Unlocking the Future: First Look at PebbleOS on Next-Gen Hardware
Pebble’s Comeback: A New Breed of Smartwatch on the Horizon?
The TL;DR
• Last week, Google released the Pebble OS source code, allowing for community development.
• Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky is planning to create new Pebble hardware, offering a sneak peek at his progress.
• Plans include building a new smartwatch that mirrors the functionality and feature set of its predecessors.
Who doesn’t love a good comeback story? Over a decade ago, Pebble won the hearts of wearable fans with its affordable, long-battery-life smartwatches. But the beloved brand’s time in the spotlight ended too soon, with the company closing its doors and being acquired by Fitbit in 2016. Last week, Pebble found itself back in the spotlight as Google released the Pebble OS source code, encouraging community development. We also heard that Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky was planning to work on new Pebble-inspired hardware. Today, we get our first look at his progress.
The Road to Revival
Before making the code open source, Google had to review it line by line, removing any proprietary code it couldn’t release. As a result, it wasn’t possible to simply download and compile the code. But Migicovsky has already overcome this hurdle, sharing an image of the software running on a development board. His team is now adapting Pebble OS for the modern Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 SoC.
A Glimpse of the Future
While this is exciting to see, we still don’t know much about how this new hardware will come together. Migicovsky is set to fly to China to explore manufacturing options, but cautions fans against getting too excited about a modernized Pebble with all the bells and whistles of a Pixel or Apple Watch. Instead, expect a Pebble that’s "almost exactly as you remember it, except now with open-source software you can modify and improve yourself."
Get Involved
A group of ex-Peble engineers and designers are helping with this project, and you can lend a hand too. Coders and testers are encouraged to help with software development, but there’s space for people with all sorts of talents to contribute, such as designing icons for apps that didn’t exist during Pebble’s initial run.
The Future Unfolds
Even in its early stages, this effort has us excited about the potential of a brand-new Pebble. What about you? Are you eager to get your hands on a new Pebble, or have you moved on to another smartwatch? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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