In the last days of January, we reported that Eric Migicovsky, creator of the Pebble, announced the launch of new watches, something made possible by the open-sourcing of the PebbleOS under Google's control. Less than two months later, Migicovsky confirmed his first two models: the Core 2 Duo, practically a clone of the Pebble 2 with better hardware, and the Core Time 2, made of aluminum with a larger screen. Both will be available in limited numbers, but they are expected to debut this year between July and December.
There are always products that try to come back from the beyond, betting on a sense of nostalgia or promising to "reinvent" themselves to appeal to a specific audience. The Pebble definitely fits that category, and with the opening of its operating system last January, many users wondered how long it would take to get new watches. If we go by the words of its creator Eric Migicovsky, not too long: there are already two models scheduled, and the first shipments will be made this year.
Core Devices: Heirs to the Pebble
First, we have the Core 2 Duo, essentially a Pebble 2 with updated hardware. It features a 1.26-inch black-and-white e-paper screen, a polycarbonate body (white or black), microphone, pedometer, sleep tracker, and water resistance (the idea is IPx8). But that's not all: among the improvements are a speaker, a linear actuator (stronger and quieter than a normal vibrator), sensors for barometer and compass, and 30 days of battery life, courtesy of a more efficient Bluetooth module (the original Pebble 2 had 7).
Second, we have the Core Time 2. Migicovsky describes it as "everything I expected from the Pebble Time 2, and more." The e-paper screen is 1.5 inches with 64 colors, the frame and buttons are metal (black, white, and a third color to be determined, probably aluminum), it includes a flat lens to reduce reflections, touchscreen, heart rate monitor, and almost everything else the Core 2 Duo offers. The 30 days of battery life is an estimate in this case, but since it doesn't use an LCD, its autonomy should be very good.
So what does the fine print say? On one hand, the watches can be hacked, and their version of PebbleOS guarantees compatibility with more than ten thousand watchfaces and Pebble apps, but the JTAG connector will be optional. Then, the watches can only be purchased through the official page (it's not a Kickstarter, and there won't be stores distributing them, at least for now), and the number of units won't be that large either. Finally, the iOS companion app will be very limited due to the restrictions Apple imposes on its ecosystem. In other words, expectations should be moderate. If someone expects an experience or aesthetics similar to the Apple Watch, they won't find it here.
When? If all goes well, the Core 2 Duo will debut in July, and the Core Time 2 in December. The prices are in the image above: $149 and $225 respectively.
Official announcement: Click here
