Pebble Technology Corp. has released a new software update that adds native step and sleep tracking to its newer devices.

Though step and sleep tracking is not new for Pebble devices, as third-party apps deliver these features, this is the first time the smartwatch maker has taken the reigns and put fitness tracking into their own hands.

Called Pebble Health, this free health tracking system is quite primitive compared to other health trackers, as instead of being able to see data on the Pebble app on the user’s smartphone, the data is shared with Apple’s Health app and Google Fit. Pebble is still working on making user data appear on its own mobile app, but the company aims to address this in the next update.

Pebble Health is available for all its devices except for the original Pebble watch and Pebble Steel.

What makes it unique

There are so many wearable trackers on the market, so what makes Pebble Health unique? For one, instead of telling you that you need to achieve 10,000 steps every day (the ideal number to stay fit), it adjusts daily goals based on previous activities.

Within the watch app, users can see a week-long graph of their steps and sleep, allowing them to see if they have been moving and sleeping in enough. This may motivate the wearer to move more and alter their sleep schedule if needed.

Timeline integration

When the company introduced Pebble Time, its round and sexy watch, it came with a new feature called Timeline. Timeline is a new interface that lets users scroll activities chronologically. The feature has been made available to all models of Pebble, and the company promises to integrate Pebble Health with Timeline. What the company hopes to achieve with the integration is that it will be able to recommend the perfect time for users to take their daily walks or runs amidst a busy schedule.

Smart move

Pebble is taking step and sleep tracking seriously, as it has been to Stanford University’s Wearable Health Lab to come up with its own algorithm for tracking. Aside from making Pebble devices more accurate in tracking step and sleep, the health lab will publish it so scientists can assess and replicate it for further studies. Addressing privacy concerns, Pebble stated that user data will not be available to the researchers, only the algorithm will be.

Pebble prides itself with its e-ink display that allows its devices to last days, not hours, even if the screen is always turned on. As a fitness tracker and smartwatch, it already has an edge. Maybe it won’t be thrown in a drawer to be forgotten forever since user’s won’t have to charge it every day or every few hours.

Source: The Verge

Image via The Verge