Image: Pebble
Despite a rather rough third quarter, Fitbit continues to lead the wearables market. Its dominance of the market will continue with the purchase of Pebble’s software assets.
Read this
The History of Wearable Technology: A timeline
Humans have always adorned their bodies with gadgetry — be it for show, for utility, or both. Our timeline documents examples such as body armour, spectacles, wearable calculating aids, hearing aids, diving gear, spacesuits, exoskeletons and experiments in human-machine ‘cyborgs’.
This consolidation of a couple competitors helps focus the wearables market a bit, but Pebble fans are sure to be disappointed. In addition to selling the software assets, Pebble is ceasing all hardware operations. This means the Pebble Time 2 and Pebble Core products I backed on Kickstarter will not be shipping out. Thankfully, backers will see full refunds over the coming 4-8 weeks, or at least by March 2017.
Pebble was one of the first to have some success in the smartwatch market and demonstrated that it was possible to create a compelling wearable available at a reasonable price. I was excited about the possibilities of the Pebble Core, especially given the developer community that pushed the Pebble forward. Given this news, the Pebble will eventually fade out like so many other mobile companies that pushed the technology to help us get to where we are today.
Pebble stated, “We are no longer manufacturing, promoting, or selling any new products. Active Pebble models in the wild will continue to work. In addition, any Pebble currently out in the wild is no longer covered by or eligible for warranty exchange.”
Some Pebble 2 backers already received the new watch, but those who haven’t will instead receive their money back and not a new watch. Hopefully, not too many people were counting on new Pebble products for gifts during this holiday season.
A look back at ZDNet Pebble coverage
