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Yup, but we've got Bluetooth, a fantastic OLED screen, and example Python, Android, Blackberry code!

Also, we're right here on HN to answer your questions!



>Yup, but we've got...

Indeed. They are very different propositions. Hence I said "for comparison" :)


Ok first question:

Why only one button?

Two would have been really nice for most things (like back and forward in powerpoint/itunes).

Edit: Another one:

Why don't you ship outside the US/Canada? I considered buying one, but I'm in Germany :(



We choose one button to keep it simple (and quicker to get to market). You can do a lot of things with just one button, just look at the single button on the iPhone! For example, you can do two actions, like click and click-hold.


I've experimented with using a single button (a Griffin Powermate, actually) to control all of my electronics: one tap toggles the lights, three taps changes lighting scenes, press and hold/five taps turns the projector on or off, eight taps toggles "party mode," ... I'm quite convinced that multiple buttons would be better :).


You could not do much on an iPhone without the touchscreen.


also, double-tap.


Neither seems very intuitive for "back" and "forward".


Can the watchband be removed to make it a pendant (or pocket watch) ?

Looks too big for a woman's wrist? Can't find actual dimensions...


RE Pocket-watch: If you're going to fish something out of your pocket to look at alerts, what's the advantage over just grabbing the phone itself?


There is a picture of a woman wearing the watch on the their blog. Looks a little big but not bad.


Ah thanks for pointing that out, didn't read the blog.

I think I'd still rather wear it like you would a security badge with a lanyard or like the old-school mini-pagers in your pocket with a chain.


What are the dimensions?

(I'd love an accelerometer - sure you guys are well aware of the possibilities)


96x128 pix full color OLED display


Ah - sorry - I was after physical dimensions - i can kinda figure it from the videos, but I'd like to know if it would actually fit on my writs comfortably.


Post the STL file for us 3D printing enthusiasts - Apple posts blue prints for us case hackers ;-)

http://developer.apple.com/resources/cases/


I know this is off-topic but does a similar thing exist for the nexus one? Is there a repository for such files?


I really wish there was - I may get around to asking for this info, but I bet you've got to sign some type of license or pay fees. I don't know - I haven't tried.

Are you interested in making a case or something similar?


Hey, I know this must be there in the sdk docs somewhere, but can the knob on the side of the watch be used as an input device? Also, I wish I had more upvotes to give you.

EDIT: Oh, never mind, just saw that its a button, not a knob.


Just a heads-up: we've got a limited supply of the first batch (as some intelligent commenters below have deduced). If you'd like to get hacking soon, I'd suggest picking one up! The first batch starts shipping tomorrow...


What's the actual hardware inside? Do you expose (quasi-)standard ARM JTAG?


We're trying to make it as easy as Arduino to develop an app for your watch! To dodge the arm-gcc toolchain issue, we've built a cloudcompile system which allows all platforms Mac/Ubuntu/Windows to have an equally easy time compiling. Simply code your app in C, then run our python script to compile your code and load it onto your watch, wirelessly!


Also, your terms of service (http://www.getinpulse.com/terms/) states that you claim rights over information I upload to sites run by Allerta. That must include code I upload to be compiled, correct?

From the terms: "hereby grant to Allerta a perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to reproduce, distribute, transmit, publicly perform, publicly display, digitally perform, modify, create derivative works of, and otherwise use and commercially exploit any text, photographs or other data and information you submit to the Website (collectively, User Generated Content) in any media now existing or hereafter developed, including without limitation on websites, in audio format, and in any print media format."


Good point.

As I mentioned, we're releasing the entire SDK with instructions on how to compile using the full arm-gcc, right on your local machine. We just started off with this cloudcompile service to make it super easy for everyone to get Hello, Watch! (http://getinPulse.com/apps/hello_watch) running.

We are developers ourselves and committed to providing the best experience possible. We'll work fast to get the full toolchain out there.


Your python script uploads my code to your server and sends me back a binary in return. What happens when that server goes down?

Getting people up and writing code on devices quickly is awesome; but sending code (unencrypted, even) off is pretty shady, particularly since you're not disclosing it to anyone.

Arduino manages to have a cute little barebones IDE based around an actual compiler; and they provide full hardware docs, links to datasheets, the works. You're doing exactly the opposite of that. Even Apple will let me compile code for my own iOS devices -- after I've paid the $99/year fee or jailbroken, of course...




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