Looking for an open source smartwatch you’re in total control of? If so, check out the Bangle.js 2 which is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter. This hacker-friendly piece of horological hardware is the brainchild of Espruino developer Gordon Williams. Much like Williams’ earlier efforts in this area, the Bangle.js 2 runs on JavaScript.

An open-source online “app store” is also available where you can browse apps created by others, and quickly ‘download’ them to the watch itself wirelessly.

The watch is an off-the-shelf model from China. However, all of the software and firmware that runs on it is open source, having been reverse engineered and retro-fitted to it.

Gordon Williams has run 4 crowdfunding campaigns before and delivered on all of them, which should offer some reassurance should you need it.

See https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/09/bangle-js-2-is-a-hackable-open-source-smartwatch-that-runs-javascript

#technology #opensource #smartwatch #hacking

  • ⁠ ︎
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    5
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    2 years ago

    This is actually pretty neat, my current watch is a Chinese knockoff modded to run Russian CFW, it only lasts about 2 weeks, and cost me $70. This one is a bit cheaper, has similar features, and looks much easier to customize. There’s one issue thought:

    The article says it’ll last 4 weeks on a single charge but according to the video it’s only 2 weeks, so which is it?

    • @tree
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      32 years ago

      It was 2 weeks but then he improved the firmware.

      The idle power draw of Bangle.js 2 is now down from 1.3mA to 0.3mA. We’ve mentioned 2 weeks battery life as a conservative estimate in the campaign but we’ve just blown past that. You should now be looking at around 1 month of battery life if you’re just using it for looking at notifications and the time.