The original Pebble features a black and white low power LCD, a programmable CPU, memory, storage, Bluetooth, a vibrating alert motor, a magnetometer, an ambient light sensor, and an accelerometer; these extend its use into many roles including interacting with smartphone notifications, activity tracking, gaming, map display, controlling music and connected devices, setting timers, alarms, and reminders, viewing calendar events, and run and golf tracking.[10][23]
When connected to an Android or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth, it will vibrate and display text messages, emails, incoming calls, and notifications from social media accounts when they are received on the paired device. It can also act as a remote control for the phone, or for cameras such as the GoPro. As of April 2015, the Pebble app store had over 6,500 apps and faces developed using Pebble's free software development kit (SDK).[24]
Newer Pebbles, of the Time series, have updated hardware including a color display, microphone for voice dictation, and a new interface with easier access to upcoming events in the user's day.[25]
Pebble's watches also got a sleeker look with the Pebble Time Round, which was called the "thinnest smartwatch ever" at 0.3 inches thick, and featured a new round display.[20]
Apps include remotes for Nest, sports scores, travel directions, live arrival time information for public transit systems, fitness tracking, news headlines, reminders, weather, checklists, and numerous other independently-created apps. With a Pebble Time, users can reply to text messages with the built-in microphone.[25]
Pebble Technology Corporation raised $10.3 million through a Kickstarter campaign running from April 11, 2012, through May 18, 2012; this was the most money raised for any product on the site at that time. Best Buy, an American consumer electronics corporation, began selling Pebble smartwatches in July 2013, and sold out within five days. On December 31, 2014, Pebble sold its one millionth smartwatch.[5] In 2015, Pebble launched the Pebble Time and Time Steel with Kickstarter, raising $20,338,986 from over 75,000 backers, breaking records for both on the site. On May 24, 2015, Pebble Technology released Pebble Time, the second generation of the Pebble smartwatch, and on August, released the Pebble Time Steel. Their third generation, named the Pebble Time Round, was announced on September 24, 2015.[26] The Pebble Time Round, the thinnest smartwatch ever made at just 7.5mm, had a round screen, making it look more like a regular watch. It had the same hardware as the Pebble Time and Time Steel, albeit with a smaller battery to accommodate the smaller frame.
