Get Ready…It’s Pebble Time

When the first Pebble smartwatch was released to the public in 2013 it received plenty of acclaim thanks to its crowdfunded origins, easy to use and highly versatile make-up.

Pebble Time

So, it comes as no surprise that the tech world is in raptures after Pebble revealed it had begun crowdfunding for a new and improved device – the Pebble Time. In fact, within the first three hours of the Pebble Time being launched on Kickstarter it had raised $4m, surpassing its $500,000 target eight times over.

Like its predecessor, the new Pebble Time is an innovative little watch with a whole host of tricks. For instance, unlike its rivals the Pebble Time won’t use an OLED or LCD display as they consume a lot of power and cut battery life short. The Pebble unconventionally will utilise the power of a colour e-paper display, which means it has a battery that can last up to a week. However, this means the display will not be a touchscreen like the competitions’ screens.

The device is also 20% slimmer than the original, has a scratch resistant display and a bezel made of stainless steel. It’s water resistant, has a quick release mechanism to make it easy to change the strap. The little watch also has a new operating system that organises alerts in chronological order.

Developers will Delight

The Pebble will also come with a smart accessory port that will facilitate developers in creating sensors and straps that can be used in conjunction with the watch.

This move is of course one that’s there to encourage developers to take a shine to the device. And, as well all know a smart phone operating system often lives and dies on the number of apps that it has.

The new watch, which will be compatible with both Android and iOS devices, will come with straps in a variety of colours and is compatible with the 6,500 apps currently in the Pebble store. It’s expected that it will be sold for $159 (£103) and shipping to those who have funded through Kickstarter will begin at the end of May. The device will also be sold via retailers later in 2015 for the higher price of $199.

Apple Watch

The release of the Pebble crowdfunding effort comes only a few weeks before the launch of the Apple Watch, which was showcased last year and will go on sale for $349.

Pebble’s previous device rose over $10m from a Kickstarter campaign in 2012 and was released in the UK last October alongside the slimmer bodied Pebble Steel.

Even though some experts think the small size of a smartwatch display is the biggest problem for these sorts of devices, most believe that the smart watch could have a big year in 2015.

We haven’t written our Christmas lists to Santa Claus yet, but this little watch may well make its way on them if it meets the buzz around it.

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

The humble microwave is a relatively modern invention, having only been in our kitchens for the last 50 years. The first ever microwave oven was developed from research carried out in the second world war, with the first home-based units costing thousands of pounds.

These days, we think nothing of popping a meal into the microwave to reheat it. But did you know that your microwave can do much more?

Sterilising

If you’ve got young children, you’ll be no stranger to sterilising items in the microwave. Using a special microwave bag, or a sterilising box, you can kill germs on certain baby items by microwaving them with a small amount of clean water. Remember to let items completely cool down before using them, and ensure that there is no hot water inside them before handing them to a baby.

Freshening Up Bread

Ever gone to prepare a slice of toast just before work, only to find that the loaf’s gone stale? Enter the microwave: your one-stop solution for freshening up broad prior to toasting. Just pop the slice between two slightly damp slices of kitchen roll, then put the stale slice in the microwave and zap it on high for no more than 15 seconds. Don’t put too much water on the paper, or you’ll moisten the loaf too much.

Cleaning Sponges

Washing up sponges are notorious for harvesting bacteria, and the last thing you need is a dirty sponge spreading germs all over your ‘clean’ plates. By soaking your sponge in lemon juice and giving it a quick blast in the microwave, you can freshen up your sponge, extend its lifespan, and cut down on waste. The same procedure works with plastic chopping boards too. Just don’t try it with anything metal.

Roasting Garlic

Putting the oven on just to roast some cloves of garlic would be wasteful, but did you know that you can use your microwave instead? It’s simple: just chop the top off to expose all of the cloves, pop it in a microwave safe dish, and add one spoonful of water per clove. Microwave it on low power mode for three minutes and check; if it’s not ready, pop it in for another minute at a time until it’s cooked.

Making Cakes

Yes, you can make a cake in the microwave -- and you can make a single serving for a quick treat. There are recipes all over the internet for this treat, and it takes just a couple of minutes to cook one. We like this one from AllRecipes as a starting point; just watch the cooking time to avoid drying out the mixture.'

Chopping Onions

OK, the title is a bit of a stretch -- the microwave doesn’t chop the onion. But it does make the task a lot easier, because it prevents the onion from releasing the gases that make you cry. Just microwave the onion for 30 seconds before you cut into it. No need to wear goggles or mop your streaming eyes afterwards.

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