Shipments of the Kickstarter-backed and iOS-connected Pebble ‘smartwatch’ are scheduled to begin on 23 January, a little behind its previous September 2012 target date.
With capabilities to display and interact with apps on Android and iPhone smartphones, the gadget is thanks to over $10m in crowdsourced funding and has already had numerous pre-orders.
Features of the new device include a 1.26in black and white 144 x 168-pixel ePaper display, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, four control buttons, a vibrating motor, magnetometer and ambient light sensor, in addition to a three-axis accelerometer to operate the device’s backlight.
According to project founder Eric Migicovsky, the device is able to receive calls, emails and message notifications and can manage music from Spotify, iTunes and Pandora on iOS and Android devices through Bluetooth.
Pebble smartwatch will also sync with the user’s smartphone to display text messages, Facebook statuses, email notifications and, as you would expect, the time.
The watch will enable users to expand its capabilities through additional apps, and there will be a software development kit (SDK) for app makers.
The firm is expecting to mass-produce the device at a rate of 15,000 units each week, and deliver it to its 65,000 Kickstarter backers within 6 to 8 weeks of the launch.
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