Pebble launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new version of its smartwatch. As expected, the Pebble Time introduces a colour display and microphone for voice commands. Also as expected, the US$500,000 goal of the campaign was met quickly, with US$1 million pledged in half an hour.
The colour display of the Pebble Time ended up leaked hours before the announcement of the Kickstarter, and those details proved to be spot on. A new e-ink colour display has been implemented in the Pebble Time, and while it theoretically should draw more power, the company is still saying that the battery will last for a whole week. That being said, the resolution will still be substantially lower than other competing smartwatches.
A new timeline interface is being tested on the new smartwatch, which groups apps and information into Past, Future, and Present categories. Each of the three buttons on the side of the Pebble Time will open one of the menus. This, in theory, arranges things into a way that is easy to access. For instance, weather information is stored in the Future menu; while messages and physical activity is in the Past menu.
The Pebble Time is also thinner than the original Pebble at 9.5mm. It gains a slight curve to the design to make it more ergonomic for wearers. Admittedly, the new design looks a lot more like something that people would actually wear on a regular basis. Although unlike the Pebble Steel, the Pebble Time takes on a more casual look.
Pebble will be releasing the necessary 3D information for consumers to make their own covers, straps, and docks. The Pebble Time also has a smart accessory port, which the company says will allow third parties to build their own sensors and smart straps that integrate with the smartwatch. Essentially giving it a small amount of modularity.
The Pebble Time Kickstarter still has 30 days to go before it closes. Although it has blown past its initial target already, and has crossed US$7 million pledged within the first 12 hours. The lowest tier of pledges have also been sold out, which means that anyone who wants to get in on the Kickstarter had better get going soon.
[Source: Pebble, Kickstarter]
