Pebble Production: February Update
Pebble provides a comprehensive February update on the production of its new Time 2, Round 2, and Index 01 devices, detailing manufacturing progress, waterproofing triumphs, and anticipated delivery timelines. The post delves into the nitty-gritty of hardware production and significant software advancements, showcasing the complexities of bringing these beloved devices to market. Hacker News users are buzzing with a mix of anticipation, nostalgia, and appreciation for Pebble's unique blend of long battery life, e-paper displays, and hackability, contrasting it with modern smartwatches.
The Lowdown
The Pebble team delivers a comprehensive February update on the production of their highly anticipated new hardware: the Pebble Time 2, Pebble Round 2, and the Index 01 smart ring. The report details the various stages of manufacturing, specific challenges encountered (like waterproofing), and significant software advancements across the entire Pebble platform.
- Pebble Time 2 (PT2): Nearing Mass Production (MP) after successfully passing the Production Verification Test (PVT) phase, with waterproofing improved to a 30m/3ATM rating. MP is scheduled for March 9, with initial deliveries expected by early April and all pre-orders aimed to be fulfilled by June.
- Index 01: Currently in PVT with a 1m waterproof rating, Mass Production is targeted for March. A $10 ring sizer kit will be available, and the team is gauging interest in offering larger sizes (14 and 15), which would require a substantial $50,000 tooling investment.
- Pebble Round 2 (PR2): Completed Design Verification 1 (DVT1) and is progressing well. Its electrical design similarity to PT2 significantly accelerates firmware development. Production is estimated to begin in late May.
- Software Overhaul: The team has released extensive updates to PebbleOS and the mobile app, introducing features like working weather, WhatsApp call integration, critical background crash fixes, WebSocket support, and a native in-app Appstore.
- Legacy Support: Notably, the mobile app now proxies requests from old weather APIs (like Yahoo and OpenWeather) to Open-Meteo, ensuring continued functionality for existing watch faces.
- Developer & Community Focus: Improvements include enhanced PebbleKit Android support, watch settings configurable via the mobile app, and various community-contributed features such as new app icons, left-handed mode, and health data syncing.
This update paints a clear picture of a dedicated team navigating the intricate world of hardware manufacturing while simultaneously revitalizing and modernizing the software ecosystem, all to deliver the next generation of Pebble devices to their eager fanbase.
The Gossip
Pebble's Peculiar Perks
Many commenters, including long-time users, highlighted Pebble's unique value proposition that distinguishes it from other smartwatches. Key differentiators include its open-source OS, always-on e-paper (or Sharp memory LCD) display, exceptional battery life (often lasting weeks), emphasis on privacy with no cloud data push, hackability, and its generally smaller, less chunky form factor compared to competitors like the Apple Watch. There's a strong sentiment that these features fulfill a niche unmet by mainstream smartwatches.
Nostalgia and New Expectations
A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the nostalgia for the original Pebble watches and the excitement, or sometimes skepticism, for its return. Users recalled the original's groundbreaking nature and its active community. While many expressed anticipation for their pre-ordered watches, some tempered their expectations, acknowledging that the new Pebbles might cater more to sentiment than direct competition with current smartwatches in terms of advanced features.
Competitive Comparisons and Alternatives
Some commenters questioned Pebble's current standing in a matured smartwatch market, with one suggesting that programmable smartwatches from China could now offer similar features at a fraction of the cost. This prompted a call for specific examples of such alternatives. Bangle.js was brought up as a notable open-source, hackable smartwatch, though some argued it doesn't quite sit in the same league as Pebble.
Software Solution Satisfaction
The community expressed particular appreciation for the detailed software updates, especially the clever solution of proxying old weather APIs to Open-Meteo. This commitment to maintaining compatibility for legacy watch faces and apps was seen as a significant quality-of-life improvement and a testament to the team's dedication to the existing ecosystem and community.