Pebble is coming back - Google released source code

[AbeTheSuccinct]

Potentially huge news half an hour ago, Google has released the source code for pebbleOS, and Eric Migicovsky announced simultaneously that he is making new Pebbles.

We're bringing Pebble back!

Eight years later, you still can't beat a Pebble

repebble.com

See the code that powered the Pebble smartwatches

The source code for the Pebble operating system in now open, to support the volunteer community maintaining Pebble watches.

opensource.googleblog.com

I really, REALLY hope this comes to fruition, Pebble is still a phenomenal smartwatch.

 

[Pug72]

Still got the original Pebble watch, don’t think I’d ever use it again though.

Found a pic of mine from when I used it. (Bonus snail!)

 

[DR3MCLAREN]

I went through 3 warranty replacements in the two months i had one... they were pretty poorly made. Reviving this product now is like reviving the typewriter. There's just no point now.

 

[DaveP]

I didn't have any problems with my Pebble Time, in fact, it still works. However, I don't see it competing very well in today's smartwatch market. At the time, getting a week-long battery life was great. But you can get that with plenty of smartwatches. I don't really see the appeal now besides nostalgia, unless there are significant new feature additions.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I was a Pebble user back in the day. I had the original, the steel and the Pebble Time. I wore the Time up until the second Apple Watch came out and got one of those. I miss the simplicity, the fun animations, the thousands of watch faces, the battery life and the screen. It felt more like an actual smartwatch than a mini phone attached to my wrist.

I'm tied into the Apple Fitness ecosystem now and as much as I'm happy that the Pebble is coming back, I can’t say I’ll ever own one (or its successor) again. Especially as I’m beginning to get smartwatch fatigue. I'd much rather have a smart ring or a Withings Scan Watch.

 

[Night Spring]

Especially as I’m beginning to get smartwatch fatigue. I'd much rather have a smart ring or a Withings Scan Watch.

What do you find tiresome about the smartwatch? Are they features you can't turn off/ignore?

 

[slythfox]

I am looking forward to this as I missed out on the pebble! I want 1-2 week battery life. The only reason I purchased an Apple Watch is for work for 2FA. Sure, heart rate, gps, activites are fine, but these are all fitness focused features that I don't really need at the cost of daily charging

 

[jz0309]

Competition is a good thing.
Having said that, let’s wait until HW is released and we can read the specs

 

[xxFoxtail]

What do you find tiresome about the smartwatch? Are they features you can't turn off/ignore?

When the Pebble first came out, smartwatches weren't really much of a thing. I bought one because it was different. No one had one. I already had that geeky-girl look going for me, the Pebble completed that look. Everybody I know has a smartwatch now, I constantly see random people in my day to day life with one. I just feel like part of the herd now. I don’t normally care what others think, I think it would be nice to just go back to having a simpler watch on my wrist again.

So to me, it's not so much about features I can turn off - though I already have my Apple Watch set to be as distraction-free as possible. I know I can just not wear my AW anymore, but I've been wearing one since 2016, it's pretty ingrained into my life now.

It's mostly the health and fitness features I wear it for now, not much else really matters to me. I mentioned a smart ring or that Withings watch. I think either of those might be better suited for me when my AW Ultra dies.

Also, apologies for the mini-rant and slightly off-topic comment.