We're bringing Pebble back • Hacker News Board

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#471

Post by lclc » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 9:46 AM UTC

mazambazz wrote: post #81

Even though I haven't used one in a really long time, the Pebble Time still stands out to me as something I wish I still had. It's an absolutely shame that Pebble was so innovative and functional, but couldn't reach mass market. But, I am extremely excited and happy that the Pebble team can start it again. I don't like Google for many things, but, I am grateful that the open-sourced PebbleOS. What a joyous day!

On the GitHub it says: > Proprietary source code has been removed from this repository and it will not compile as-is. This is for information only.

Not sure how much use it is?

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#472

Post by jdranczewski » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 9:54 AM UTC

Very glad to hear the Pebble dream lives on! I only switched away from my Pebble Time two years ago when I started to need heart rate monitoring for health reasons. The Pixel Watch is good, but in many ways I still consider the Time the optimal smartwatch design in many departments!

The UX especially is something l look back fondly on, especially the timeline interface was such a natural way to use a timepiece for me.

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#473

Post by graycrow » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 9:56 AM UTC

Such great news. I still wear the OG Kickastarter Edition every day, years after the battery on my 2nd Pebble, the Time, died. I even still sync my old iPad to it to at least keep the time in sync.

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#474

Post by mugivarra69 » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 9:57 AM UTC

[dead]

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#475

Post by kentiko » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 10:01 AM UTC

I'm very happy, I will buy it if it has the same spirit has the previous ones. I loved my Pebble Time, I am not sure why I sold it. It was just what a smart watch was supposed to be, not a mini smart phone on your wrist. Buttons instead of touch screen. Long battery life. Always on display. Simple to use.

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#476

Post by aa-jv » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 10:06 AM UTC

This is great news. As much as I love my PineTime watch, its getting a little long in the tooth and I'd love to see some upgrades to it, hardware-wise..

That said, there are a lot of other open-source watches in the pipeline that could use a bit of motivation to update their designs .. The TT-Watch situation is pretty fruitful .. I have a Watchy in my drawer somewhere that I should probably get working again .. all of these options, and maybe Pebble can learn something from them ..

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#477

Post by imp0cat » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 10:19 AM UTC

shaklee3 wrote: post #388

Reason077 wrote: post #356

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "A better "thank you" to Google would be to direct people to Fitbit." Fitbit has already gone off to the great Google graveyard, unfortunately.

no. they just released the Fitbit ace

Cue Monty Python's Dead Parrot sketch. :)

Fitbit isn't dead yet, but it's not doing great either. And the alternatives kinda suck (tldr; the best choice is probably a Garmin for 3x as much money and with less features ).

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#478

Post by akho » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 10:25 AM UTC

dingaling wrote: post #448

akho wrote: post #423

Earlier quoted context omitted.

not the reader though

It's strange to see the naivety around Reader. If Facebook had created it, people would recognise the initiative to gate-keep, regulate and curate the Wild West of RSS. "They're trying to keep you inside their walled garden!"

Reader made tons of people use RSS who otherwise wouldn’t, and who now don’t.

It did not live long enough to become a villain (though it certainly would have — there is no reason why G wouldn’t have added recommendations, an algo feed, and all it brings). Therefore it’s remembered well.

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#479

Post by blutack » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 10:29 AM UTC

harry8 wrote: post #452

How does the pebble compare to the pine time? https://pine64.org/devices/pinetime/

Have both, the Pine Time hardware is impressive for the price and props to the creators of the various available operating systems that are surprisingly capable, stable and super hackable.

Pluses of my Pebble Time:

- A lovely always on e-ink screen (the Pine Time has a TFT that relies on wrist detect to be visible, like an apple or pixel watch)

- Much better battery life

- A perfectly crafted UX full of lovely little touches, it's hard to explain if you haven't used one. It's full of animations but somehow they aren't annoying. Bit like using BB10. You can tell the dev-years & care that went into knocking off all the rough edges. It's the opposite feeling of "f you you're the product" I get from using most modern "tech" (Windows/Pixel watch/etc etc).

- Brilliant timeline view

- Rock solid connectivity (again, better than android/pixel watches)

- Much nicer HW feel in terms of build & fit/finish

- Huge user base who created a massive range of apps & watch faces

Re: We're bringing Pebble back

#480

Post by outadoc » Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 10:32 AM UTC

Super exciting. I just found my Pebble Time again last week, and configured it with Rebble. The animations of this OS still feel so great, I hope whoever was responsible for them gets hired again.