Pebble 2, Time 2, and Pebble Core Launch on Kickstarter

[MacRumors]

Pebble today launched a Kickstarter campaign for two new fitness-focused smartwatches, and an all-new cellular-connected wearable.

Pebble 2, the first major upgrade to the original Pebble smartwatch, features new built-in sleep, step, and heart rate tracking functionality alongside existing phone, text, and information notification capabilities.

The iOS- and Android-compatible smartwatch retains an always-on high contrast black and white display that is readable both indoors and outdoors. The watch also features an anti-scratch lens coating, built-in microphone, up to weeklong battery life, and water resistance up to 30 meters.

Pebble 2 is compatible with over 13,000 existing apps and watchfaces, and runs an updated version of its Timeline operating system that enables customizable one-click actions that, for example, make it easier to send a text message, call an Uber, or check your calendar right from your wrist.

Time 2 is Pebble's premium smartwatch featuring a stainless steel design, built-in heart rate monitor and microphone, and color e-paper display that is more than 50 percent larger than its predecessor and has up to 80 percent more pixels to see twice the text. The battery lasts up to 10 days on a single charge.

Time 2 adopts many other Pebble 2 features and is compatible with iOS and Android.

Pebble Core is an all-new Android-based lightweight, cellular-connected clip that allows runners to leave their smartphones behind, yet still conveniently stream music from Spotify, track their pace, distance, and location with GPS, record voice notes, and even send an emergency SOS if needed.

Pebble Core supports both Wi-Fi and 3G cellular networks using a micro-SIM card, while both Bluetooth and wired headphones can be connected. The wearable provides up to 5 days of battery life based on 45 minute workouts and can be charged using the included USB cable or an add-on wireless charging pad.

Pebble 2 starts at $99 on Kickstarter in flame, aqua, black, white, and lime and begins shipping in September 2016, while Time 2 starts at $169 in black, gold, and silver and is slated to ship in November 2016. Pebble Core starts at $69 in black-red and begins shipping in January 2017.

Pebble has already well exceeded its $1 million fundraising goal, with limited early bird and regular pledge tiers still available on Kickstarter. The Pebble 2, Time 2, and Core will each cost $30 extra at full retail price once the crowdfunding campaign is completed at the end of June.

Pebble also introduced Pebble Core for Hackers and new Pebble Health tools and features.

Pebble's existing smartwatch lineup includes the Pebble Classic, Pebble Steel, Pebble Time, Pebble Time Steel, and Pebble Time Round.

Article Link: Pebble 2, Time 2, and Pebble Core Launch on Kickstarter

 

[newdeal]

The Time doesn't look as bad as Pebbles usually do. Not sure why anyone would want to pay for another data plan for the core though.

 

[vmachiel]

Why use kickstarter again? Are you allowed to use them as a store, and what are the benefits?

 

[viperGTS]

Only $69 for the Pebble Core? That's pretty neat

 

[polaris20]

An iPod Shuffle with built in GPS sounds like a great idea, but ugh, why couldn't they include at least 1GB of storage? I don't want or need a Spotify account, nor do I want to have to have another SIM-required device.

 

[motulist]

This is what the AppleWatch should've been.

 

[niun]

Sweet! I'm in for a Time 2. Loving my Time.

 

[nicovh]

Hopefully it comes with alot of bands.

-_-

 

[miduga]

I've ordered Time 2. Pretty sweet! 10 days of battery? I'm in.

 

[Mr-Stabby]

10 days battery life, much more like it! I'd much rather have a colour e-ink display and 10 hours battery life than a full colour display like an Apple Watch that lasts less than a day most of the time if you actually use it! A combo of the Pebble and Apple Watch would be perfect.

 

[millerlite]

I thought kickstarter was for people trying to, you know, kick start a new idea, not for companies to launch an updated model. Don't throw your money at a failed company.

 

[Dilster3k]

Can someone stop them from making those ugly plastic toys. A guys chance with any girl will drop down drastically with that on their wrist.

 

[ee4life]

An iPod Shuffle with built in GPS sounds like a great idea, but ugh, why couldn't they include at least 1GB of storage? I don't want or need a Spotify account, nor do I want to have to have another SIM-required device.

From the Kickstarter info:
"Core streams music directly from Spotify, so you stay motivated and on pace. You can also use Core’s 4GB of built-in storage to access your favorite playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks."

So you can use it offline with the internal 4GB, and I'm assuming those that have Spotify will probably be able to download Spotify playlists for offline listening because it runs Android.

Also, I saw some mention of using freedompop sims to get ~700MB of cellular data free per month. Not familiar with the service myself, but I could see that being useful for such a device.

 

[polaris20]

From the Kickstarter info:
"Core streams music directly from Spotify, so you stay motivated and on pace. You can also use Core’s 4GB of built-in storage to access your favorite playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks."

So you can use it offline with the internal 4GB, and I'm assuming those that have Spotify will probably be able to download Spotify playlists for offline listening because it runs Android.

Eh, okay. That definitely makes it more appealing then.

 

[TheRealTVGuy]

This is what the AppleWatch should've been.

How so? Please elaborate.

 

[NT1440]

Time2 looks neat. I won't get rid of my Apple watch, but I'm throughout impressed by what Pebble has done with color Epaper. I've never seen E-paper with a fast enough refresh rate to do animations until I saw the original Time.

 

[talkybear]

An iPod shuffle with GPS and a tiny screen that displays distance would be great.
[doublepost=1464105083][/doublepost]

Why use kickstarter again? Are you allowed to use them as a store, and what are the benefits?

I think it's a good place for them to test market demand, and also get cash to fund their development and production (for a normal retailer, you only get paid after you deliver a product).

 

[Exile714]

The wearable provides up to 5 days of battery life based on 45 minute workouts

"5 days"
5 workouts...
45 minutes each...
Or, you know, just under 4 hours...
That's basically 5 days.

 

[eyeseeyou]

The time 2 seems interesting but IMO too little too late and still isn't as nice or offers as much functionality as a Gen 1 Apple Watch.

Pebble 2 is fugly

 

[bushido]

The Pebble Core sounds great and so cheap

 

[spinedoc77]

Nice, they've finally caught up to 2014 in terms of aesthetics. I can't complain with those prices though. With the 30m water resistance and the HR monitor it's a steal for the price.

 

[eyeseeyou]

This is what the AppleWatch should've been.

You mean this is what the time 1 should've been?

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Why use kickstarter again? Are you allowed to use them as a store, and what are the benefits?

It means they don't have to risk a thing. It also means they aren't ready for market.

Kickstarter allows them to get a big pile of money now, and produce a product later on. They actually never have to produce a product at all, only say they attempted to and take the money.

Wouldn't you rather be paid for the next couple years or work now and start using the money right away, rather than actually having to work for it? You could invest now and start making interest off money you haven't really even earned yet.

Kickstarter is a great deal for the business but horrid for the consumer who assumes all risk and gives away their money with zero guarantee they'll ever see anything for it in return. Unlike a typical business, the consumer assumes all the risk rather than the business doing so.

 

[motulist]

How so? Please elaborate.

It does everything that 95% of people would want a wearable to do.

Always-on screen

~ week-long battery life

Built in gps

Not tethered to a phone

Notifications from your phone

Water proof rated to 30 m

Health sensors

Inexpensive price

Music player

And more. So the better question is - what does the AppleWatch do beyond what the pebble does that people want? Super especially when you consider the huge negatives of AW being much more expensive and having much much shorter battery life.

 

[niun]

Nice, they've finally caught up to 2014 in terms of aesthetics.

Heh, and Apple had to reach all the way back to 2007 for the Watch