Pebble's next step • Hacker News Board

Re: Pebble's next step

#11

Post by imaginenore » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:39 PM UTC

dijit wrote: post #3

I'd like to know how this happened really. Pebbles were pretty decent and their successful campaigns definitely contributed to the rise of smart watches. But after having two hugely successful crowdfunding campaigns, how did they fail?

Why do you think they failed? Didn't FitBit just buy them?

Re: Pebble's next step

#12

Post by cwisecarver » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:40 PM UTC

I backed the Time 2 and the Core. I was way more excited about the Core. I have a 1st-gen Apple Watch and am perfectly happy with that. I was going to give the Time 2 to my father-in-law for Christmas. It's really disappointing. I'm really looking forward to someone explaining the what and whys of this. Based on Fitbit's stock price over the last year I can't imagine this acquisition will turn out good for either party, the developers going to Fitbit, or the wearable community in general.

Re: Pebble's next step

#13

Post by amarpatel » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:40 PM UTC

Leszek wrote: post #4

Very disappointing for this backer that the Time 2 will never come out. It makes you wonder where the kickstarter money went.

> Kickstarter backers who have not received their rewards will receive a full refund within 4-8 weeks as a chargeback to their credit cards. No further action is needed.

Re: Pebble's next step

#14

Post by Leszek » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:41 PM UTC

imaginenore wrote: post #11

dijit wrote: post #3

I'd like to know how this happened really. Pebbles were pretty decent and their successful campaigns definitely contributed to the rise of smart watches. But after having two hugely successful crowdfunding campaigns, how did they fail?

Why do you think they failed? Didn't FitBit just buy them?

FitBit bought them for the equivalent of pennies because they were, it seems, deep in debt.

Re: Pebble's next step

#15

Post by twoquestions » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:41 PM UTC

So it looks like Fitbit acquihired the team from Pebble. Here's hoping Fitbit releases a product like the Pebbles, as it was much more safe and less attention-consuming to check a text message on my watch while driving than bringing out my phone, or asking a passenger to do this.

Are there any other things like it that we can migrate to, or will the world never see their like again?

Re: Pebble's next step

#16

Post by cillian64 » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:41 PM UTC

imaginenore wrote: post #11

dijit wrote: post #3

I'd like to know how this happened really. Pebbles were pretty decent and their successful campaigns definitely contributed to the rise of smart watches. But after having two hugely successful crowdfunding campaigns, how did they fail?

Why do you think they failed? Didn't FitBit just buy them?

Pebble have entered insolvency:

http://www.proofofclaims.com/PebbleTech/documents/

Re: Pebble's next step

#17

Post by listentojohan » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:41 PM UTC

imaginenore wrote: post #11

dijit wrote: post #3

I'd like to know how this happened really. Pebbles were pretty decent and their successful campaigns definitely contributed to the rise of smart watches. But after having two hugely successful crowdfunding campaigns, how did they fail?

Why do you think they failed? Didn't FitBit just buy them?

No, Fitbit are buying the assets of Pebble, the company is closing.

Re: Pebble's next step

#18

Post by aikah » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:42 PM UTC

Still taking orders on kickstarter right now...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-2-time...

Re: Pebble's next step

#19

Post by Leszek » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:42 PM UTC

amarpatel wrote: post #13

Leszek wrote: post #4

Very disappointing for this backer that the Time 2 will never come out. It makes you wonder where the kickstarter money went.

> Kickstarter backers who have not received their rewards will receive a full refund within 4-8 weeks as a chargeback to their credit cards. No further action is needed.

No, I know that I'll be getting a refund, I just wonder why the kickstarter money wasn't enough to fulfill the kickstarter rewards.

Re: Pebble's next step

#20

Post by cschmidt » Wed, Dec 07, 2016, 2:43 PM UTC

imaginenore wrote: post #11

dijit wrote: post #3

I'd like to know how this happened really. Pebbles were pretty decent and their successful campaigns definitely contributed to the rise of smart watches. But after having two hugely successful crowdfunding campaigns, how did they fail?

Why do you think they failed? Didn't FitBit just buy them?

Well, it was a acquihire, which is kind of sad. Not a failure for investors, perhaps, but certainly for their customers.