Pebble Founder Aims to Revive Iconic Smartwatch with New Venture
Eric Migicovsky, the founder of Pebble, is set to breathe new life into the beloved smartwatch brand. Despite Pebble’s sale to Fitbit in 2016 and subsequent acquisition by Google, Migicovsky continues to use his original Pebble device, highlighting his enduring passion for the product.
In a significant development, Google has agreed to open-source the Pebble OS firmware on GitHub, following Migicovsky’s request. This move paves the way for a potential revival of the Pebble ecosystem, which has been dormant since 2016 due to a lack of software updates.
Migicovsky plans to capitalize on this opportunity by launching a new company, currently unnamed due to trademark restrictions on the Pebble brand. The initiative, dubbed “RePebble,” has already launched a website for interested consumers to join a waitlist and receive updates.
The new venture aims to ship wearables that closely resemble the original Pebble designs, maintaining the distinctive features that made Pebble popular: an e-paper screen, long battery life, and a simple user experience. Migicovsky emphasizes the gadget-like nature and minimalist functionality of the original Pebble, aiming to recreate this experience without significant alterations.
However, the smartwatch market has evolved significantly since Pebble’s heyday. Major players like Google, Apple, and Samsung now dominate the space, with a shift towards health and fitness-focused devices. Pebble previously faced challenges with iOS integration and market positioning, issues that the new venture will need to address.
Learning from past experiences, Migicovsky plans to keep the new company small and sustainable, avoiding the pitfalls of external investment influences that contributed to Pebble’s initial downfall. The strategy includes fostering an open-source community around Pebble OS, potentially enabling diverse applications of the software across various hardware platforms.
While the project is still in its early stages, with hardware prototypes under development, Migicovsky expresses confidence in replicating Pebble’s success. The recent confirmation of Google’s decision to open-source Pebble OS marks a crucial milestone for the project.
As the smartwatch landscape continues to evolve, Migicovsky’s efforts to revive the Pebble experience demonstrate the enduring appeal of simple, functional wearable technology. The success of this venture could potentially reshape the smartwatch market, offering consumers an alternative to the increasingly complex devices currently dominating the industry.
