need to carefully pick up the edge of the plastic "baskets" screwdriver with 4 sides in turn, pressing the plastic latch:
Then you can pull out of the housing electronics:
Suddenly, it turned out that the clock screen is glued into the body, and white on the block with electronics - just a diffuser lighting hours. And at the display turned out quite a bit of contact, only 10 pieces:
Still visible beside just that tri-color LED:
On the reverse side close to the vibration motor and the battery is some unidentifiable chip. From the fact that he is on the loop screen, I can conclude that he is somehow connected to the controller screen. Maybe this is it.
Because the entire unit firmly glued inside, I further disassemble it will not. One can only look at the "back" button and charging contacts:
And three buttons on the other hand:
Buttons, by the way, the "honest" membrane and not the form "spring plate", as usually like to put in a wristwatch.
And watch work fine even in this state. This, incidentally, is pretty scary - I disassembled them, take pictures, and here they kaaak light up kaak crawl on me with the sound of vibro! It turned out it was a message on the phone.

Conclusion
H4> Pebble Steel - it's not a revolution, but evolution. Thoughtful work on improving capabilities that goes like on the side of the iron, and the third-party software (eg, 2.6 added the ability to work in the background of the application, which means hello different fitness trackers).

Where to buy?
H4> Of course, the store Madrobots.ru:
Pebble steel for 10990 rubles
Pebble for 6990 rubles
For readers Habra always acts a 5% discount code HABR. Besides, you can still participate in the our joint campaign with PayPal and get a discount of up to 20%

Source: habrahabr.ru/company/madrobots/blog/238591/