The Pebble is a fully functional smartwatch which connects to your smartphone to deliver information to your wrist. The folks at Pebble Technology want to help you create the ‘perfect watch’ by offering you many downloadable applications, and the ability to write your own too.
What can it do?
Plenty. Probably more than they advertise since a software development kit has been announced for it. Right now, the most advertised uses are music control, reading text messages and emails, a GPS accurate pedometer, incoming caller display, and of course, a pretty watch. The official specifications are:
- Load apps using Bluetooth
- 144 x 168 pixel display black and white e-paper
- Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR
- 4 buttons
- Vibrating motor
- 3 axis accelerometer with gesture detection
- Distribute apps via Pebble watchapp store
- Waterproof – Good enough for swimming!
The best way to get a grasp of the features this little watch offers, is to look at this promotional video:
How can I get one?
Right now the entire project for the Pebble Watch is receiving funding from members of the public like you and me over at Kickstarter. You can pledge any amount you like to help the project, but pledge $115 or over, and you can start selecting rewards. The first on offer is one of these watches when they are released! If you are interested, get one now. Once the kick-starting ends, the watch prices will rise.
So far over 14,500 people have reserved/bought a watch, and a few more thousands have chosen more expensive rewards. The project has passed $2 million pledged already. I’m looking very forward to getting mine in the post later this year!
Final Thoughts
This is the sort of futuristic toy that will make us even lazier than we are today, but in a good way! Rather than having to change the channel on your Google TV, you can press a few buttons on your watch. The same goes for changing music on your stereo. If you are one of the fancy folk who uses your phone to alter room lighting, this could be achieved in the same way.
So what do you think of the Pebble? I think it’s an exciting, affordable multi-use product, with an interesting future.
