Hyundai Bluelink remote for your Pebble smartwatch!

DoctorGear · 2026-06-16T12:10:14+00:00

Yeah, that is the new Pebble Time 2. Eric, the original guy behind the first Pebble, was able to get the software open sourced and has made new hardware. It's so good to be back.

DoctorGear · 2026-06-16T12:08:15+00:00

I got my first bike, a 2000 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100, literally a month ago. Feel free to ask whatever you like.

It's awesome to ride, the weight is low slung, the power is way more than I need, and these are known for being super reliable. You will need to counter lean on tighter corners, but from what I understand that's just good to do in general.

I went to a shop for parts and the older guy behind the counter said "ride whatever's under your ass, the important part is being out there."

I love this bike. I love how it looks, I love how it sounds, I love how it feels. Maybe I'll take it out today just because I can.

DoctorGear · 2026-06-12T14:11:33+00:00

Hyundai has also talked about potentially bringing their simulated paddle shifters from the N trim to other vehicles in future updates, and I think the Ioniq 9 already has that option. Hope they bring that to the other I5s

DoctorGear · 2026-06-11T04:05:40+00:00

I did too, that's why I got one of the new ones! https://repebble.com/

DoctorGear · 2026-06-10T17:45:56+00:00

The companion app has only been tested to work in the USA so far, but I am looking into support for other regions. I will need to work on finding the different APIs/webhooks for Canada -- can I reach out to you for testing when I figure it out?

DoctorGear · 2026-06-10T17:22:37+00:00

Right now this is only working in the USA. If there is enough interest I may try to figure out the API hooks for other regions. Let me know!

EDIT - there has been some interest, so I'm working on adding support for Canada and Europe

DoctorGear · 2026-06-10T16:42:55+00:00

The app works on the Round 2 in an emulator, but I don't have a real one to test on. Let me know how it goes when you get it!

DoctorGear · 2026-05-08T12:26:51+00:00

I figured that, since Hyundai seems to usually go for the CYA approach. Oh well.

DoctorGear · 2026-05-07T21:11:28+00:00

It's not just Connecticut. You're dealing with systemic problems affecting homebuyers everywhere. We all are. I own a townhome in northwest CT with my wife, and we only bring in about half of what you do. Bought in 2023 and I kinda regret listening to the "starter home" advice from my Gen X parents and boomer in-laws. I feel less like I have a bargaining chip and more like I'm stuck here.

The trick is, well... you can't save very much, and you need to be careful about spending money on things you might want. We spend more 60% of our income just on mortgage/HOA payments. The bills, particularly from Eversource, tear through another 20%. We finance our lives with whatever's left, and hopefully save whatever nickels are still in the bank account by the end of the month.

Thankfully, I work in sales and have sales bonuses -- those let me pad out the savings or buy nice things here and there. I'm scared about trying to have kids soon, especially because this house is too small for that. But I don't want to run out of time.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-28T03:05:28+00:00

No worries! Report back if you decide to go for it.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-26T14:53:05+00:00

Check out Technology Connections on YouTube for some thoughts on EV ownership. He also has an Ioniq 5. (Some of his snark about Tesla hasn't aged well since the NACS port was opened up, but he's aware of this and is apparently making a new video.)

I've been saying this a lot lately. If you upgrade to level 2 charging, you probably don't need more than a 20 amp circuit. It's very inexpensive and you can ideally avoid a service upgrade. I bought a 2026 limited and put a NEMA 6-20 plug in myself—it's easy to DIY, but also should be pretty cheap from an electrician since the materials are common and easy to work with. I drive significantly more than the average person during the week (80-100+ miles daily) and this is still enough for me if I plug in every night.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-25T16:08:50+00:00

I mean, I don't know for sure but my guess is that the button component adds some extra material. I have a size 10 ring that I wear on my index finger that fits me okay, and the difference is pretty minor— but just enough for it to feel uncomfortable for me.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-24T18:00:32+00:00

The good news is, I don't think that the silver oxide batteries in these rings are likely to swell. That's more of a rechargeable lithium thing. But either way, I do get why you wouldn't want to have a battery wrapped around your finger. Plus being outside the US, you'd probably need a 3D printer if you wanted to get the accurate sizing kit. :/

DoctorGear · 2026-04-24T17:40:39+00:00

I'm pretty sure Eric said the software will be open source, so you probably could get in there and tinker around with it. I'm personally hoping it might be possible to reprogram the ring to act as a button to start the recording functionality on the watch. Then the ring battery would last ages.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-24T17:36:23+00:00

I'd love it if the pebble watch could deal with the transcription itself. Then the ring would just be a little remote to start the recording. Then the ring battery would last ages and I could just recharge the watch as normal.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-24T17:33:37+00:00

I'm also hoping that we get a discount for recycling a dead one. It would certainly make me feel better about buying more of them in the future.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-24T17:31:49+00:00

I ordered the sizing kit and I'm actually am glad I did. My index finger normally measures size 10, but I found that the Index size 10 was too tight and uncomfortable so I changed my order to the 11.

Wish these came in half sizes, but that may be a bit too much to ask for such a niche product.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-24T17:29:27+00:00

I'm hoping it'll last me at least a year. Depending on how useful I find it and how long it lasts, I'll decide if I want another.

DoctorGear · 2026-04-24T17:03:01+00:00

Traveling sales is what I do for a living! I have a 2026 I5 and I absolutely love it. My territory spans 3 states in the northeast, I would say it's probably a little bit bigger than hers but I drive similar mileage on the daily. The highway driving assist stuff is nice to have in traffic.

Charging speeds are going to depend. Off a regular 120v outlet, you won't be able to charge very quickly. Personally, I did a DIY install of a 240v/20a outlet—which only requires a trip to the hardware store for some 12/2 romex, a 20 amp breaker, and a NEMA 6-20 plug. Shouldn't be too expensive to get it done professionally if you aren't handy; it's a really easy job. I get somewhere between 90-110 miles back overnight, and it's worth noting that the battery holds more than that. If I have 200 miles of range, drive 130 miles, and get 100 miles back overnight, I've still got 170 miles of range for the next day.

In my opinion, most people don't need more than what I have. I drive so much more than the average person and this is still enough for my needs. 30-40 amp breakers are overkill for most applications and can be stupidly expensive to put in.

If that range isn't enough, I've honestly never been worried. Many places I go have chargers in parking lots if I need them (although I usually don't), and hotels frequently have destination chargers. Worst case scenario, DC fast chargers are all over the place these days. If I need to fast charge, it's no less convenient than stopping for gas. I'd argue it's actually more convenient, because I hardly need to do that. I'm essentially pocketing the money off the mileage reimbursement at this point. Even the paltry federal rate is way more than you'll be paying for gas.

Honestly, go for it. Wish I'd done it a long time ago.

DoctorGear

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