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Suffice it to say, there are no apps right now for the Puls. Sure, there are the stock ones onboard the smartband - Facebook, Instagram, a Twitter-esque Whooter (formerly Twitrist), a specialized Maps app and Music but without the app store there's not much else you can do. There's also no fitness app at the moment, though I tried one during the unveiling at Dreamforce 2014.
Despite all the fuss during the unveiling, it's clear that new apps like Vibe, the one that can supposedly read your emotions, aren't ready. A SoundHound-like app is still being developed in-house as well.
A rep for i.am+ told me: "These apps are not available on our current firmware, however, we are considering some exciting new apps such as these for our future maintenance releases and updates."
Battery life
If most smartwatches and fitness trackers already have a difficult time staying alive, then the Puls has a long way to go.
I barely got a pulse after five hours of heavy usage and about eight hours with light usage (as in I left it alone without turning it off). The Moto 360 has a horrible battery life and can make it two days. The Gear S has a massive screen that glows brighter than the Puls and gets at least a day and a half after extended periods of use.
Charging the device is a confusing process, too. The prongs were made to help you discern how the charger fits into the cuff to snap shut.
But it's not that simple. You can't just glance at it then quickly connect the charger. It takes more than one try and then finally, the thing will close up. Considering it'll die shortly, the Puls fortunately takes about an hour to completely juice up.
