Some Pebble smartwatches bricking after shutdown, company replacing faulty units

It appears that Pebble’s smartwatch is officially feeling its largest growing pain since debuting just two months ago. A five-page long (and growing) thread on the company’s forum has some owners describing a bug that’s leaving their Pebbles pebbled bricked after shutdown. Pebble’s Eric Migicovsky let us know that the company is actively replacing affected units, while examining those being sent in to find out the root cause:

We’ve had reports of this issue, and we understand of course that it’s annoying for users. We’re replacing any Pebbles for users who report this issue. We’re reviewing the Pebbles that get returned, working to get to the bottom of the issue. We have our support team ready to follow up to any user that reports this issue.

As it stands, there’s no word on whether firmware update 1.9 has any role in keeping the devices from turning on after being shut down. Owners have further reported that no amount of charging their Pebble will help it to actually come back to life. We’ve reached out to the company for more info on the matter (including nailing down how many units the company has replaced so far), and we’ll be sure to keep you updated. For now, let us know whether your experience with Pebble has been rocky at all so far.

Update: That was fast — apparently Pebble has received about 30 reports of this issue since Friday. Here’s the official word from Migicovsky:

We’re tracking a few reports of this issue. Up to Friday, we’ve had 20-30 reports (out of 30,000+ pebbles in the field). We’ve gotten several back to the office, and we’re getting to the bottom of it.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Source: Pebble (forum)

Archaeologists Think Hidden Imperial Tomb May Be Too Deadly to Explore

After discovering a secret palace hidden in China’s first emperor massive burial complex, Chinese technicians are nervous. Not because Qin Shi Huang’s tomb is the most important archeological discovery since Tutankhamun, but because they believe his burial place is full of deadly traps that will kill any trespassers. Not to talk about deadly quantities of mercury. More »

Apple’s Ping no longer pinging back, leaves memories of white noise in its wake

Apple's Ping no longer pinging back, leaves memories of white noise in its wake

“I can’t remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride
Something touched me deep inside… the day the music died.”

R.I.P. Ping (09.01.201009.30.2012)

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Apple’s Ping no longer pinging back, leaves memories of white noise in its wake originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune’s last days: Microsoft pulling Zune HD apps, select features on August 31st

Microsoft’s oddly named music service put its official resignation in earlier this summer, but the Zune brand isn’t in its coffin just yet — although Redmond is certainly driving in the nails. Zune Pass subscribers, for instance, are now receiving word that the service’s Mixview playback and channel playlist features will be discontinued on August 31st, along with music video streaming from the Zune desktop software. User licenses to previously purchased music videos are being reworked as well, cutting off user access to old content on new machines. The service’s once heavily touted social aspect seems to be making way for Xbox Music as well: users will no longer be able to send or receive messages, invite friends or share songs, playlists, and play history. Last, but not least, the company is dealing its old hardware one final blow by discontinuing Zune HD apps — not that there were many to kill off. Microsoft has little else to say in the brief email, but promises to share more information about Xbox Music soon. Check it out for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Zune’s last days: Microsoft pulling Zune HD apps, select features on August 31st

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Zune’s last days: Microsoft pulling Zune HD apps, select features on August 31st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crowdsourcing Could Help Deaf People Subtitle Their Everyday Life [Crowdsourcing]

Subtitles make TV far more accessible for deaf people, but new research promises to give people with hearing difficulties the option to subtitle their everyday lives, too, using crowdsourced transcribers. More »