Left to right: Pebble Steel, original Pebble
Credit: Pebble/The Verge
What's good: improved appearance.
What's bad:
• More expensive at $249.
• No longer, "... designed to fit most 22mm watch bands." Ability to accept standard watchbands was proposed as an advantge of the original Pebble, but photographs make it obvious that this doesn't apply to Pebble Steel.
What's good or bad, depending on your point of view: functionality of Pebble Steel is unchanged from the original Pebble.
Why that's good:
• With deliveries starting ealier this year, owners of the original (including myself) would be lesss than pleased if their (almost) new device was already superceded.
• Retains all the functionality of what is arguably the most practical & useful smart watch to date.
• Retains compatablity with all existing Pebble watch faces (numbering in the hundreds, if not thousands) & other software.
Recode takes a look:
http://recode.net/2014/01/06/first-look-the-new-pebble-steel-smartwatch/
The Verge too:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/6/5276698/pebble-steel-launch-interview-ces-2014
What's perhaps best of all: the original Pebble is still available for $150. Get both old & new at:
https://getpebble.com/checkout / 300,000 Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky E-Ink good holiday season Silicon Valley startup shipping ship stainless steel Gorilla Glass version first Pebble Bluetooth watch consumers little more refined less sporty sport plastic Pebble watch two versions version Steel brushed stainless matte black swappable metal leather bands band cost $249 a hundred dollars more ship ships end of January Pebble Steel original Pebble watch connect pairs pair iOS iPhone Android devices device devs developer developers dev created hacks hack hacked BlackBerry Windows phones phone smartphone smart phone notifications runs run same apps app waterproof same battery life five to seven days Pebble app store company optimized apps Yelp Foursquare GoPro quick flick wrist Yelp local wild card spot bar restaurant GoPro controller product production produce Kickstarter prototype competition competitor compete release releasing Sony Samsung Qualcomm released release review Samsung Galaxy Gear Qualcomm Toq 50 person 50-person Pebble team Consumer Electronics Show CES launchpad company’s company Palo Alto offices office assess full assessment testing test tester Pebble bandwagon like watch wear plastic swimming swim serious athletic activities activity active smartwatch smartwatches smart watch watches geeky geek mainstream Pebble Steel sleeker sleek style stylish alternative versions version masculine-looking masculine looking Pebble Migicovsky design current customer base male consultant consulted consult consultation watch designers design develop development developer building build manufacure make appeal women video tape record taped Migicovsky /
