The Pebble smartwatch lives
"A small team and I are working on a new Pebble-like smartwatch that runs open source PebbleOS, has the same beloved features (plus some fun new stuff), and stays true to the core Pebble vision"
In weird news I could have never seen coming, Google has today announced that it has open sourced Pebble OS.
If you don't remember, in 2012 the Pebble was a Kickstarter smartwatch darling that received US $10.3 million in funding. I wanted one very badly, particularly because of the music control features the device touted.
Using a low-power transflective LCD screen, similar to the technology used by the recent Daylight Computer tablet, the Pebble was the first big smartwatch of the modern era. But it was hit hard by big-tech competitors that had closer access to proprietary mobile phone operating systems and encouraged hardware lock-in. The Apple Watch and Google Wear OS projects both began a few years after the original Pebble and had more support because of how ubiquitous and closed Android and iOS were (and still are).
In 2016 Pebble filed for insolvency and was bought by Fitbit, which was later bought by Google. Fitbit has been left in the usual Google purgatory of hardware, existing but only just.
And now, after remaining dormant for years, Pebble is coming back via Repebble. Founder Eric Migicovsky is part of the new project and is promising new hardware and a reinvigorated Pebble OS - or maybe it'll be Repebble OS. Though we probably won't see anything for a little while. Here's how the official announcement describes it:
We're making new Pebble watches
I've tried pretty much every other smartwatch on Earth, yet I still wear my Pebble every day—nothing else matches its features and long battery life. I really, really, really hoped someone else would create a proper replacement, but no one has stepped up, and my stash of old Pebbles is dwindling!
It's time to take matters into my own hands. A small team and I are working on a new Pebble-like smartwatch that runs open source PebbleOS, has the same beloved features (plus some fun new stuff), and stays true to the core Pebble vision. If enough people are interested, we'll build it. Sign up to get one!
[...]
Anyone can use PebbleOS in any way they want. You can get it working on existing Pebble watches, emulate it, run it on other embedded devices, or create new hardware specifically for it.
We're setting out to bring Pebble back, we'd love for you to join the fun!
I feel like we're genuinely entering a time of renewed big tech reistance, especially as tech broligarchs further their hostile control of global media under a Trump White House.
The Pebble was part of a more simple, gadget-friendly time of technology that faded into the background. It was a utility built by a new, small company, designed to do just a few things. The device wasn't that powerful and its key features were more focused on fitting into that Kindle-like space of just being a basic device that does one thing well. Calendar, music control, basic notifications and fitness. There wasn't a subscription fitness service or AI voice assistant.
