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[Funky Papa]

Glad you came in with this. I wasn't sure how Garmin was doing in the market.

They really tapped into something.

Notice how the top 3 makers use other than Android Wear. Garmin saw its chance and seized it. Google screwed the pooch here so, so badly.

 

[Agent Gibbs]

They ran a kickstarter precisely because they needed more money. That's what Kickstarter is for. Also even assuming their manufacturer has debts that's nothing they can control, they'd need a new supplier and there simply aren't many for that type of item. If the PT2 and Core can't be made they'd probably start refunds and liquidate the company which might be what this is.

But that isn't exactly customer friendly or forthcoming really is it? running a kickstarter to enable a company to produce updated watches and a mini android thingy is a far reach from a kickstarter that's "bail us out because we are failing and we might produce some updated watches" Kickstarter is not there to be used as a company bail out loan its there to enable companies to expand their current lines, fund ambitious projects or as a start up fund.

 

[Dr_LucienSanchez]

Well, guess it's time to try and cancel my PT2 order. Very unfortunate news.

 

[Jeffrey]

shame. I mean it was obvious pebble was always on borrowed time.

Wonder if an indie scene will take over once the app store is taken down.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

They really tapped into something.

Notice how the top 3 makers use other than Android Wear. Garmin saw its chance and seized it. Google screwed the pooch here so, so badly.

YOWZA. Dat year over year growth.

 

[Agent Gibbs]

That doesn't make any sense if true. FCC testing costs a few grand and takes like a month, why on earth wouldn't you do it

When people started asking questions about dates, other redditors dug up information from there and saw the Pebble 2/HR got approval then went into manufacturing shortly after etc but there was nothing for the PT2 or Pebble Core.

This rang alarm bells for some, but only in that they were having manufacturing issues and were delayed and didn't want to update backers.

It was because of that people went looking for manufacturing news and discovered their main screen manufacture was in trouble and put it down to that as why they'd not gone for approval. That alone was alarming, but if we got an update saying "due to difficulties there is a delay whilst we seek alternate sources" most would have been disappointed but okay

now adding it all up it seems like they knew of trouble and went down the route of sell out

Right now if they haven't even got FCC/CE approval and they haven't got a screen supplier, I honestly cannot see any deal with Fitbit honouring the production of the PT2 given so many unknowns

 

[The Technomancer]

Also 40 million is a ridiculously small exit for a company like Pebble. What was that CEO thinking turning down the other offers?

 

[rrs]

well, so much for pebble staying open source and with it what's left of the audience

also, I don't want damn fitness shit in my watch, it's annoying enough when my time screams at me enable fitness pls

 

[Funky Papa]

Also 40 million is a ridiculously small exit for a company like Pebble. What was that CEO thinking turning down the other offers?

It's not an exit, it's a fire sale.

 

[Somnid]

But that isn't exactly customer friendly or forthcoming really is it? running a kickstarter to enable a company to produce updated watches and a mini android thingy is a far reach from a kickstarter that's "bail us out because we are failing and we might produce some updated watches" Kickstarter is not there to be used as a company bail out loan its there to enable companies to expand their current lines, fund ambitious projects or as a start up fund.

Pebble is the product, Pebble is the company, if they can't get a new product out they are dead. There's nothing strange or weird about it, they sold preorders so they could get the money upfront to fund the new line. Note that they sold more than just kickstarter, these were real preorders and they need to fulfill or refund them and Fitbit would need to pick up that bill if they do acquire them to avoid lawsuits.

 

[LeleSocho]

If you think the Apple Watch is " aesthetically appealing" then I don't really know what to say.

Apple Watch is far from being the most beautiful wrist accessory in the planet or even in tech only but if you are going to deny that it has a coherent and researched design (things that most of the Garmin products lack) then i certainly would know what to say about you.

 

[digdug2k]

aye. for all their capabilities, many of their devices still look like sports watches.

A watch is a fashion accessory, that's what the appleWatch got right from version 1.0, it looks really really sleek (imho)

Garmin really intentionally targeted sports, I.e. serious runners, not fashion. There's some long articles about it. The picked a tiny market segment to focus on. It did surprisingly well.

But I think apple watches look like shit too.

 

[andrerobot]

Aw fuck, and pledged for a Time 2 and a Pebble Core, on Kickstarter.

It's a shame they're going away, I have a Pebble Time Steel and it rocks.

 

[Mandelbo]

This is such a shame if true, but not entirely surprising. Got my Pebble 2 a few weeks ago and I'm loving it so far (even if it basically can't do anything with notifications on iOS.) It's all I really wanted out of a smartwatch. I know someone who backed the Time 2, so I'm quite interested to see what happens to that if they fall through before the watches get sent out.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Apple Watch is far from being the most beautiful wrist accessory in the planet or even in tech only but if you are going to deny that it has a coherent and researched design (things that most of the Garmin products lack) then i certainly would know what to say about you.

It's certainly consistent with their other designs, and I will admit its not the ugliest item on the market. But for me, I want a watch that looks really nice.

 

[Gamervana84]

Just bought a pebble 2 great watch hopefully there will still be updates if this thing goes down

 

[chubigans]

whaaa I had no idea things were bad over there. I love my Pebble, and I was wondering where my Pebble Time 2 was since it was supposed to ship in Nov.

Crap man, this sucks. Guess I'll take Funky Papa's advice and check out some Garmin watches I guess. Mannnnnnnn

 

[Fox318]

As somebody who owns a Blaze I do hope this forces fitbit to open up the platform more.

Its so fucking dumb that I only have 5 or so watch faces.

 

[tiredheadcrab]

I love my Fitbit blaze. I actually had the first MS band and that thing was uncomfortable as fuck. It started to fall apart a bit and I decdied to wait for MS to announce the Band 3 and Thurrott reported they were leaving the fitness tracker market so i just went out and got a blaze.

I have heard some great things about Garmin as well. But I enjoy fibits app much more. Hopefully fitbit will start making its own platform with this move.

 

[MarkMclovin]

The update that every backer has been waiting for, was just released.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-2-time-2-and-core-an-entirely-new-3g-ultra/posts/1752929

Totally sucks that PT2 will never be made. Ordered 2 P2's and 1 PT2. My P2 is a great little device and I really hope it continues to work for at least a year or so. Pretty sure the Timeline is cloud based.

 

[Squalor]

Damn, that's chump change.

Good deal for Fitbit.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

Gonna cross-post from the Pebble Kickstarter thread:

I bought a Pebble 2 SE before Thanksgiving when Best Buy had them on sale but I ended up returning it a day later when I realized it was such a minimal upgrade from my Pebble Steel.

Sad to see the whole company going belly up. My Pebble Steel isn't gonna last forever and when it dies there's nothing comparable to replace it with.