'It's going to be a Pebble and almost exactly as you remember it' – beloved smartwatch founder reveals major progress on new venture - Related to pebble, progress, last, new, going
Garmin users, have your say: will you switch smartwatches after last week's massive outage?
It's fair to say that last week was tumultuous for Garmin owners, to say the least. All around the world, Garmin watches – from those on our best Garmin watches list to entry-level running watches like the Garmin Forerunner 55, suddenly began to get stuck in boot-up mode. Even some other Garmin devices, like cycling computers, were affected.
We spent most of last week reporting on the Garmin outage, and your emails came flooding in. We got at least 500 emails from beleaguered Garmin customers, helping us expand our lists of affected devices and providing useful reports of which fixes were working. You also shared stories about your crashing devices affecting weekday run clubs and snowboarding honeymoons. You guys stepped up.
One week later, the dust has settled, and people's devices went back to normal. However, we've not heard from Garmin about what actually caused the outage. Now that we've had a bit of space from the incident, I wanted to pose another question to you, our readers, in the comments below this article – will you trust Garmin again?
A few of your emails mentioned switching to a rival best running watch brand, such as Suunto, Coros, Apple, and Samsung. Are you still planning to switch, and if so, who to? Or do you consider this an isolated incident, and want to stick to Garmin in the meantime?
For myself, a habitual Garmin user, my instinct (pardon the pun) was initially to stick with Garmin. From the battery life to the layout, a Garmin watch has been my loyal companion across almost every major long-distance race I've run.
However, when I think of the possibility of such an outage happening again and imagine it happening on the eve of, let's say, the London Marathon, I can picture the thousands of disappointed, panicked runners who wished they'd switched brands. If it happened in the middle of a long cycle or a hike, you might be left with no navigational tools but the physical things you brought with you, and your phone's compass app.
My way forward will be to continue using my Garmin watches and keep a Coros Pace Pro, or another one of the best cheap running watches on hand in case of failure. However, I'm in a very privileged position: if I want to test a device, I grab it out of the TechRadar vaults. Besides, these devices perform at their best when each one your primary wearables, accessing your data to tell you more about your performance.
If you're a Garmin user, what will you do?
Completely switch allegiances (and if so, which brand will you switch to)?
If you were planning on getting a Garmin and haven't already, has this outage drama put you off?
Let us know in the comments below! I'll be in there, replying to your posts, and we'll even feature your thoughts in a future article.
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'It's going to be a Pebble and almost exactly as you remember it' – beloved smartwatch founder reveals major progress on new venture
Google made the PebbleOS source code available for download in January.
Founder Eric Migicovsky has wasted no time getting PebbleOS running on new hardware.
He teased progress and promised fans it would be "a Pebble and almost exactly as you remember it"
Just days after Google confirmed that it was making PebbleOS open source, founder of the iconic smartwatch brand Eric Migicovsky has already got it running on new hardware, and has revealed the progress he's made on launching a new Pebble smartwatch.
Before the best Apple Watch models flooded the market, Pebble was a Kickstarter smartwatch project with a cult following that attracted some $10 million in backing. Its devices could be connected to both Android and iOS smartphones, and display notifications and messages on an e-paper display.
The corporation folded in 2016, and its intellectual property was bought up by Fitbit for a paltry $23 million, ending up in the filing cabinets at Google when it took over the popular fitness tracker maker.
Migicovsky introduced he was bringing Pebble back as soon as Google open-sourced the PebbleOS code, now he's moving at lightning pace to get hardware out into the world.
"We’ve already got PebbleOS compiling and running on real hardware," Migicovsky introduced in a blog post. He also confirmed that he's targeting a new chipset, and open-sourcing all of its updates. In fact, he's flying to Shenzhen imminently to meet with factories and suppliers, gearing up for a hardware launch.
He confirmed a "small group of folks" are helping him with the project, including other Pebble alumni such as Steve Penna.
So what can the Pebble faithful expect from the new device? "Please don’t get your hopes up that the new watch will have X/Y/Z new feature," he warned. "It’s going to be a Pebble and almost exactly as you remember it, except now with open source software that can you can modify and improve yourself. More hardware details will be shared in the future."
As previously noted, Migicovsky has committed to many resurrecting many of the design tenets that made Pebble popular: an always-on e-paper display, long battery life, buttons, a simple user experience, and hackability.
We weren't sure just how serious Migicovsky was, but this latest development proves he isn't messing around.
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ChatGPT’s new AI search beats Google in this one thing
OpenAI’s ChatGPT has removed the last barrier to using ChatGPT as a search engine, the requirement to log in. Now, it’s open to all.
OpenAI launched the feature last fall, but required a login. Now, the feature can be used without the need for registration.
Essentially, this new ChatGPT search feature turns the ChatGPT interface into something like the Google Chrome Omnibox at the top of your browser: It can be used to type in the name of a web page, of course, but it’s also a search box. ChatGPT now doubles as a search engine as well as a general way to chat with ChatGPT.
The new functionality of ChatGPT places it in direct competition with [website], which also uses a combination of AI-powered search and the web to return responses. Compared to Googe’s Gemini, which also uses up-to-date findings for its results, ChatGPT has an edge in that it doesn’t disallow the topics of elections or politics.
It’s not great, but it’s not too shabby, either. To help offset concerns that it might be “hallucinating” results, ChatGPT includes footnoted links with its source material. When asked what the best processor was for 4K PC gaming, it returned a short, footnoted argument claiming that both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 7 7800X3D were the two best choices, a conclusion I’d agree with. The links back to the original insights, however, we monochromatic and easily missed.
I also found it a good choice if you’re looking for an ongoing summary of what the new Trump administration is doing to the government. A traditional search engine like Bing or Google spat out individual search results, while ChatGPT provided a summary and links.
Like many, I’m still suspicious of AI’s tendency to get things wrong, and to slurp up content I and others have created without credit or a reference to the page. For deep knowledge, I’ll still use a search engine to find the insights of deep knowledge. But for a general overview, ChatGPT isn’t bad.
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Market Impact Analysis
Market Growth Trend
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9% | 5.9% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 7.6% |
Quarterly Growth Rate
| Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.9% | 7.2% | 7.4% | 7.6% |
Market Segments and Growth Drivers
| Segment | Market Share | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Semiconductors | 35% | 9.3% |
| Consumer Electronics | 29% | 6.2% |
| Enterprise Hardware | 22% | 5.8% |
| Networking Equipment | 9% | 7.9% |
| Other Hardware | 5% | 5.3% |
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity:
Competitive Landscape Analysis
| Company | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Apple | 18.7% |
| Samsung | 16.4% |
| Intel | 12.9% |
| NVIDIA | 9.8% |
| AMD | 7.3% |
Future Outlook and Predictions
The Garmin Users Have landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing threat vectors, and shifting business requirements. Based on current trends and expert analyses, we can anticipate several significant developments across different time horizons:
Year-by-Year Technology Evolution
Based on current trajectory and expert analyses, we can project the following development timeline:
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity, influencing adoption timelines and investment priorities:
Innovation Trigger
- Generative AI for specialized domains
- Blockchain for supply chain verification
Peak of Inflated Expectations
- Digital twins for business processes
- Quantum-resistant cryptography
Trough of Disillusionment
- Consumer AR/VR applications
- General-purpose blockchain
Slope of Enlightenment
- AI-driven analytics
- Edge computing
Plateau of Productivity
- Cloud infrastructure
- Mobile applications
Technology Evolution Timeline
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
Expert Perspectives
Leading experts in the hardware tech sector provide diverse perspectives on how the landscape will evolve over the coming years:
"Technology transformation will continue to accelerate, creating both challenges and opportunities."
— Industry Expert
"Organizations must balance innovation with practical implementation to achieve meaningful results."
— Technology Analyst
"The most successful adopters will focus on business outcomes rather than technology for its own sake."
— Research Director
Areas of Expert Consensus
- Acceleration of Innovation: The pace of technological evolution will continue to increase
- Practical Integration: Focus will shift from proof-of-concept to operational deployment
- Human-Technology Partnership: Most effective implementations will optimize human-machine collaboration
- Regulatory Influence: Regulatory frameworks will increasingly shape technology development
Short-Term Outlook (1-2 Years)
In the immediate future, organizations will focus on implementing and optimizing currently available technologies to address pressing hardware tech challenges:
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
These developments will be characterized by incremental improvements to existing frameworks rather than revolutionary changes, with emphasis on practical deployment and measurable outcomes.
Mid-Term Outlook (3-5 Years)
As technologies mature and organizations adapt, more substantial transformations will emerge in how security is approached and implemented:
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
This period will see significant changes in security architecture and operational models, with increasing automation and integration between previously siloed security functions. Organizations will shift from reactive to proactive security postures.
Long-Term Outlook (5+ Years)
Looking further ahead, more fundamental shifts will reshape how cybersecurity is conceptualized and implemented across digital ecosystems:
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
These long-term developments will likely require significant technical breakthroughs, new regulatory frameworks, and evolution in how organizations approach security as a fundamental business function rather than a technical discipline.
Key Risk Factors and Uncertainties
Several critical factors could significantly impact the trajectory of hardware tech evolution:
Organizations should monitor these factors closely and develop contingency strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on technology implementation timelines.
Alternative Future Scenarios
The evolution of technology can follow different paths depending on various factors including regulatory developments, investment trends, technological breakthroughs, and market adoption. We analyze three potential scenarios:
Optimistic Scenario
Rapid adoption of advanced technologies with significant business impact
Key Drivers: Supportive regulatory environment, significant research breakthroughs, strong market incentives, and rapid user adoption.
Probability: 25-30%
Base Case Scenario
Measured implementation with incremental improvements
Key Drivers: Balanced regulatory approach, steady technological progress, and selective implementation based on clear ROI.
Probability: 50-60%
Conservative Scenario
Technical and organizational barriers limiting effective adoption
Key Drivers: Restrictive regulations, technical limitations, implementation challenges, and risk-averse organizational cultures.
Probability: 15-20%
Scenario Comparison Matrix
| Factor | Optimistic | Base Case | Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation Timeline | Accelerated | Steady | Delayed |
| Market Adoption | Widespread | Selective | Limited |
| Technology Evolution | Rapid | Progressive | Incremental |
| Regulatory Environment | Supportive | Balanced | Restrictive |
| Business Impact | Transformative | Significant | Modest |
Transformational Impact
Technology becoming increasingly embedded in all aspects of business operations. This evolution will necessitate significant changes in organizational structures, talent development, and strategic planning processes.
The convergence of multiple technological trends—including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and ubiquitous connectivity—will create both unprecedented security challenges and innovative defensive capabilities.
Implementation Challenges
Technical complexity and organizational readiness remain key challenges. Organizations will need to develop comprehensive change management strategies to successfully navigate these transitions.
Regulatory uncertainty, particularly around emerging technologies like AI in security applications, will require flexible security architectures that can adapt to evolving compliance requirements.
Key Innovations to Watch
Artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and automation technologies leading innovation. Organizations should monitor these developments closely to maintain competitive advantages and effective security postures.
Strategic investments in research partnerships, technology pilots, and talent development will position forward-thinking organizations to leverage these innovations early in their development cycle.
Technical Glossary
Key technical terms and definitions to help understand the technologies discussed in this article.
Understanding the following technical concepts is essential for grasping the full implications of the security threats and defensive measures discussed in this article. These definitions provide context for both technical and non-technical readers.
interface intermediate
platform intermediate
RAM intermediate
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