The Pebble smartwatch first launched in 2012 through a Kickstarter campaign, where it met with moderate success before being acquired by Fitbit. Despite a dedicated community striving to support Pebble devices—partly through the Rebble project that offered online services—new Pebble products seemed unlikely to emerge. However, in an unexpected development, there is a renewed wave of Pebble activity. Google, which currently owns Fitbit, has made the PebbleOS source code open-source, and [Eric Migicovsky], the original Pebble creator, has announced intentions to produce new Pebble watches.
These forthcoming Pebble watches are set to mirror the original design, featuring an e-paper display instead of the previous memory LCD, while ensuring compatibility with the original Pebble as well as its hackable nature. Currently, a rePebble website is available for users to sign up for updates. Members of the Rebble community are understandably excited, especially now that the PebbleOS source is available on GitHub.
However, there remains a substantial amount of work to be done. The PebbleOS source code, which is licensed under Apache 2.0, is missing several essential components, including fonts, the voice codec, and the Bluetooth stack. Furthermore, initiating the production of completely new hardware will require a significant financial commitment. Nevertheless, for smartwatch enthusiasts in search of devices that can effectively connect with modern smartphones, offer an always-on display, and feature impressive battery life, the outlook appears very optimistic.
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