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Pebble Introduces 'Pebble Time Steel' Following Successful Kickstarter Campaign

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Exactly a week after revealing the new generation of Pebble smartwatches, called the Pebble Time, Pebble today announced an additional tier to its Kickstarter fundraiser called the Pebble Time Steel.

Touted as having every feature of the Pebble Time - including the new color display and Timeline features - but featuring more classy, decorative casings, so it's "dressed up and ready to go." The Steel comes in two band options, stainless steel or premium leather, and the watchface itself is coated in a CNC-finished 316L stainless steel casing. Differing slightly from its original counterpart, the Time Steel's battery will last for up to 10 days versus the Time's 7 days.

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The Time Steel starts at a $250 tier on Pebble's Kickstarter page, but will retail for $300 when it officially launches later this year. The company also promises that those who have backed the Pebble Time can upgrade to the Time Steel by clicking on the "Manage" button next to their existing rewards tier.

The Time Steel comes in color options similar to the Time: silver with a stone leather band, gunmetal black with a black leather band, and gold with a red leather band. The company promises that all Time Steels will include both a leather and matching metal band in each order. The gold and red leather band Pebble Time Steel shares a striking resemblance to Apple's own 18-Karat Yellow Gold Apple Watch Edition with Red Modern Buckle option.

The company also introduced a "Smartstrap" system that will allow any developer to create various third-party applications using sensors and electronics built into swappable bands. As pointed out by TechCrunch, there are numerous options developers could capitalize on by working with the new smartstrap system.
You could add a heart rate monitor, for instance, or a GPS chip for improved run tracking and fitness powers; a spare battery to bump up the life of the Pebble to multiple weeks; or environmental sensors to tell you about air quality and temperature.
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In the 7 days since the Pebble Time Kickstarter campaign began, it's raked in just over $12 million as of writing, with some 54,000 backers and still about 24 days to go. Those interested in the newly introduced Pebble Time Steel rewards tier can head over to the Kickstarter page now to check out more information on the smart wearable.

Article Link: Pebble Introduces 'Pebble Time Steel' Following Successful Kickstarter Campaign
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/03/03/pebble-time-steel-kickstarter/
Ooh now this is definitely something I could get on board with! Currently sat on an early bird time pledge but may well upgrade it to a time steel! Think I'll wait to see what specifics are revealed at Apple's spring forward event before deciding for sure though.
 
The Steel model doesn't interest me much and for $300 it's a bit too pricey IMO, but I might get the standard Pebble Time over the Apple Watch for this gen. There just isn't enough enticing features from what we've seen to justify the high price for :apple: Watch right now. Had all those other sensors been put in then, maybe. Right now it's equal to or marginally better at best, than what's already out in the marketplace at least in my opinion.
 
Apple watch. I have a pebble eh. I think apple is going to correct all the issues pebble had by integrating so much
 
I was gonna pass on the plastic Pebble Time just because this is what I really wanted. Well, no  Watch for me. I will be getting the Steel Time!
 
I'm not a fan of the Apple Watch design, but when compared to this Pebble it suddenly becomes the height of elegance and sophistication.
 
kallekilponen said:
For me the Pebble wins 10-1...simply because of its battery life. I don't fancy the idea of charging my watch every night. (And the water proofing is a big plus too.)
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That's an advantage that doesn't make a difference to most people. Apple Watch should have a day of battery and most people take their watch off when they sleep.
 
kallekilponen said:
For me the Pebble wins 10-1...simply because of its battery life. I don't fancy the idea of charging my watch every night. (And the water proofing is a big plus too.)
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Got to agree with you. If I were to buy a watch i would buy this over the Apple.

Battery life and waterproofing is a Big winner for Pebble.
 
If the Apple Watch didn't exist, this is the Pebble I would get.

Nice to see the tried to copy Apple in every way.

But July? Really? No one will give a damn. By that point Apple Watch will be everywhere and no one will pay $300 for a Pebble when they can pay $350 for an Apple.
 
JaySoul said:
That's only $49 cheaper than the base :apple: Watch.
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Yeah, I think they need to widen the gap a bit. I'd hesitate to cut myself out of the zillions of 3rd party Apple watch apps, just to save a lousy $49

I also think Apple needs to start lower than $349. So there! :)
 
Bad week for Apple. The S6/S6 Edge and now this! :eek:

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JaySoul said:
That's only $49 cheaper than the base :apple: Watch.
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You're forgetting one important difference. Using the Apple Watch looks like crap and it's confusing. The one area that Apple is not paying more attention to. Instead they rather show off the watch in fashion magazines.

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dannyyankou said:
Oh how cute, they painted their watch gold.
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Maybe they realize that only a fool would buy a tech piece that cost thousands of dollars which will become obsolete when gen 2 Apple Watch is released.
 
I've backed the Pebble Time at $159 Early Bird. I figure that I can always cancel once I see what Apple has to show on the 9th. But now they announce the Pebble Time Steel, which looks great, but at that price point of $249 it's a lot easier for me to just go with Apple and have a watch that's 100% compatible with my phone, better display, etc.

Decisions, decisions... :confused:
 
cdm283813 said:
Maybe they realize that only a fool would buy a tech piece that cost thousands of dollars which will become obsolete when gen 2 Apple Watch is released.
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The "fools" that buy this will buy it for fashion reasons more than tech reasons. I don't think someone who buys a rose gold Apple Watch for $5,000 will care much about new sensors. If you're buying it for the tech itself, get the sport edition and replace it every couple of years.
 
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The idea of a smartband really interests me. Can't wait for my Pebble Time :).

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kallekilponen said:
For me the Pebble wins 10-1...simply because of its battery life. I don't fancy the idea of charging my watch every night. (And the water proofing is a big plus too.)
Click to expand...

Aye same, for me a watch is all about 1) telling the time 2) having a decent battery. I don't want any more devices that I have to keep "topped up", I don't want to have to worry about overusing something and having the battery die on me when I need it. I get a days battery life out of my iPhone and that's without using it as intended (for videos, games etc).

Sticking with Pebble! No doubt I'll eventually get an Apple Watch when battery tech matures a bit more.
 
Lmao! Really, Pebble? Okay, even they fooled me and I had to look twice. Of course when the screen comes on, its clear as day, which is which.
 
Took the opportunity to upgrade time tiers for the Pebble Time -- now in the May tier!

As with others, I currently prefer battery life and so prefer the Time to the Apple Watch.

I can be tempted to buy a low-tier first-gen Apple Watch (Sport) just for the heck of it (too much money in my pockets, I guess?), but I expect the second gen Apple Watch to be the real killer device -- much as how the second gen iPad was long-lasting, as is the second-gen iPad Mini. For phones, it actually was the second-gen second-gen (the 3GS) that was the lasting device...

Anyway. Love Apple as much as ever, I just know that their first-gen devices, unless you're buying them as a collector, aren't the best ones to jump in with.
 
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