Don’t count the monochromatic Kickstarter sensation out yet, Pebble just received a price drop, new fitness tracking skills and it’s officially in the UK from today.
Pebble Inc. made Kickstarter history when it started raising funds for a new kind of smartwatch back in 2012. Before Apple Watch and Android Wear were the names on everybody’s lips, the small startup was able to push the concept of Pebble into the mind of every tech-lover around.
Just over two years on since the company raised over $10 million from the crowd funding website to kick start the Pebble smartwatch project, it’s finally making its way to the UK and in time for Christmas too.
Unlike previous offerings, the Pebble won people over with its simple design, three-button operation and low power, high visibility e-paper display. The addition of customisable watch faces, multiple apps and functions, not to mention support for both Android and iOS devices was enough to impress the tech-savvy masses. Over time we’ve seen more capabilities join the roster, a budding developer community, dedicated app stores and at CES earlier this year, the arrival of the premium Pebble Steel.
For all of the benefits Pebble offers in the smartwatch space, but aside from importing a Pebble from the States it hasn’t been readily available to us here in the UK. Following the announcement of a US price drop Amazon.co.uk, Dixons and O2 (who land exclusivity over the cherry red version) will start selling these popular smartwatches for £99 (Pebble) and £179 (Pebble Steel) respectively starting today.
To coincide with the arrival of the Pebble on our fair shores, a new update focused on health and fitness has arrived too. The Pebble’s activity tracking smarts have been rewired to offer 24/7 data recording (including sleep tracking) and the ability to share this information apps from Misfit, Jawbone and Swim.com (the Pebble is waterproof).
Have you been holding out for Pebble’s UK takeover or are you still waiting for a smartwatch from Google or Apple to appear on your wrist.
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