Palo Alto startup Pebble is a smartwatch maker founded by Eric Migicovksy, and their brand new campaign on Kickstarter is actually a bit disconcerting to watch.
The new model, called Pebble Time, has already raised over $9 million in funding as of the time of writing — and it’s racking up cash fast, at least during one stretch, at something like $16,000 a minute. This product of a second record-breaking Kickstarter campaign features seven days of battery life, it’s water resistant, and now, thanks to a plan to provide files for 3D printing, amazingly customizable.
And it’s also quite a technology-packed device with a microphone, a built-in accelerometer, a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass screen, and a bezel made from stainless steel.
Eric Migicovsky and his pal Reggie show off their Pebble smartwatches.
The watch includes a new interface the company calls Timeline, and they say the Pebble’s software helps you sort your information and notifications into past, present, and future.
“You already plan your day around time, so it makes sense for your Pebble to be organized around the same principle,” they say. “Now your notifications, news, reminders and events are laid out chronologically instead of being trapped inside separate apps.”
It’s the company’s third watch release in the last three years, and Pebble says it’s 20% slimmer and comes with a detachable band — and the Kickstarter page says the Time will ship during May of this year.
Through Kickstarter, the watches are going for $179, but the full retail price is set to be $199 following the close of the campaign at the end of March.
But perhaps the most interesting facet of the campaign for makers is the fact that the Pebble community will be able to get their hands on data and files to allow them to 3D print accessories for their watches.
“For DIYers, accessory makers and advanced customizers,” the Pebble team say, “we’ll be publishing the 3D data you’ll need to create amazing straps, covers and docks. Pebble Time also has a smart accessory port, enabling hardware developers to build sensors and smart straps that connect directly to the watch.”
And it’s not all about looks as the company also provide an SDK for developers which will allow them to create custom apps. And it appears people are already working on various modifications to the watches as well, as witnessed by this 3D printed Pebble Charger.
Early birds got the latest iteration of the Pebble Time for $159 in any of the three available colors, and through the rest of the campaign you can get one for $179…or, if you’re so inclined, 30 Pebble Time watches, 10 of each color, for $5,000 in the Distributor Tier.
Have you, or do you plan to, gotten in on the Pebble Time Kickstarter phenomenon and ordered one of these novel watches? Let us know in the Pebble Time Watch forum thread on 3DPB.com.
3D printed dock for Pebble Time smartwatch