Pebble app store arrives on iOS, beta Android version available to developers
Pebble, the eInk smartwatch that took Kickstarter by storm, has been updated with an app store for iOS - and Android too, if you're prepared to get your hands dirty
The Pebble smartwatch has been updated to version 2.0, bringing official support for third-party apps for the first time.
Arriving for both the original Pebble and the newly-launched Pebble Steel, firmware version 2.0 is now live, along with an accompanying smartphone app with over 1,000 new apps and watchfaces for owners to download. Previously only a few major apps were officially supported, including fitness tracker RunKeeper, with owners having to side-load custom apps onto the watch by hand.
The new app store does this automatically, saving time and effort. It also has a huge collection of apps all in one place, with six categories: Daily, Tools & Utilities, Notifications, Remotes, Fitness, and Games. Pebble can only hold eight watchfaces or apps at once, but you can download additional apps to a “locker” saved to your smartphone. You can then switch out apps on the fly.
Unfortunately for Android smartphone owners, the 2.0 update is only officially available for iOS. The development team has said the app is still being “fine tuned on Android”, although it is available in beta form through the official Pebble blog. We tried to download and use the app, but it refused to update our Pebble firmware – without the update, you won’t be able to install any downloaded apps.
The official app store could mean an end for third party stores such as MyPebbleFaces, which grew to fill a gap while the developer worked on an official store. For Android owners, at least, this is still the most viable option until the official app arrives, for which there is no confirmed release date.