Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

'Pebble Time' Debuts on Kickstarter With Slimmer Design and Color Display

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
63,546
30,859



Pebble today revealed the Pebble Time, a new smartwatch in its line of smart wearable devices that includes the company's first color-based display and introduces a thinner, more ergonomic design than its predecessor.

Launched on Kickstarter earlier this morning, Pebble promises that power consumption of the new device is greatly lowered thanks to the e-paper display, giving the Pebble Time a battery life of up to 7 days. The company also introduced a new voice-control feature to send voice replies or take notes using a select few compatible apps. The feature is a bit more full-fledged on Android, and on iOS currently will only work with Gmail notifications.

a361fd85680fccb17de65c13aa3e73bd_original.png
The Pebble Time also features a new curved design to ergonomically conform to any wrist, and is about 20 percent slimmer than the original Pebble. The company says the lens is made of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass with a stainless steel bezel, enabling a water-resistant device that Pebble still warns from being fully submerged.

Pebble Time comes with a soft silicone band in the color options of black, white, or red, but the company says any 22mm watch band will fit the new device. The watch also lives up to its name thanks to the chronological curating of multiple apps into one new feature called "Timeline." With past, present, and future buttons residing on the right side of the device, users can easily scroll through completed tasks and events, see what they need to be doing now, and check reminders for the future.
This is the new app menu, featuring new app faces with glanceable content. With timeline we've also created a system that dynamically loads and caches apps as needed, letting you access as many apps as you need.

As with all Pebble software, we've built an open platform. You can allow apps and developers to add 'pins' to your timeline, so you can keep track of things like upcoming events, sports, weather, traffic, travel plans, pizza specials and more.
Click to expand...
Pebble has been undeterred by the announcement and imminent launch of the Apple Watch, poking fun at Apple's overly enthusiastic unveiling of the device and pointing out their superior battery life and entry-level pricing in the process. Most recently the company claimed its new 2015 products would focus less on apps and more on something customers have never seen.

Those interested can visit the Pebble Time's Kickstarter page to claim their own rewards. The lowest pledge for the device begins at $159 for one watch with limited early-bird pricing, and ramps up from there. Retail pricing will be set at $199. The Pebble Time's $500,000 Kickstarter goal, which launched at 7:00 AM PT, reached its goal in just under twenty minutes of the campaign going live. As with most projects on the site, there are 31 days left to join in on the campaign.

Article Link: 'Pebble Time' Debuts on Kickstarter With Slimmer Design and Color Display
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/24/pebble-time-color-display/
Wayfarer

Wayfarer

macrumors 65816
Jun 15, 2007
1,225
601
Already pledged an early bird preorder!

On second thought, reading the comments section on the Verge, I'm having a bit of pledger's remorse...

I love the new display and UI, but holy **** that thing looks gross. In a world where the Moto 360 and Apple Watch exist, you’ve gotta have some better industrial design than this.
Click to expand...
"I love my Pebble Steel because it passes as a good looking regular watch. This looks like a kiddy toy. The exterior design is very adolescent and the low res color screen is from the 90’s."
Click to expand...

"The watch looks simple and great, but yeah, that bezel…"
Click to expand...

" this is kind of cute. The bezel is a bit ridiculous but it looks okay I think.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
G

GizmoDVD

macrumors 68030
Oct 11, 2008
2,599
5,014
SoCal
Embarrassing. They will likely ship after the Apple Watch has already been released. This is destined for the $99 bin by June/July if it ever makes it to retail (which will be over populated with Apple Watch, LG, Samsung etc).
 
roland.g

roland.g

macrumors 604
Apr 11, 2005
7,414
3,152
Hokey bouncing phone icons, not much nicer design, and back on Kickstarter!?!?

I think I'll pass. Looks like this could have been better.
 
heeloliver

heeloliver

macrumors 6502a
Sep 6, 2014
639
423
I used to have a pebble steel, and the horrible design and implementation made me sell it. What a horrible product, not to mention the two month long delay to ship it. This doesn't look much better. Happy to buy the Apple Watch in a month, where I know I'm going to get a reliable device.
 
C

cleirac

macrumors 6502
May 7, 2014
465
0
Ewww ... just like the fugly and plasticky looking/feeling Gears craps, I will avoid like a plague.
 
0098386

0098386

Suspended
Jan 18, 2005
21,574
2,908
Put a preorder down (as thats what this is essentially, heh). Love my original Pebble. Colour screen, even if it's just 64 colours, week-long battery life and water resistance is all I need in my next smartwatch and why I can't even consider the Apple Watch.
 
TonyC28

TonyC28

macrumors 68030
Aug 15, 2009
2,758
6,938
USA
Well there's at least one smart watch that the Apple Watch is better looking than.
 
Crosscreek

Crosscreek

macrumors 68030
Nov 19, 2013
2,892
5,793
Margarittaville
7 day battery life, works with IOS or Android, light weight and fairly inexpensive.

I would say a winner for some one who wants a simple watch and not the expense of an Apple watch.

Over 1 Million in funding already. Wow.
 
Rogifan

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,146
31,202
GizmoDVD said:
Embarrassing. They will likely ship after the Apple Watch has already been released. This is destined for the $99 bin by June/July if it ever makes it to retail (which will be over populated with Apple Watch, LG, Samsung etc).
Click to expand...

I'm assuming this is why its so cheap (compared to other smart watches). You want something that looks really nice and uses nice(er) materials it will cost you.
 
Goftrey

Goftrey

macrumors 68000
May 20, 2011
1,853
75
Wales, UK
Battery life is everything.

This will be my first smart watch.

EDIT: Totally digging the Pink Floyd cameo too. "Time" from Dark Side of the Moon.
 
Last edited:
mikecorp

mikecorp

Suspended
Mar 20, 2008
502
341
why?

why would anyone invest into this kind of crap. Yu could by watch from 90's or invest into :apple:watch.
 
S

samcraig

macrumors P6
Jun 22, 2009
16,779
41,982
USA
The negativity in this thread is funny. Personally I think Pebble's done a good job with version 2 of their smart watch. I know plenty of people who would choose this option over Android Wear or an Apple Watch because of battery life, water resistance, simplicity, etc.

Not everyone wants a "computer" on their wrist. Some are happy for more simple notifications.
 
nostaws

nostaws

macrumors 6502a
Jan 14, 2006
520
472
My problem is aren't they an established company now? Why do kick starter? I'd prefer kickstarter to be more for the little guys, and while pebble isn't big, they are definitely an established company. take some of your previous profits and put it to work.
 
G

GizmoDVD

macrumors 68030
Oct 11, 2008
2,599
5,014
SoCal
Dagless said:
A small company that just made $1million in 30 minutes is over.
Click to expand...

....and they have to produce all those units.

I actually pre-ordered because this likely won't be sold in stores and there are plenty of people who will buy my KS spot at a premium.

Mwuahaha
 
mattopotamus

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,666
5,879
I love my original pebble, but this personally adds nothing and looks worse IMO. I will buy an apple watch and keep my pebble on the sideline.

Side note: Kickstarter....really? I thought there were rules or something about being on kickstarter.

----------
GizmoDVD said:
....and they have to produce all those units.

I actually pre-ordered because this likely won't be sold in stores and there are plenty of people who will buy my KS spot at a premium.

Mwuahaha
Click to expand...

actually it likely will be in stores and on amazon....just like the current pebble.
 
iSee

iSee

macrumors 68040
Oct 25, 2004
3,539
272
I like their timeline interface -- a really nice take on how to organize info simply on your wrist.

The design of this is a bit bland, but at least it's not a large pile of ugly... not stylish, but not offensive either.

I think it's going to do pretty well.

Edit: actually, it's already doing pretty well. The kickstarter is essentially a pre-order mechanism, and they passed 10K units and counting fast. Very small fry by Apple's standards, but plenty to sustain a company. And for it to happen this fast shows they have a passionate customer base, which is a good thing by itself, but it also gives potential new customers some hints about the kind of products they deliver.
 
Last edited:
mattopotamus

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,666
5,879
nostaws said:
My problem is aren't they an established company now? Why do kick starter? I'd prefer kickstarter to be more for the little guys, and while pebble isn't big, they are definitely an established company. take some of your previous profits and put it to work.
Click to expand...

agreed. I think it is tacky. Granted it worked. The short supply causes and instant demand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom