Latest news with #CoreDevices
Express Tribune
31-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pebble smartwatches make comeback with August 2025 release
The iconic Pebble smartwatch brand is set to make a comeback, with founder Eric Migicovsky announcing that his company, Core Devices, has reacquired the Pebble trademark. Two upcoming smartwatches, previously known as Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2, will now launch as Pebble 2 Duo and Pebble Time 2, reviving the name that pioneered the smartwatch market. Migicovsky, who founded Pebble before its closure in 2016, revealed the rebranding in a blog post. The watches, powered by the open-source PebbleOS, are designed to recapture the charm of the original devices. The Pebble 2 Duo is in beta testing, while the Pebble Time 2 is undergoing engineering verification. Both are available for pre-order on Core Devices' rePebble website, priced at $149 for the Pebble 2 Duo and $225 for the Pebble Time 2. The Pebble 2 Duo is expected to begin shipping by late August, delayed from an earlier July target due to enhanced waterproofing tests and the addition of a waterproof speaker. US customers face a $10 tariff per Pebble 2 Duo, as the watches are shipped from Hong Kong, with non-US orders unaffected. Migicovsky noted the Pebble 2 Duo's Bluetooth range reaches approximately 140 metres in open areas, slightly more in urban settings. The Pebble Time 2 has received a sleeker design, though details remain sparse as it progresses through testing. The return of the Pebble name, nearly a decade after its discontinuation, has sparked excitement among smartwatch enthusiasts. I can't remember the last time I was legitimately giddy to receive something in the mail From the first @Kickstarter in 2012 to now, the new @Pebble Alpha, have been a supporter for over a decade now damn i'm old — Josh Cohenzadeh (@jshchnz) July 15, 2025
The Verge
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Pebble is officially Pebble again
Good news for Pebble fans. Not only are the Pebble watches coming back, they'll also officially be called Pebble watches. 'Great news — we've been able to recover the trademark for Pebble! Honestly, I wasn't expecting this to work out so easily,' Core Devices CEO Eric Migicovsky writes in an update blog. 'Core 2 Duo is now Pebble 2 Duo. Core Time 2 is now Pebble Time 2.' As a refresher, Pebble was one of the OG smartwatches. Despite a loyal customer base, however, it wasn't able to compete with bigger names like Fitbit, the Apple Watch, or Samsung. In 2016, Pebble was acquired by Fitbit for $23 million, marking the end of the first Pebble era. Along the way, Fitbit was acquired by Google. That's important because the tech giant agreed to open-source Pebble's software, and Migicovsky announced earlier this year that Pebble was making a comeback. However, because Migicovsky didn't have the trademark, the new Pebble watches were initially dubbed the Core 2 Duo and the Core Time 2. The return to the original Pebble naming is both significant and sentimental. For starters, names have power (just ask HBO Max). Not only was everyone going to colloquially call these devices 'new Pebbles', making that official helps bolster the comeback narrative. On top of that, the return to the original naming is also a nod to the power of Pebble's community. 'With the recovery of the Pebble trademark, that means you too can use the word Pebble for Pebble related software and hardware projects,' Migicovsky writes, acknowledging Pebble's history of community development. In the years when Pebbles were defunct, many diehards would pop up in the comments of my smartwatch reviews, lamenting how nothing could compare to their Pebble. So deep was their Pebble love, many participated in a grassroots community called Rebble to keep their devices alive. For those folks, this is probably the cherry on top of an already sweet comeback. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Victoria Song Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Smartwatch Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Wearable
Engadget
13-06-2025
- Business
- Engadget
The spiritual sequel to the Pebble smartwatch is on track to ship in July
Eric Migicovsky, the creator of Pebble who's reviving the e-paper smartwatch with a new company called Core Devices, shared that the first new smartwatches are coming next month. The Core 2 Duo watch is on track to ship to pre-order customers in July and the pricier Core Time 2 is still on track to launch this year. The $149 Core 2 Duo is "near mass production" according to Migicovsky, and should land in the hands of all pre-order customers during July or August. If you pre-ordered, you'll be able to confirm your order and shipping details later in June. Migicovsky says he's also aiming to have "working engineering samples" of the $225 Core Time 2 "within the next month." Both the Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2 carry over the basic functionality of Migicovsky's original Pebble smartwatch, using either black and white or color e-paper displays, with health tracking, access to notifications and the ability to use the back catalog of classic Pebble watch faces and apps. The major difference between the two watches is that the Core Time 2 has a slightly larger screen, a metal frame and a built-in heart rate monitor. Core Devices is also opening up a beta program to test early watch hardware and its new Android and iOS companion app for syncing notifications and watch faces. You can sign-up to join the beta test via a Google Form and interestingly, Migicovsky writes that the new app will also be compatible with older Pebble hardware like the Pebble Time Steel and Round or the Pebble 2.
Phone Arena
13-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Pebble's retro reboot ships in July, and even your old watch might get something new
Pebble is officially coming back, and the first round of its new smartwatches will begin shipping in July. The Core 2 Duo, part of the Pebble reboot led by original founder Eric Migicovsky, will be sent to early customers next month, with broader shipments scheduled for July and August. In a blog post, Migicovsky shared several updates about the project, which is now operating under the name Core Devices. A small group of 200 customers will be the first to try the Core 2 Duo as part of a beta test. Meanwhile, the company's other upcoming model, the Core 2 Time, is reportedly still on schedule. Alongside the hardware, a new Pebble app is also on the way. It will be available for both iOS and Android and is designed primarily for the new Core 2 watches. However, the app will also work with older Pebble hardware. According to Migicovsky, users with devices like the Pebble 2 and Pebble Time series can use the new app and even join the beta program to help test it. Beta sign-ups are now open, though spots will be limited. Those who pre-ordered the Core 2 Duo will receive an email later this month with shipping details, including any payment clarifications related to tariffs or duties depending on their country. The return of Pebble is notable given how long the brand has been absent from the smartwatch scene. Its original watches built a dedicated following thanks to their simplicity, long battery life, and support for notifications. Many Pebble fans have continued using their devices even after official services were shut down, thanks to community efforts. While today's smartwatch market is dominated by more advanced offerings from Apple, Samsung, and Google, Pebble's lightweight and focused approach may still have a place. The inclusion of support for older devices is a thoughtful gesture, especially for users who have kept their watches running over the years. Personally, I'm interested to see how the Core 2 lineup is received once it hits wrists. For now, this reboot looks like it's staying true to the original Pebble spirit — just with a modern update.
The Verge
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Verge
The new Pebble watch's mobile app will also work with some old Pebble watches
On his personal blog, Eric Migicovsky, the creator of the original Pebble smartwatch, has shared some updates and important milestones about the smartwatches his new company plans to release this year. The Core 2 Duo smartwatch is 'nearing mass production,' according to Migicovsky, and Core Devices is 'on track to ship out all pre-orders in July and August.' Customers who preordered the Core 2 Duo should receive an email later this month to confirm shipping and to pay any regional charges that apply, including duties, tariffs, and taxes. The Core 2 Time – an upgraded version of the Core 2 Duo that adds a touchscreen and sleep and step tracking capabilities – is also still on schedule for a release later this year, and the company is 'aiming to have working engineering samples within the next month.' Migicovsky also says the Core 2 Duo is ready to start beta testing and that 200 units have been manufactured and will be sent out to some early preorder customers over the next few weeks, but only those who opt in and are selected to be testers. The company is seeking volunteers to try the new hardware, software, and mobile apps. The most interesting detail about Core Devices starting its beta test program is that it's not limited to those who preordered the new watches. Migicovsky revealed that the company's new iOS and Android mobile apps are also designed to work with older smartwatches, including the Pebble Time (both the Steel and Round versions) and the Pebble 2. If you still have any of those models on hand, you're encouraged to join the beta program to put the new app through its paces. Even if you don't have any interest in testing Core Devices' new hardware or software, this is great news for fans of the original Pebble watches who have had to rely on sideloading old versions of the company's mobile app to keep them running after Fitbit ended support back in 2018.
