On February 24th, Pebble announced their newest smartwatch, the Pebble Time. They also announced a new hardware platform for the Pebble Time.
Now a week later, Pebble has announced the Pebble Time Steel. Before this announcement, Pebble’s latest KickStarter campaign was over $12 million.
This has also made it the campaign, the most funded project in KickStarter history and there is still a few weeks left.
The Pebble Time Steel has a larger battery, which can get up to 10 days of battery life, compare to the 5-7 of the original Pebble Time and the previous Pebble models.
It will have the same colour e-paper display, which Pebble now says is, bonded directly to the top lens.
The Pebble Time Steel will be available in Gunmetal Black, Silver Stainless and Gold and two straps will be included, on fine leather and stainless steel band.
The Pebble Time Steel will start shipping in July 2015. The backer price for the Pebble Time Steel is $250. The retail price will be $299.
If you already backed the original Pebble Time, don’t panic. You will still be able to change your pledge to the Pebble Time Steel. There is now a combo pledge where for $400, you get both the Pebble Time and the Pebble Time Steel.
Pebble smartstraps
Pebble also announced Pebble smartstraps. Essentially they are watch straps for the Pebble Time that can contain electronics and sensors to connect with apps running on the Pebble Time.
This can range from adding GPS or a heart rate monitor to adding NFC or an extended battery. All you will have to do is change the existing straps with a smartstrap.
Currently Pebble is focused on opening up the smartstrap platform for hardware developers and hackers. Pebble also said they may work on their own smartstraps at some point in the future.
TheCanadianTechie 