Pebble Ups Kickstarter Campaign With Pebble Time Steel

One week after launching its record setting Kickstarter campaign for Pebble Time, the team at Pebble has updated the campaign with two new announcements sure to get any wearable tech lover excited – the Pebble Time Steel and smartstraps!

Pebble Time Steel is the higher-end, more fashionable version of the Pebble Time. While the Pebble Time brings new upgrades including a color screen, the look is no-doubt sporty and fun. The Pebble Time Steel takes cues from the fashion world to allow for more stylish customization, as well as bringing some elegance to the new smartwatch.

Pebble Time Steel. The luxurious older brother to the newly announced Pebble Time.
Source: Pebble.

The Pebble Time Steel includes all the features of the Pebble Time, and adds:

• A CNC-finished 316L stainless steel case
• Larger battery with up to 10 days total battery life (3 more than existing Pebble watches and the Pebble Time)
• The color e-display is bonded directly to the top lens
• Available in three stylish finishes: gunmetal black, silver stainless steel, and gold.
• Includes both a leather and stainless steel strap
• Smartstrap compatible (see more below).

The Time Steel will begin shipping in July and will have a regular retail price of $299 ($50 cheaper than the base price soon-to-be-released Apple Watch). Backers of the campaign can upgrade to a Time Steel perk, which can be pre-ordered at $250.

The second major announcement made by Pebble was the innovative smartstraps! These are straps that easily attach to the smartwatch and include independent sensors and technology. As Pebble put it, “Rather than trying to shove every sensor and doohickey into the Pebble Time, we decided to keep the watch simple and functional and give our incredible maker and developer community the opportunity to build from there…[smart]straps can now contain electronics and sensors to interface directly with apps running on Pebble Time.”

Source: Pebble.

Rather than create the end solution themselves, Pebble is calling upon their passionate maker community to build on the smartstraps, which can be outfitted to include NFC, GPS, heart rate monitoring, even battery extension. Pebble released 3D files on its developer blog with further details which we will cover in a separate post. Though Pebble has stated they may create their own final smartstrap product, no date has been given as to the independent retail release of such a product.

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