Google Just Made the Pebble Smartwatch OS Open Source

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Google has decided to open-source PebbleOS, which is pretty exciting news for fans of Pebble watches! Eric Migicovsky, the original founder, is back at it, starting a new company to pick up where things left off back in 2016. In a blog post, Google mentioned that this move is all about supporting the volunteers who’ve been working hard to keep Pebble watches running smoothly since the original company shut down.

According to The Verge, while the new company can’t use the name Pebble (thanks to Google owning that), it’s still in the early stages and doesn’t have a name yet. For now, Eric has set up a waitlist and news signup over at a site called RePebble. The goal is to eventually launch new wearables that capture the look, feel, and functionality of the classic Pebble watches we all loved. Eric shared his thoughts on why he’s diving back into this: “I’ve tried literally everything else,” he said, “and nothing else comes close.” Sure, plenty of folks are happy with brands like Apple and Garmin, but Eric believes there’s just nothing quite like Pebble. He’s looking for features like a great e-paper screen, long battery life, and a user-friendly experience, which he feels other devices just don’t offer.

For Eric, the essence of a Pebble watch is all about being quirky and fun, a little gadget that connects you to notifications, lets you control your music, lasts a long time, and doesn’t overwhelm you with too many features. It sounds like he’s got some exciting plans beyond just smartwatches, but for now, he’s focusing on bringing back that classic Pebble vibe. And yes, it might feel a bit nostalgic, but that’s exactly the point!

Eric also hopes to foster a larger open-source community around Pebble OS. There are still die-hard Pebble fans out there; for example, a group called Rebble has been keeping many of the platform's apps alive, along with a cool app called Cobble that connects Pebble watches to phones. So, it looks like the Pebble spirit is very much alive and kicking!