Austin — South by Southwest Interactive is nothing if not a hub for the entire tech community to political party , so smartwatch manufacturer Pebble fittingly chose the conference to unloose its SDK — key signature swallow Kit — to longtime backers .
Silly ? Yes . But the company is getting ready to release Pebble Time , the next genesis of itspopular smartwatch , and already it ’s a smashsuccess . More than 72,000 people have back thePebble Time Kickstarterto the tune of $ 18.5 million , shatter the crowdfunding website ’s previous record . So Pebble ’s small crew descended on Austin to celebrate , and invited its evangelists to join them at the Pebbjama Jam . While Pebble supporters wear free pajamas emblazoned with Pebble logotype and guzzled Smartstrap - ple Ciders and Eric Migibrewskis , I get Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky calmly talking up Pebble Time to excited believer .
I went to the party hoping to get some hands - on fourth dimension with an early version of the young spotter , but Pebble only had demonstration units to show off , and I was n’t allowed to strap one to my own radiocarpal joint to give it a go — Migicovsky aver Pebble Time is n’t yet ready for early reviews . But I did visit with the chief operating officer about the watch ’s raw features , how accessories can improve Pebble Time , and what he really think ofApple Watch .
No SXSW jubilation is complete without signature tune cocktail .
Apple’s big play
Some mass consider Pebble Timemore of an Apple Watch rivalthan any Android Wear sentry , which get sense — Pebble products are compatible with iOS , sothe company can offer iPhone owners a scurvy - cost smartwatch choice . Pebble clock time will retail for $ 199 and its fancy counterpartPebble Time Steel , which comes in untarnished steel casing with a leather and stainless brand shoulder strap , will sell for $ 299 . equate that to Apple Watch ’s $ 349 stand price , and already Pebble Time has a competitory sharpness .
But Migicovsky told me he ’s “ really happy Apple is getting into this blank . ” Pebble has sold a million lookout in its three - year history , a fraction of what some expect Apple to sell , and Migicovsky said “ about .001 percent of people in the world know about Pebble . ” Apple ’s publicity blitz will increase overall awareness about smartwatches more than Pebble could ever deal without pelt hundreds of meg of dollars into an ad campaign .
Migicovsky has n’t seen an Apple Watch up close , or used one , but say he ’s a little interested about Apple ’s approach to the home screen door .
“ That ’s the one matter I ’m worried about the Apple Watch , ” Migicovsky enounce . “ It seems likeApple is trying to do too much . ”
Pebble chief operating officer Eric Migicovsky welcome Pebble ’s giving fans to the Pebbjama Jam at South by Southwest Interactive to observe the company ’s raw smartwatch .
The old Pebble ’s piloting is centered around selecting an app from the dwelling house screen , a underlying interpretation of what Apple has done with the Watch ’s home sieve . Migicovsky said Pebble Time ’s new timeline view solves the problem of the overpowering home base silver screen full of apps . Now Pebble can snaffle relevant information that would desire to see in the moment — like a travel alert or a calendar reminder — in a chronological snapshot of your day . Three buttons on the right side of the watch permit you toggle between a past timeline view , which let in notifications you may have lose about a hoops mark or an electronic mail telling , a present survey , which will pull information about the current moment like the song you ’re stream on the watch , and the future view .
I was n’t quite sure about the timeline thought when I watched the Pebble Time Kickstarter telecasting , but after Migicovsky bear witness me the three dissimilar snapshots on a demo model of the scout ( not his personal Pebble Time ) , it made more sentiency . Timeline also reflects Pebble ’s mission , which is to create merchandise that are incredibly good at tell metre — and that includes giving you all the details you need to bring off that time . The color vitamin E - report display was also much more appealing than I expect , with easy - to - understand black schoolbook on saturated yellow , crimson , and blue backgrounds . It for certain is n’t retina , but it does the problem .
Even in shiny sunshine , Pebble Time ’s new colour e - paper showing is an impressive climb from its calamitous - and - clean predecessor .
Making Pebble smarter
I ’m also connive by Pebble ’s welcome approach to third parties who want to make the sentry well . Last week , the company told the top 500 Pebble app developer that they ’re all get destitute Pebble Times when the smartwatch is ready to ship in May . Pebble is also encouraging accessory makers to make interchangeable band that add outside functionality to Pebble Time . Like Apple Watch , most of Pebble Time ’s capabilities are tether to a phone , but so - called smartstraps will be able to add everything from bombardment - charge ( like a Mophie for your watch ) to USB ports , and perchance even GPS . To encourage creativity , Migicovsky say Pebble will financially support any smart shoulder strap makers who launch projects on Kickstarter .
But Pebble may find itself falling out of favor with iOS exploiter . Our own Jason Snell , alongtime Pebble jockstrap , recently said that he was switching his smartwatch loyalty to Apple Watch due to hisPebble ’s connectivity issues with iOS . It continue to be seen whether Pebble Time has worked out the kinks for iPhone exploiter , but for some , a smartwatch design to deeply integrate with the iPhone in every style is an easier sell than a platform - agnostic sentinel like Pebble .
Pebble is n’t exactly lunging after Apple ’s target market . It has its own fans . According toTechCrunch , Pebble Time ’s Kickstarter sign - ups nearly tripled after the Apple Watch event March 9 , and there are still 11 days to go . Macworld will have in - astuteness reviews of both Pebble Time and Apple Watch , including a guide on which find out is best for you , when the two ship later this bound .
