AppleInsider Staff
Smart watch maker Pebble on Wednesday announced support for notifications in Apple's iOS 7 platform, as well as a new software development kit and new partnerships with Foursquare, Yelp, iControl and GoPro.
With a new software update announced by Pebble, users of the wrist-worn device will receive fully integrated support from iOS 7, including seamless operation with Notification Center. That means any notifications enabled in Notification Center will appear on a user's Pebble, including Calendar, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, Flipboard and more.
The functionality is set to come with a new iOS application that is currently under review by Apple, but is expected to launch in the App Store soon.
Pebble also announced a new software development kit, dubbed version 2.0, which it says will make it easier for developers to make their own Pebble-compatible applications. The SDK includes access to four new application programming interfaces for developers: Javascript, Accelerometer, Data Logging, and Persistent Storage.
According to the company, the new APIs will let developers create apps that can interface directly with the WEb, such as real-time weather or transit info. Using the accelerometer will also enable apps to offer health and fitness monitoring, and even log data when disconnected from the phone.
The company has also promised that "amazing" new watch apps are in the works from a number of partners. Companies highlighted by Pebble were Foursquare, Yelp, GoPro and iControl. No further details or release information was offered.
Finally, Pebble revealed it has sold 190,000 smart watches to date, and 2 million apps and faces for the platform have been downloaded. There are now more than 50 companion apps available on the iOS App Store and Google Play, and more than 10,000 developers support the platform.
Pebble first teased on Tuesday that it had a software update in the works, and new features that would enable more functionality for developers. The company was a breakthrough success on crowdfunding site Kickstarter, raking in $10.2 million from backers after it kicked off in April of 2012.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Christine McKee
Chip Loder
Marko Zivkovic
5 Comments
10,000 developers but only 50 apps? How does that math work out exactly?
I liked the idea of the Pebble more than the execution.
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Doomed - a pebble sinks to the bottom much like a stone, just a little slower.
Gawd, finally. The existing iOS6 functionality on my pebble was just embarrassing compared to what it could do in Android (coworker upstaged me!) This'll be really nice. Overall, very happy with iOS7, notifications like this should've existed in iOS6, but glad we have them now. And no, I don't think Apple will ever make an iWatch (at least not like the Pebble).