Pebble smartwatch

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble teases a new smartwatch to be unveiled in 3 days time


It looks like Pebble is about to unveil its new smartwatch very soon, with the smartwatch pioneer teasing that it is set to replace its black and white e-paper display smartwatch with a new model that will feature a color display, in just 3 days time.


image: http://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43683_03_pebble-teases-new-smartwatch-unveiled-3-days-time.jpg (http://www.tweaktown.com/image.php?image=imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43683_03_pebble-teases-new-smartwatch-unveiled-3-days-time_full.jpg)
http://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43683_03_pebble-teases-new-smartwatch-unveiled-3-days-time.jpg

The new smartwatch from Pebble will reportedly feature a color e-paper-style display that will sport an improved backlight that is also slightly wider. We should see Pebble also include a microphone, which will allow for some voice-activated features. The new display itself will reportedly be embedded into an enclosure that is thinner than its predecessor, but it won't be touch-capable, unfortunately.

When it comes to software, there are rumors that Pebble has been working with webOS on revamping Pebble OS. This should mean we can expect a totally fresh UI with new animations and a timeline view that will give you a better look at your notifications. The new Pebble smartwatch should be the same price, if not lower than its predecessor, which still costs $199.



Noticia:
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/43683/pebble-teases-new-smartwatch-unveiled-3-days-time/index.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble’s Color E-Ink Smartwatch Leaked Ahead Of Tomorrow’s Announcement
Late last week, we brought you news (http://9to5mac.com/2015/02/23/wider-color-screen-pebble-leaks/) that Pebble (http://hothardware.com/tags/pebble) is set to launch its next generation smartwatch on Tuesday. Perhaps the most interesting bit of information (other than the fact that the smartwatch is supposed to be thinner and a bit wider) is that the device will feature a color e-ink display.


http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/32742/content/pebblecountdown.jpg


As is typically the case with new tech products, Tuesday’s big reveal was leaked early — and it was leaked this morning by none other than Pebble itself. A mockup image of the smartwatch is still hosted on Pebble’s website, and shows a sleeker device displaying flight information on a yellow background. Just how “colorful” this new e-ink display will be is unknown at this time, but it’s definitely a nice departure from Pebble’s traditional grey/black display scheme.


http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/32742/content/pebble_yellow.png


All other specs for the new Pebble smartwatch are pure speculation at this point, but 9to5Mac reckons that the device will feature a Cortex M4 processor, voice recognition courtesy of Nuance (http://hothardware.com/tags/nuance), and a completely overhauled operating system (http://hothardware.com/news/pebble-ceo-over-one-million-smartwatches-sold-and-counting) that has been built from the ground up by the team responsible for webOS.

The new smartwatch is expected to debit with a price tag of $199, which would put it on equal footing with today’s Pebble Steel (http://hothardware.com/tags/pebble-steel). That price also puts it on a level playing field with Android Wear devices like the ASUS ZenWatch (http://hothardware.com/news/ASUS-Unveils-Stylish-ZenWatch-MeMO-Pad-7-Core-M-Zenbook-UX305-EeeBook-X205-at-IFA), while easily undercutting the upcoming Apple Watch Sport (http://hothardware.com/news/apple-watch-orders-approach-6-million-in-preperation-for-april-launch), which will retail for $349.

Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/pebbles-color-e-ink-smartwatch-leaked-ahead-of-tomorrows-announcement

[Jorge-Vieira]

UPDATE: More Pebble smartwatch information leaked and removed


Recently we told you about how Pebble are set to launch a new smartwatch (http://www.tweaktown.com/news/43683/pebble-teases-new-smartwatch-unveiled-3-days-time/index.html) featuring a color display, replacing its black and white e-paper technology.


image: http://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43721_039_update-more-pebble-smartwatch-information-leaked.jpg (http://www.tweaktown.com/image.php?image=imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43721_039_update-more-pebble-smartwatch-information-leaked_full.jpg)
http://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43721_039_update-more-pebble-smartwatch-information-leaked.jpg

Thanks to a leaked photo from Pebble's own servers by 9to5Mac (http://9to5mac.com/2015/02/23/wider-color-screen-pebble-leaks/), we're able to get a little more insight into how the color display will actually look. This smartwatch is rumored to feature a slimmer body, an updated OS and obviously the color display as seen above. Reports claim that this may be another e-paper display, said to help keep battery life long and stable.

With the full announcement to be completed tomorrow, we look forward to what is to come.

The link to the original image has been removed by Pebble and replaced with something a little more comical.


image: http://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43721_040_update-more-pebble-smartwatch-information-leaked.jpg
http://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43721_040_update-more-pebble-smartwatch-information-leaked.jpg





Noticia:
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/43721/update-more-pebble-smartwatch-information-leaked-removed/index.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

New Pebble smartwatch crowd funded in half an hour (http://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/new-pebble-smartwatch-crowd-funded-in-half-an-hour/)


The new Pebble smartwatch was announced today, it is called Pebble Time and will cost $199 with a color display and a brand new interface. The watch launched on Kickstarter earlier this afternoon and has already raised over $1,000,000.
The crowd funding project was asking for $500,000 but it seems people were really eager to see a new Pebble watch, at the time of writing, just over 6000 people have backed the project. By the time you read this, that number will have likely increased significantly.
http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/a361fd85680fccb17de65c13aa3e73bd_original.png (http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/a361fd85680fccb17de65c13aa3e73bd_original.png)
Key features of the Pebble Time watch include, a new colour e-paper display, seven days of battery life, water resistance, fully compatible with past Pebble apps and it will begin shipping in May.
The backing tiers on Kickstarter start at $159, 5000 people can buy an early bird Pebble watch at a slightly lower than retail price. After that, 20,000 people can pick up a Pebble Time for $179. You can spend $338 and get two of them, $845 will get you five watches, $1690 will net you ten Pebble Time watches and the final tier goes for $5000, which will reserve you 30 smart watches.
The original Pebble smartwatch was a huge success and was widely praised. Now we just have to wait and see if the new model can live up to expectations. You can take a full look at the Kickstarter page, HERE. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-time-awesome-smartwatch-no-compromises)



Noticia:
http://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/new-pebble-smartwatch-crowd-funded-in-half-an-hour/

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble Time Watch Unveiled: Color ePaper Display, New OS

http://media.bestofmicro.com/5/I/481014/original/pebble-time2.jpg


It's about time Pebble added color to its smartwatches. The startup has sold over 1 million wristpieces in the last 1.5 years, but its grayscale watches look old-fashioned next to competitors'. Enter the Pebble Time, a new smartwatch with a color ePaper display, a built-in microphone and a new version of the Pebble OS.
Announced today, the Time is available for pre-order exclusively on Kickstarter.com (https://getpebble.com) with an introductory price of $159, which will rise to $199 when the product ships in May.
Design: Thinner in Three Colors Pebble says that the Time is 20 percent thinner than the original, so it should feel less bulky on your wrist than the Pebble Steel. The new watch still features a stainless steel bezel and comes in three colors: black, white and red. It uses a standard 22mm band that wearers can easily replace themselves using a quick-release pin.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/5/K/481016/original/pebble-time4.jpg
Like the original Pebble and the Pebble Steel, the Time will have three buttons on the right side and one on the left side in lieu of a touch screen. CEO Eric Migicovsky told Tom's Guide that the company believes having physical buttons provides a tactile feel users need to operate their watches more effectively, even if the screen is wet or they aren't looking directly at it.

MORE: 5 Reasons You Will Wear a Smartwatch (http://blog.laptopmag.com/5-reasons-youll-wear-a-smart-watch)
"There's something extraordinarily useful about being able to quickly and easily, without even looking at your watch, pick up a call or cancel a call or pause the track that you're playing or dismiss a notification," Migicovsky said. "You can feel it, and that's extremely powerful."
As with its predecessors, the Pebble Time is water proof enough for swimming and features a built-in accelerometer so you can run with it while leaving your watch at home. However, you’ll still need your phone to get GPS data like distance and pace.
Color ePaper Screen: Battery Life Friendly The Pebble Time's ePaper display is the real star of the show, displaying up to 64 colors and remaining visible at all times, even in direct sunlight. While most other smartwatches use full-color LED touchscreens, Pebble employs ePaper because of its low power consumption and strong outdoor viewability.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/5/J/481015/original/pebble-time3.jpg
Migicovsky said that the company is targeting 7 days of battery life per charge, far better than the typical Android Wear watch's 1 to 2 day time frame.
Microphone Built In: Limited Functionality The new watch is Pebble's first timepiece to include a built-in microphone, which will allow users to issue quick responses to messaging alerts. Android users will be able to use voice to send short replies to Facebook, What's App, SMS and a slew of other apps that allow you to reply directly to notifications. On iOS, at first, only Gmail will be supported.
The software does not connect directly with your phone's voice assistant (Siri or Google Now). And because there’s no speaker, you also won’t be able to use the Pebble Time to make voice calls. However, developers will be able to use the mic in their applications.
New OS: All About Timelines Where today's Pebble software usually makes you go into your apps to see your data, the new operating system's interface shows a timeline of your data with calendar events and other important information like the weather.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/5/L/481017/original/pebble-time1.jpg
"We designed our new operating system around the concept of time" Migicovsky explained. "With one click, you can see what's coming up next." Content is organized into past, present and future with accomplished tasks such as step count in the past view, upcoming events in the future view and the app launcher in the present view.
MORE: Best Fitness Trackers (http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-fitness-trackers,review-2066.html)
The device will still be compatible with Pebble's ecosystem with 6,500 apps and watch faces. However, it will be able to store more apps -- Migicovsky said up to 70 -- by keeping more data in the cloud. (Previously, Pebble watches could store just 8 apps at once.)
Current Pebble owners shouldn't feel left out, though. Migicovsky said that existing watches will get an update to the new operating system sometime after launch. The first-generation watch, which has a grayscal screen and no microphone, now sells for a very-affordable $99.
Outlook Overall, the Pebble Time looks like a fresh take on smartwatch interfaces, and the color ePaper screen seems to provide a good compromise between image quality and long battery life. However, while we can do without touch, we wish you could do more with your voice out of the box than just respond to messages. We’ll have to see how developers leverage the microphone.
So why choose to launch the new Pebble Time on Kickstarter when the company has already broken through with Best Buy? Migicovsky told us that it’s because he wants early adopters to feel like they have a greater stake in the product. Other retail partners could come later, though. One thing’s for sure: between a rash of Android Wear watches and the Apple Watch, there’s certainly a lot at stake with this launch.

Noticia:
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/pebble-time-features-price,news-20494.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble Time Smartwatch Smashes Kickstarter Goal in Minutes

http://cdn.eteknix.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/pebble-time.png
Smartwatch maker Pebble decided to return to its old stalking ground, Kickstarter, to raise funding for its new wearable device, the Pebble Time, and the $500,000 goal was decimated in a matter of minutes (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-time-awesome-smartwatch-no-compromises).
First time around, Pebble raised $10.3 million on Kickstarter, a new record. The Pebble Time is already up to $6 million on its first day, from nearly 30,000 backers. With 31 days left to run, the device is set to decimate the record set by its predecessor.
http://cdn.eteknix.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/pebble-time-notifications.png
The most notable update to the Pebble Time, apart from its colour screen, is its streamlined notification system. Instead of being hidden in the respective apps, all notifications are listed in chronological order, and can be navigated via the ‘Past’, ‘Present’, and ‘Future’ buttons on the side of the watch.
The main advantage of a Pebble over other smart wearables, such as the Samsung Gear or Android Wear, is compatibility with both iOS and Android devices, though not all features are supported by both devices.
Pebble Time is due to ship to Kickstarter investors in May this year, with retail model becoming available soon after.



Noticia:
http://www.eteknix.com/pebble-time-smartwatch-smashes-kickstarter-goal-minutes/

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble CEO says his company isn't intimidated by Apple Watch

Smartwatch manufacturer Pebble is looking forward to the future, and understands challenges loom ahead in the increasingly competitive market. However, as of Wednesday night, the Pebble Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-time-awesome-smartwatch-no-compromises?gclid=CLSTmuaP_8MCFcSCfgodvAgApQ) had support from 46,645 backers, generating $10,033,525 - all with 29 days left to go.


http://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43784_01_pebble-ceo-company-intimidated-apple-watch.jpg (http://www.tweaktown.com/image.php?image=imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/4/3/43784_01_pebble-ceo-company-intimidated-apple-watch_full.jpg)

When asked about Apple's looming launch of the Apple Watch wearable, this is what was said:

"I think you do exactly what we're doing now, which is going to the community that has supported us from the beginning," said Eric Migicovsky, co-founder and CEO of Pebble, while speaking on CNBC's "Squad Alley."

Pebble has worked on smartwatch technology for about seven years, and Migicovsky says that experience gives it a major advantage on competitors. The company will continue to manufacture smartwatches, but is working on strengthening its software platform - and is actively expanding to hardware accessory makers.




Noticia:
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/43784/pebble-ceo-company-intimidated-apple-watch/index.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble announces Pebble Time Steel, here's how to upgrade your existing pledge



http://www.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2015-03-03-image-7.jpgFor Pebble, last week belonged to its new smartwatch. Pebble Time (http://www.techspot.com/news/59843-pebble-returns-kickstarter-launch-third-generation-pebble-time.html) debuted on Kickstarter just seven days ago and became the fastest Kickstarter project to raise $1 million (http://www.techspot.com/news/59856-pebble-time-becomes-fastest-kickstarter-project-raise-1.html). Now with well over $12 million in pledges and 24 days remaining, the Pebble team has unveiled a new variant of its latest smartwatch called Pebble Time Steel (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-time-awesome-smartwatch-no-compromises?utm_content=buffer101b8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer).
This new model includes all of the features of Pebble Time but comes in a CNC-finished 316L stainless steel casing in your choice of silver, black or gold. It’ll arrive with a stainless steel strap as well as a premium leather strap but best yet, battery life has been boosted to a whopping 10 days (the casing is a bit thicker).
http://www.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2015-03-03-image-8.jpg
Pebble Time Steel is being made available through the same Kickstarter as the existing campaign. Current Pebble Time backers can upgrade to or add a Pebble Time Steel by clicking the blue “Manage” button that appears next to their pledge amount (simply select the combo tier when doing so).
All reward watches will be engraved with “Kickstarter Edition” and those who are backing Pebble for a second time on Kickstarter will receive an extra special engraving.
http://www.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2015-03-03-image-9.jpg
Interested parties can reserve a Pebble Time Steel for $250 although as of writing, nearly half of the 10,000 allotment at this price have already been spoken for. Pebble is clearly on a roll here and showing no signs of slowing down. The campaign is less than a million bucks away from becoming the most funded of all-time (https://www.kickstarter.com/discover/most-funded).
The watches will ship separately so buyers won’t have to wait. Pebble Time is expected to arrive at backers' doorsteps in June of this year followed by Pebble Time Steel in July.
http://www.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2015-03-03-image-10.jpg
Pebble also detailed a new product category called smartstraps (http://developer.getpebble.com/blog/2015/03/03/Get-Ready-For-Smartstraps/). These straps will enhance and expand the functionality of Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel in a variety of ways. Examples include, but aren’t limited to, adding GPS and NFC sensors, enabling fitness tracking or even serving as an ancillary battery pack.
The company has released a developer preview which consists of the mechanical and electrical designs to allow developers to start working on smartstraps. The APIs, however, won’t be available until several months after Pebble Time ships so don’t expect any added functionality in the near future.



Noticia:
http://www.techspot.com/news/59930-pebble-announces-pebble-time-steel-here-how-upgrade.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

$17 Million Later, Pebble Time Smartwatch Becomes Kickstarter’s Most Funded Campaign
It's often said that records are meant to be broken, and every once in a while, they're downright shattered. Case in point, the Pebble Time (http://hothardware.com/news/like-clockwork-pebble-reveals-time-steel-smartwatch-and-smartstrap-system) smartwatch is now the most funded Kickstarter (http://hothardware.com/tags/kickstarter) campaign in the history of the crowdfunding site, having raised over $17 million from more than 67,000 backers with 18 days still remaining.

It will likely double the nearly $8.8 million raised for Exploding Kittens (http://hothardware.com/news/exploding-kittens-claws-past-ouya-to-become-highest-funded-kickstarter-project-ever), the highest funded game in Kickstarter's history. And it's already collected $7 million than Pebble's own E-Paper Watch from three years ago, which at the time was also a record. But it's the Coolest Cooler that's now been eclipsed -- it raised over $13.2 million last summer and has held the record ever since.


image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/32890/content/Pebble_Time.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/32890/content/Pebble_Time.jpg

This is a good sign for Pebble. Unlike its first go-round on Kickstarter when the concept of a smartwatch was still a mostly foreign idea to mainstream users, the category has grown some legs since then and has attracted some heavy-hitting competitors like Samsung and Apple.

It didn't take long for backers to show their support for Pebble Time.

"Seven hours in and all of us here at Pebble HQ are absolutely stunned by the enthusiasm you've had for Pebble Time. We had hoped you'd like what we've been working on...but you never know for sure until you launch! The good news is that you've made it crystal clear. And we thank you immensely for this," Pebble stated in an update.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qp9Bv0pr4Tk


Pebble Time sports a new color e-paper display, microphone, and up to 7 days of battery life. It's also 20 percent thinner than the original Pebble at just 9.5mm and is water resistant. It was designed to keep things simple, and the fact that it supports both iOS and Android is a major plus.


Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/17-million-later-pebble-time-smartwatch-becomes-kickstarters-most-funded-campaign#rFyT4urZI3wDELxH.99

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble Shows First Smartstraps for Its Watches

http://media.bestofmicro.com/P/9/485613/gallery/Pebble1_w_600.jpg (http://www.tomsguide.com/us/slideshow/Pebble1,0101-485613-0-2-12-1-jpg-.html)
Shortly after revealing its color-display Pebble Time smartwatch, Pebble also unveiled smartstraps -- a new platform that will allow developers to add high-tech features to standard watch straps. We're now seeing the potential of this new platform, as the company has highlighted two new smartstrap concepts that could make your Pebble's strap as useful as its interactive display.
One new Pebble smartstrap concept comes by way of Seeed Studio, which will bring its modular Xadow straps to the Pebble family. Xadow modules offer features such as NFC, GPS and heart-rate monitoring, giving you the tools to pick and choose exactly which smart features you want on your watch straps. Xadow modules for Pebble are set to enter production later this year.
MORE: Best Smartwatches on the Market (http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-smartwatches,review-2156.html)
Pebble also showcased the Spark Electron prototype, which has the potential to connect your Pebble to a cellular network without a smartphone. The Electron strap would pack its own SIM card that offers up to 3G speeds, and aims to offer data plans at a low price. A developer version of Electron is available now on Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sparkdevices/spark-electron-cellular-dev-kit-with-a-simple-data), and the tech is intended to launch by fall 2015.
http://media.bestofmicro.com/P/A/485614/gallery/Pebble2_w_600.jpgA prototype of Spark Electron, which would bring 3G connectivity to Pebble. (http://www.tomsguide.com/us/slideshow/Pebble2,0101-485614-0-2-12-1-jpg-.html)
While Xadow for Pebble and Spark Electron are only concepts at this point, they're both strong examples of how third-party smartstraps could help Pebble stand out amongst more premium competitors such as the LG Watch Urbane and upcoming Apple Watch. Smartstraps will complement the upcoming Pebble Time and Time Steel, which pack a revamped interface, a built-in microphone and are the first Pebble watches to feature color e-paper displays.
We were impressed by how lightweight and intuitive the Pebble Time was during our hands-on, and smartstraps have the potential to make the watch even more user-friendly. Pebble Time begins shipping in May for Kickstarter backers; no word yet on when to expect the first official smartstrap.



Noticia:
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/pebble-smartstraps-demos,news-20677.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble rocks kickstarter again

http://www.fudzilla.com/media/k2/items/cache/59e599a82ca216306283ade68f885153_L.jpg (http://www.fudzilla.com/media/k2/items/cache/59e599a82ca216306283ade68f885153_XL.jpg)

Most successful project ever
Maker of a smartwatch Pebble's latest Kickstarter project has done extremely well and raised a total of $20,338,986 from 78,471 backers.


The outfit only wanted $500,000 but $20 million makes it the most successful Kickstarter project ever.
The original Pebble smartwatch was also launched through Kickstarter in 2012, and it remains the third most-funded project in Kickstarter's history.
ebble now has more than 100 employees and almost $26 million in outside funding, the Time's Kickstarter always seemed to be more about hype than money. Almost as soon as it launched, the Pebble Time had already broken a Kickstarter record by surpassing the $1 million mark in just 49 minutes.
The watches are scheduled to begin shipping in May.



Noticia:
http://www.fudzilla.com/news/wearables/37390-pebble-rocks-kickstarter-again

[Jorge-Vieira]

Apple Pinky Swears To Stop Rejecting iOS Apps That Work With Pebble Smartwatches
The Apple Watch (http://hothardware.com/News/beautifully-flawed-apple-watch-reviews-roll-in-from-around-the-web/) and Pebble Smartwatch (http://hothardware.com/news/pebble-time-kickstarter-campaign-ends-with-record-20-million-raised) are on opposite ends of the wrist wearable spectrum in just about every way, but lest you think Apple (http://hothardware.com/tags/apple) isn't at least a little bit threatened by its lower cost competition, think again. That much was evident when Apple cited a technicality in its rules that allowed it to block apps that said they were compatible with Pebble.

One of those apps was SeaNav (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/seanav-us-hd-marine-navigation/id632635827?mt=8), which allows you to explore, plan, and navigate your boating trips in real time using the latest Digital Vector Marine charts in high resolution. The developers updated the app in part to add some special features that run exclusively on Apple Watch devices, but it was rejected by Apple because it mentions support for the Pebble Smartwatch.


image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/33453/content/Pebble_Time.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/33453/content/Pebble_Time.jpg


In a letter to the developers, Apple cites rule 3.1 -- "Apps or metadata that mentions the name of any other mobile platform will be rejected." Apple offered an expanded explanation in the letter.

"We noticed that your app or its metadata contains irrelevant platform information in the app. Providing future platform compatibility plans, or other platform references, is not appropriate for the App Store. Specifically, your app and app description declare support the Pebble Smartwatch," Apple stated in its letter.

Other apps were denied for the same reason and predictably the Internet (rightfully so) made a stink (https://www.reddit.com/r/pebble/comments/33l71n/apple_is_apparently_now_rejecting_apps_with/cqm5p6v)about it. After a few days went by, Apple reversed course.


image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/33453/content/SeaNav.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/33453/content/SeaNav.jpg


"Good news. Apple rang me directly late last night U.K. time at Pocket Mariner, apologized for rejecting our app in error and immediately approved our SeaNav app for sale," a SeaNav developer stated (http://forums.getpebble.com/discussion/22081/apple-now-rejecting-apps-with-pebble-smartwatch-support).

The Apple Watch is now available to order starting at $349 and going for as much as $17,000. Adding an AppleCare+ protection plan can add up to an additional $1,500, depending on the model. Meanwhile, Pebble is gearing up to launch its new Pebble Time (http://hothardware.com/news/pebble-time-kickstarter-campaign-ends-with-record-20-million-raised) model in a few weeks, while its Classic model goes for $99.


Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/apple-pinky-swears-to-stop-rejecting-ios-apps-that-work-with-pebble-smartwatches#dGZKLDXyyMF4glfK.99

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble Time Smartwatch App Hits iOS After Apple Blockade


Back in April, Apple (http://hothardware.com/tags/apple) gave us the impression that (http://hothardware.com/news/apple-pinky-swears-to-stop-rejecting-ios-apps-that-work-with-pebble-smartwatches) it considers Pebble (http://hothardware.com/tags/pebble) to be a big threat to its own Apple Watch (http://hothardware.com/tags/apple-watch) platform, as it began banning apps that merely mentioned the competition by name. To Apple's favor, that is something mentioned in the developer guidelines, but that doesn't make it any less sketchy.
After the collective Web made a massive stink about the situation, Apple admitted defeat and began enabling such apps on its store again. As we can see today, that's continued to prove true all the way up until the ultimate source, the maker of the competing smartwatches.
image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/33953/content/Pebble_Time_Smartwatch.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/33953/content/Pebble_Time_Smartwatch.jpg On its Kickstarter (http://hothardware.com/tags/kickstarter) page for the Pebble Time smartwatch, the company tells us that its accompanying iOS (http://hothardware.com/tags/ios) app is now available (it's simply called 'Pebble Time Watch'). Given the events of a few months ago, it's a little refreshing to see that the app was even allowed to be published. The folks behind Pebble don't take it for granted, and give thanks to where it's due: "It’s thanks to you, the one-million-and-growing community of Pebble users, developers, and fans that Pebble Time Watch is on the AppStore today. You carried this torch across the finish line. If only we could dish out a million-plus high fives to all of you."
Pebble even goes on to give thanks to Apple, for honoring its fans that enjoy both its own products, as well as Apple's. "We’re glad to have Apple be a part of Pebble’s journey then, now, and into the future." I am not so sure Apple would feel the same way!




Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/pebble-time-smartwatch-app-hits-ios-after-apple-blockade#pEjSkZH26Z4q0uqs.99

[Jorge-Vieira]

Kickstarter rockstar Pebble Time now available for pre-order

Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/pebble-time-141055?ref=186&loc=722) is now accepting pre-orders (https://blog.getpebble.com/2015/06/22/preordertime/) for Pebble Time (http://www.techspot.com/news/59843-pebble-returns-kickstarter-launch-third-generation-pebble-time.html), the third generation smartwatch that wrapped up its record-setting (https://www.kickstarter.com/discover/most-funded) Kickstarter campaign earlier this year.
Pebble Time is one of two new smartwatches from Pebble. The modern smartwatch pioneer launched its Kickstarter campaign in late February before unveiling Pebble Time Steel (http://www.techspot.com/news/59930-pebble-announces-pebble-time-steel-here-how-upgrade.html) a couple of weeks later. Those that pledged support for the original Pebble Time were able to upgrade their order to the steel variant if they wanted.
http://www.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2015-06-22-image-2.png
The Pebble Time campaign set a new Kickstarter record as the fastest campaign to raise $1 million, doing so in just seven days. It also earned the honor of being the most funded campaign in Kickstarter history, raising well over $20 million. In fact, Pebble now claims the first and third most funded campaigns ever as the original generated more than $10 million from early backers.
Pebble Time is 20 percent slimmer than its predecessor and packs an impressive seven-day battery life. All existing Pebble apps are compatible with the new watch and those created using the latest SDK will likewise be backwards compatible with earlier models.
The intelligent timepiece is being offered for $199.99 in your choice of red, black and white band and case color schemes, a decent premium over the $159 that the earliest of early backers paid for the wearable. Pre-orders are expected to arrive by mid-July according to Best Buy’s website.
Those outside of the US can pre-order Pebble Time via Pebble’s website (https://getpebble.com/shop).



Noticia:
http://www.techspot.com/news/61067-kickstarter-rockstar-pebble-time-now-available-pre-order.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

The Pebble Time smartwatch is now available in the UK (http://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/the-pebble-time-smartwatch-is-now-available-in-the-uk/)


Pebble found success a couple of years ago after successfully crowd funding its smartwatch and it seems things have only gone up since then. Earlier this year, the company went for another round of crowd funding (http://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/new-pebble-smartwatch-crowd-funded-in-half-an-hour/), this time in order to create its next smartwatch, the Pebble Time, which was funded within half an hour. Now the watch is available in the UK.
Pre-orders for the Pebble Time are now live in the UK, (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pebble+time) while units will begin shipping out on the 20th of July. While Apple has managed to strike it rich with its expensive line of Apple Watches, Pebble offers a more basic but cheaper smartwatch at £189.
http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/a361fd85680fccb17de65c13aa3e73bd_original.png (http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/a361fd85680fccb17de65c13aa3e73bd_original.png)
The Pebble Time brings plenty of notable improvements, including a colour screen, a week-long battery life, iOS/Android compatibility and a microphone for activating commands, sending messages or taking notes. Aside from that, the Pebble Time design is around 20 percent thinner and lighter than the original Pebble.
The base line Pebble Time is plastic but a slightly more expensive Pebble Time Steel will eventually be available, which will be a bit thicker and heavier, although we don’t have a UK price on that just yet.



Noticia:
http://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/the-pebble-time-smartwatch-is-now-available-in-the-uk/

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble opens pre-orders for its next smartwatch, the Time Steel


http://www.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2015/08/2015-08-06-image-21.jpg

Smartwatch pioneer Pebble is at it again, opening up pre-orders for the Pebble Time Steel (http://www.techspot.com/news/59930-pebble-announces-pebble-time-steel-here-how-upgrade.html), only weeks after launching the more affordable $199 Pebble Time (http://www.techspot.com/products/audio-video/pebble-time.119721/).
The steel variant of the Pebble Time will be available six-to-eight weeks after pre-ordering, although the device is promised to reach Kickstarter backers within a week. The Time Steel is said to bring the design and functionality of the vanilla Pebble Time, but with a body made entirely of steel along with a better display and battery life. For $249, you can purchase one with a leather strap. Alternatively, steel band edition is available for $299.
Early impressions are already trickling in. The Verge (http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/6/9108023/pebble-time-steel-preorder-launch-review) reports that after spending six days with the Pebble Time Steel, it didn't require a single recharging, and that while it's marginally bulkier than the standard Pebble Time watch, those criticisms are negated by a larger battery and sturdier build quality.
The Time Steel packs a significantly improved display over that of the Time smartwatch. The tiny 64-color LCD still bears a limited palette and muted colors, but it's notably less reflective, bringing an improved indoor reading quality. Unlike the Time display, the Time Steel also forgoes the air gap located between the glass lens and LCD panel.
Unfortunately, its companion app on iOS and Android is reportedly difficult to work with and, perhaps unsurprisingly, considerably less functional on Apple's devices than on Android. It should be noted that at $249 - $299, the Pebble Steel is approaching Apple Watch territory, which starts at $349 with more optimal iOS compatibility.
While on Android, Time Steel users can respond to messages from their watches with emojis, generic preset responses, or voice dictation, there's no option to do so on iOS. And, unfortunately, it's also impossible to personalize notifications, unlike with Apple Watch.
For the price, unless an extensive battery life, an always-on display, and compatibility across multiple devices are determining factors in whether to purchase a smartwatch or not, it may be a better idea to look elsewhere for your next (first?) smartwatch. This holds especially true if you're on Android considering most watches sporting Android Wear are accompanied by lower price tags than the Pebble Time Steel.



Noticia:
http://www.techspot.com/news/61669-pebble-opens-pre-orders-next-smartwatch-time-steel.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

Some iPhone users can use their Pebble smartwatch to reply to text messages


http://www.techspot.com/images2/news/bigimage/2015/11/2015-11-24-image-7.png


A select group of Pebble smartwatch users can now reply to their iPhone messages directly through their watch (http://blog.getpebble.com/2015/11/23/iosreply/) with a voice or prewritten message. Just how select? The feature is a beta release for people who have a Pebble Time, a Time Steel or a Time Round model and are an AT&T postpaid subscriber. If that’s you, congratulations! If not, sometimes life just isn't fair.

The new feature works for iMessages and SMS texts (https://help.getpebble.com/customer/portal/articles/2166170-text-replies-on-ios?b_id=8308), but no matter what kind of text you're replying to, the response will be sent and received as an SMS text. So if you're not on an unlimited text plan, keep that in mind. Also, in iMessage, you won't have a history of the reply sent through the Pebble device.
Pebble announced the feature on their blog where they touted that they are the “first non-Apple smartwatch to bring voice and text replies to our iPhone users.” Well, at least some iPhone users for now. Pebble says that they will continue to work to bring the direct reply feature to more people – although there’s no mention of non-iPhone users.



Noticia:
http://www.techspot.com/news/62911-iphone-users-can-use-their-pebble-smartwatch-reply.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble Time And Time Round Smartwatches Receive $50 Price Cut


If you’ve been eying Pebble (http://hothardware.com/tags/pebble)’s higher-priced smartwatch products, but were hesitant to take the plunge, now’s your chance to strike. Pebble has cut the price on both the Time (http://hothardware.com/news/17-million-later-pebble-time-smartwatch-becomes-kickstarters-most-funded-campaign) and Time Round (http://hothardware.com/news/pebble-time-round-comes-full-circle-with-plenty-of-style-and-bezel) by $50, which means that you can purchase the former for $149.99, while the latter will now set you back $199.99. Unfortunately, Pebble isn’t budging when it comes to pricing for the Time Steel, so that particular model will still cost you $249.99.
Pebble says that the price cut is permanent, solidifying it with a frank, “No bird sh*t.”
The Pebble Time features a small, color e-paper display that boasts battery life of up to seven days per charge. That’s roughly three times better than even the most efficient full-fledged smartwatches out there like the Tizen (http://hothardware.com/tags/tizen)-based Samsung Gear S2 (http://hothardware.com/tags/gear-s2). It also easily puts Android Wear (http://hothardware.com/tags/android-wear)-based smartwatches and the Apple Watch (http://hothardware.com/tags/apple-watch) to shame in longevity.


image: http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36693/content/small_pebble_time_round_1.jpg
http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/36693/content/small_pebble_time_round_1.jpg

The Pebble Time Round, however, is clearly aimed at fashionistas out there and only manages to last two days between charges, which puts it on equal footing with more attractive, better performing, and vastly more capable Android Wear smartwatches like the second generation Motorola Moto 360 (http://hothardware.com/reviews/moto-360-2015-smartwatch-review). Not to mention that the Huge bezel around the display is quite unsightly.
While we haven’t received official word as to why Pebble has slashed prices, it could be based on one of a few factors. For starters, sales could be slowing down, and a price cut could help Pebble move a few more devices. Pebble could also be on the verge of releasing new smartwatch models to replace the Time and Time Round, hence whittling down the inventory of current generation models is advantageous.
Or perhaps, Pebble feels that Apple might drop the price of its Apple Watch during its March 21st keynote (http://hothardware.com/news/apple-sets-march-21st-date-for-product-bonanza). The Apple Watch Sport starts at $349, but has gone on sale via third-party retailers (like Target and Best Buy) for $249 numerous times in the past few months. If Apple were to permanently lower the starting price to $249 for the Apple Watch Sport, Pebble could really start feeling the heat.




Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/pebble-time-and-time-round-are-now-50-cheaper#W4sUQESpdwgBXQ6r.99

[Jorge-Vieira]

Pebble slays 25% of its workforce, as money is 'pretty tight'


Pebble isn't having a good time right now, with the indie smartwatch maker having issues - so much so that Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky told Tech Insider it is cutting 25% of its workforce - or 40 people, this week.

http://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/news/5/1/51245_07_pebble-slays-25-workforce-money-pretty-tight.jpg

The company has said that money is "pretty tight" right now, with the tap slowly being tightened by Silicon Valley venture capitalists. The company has raised $26 million over the last eight months, but the cash isn't flowing quick enough. Migiovsky reiterated that Pebble is here for the long-term, and they have an idea of where wearable technology is headed in the coming 5-10 years.

By early 2015, Pebble had sold over 1 million smartwatches, the month before the company launched its new Time watches - and just before the big Watch unveiling by Apple. Pebble has to convince both consumers and potential investors that it can not only survive in a now much more crowded smartwatch market, but beat the likes of Apple at its own game.






Noticia:
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/51245/pebble-slays-25-workforce-money-pretty-tight/index.html