Let me give you a little background before we begin; I've been a smartwatch advocate since I laid my eyes on the concept. I've stopped wearing typical watches because I can figure out what time it is from a variety of options — at the top bar of my computer, on the lock-screen of my phone, and so on. But my phone keeps buzzing with notifications, making me constantly look at it every few minutes, distracting me from what I'm doing.

The concept of a smartwatch that lets me glance at those notifications on my wrist, while my phone rests in my pocket is a wonderful idea. And so, I've been waiting — waiting for the biggies to finally grace this much-hyped wearable computing category with their rendition. But nothing has happened; we've only been hearing rumours of a Google Smartwatch that will integrate Google Now, and of an Apple Smartwatch with a supposed curved display. 

It's not like there aren't any smartwatches to buy right now. A bunch of startups including Pebble, Kreyos, Metawatch, etc have products that have either been out for a while now, or are on the verge of shipping. Then there are some biggies such as Samsung and Sony who're already out with their products too. But after Pebble's major announcement yesterday, I believe I have finally found what I was looking for. So why pick this product over the rest? Here are my five reasons:

1. Works on both iOS and Android
I doubt Apple's Smartwatch will ever work on an Android phone. Google's Smartwatch might, given that Google Glass supports the iPhone. But know that some of the awesome features of Glass, such as turn-by-turn directions, are currently available only on Android. But why should I even bother, I'm talking about a device that doesn't even exist. Still, it's worth noting that the currently-available Sony Smartwatch 2 and the Samsung GALAXY Gear work only with Android phones. Buying a Pebble today will ensure that it will function equally well even if I switch between iOS and Android. 

2. It finally works seamlessly with an iPhone.
Although the Pebble Smartwatch is fully functional when paired with an Android phone, it wasn’t as good with the iPhone. Specifically, there was no seamless way to get each item that pops up in the Notification Center on your wrist. Now, thanks to the iOS 7's Apple Notification Center Service API, all notifications that come up on the iPhone be it WhatsApp group messages, somebody liking your Photo on Facebook, or even an important email in the Mailbox app, all will show on the Pebble Smartwatch! I use a bike for commuting, and it is irritating when the phone keeps vibrating in the pocket, and keeps you wondering "what could that be". Not anymore! I can also imagine Google Maps notifications for turn-by-turn navigation will come in handy when riding.

3. Long Battery Life
Samsung may like to boast about the 800 MHz processor and 277 ppi display in the GALAXY Gear. But guess what that gets you — the need to charge it at the end of every day, if not sooner. What a waste of ‘time’! Thanks to the e-paper display on the Pebble (somewhat similar to the Amazon Kindle's e-ink display) and a frugal 80 MHz processor, you've got a Smartwatch that is known to run for a good five to seven days at a stretch. I already charge a couple of devices twice a day — phone and laptop, so I'm glad I don't have to do the same with an accessory.

4. Truly Handsfree
OK, almost handsfree, since you will be wearing it on one. I expect certain things from a smartwatch that I've come to expect from typical watches. Like I shouldn't have to press a button to view notifications or even tell time; an annoyance I feel when I see people using a 6th-gen iPod Nano fitted onto a watch strap. Thanks to Pebble's e-paper display, it is always on and highly readable in sunlight (where most LCD/LED displays fail to deliver great legibility). In dark environments, the backlight can be turned on by simply flicking your wrist — thanks to the built-in accelerometer, the Pebble detects the motion and illuminates the display. Simple!

5. SDK 2.0
Along with yesterday's iOS 7 compatibility announcement, Pebble also rolled out version 2.0 of its Software Development Kit (SDK). This will give developers access to four new APIs, which will allow them to log data even when the phone is not paired to Pebble. This is great for fitness apps that keep tracking your activities continuously and then report the data back to the phone. And the Pebble is possibly the best wearable device that can track your motion — as it is designed to be worn day and night too (it has a silent vibrate alarm function), no matter what the weather condition (it is water resistant). Although there isn't much you can expect from a non-touchscreen monochrome display, for whatever it’s worth, the new SDK will allow developers to create better apps for the Pebble platform.

And these are the five reasons why I'm no longer waiting for smartwatches that could be potentially announced by Google or Apple. I think I've found what I was looking for. Oh yes, you can get one in your hands (or around it) for $150 (Rs 9200 approx).

Rohan Naravane is PriceBaba.com's Content and Product Guy. He is usually found talking about tech endlessly on Twitter.

Tags : smartwatch, Gizmos