Are you familiar with the name Pebble? Back in 2012 a small start-up company hit two birds with one stone. They introduced the world, technically, to smartwatches the ePaper Pebble, while simultaneously legitimising Kickstarter as a viable platform for interesting ideas. The first Pebble watch sold like crazy thanks to its $10 million strong backing – a goal which the new Pebble Time is taking aim at.
Yesterday Pebble revealed their new smartwatch, the Pebble Time, as an exclusive through Kickstarter. The new model includes a colour ePaper display, with revamped software and a much more ergonomical design. The watch itself is 20% thinner and more curved to first wrists better, with the stainless steel finish rounded off with scratch resistant Gorilla Glass. The Pebble software introduces a new Timeline feature to the device, which allows you to scroll through past and upcoming events with the push of a button.
The Pebble Time comes in three colours, all of which include a new quick latch system that allows you to swap out straps at will. The Time is also compatible with all previous apps that the Pebble linked up with, on both Android and iOS. Pebble promises that even more functionality will come when app developers start messing around with the new watch software, leading up to the launch in May.
Pebble launched a Kickstarter for the Time yesterday, purely so that eager fans could lock down their orders first. The watch is currently only available through their campaign, which broke all sorts of records last night. The Pebble Time managed to raise over $1 million in just 49 minutes, which blows away the previous record held by the Veronica Mars film. The Kickstarter campaign is currently sitting over $5 million – less than 24 hours after launch. And I have no doubt it’s going to continue smashing records over the coming month.
As for the Time itself, I think it’s one of the most interesting smartwatches on the market. The cheaper price (starting at $199), coupled with it’s far more streamlined functionality makes the Pebble feel like a watch that doesn’t pretend it’s a phone. It’s going to face stiff competition from the likes of Apple Watch and upcoming Android Wear, but if the previous model is anything to go by Pebble has little to worry about.
Last Updated: February 25, 2015
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 25, 2015 at 14:38
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Matewis Jubilai
February 25, 2015 at 14:41
I don’t like wearing a watch 😛 but that red one just looks too awesome to pass up! Way better looking than those Microsoft bands.
nvm@$199 😛
bravosewe
February 25, 2015 at 16:09
Microsoft band is not a watch.
Guild
February 25, 2015 at 14:42
It’s a nice to have but not a necessity in my life. I like it, it does look really like a nice piece of tech but I still resort to my phone for everything cause it’s always with me. I barely glance at my watch these days
Matewis Jubilai
February 25, 2015 at 14:43
I think that if you want to constantly wear something around your wrist, then it has to at least be weaponized.
Cyberats
February 26, 2015 at 01:07
Put a wi-fi bank hacking app. in it and it will be popular.