The Pebble smartwatch, discontinued for nearly a decade, is making a surprising comeback, spearheaded by its founder, Eric Migicovsky. This revival is significantly boosted by Google’s decision to open-source the Pebble OS, aiming to revitalize existing devices and open the door for new ones.
In 2016, Fitbit acquired Pebble, which led to the cessation of Pebble’s planned devices and the integration of Pebble OS into Fitbit’s software ecosystem. However, Fitbit’s engagement with Pebble OS was minimal, extending only to maintaining basic smartwatch functionality until the end of 2017. When Google later acquired Fitbit, Pebble OS became part of Google’s intellectual property portfolio.
Why Pebble is Returning
Eric Migicovsky explained his motivation for the Pebble’s return: “I’ve tried almost every smartwatch on the market, but I still prefer my old Pebble for its unmatched features and battery life. I hoped someone would fill this gap, but no one has. My supply of old Pebbles is dwindling!”
Together with a small team, Migicovsky is now working on a new smartwatch that echoes the Pebble’s ethos. It will operate on the newly open-sourced Pebble OS, preserving cherished features while adding innovations, all while maintaining Pebble’s original design philosophy. “If there’s enough interest, we’ll bring it to life,” he stated optimistically.
Pebble OS Goes Open Source
Google, having inherited Pebble OS through its acquisition of Fitbit, has decided to make the operating system open source. This project was spearheaded by a team at Google, including former Pebble employees.
Migicovsky expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Google! I’m incredibly thankful to those who made this possible, and to the Rebble team and community for their continued support.”
What’s Being Released
Google has released a comprehensive portion of Pebble OS’s source code. This repository includes all the essentials for standard smartwatch functionalities like notifications, media controls, fitness tracking, and custom app support.
The OS, built on FreeRTOS, comprises modules for memory management, graphics, and timekeeping, with a framework for running custom applications in C and JavaScript through the JerryScript engine.
However, some proprietary components, such as chipset support and Bluetooth stack, have been omitted. As a result, the code won’t compile or link directly but includes all necessary build system files using the waf build system.
Looking Ahead
Google’s hope is that this release will aid the Rebble project and its community in sustaining and updating Pebble watches. However, the task of crafting new firmware updates will demand considerable effort to replace the removed proprietary code and modernize the codebase.
Availability
The source code is now publicly accessible on GitHub at github.com/google/pebble. Users and developers can leverage it for existing Pebble watches, simulate it, deploy it on other devices, or even create new hardware. Migicovsky noted, “Anyone can now use Pebble OS in any way they see fit.”