Pebble cements its smartwatch legacy as Google shares source code with the community

Many of the best smartwatches on the market last a day or two at most, a far cry from the week-long battery life that Pebble watches boasted over a decade ago. This is precisely why many people still use their Pebble watches, even though the watches were discontinued around 2016. Community-led efforts have valiantly kept Pebble watches alive all these years, but they have been hampered by a lack of access to the devices’ source code. Thankfully, Google has just released the source code for the Pebble watch, giving developers a chance to continue development.

Pebble, a Kickstarter startup, emerged in the early 2010s with smartwatches that met the needs of many users. The brand distinguished itself by using e-paper-like reflective LCDs, displays that reflect ambient light. Thanks to their e-paper-like displays, Pebble watches offered always-on screens that were readable in direct sunlight. The designs of Pebble watches were minimalist and functional, making them quite popular among a broad demographic. Furthermore, their simple OS and power-efficient processor allowed them to achieve up to a week of battery life on a single charge. Despite the simple OS, the software platform was open and easy to work with, which attracted developers to create a wide range of apps and watch faces.