Pebble founder: Interaction with iPhones worse-because of Apple

The Smartwatch pioneer Pebble encounters well-known problems in interaction with iPhones when it comes to new start. Already at the first generation of Pebble he learned how much more difficult it is to offer a “great smartwatch experience” on iOS, Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky said-and in the past eight years it was even worse. Pebble will offer a “good app” for iOS for the two new models “Core 2 Duo” and “Core Time 2”, but this could absolutely not provide the same functions as the Apple Watch is possible.

No real messaging for other smartwatches

For other smartwatches, it is impossible to send messages, explained Migicovsky. Reactions to incoming messages cannot be implemented – as long as the smartwatch is used with an iPhone. These restrictions also apply to watches from other manufacturers. In general, the communication between the accompanying app on iOS and the Pebbleos devices remains limited, an interaction with other iOS apps is unthinkable. Anyone who accidentally closes the Pebble app is also the connection to the smartwatch and thus at the same time its internet connection.

Other Apple restrictions Prevents it according to Migicovskyfor example, integrate a small shop for digits from other providers into the app. In addition, there are restrictions that quickly annoy in everyday life: the Pebble watches do not know when the wearer is currently looking at his iPhone-and therefore vibrate on when a message that has already been seen-actually received.

Pebble app for iOS worse than for Android

Apple makes it “systematically almost impossible” to create a good experience for iPhone users for Wearables third-party providers. Apple refer to security and data protection, but he sees it very differently, emphasized Migicovsky. “It is clear that you use your market power to include customers into your ecosystem”. Ultimately, this leads to less competition. Four out of ten pebble prospective customers have an iPhone, the founder writes that he will offer a “damn iOS app” accordingly-but this is inevitably behind the Android version.

Migicovsky advises that iPhone users should complain about these restrictions on Apple. In the EU, he also wants to use the opportunity to make an interoperability request to Apple. On Thursday, the EU Commission already dictated new rules that force the group to open Apple Watch APIs for third-party providers in the coming months-but only within the EU.