[web-old.git] / articles / pinetime-part-two-end-of-2021.md

PineTime - End of 2021 review

# A PineWhatNow?
If you missed the PineTime blog, [go check it out now](./pinetime-a-promising-open-smartwatch.html). This is an continuation
to the previous blog.

## What has changed since?
A lot. Let's start by summing up the faults I had last time for PineTime's InfiniTime software.
- Touch registration sucks
- Bluetooth disconnects
- Steps getting lost

I am thrilled to say, all of these have been fixed in current master build of InfiniTime. My watch is currently running
InfiniTime build 8ab959b (to-be 1.8) from December 20th 2021. To address each concern, I applaud the following PRs and their creators for
fixing these two issues: [#688](https://github.com/InfiniTimeOrg/InfiniTime/pull/688), [#625](https://github.com/InfiniTimeOrg/InfiniTime/pull/625)
and [#492](https://github.com/InfiniTimeOrg/InfiniTime/pull/492).

As for steps getting lost, recently JF002 has added Bluetooth relaying of step count for companion applications. Gadgetbridge
was quick to recognize this and added support. For first time in half year, I am able to save and review the amount I've walked
or ran during the day.

## Okay, your biggest gripes are dealt with, what else?
Bluetooth pairing! Thanks to the amazing work of evergreen22, we can now securely pair PineTime devices. This was a big concern
of mine as anyone can initiate a firmware upgrade over Bluetooth and potentially wreck havoc on nearby PineTime watches.
Of course that fear is largely unjustified as the market share is extremely tiny that it would be pointless for cybercriminals
to target such devices.

## Wishlist
Probably more variety of watchfaces and sleep monitoring as it is one of the advertised points on the box. I understand that the
original Chinese firmware had that functionality, but so far the FOSS firmware InfiniTime which ships with new PineTime watches
lacks the functionality.
As for companion applications, I have a gripe with my watch vibrating after I accept an incoming call already - that's one thing I
wish that would be fixed. OsmAnd integration would be nice as well.

## Should you buy it?
Yes. You shouldn't trust your data to likes of Garmin or Apple. PineTime is a fine wine supported by the passionate community surrounding it.
As for normies, maybe wait an half year or so for the wrinkles to be ironed out for smoother experience.


Thanks for reading, happy new year and stay based!
- Cernodile

;tags:pine64 smartwatch opensource review
;description:PineTime is a open-source smartwatch built by Pine64 and the community on the budget. What has changed in 5 months from July to December of 2021? Find out in this new year's summary review.
Commit	Line	Data
4e891a7e JM	1	PineTime - End of 2021 review
	2
	3	# A PineWhatNow?
	4	If you missed the PineTime blog, [go check it out now](./pinetime-a-promising-open-smartwatch.html). This is an continuation
	5	to the previous blog.
	6
	7	## What has changed since?
	8	A lot. Let's start by summing up the faults I had last time for PineTime's InfiniTime software.
	9	- Touch registration sucks
	10	- Bluetooth disconnects
	11	- Steps getting lost
	12
	13	I am thrilled to say, all of these have been fixed in current master build of InfiniTime. My watch is currently running
	14	InfiniTime build 8ab959b (to-be 1.8) from December 20th 2021. To address each concern, I applaud the following PRs and their creators for
	15	fixing these two issues: [#688](https://github.com/InfiniTimeOrg/InfiniTime/pull/688), [#625](https://github.com/InfiniTimeOrg/InfiniTime/pull/625)
	16	and [#492](https://github.com/InfiniTimeOrg/InfiniTime/pull/492).
	17
bd683462	18	As for steps getting lost, recently JF002 has added Bluetooth relaying of step count for companion applications. Gadgetbridge
4e891a7e JM	19	was quick to recognize this and added support. For first time in half year, I am able to save and review the amount I've walked
	20	or ran during the day.
	21
	22	## Okay, your biggest gripes are dealt with, what else?
	23	Bluetooth pairing! Thanks to the amazing work of evergreen22, we can now securely pair PineTime devices. This was a big concern
	24	of mine as anyone can initiate a firmware upgrade over Bluetooth and potentially wreck havoc on nearby PineTime watches.
	25	Of course that fear is largely unjustified as the market share is extremely tiny that it would be pointless for cybercriminals
	26	to target such devices.
	27
	28	## Wishlist
	29	Probably more variety of watchfaces and sleep monitoring as it is one of the advertised points on the box. I understand that the
	30	original Chinese firmware had that functionality, but so far the FOSS firmware InfiniTime which ships with new PineTime watches
	31	lacks the functionality.
	32	As for companion applications, I have a gripe with my watch vibrating after I accept an incoming call already - that's one thing I
	33	wish that would be fixed. OsmAnd integration would be nice as well.
	34
	35	## Should you buy it?
	36	Yes. You shouldn't trust your data to likes of Garmin or Apple. PineTime is a fine wine supported by the passionate community surrounding it.
	37	As for normies, maybe wait an half year or so for the wrinkles to be ironed out for smoother experience.
	38
	39
	40	Thanks for reading, happy new year and stay based!
	41	- Cernodile
	42
	43	;tags:pine64 smartwatch opensource review
cbe61ea2	44	;description:PineTime is a open-source smartwatch built by Pine64 and the community on the budget. What has changed in 5 months from July to December of 2021? Find out in this new year's summary review.