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Introducing Pebble Time

kickstarter.com

111–120 of 403 posts

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#111
post #62

Pretty sneaky to advertise $159 and not mention the $10 shipping which makes it $169, and KS doesn't even advertise that until you've already clicked through to the 'pledge' (aka purchase, what happened to "Kickstarter is not a store"?) page. And now that the 'early tier' is gone (great UX on that, they took me to the credit card page, I entered my info, then they reloaded it and went "oops, that tier's full now tee-…

Yes, that is pretty sneaky. Especially since people are used to Kickstarter products including shipping.

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#112
They are clearly trying to differenciate from Apple by using more sporty apperearance. I would have prefered more business-like layout but ended up ordering anyways. It looks very promising!

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#113

The killer feature here is something that no one is talking about! >We've included a soft silicone band with each Pebble Time, but all standard 22mm watch bands will fit. All new Pebble watch bands include a quick-release pin, letting you swap bands in under 10 seconds. Standard watch bands is something that most other wearables aren't embracing. This makes the Pebble significantly more enticing.

think the original pebble used a standard watch band. steel did not (which I just bought a week ago, gah)

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#114
post #6

It's a bland gadget. I'm really not sure about that approach. It's so cheap and uninspired. Whatever you think about the overall shape of the Apple Watch, at least it's not a bland gadget. It seems to pay meticulous attention to all the micro details that make jewelry jewlery and not a bland tech toy. (Seems to because obviously no one has looked at it in detail. But first indications are good.) This one does not. I'…

If you want jewelry, buy a necklace. Or maybe an Apple Watch. Yeah, yeah, I get it. But I want a functional device as I'm one of those "a Rolex doesn't tell better time than a Casio" types. What's next, artisanally-crafted pocket knives? I'll stick my bland yet functional Victrinox or Case.

To each their own, and may both markets be well-served. For those that would rather pay for function, there's the Pebble that doesn't look all that bad to me. We'll see how well Apple serves the high end.

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#115

The killer feature here is something that no one is talking about! >We've included a soft silicone band with each Pebble Time, but all standard 22mm watch bands will fit. All new Pebble watch bands include a quick-release pin, letting you swap bands in under 10 seconds. Standard watch bands is something that most other wearables aren't embracing. This makes the Pebble significantly more enticing.

[deleted]

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#116
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I gave my original away. The novelty lasted about 2 hours. They don't even have an estimated ship date. That worries me a bit.

This isn't a pre-order. Even if they wanted to provide a ship date, it will inevitably change.

Smells like a pre-order to me, except with a lot of the downsides and risks pushed onto 'backers'.

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#117
post #4

It's interesting that they've chosen to launch the product on Kickstarter. They don't appear to need the funding structure; they're simply using it as a shop.

I'm guessing they have a understanding with Kickstarter. Pebble is guaranteed to break some records with Kickstarter and it will get great press. With competitors like GoFundMe and Indiegogo I'm sure that Kickstarter welcomed Pebble back with open arms. Good for them!

That and the 5% they get for funded projects.

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#118

Anybody know which display technology they're using? It kind of looks like Qualcomm's Mirasol from the videos.

Here's my guess: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2842092/sharp-smartband-lcd-u...

* Original Pebble used greyscale version of same tech from Sharp.

* Available in 1 inch size.

* In production spring 2015.

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#119
post #12
post #6

It's a bland gadget. I'm really not sure about that approach. It's so cheap and uninspired. Whatever you think about the overall shape of the Apple Watch, at least it's not a bland gadget. It seems to pay meticulous attention to all the micro details that make jewelry jewlery and not a bland tech toy. (Seems to because obviously no one has looked at it in detail. But first indications are good.) This one does not. I'…

You say bland, I say functional. Since my Casio data bank watch in the 90s I didn't wear a watch until I got my Pebble. To me a watch is a tool, not a fashion accessory. I understand not everyone looks at it that way, but really I don't think there's any smartwatch that looks like an elegant timepiece anyway.

I think that's a totally fair point. I mean, I was once obsessed with those Casio G-Shock watches (when I was a child until maybe a couple years into being a teenager), so I know people want watches like that. I'm mostly coming at this from my own biased perspective, I guess (and I somehow assume that's the more universally shared perspective with the bigger potential market without actually knowing that's the case), and for me this won't do.

If a watch can convince me at all that's it's worth wearing it I need it to not look functional and techie and my guess is that would be a more widely appealing approach to these watches. Maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe there is just no market at all there and this is just a momentary fad. This will be interesting to watch.

Re: Introducing Pebble Time

#120
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is way more common than you think. The most successful kickstarter campaigns usually have their demand already assessed (the number I've heard is usually 25%) before launching.

So you're saying successful "campaigns" are simply the ones using kickstarter as a pre-ordering platform? That's very sad.

Kickstarter is a business too.

They get a kickstart by having successful brands use their platform. You could could call it sad and unfortunate but it is inevitable.

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