<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Gigaom]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://gigaom.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Kevin C. Tofel]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[http://search.gigaom.com/author/kevintofel/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Pebble Time Steel launches alongside new smart watch straps]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>Pebble said it would have a few surprises in store after it launched its <a href="https://gigaom.com/2015/02/24/this-is-pebble-time-a-new-smartwatch-to-manage-your-days/">new Pebble Time watch on Kickstarter last week</a>. On Tuesday, Pebble shared two of them: A new <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-time-awesome-smartwatch-no-compromises/posts/1151421">Pebble Time Steel edition available in multiple finishes</a> with longer battery life and support for watchbands with electronics and sensors built into them.</p>
<p><a href="https://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pebble-time-steel-gold.jpg?quality=80&strip=all"><img  src="https://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pebble-time-steel-gold.jpg?quality=80&#038;strip=all&#038;w=804" alt="pebble time steel gold"   class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-918361" /></a></p>
<p>The introduction of <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-time-awesome-smartwatch-no-compromises?utm_campaign=ks2&amp;utm_content=hero&amp;utm_medium=Referral&amp;utm_source=getpebble.com">Pebble Time Steel</a> itself isn&#8217;t a huge surprise; the company offers its current watch in a Steel model. What is a little confounding is the timing of Pebble Time Steel. The answer may be in the availability: the metal version won&#8217;t arrive until July, which is after the plastic model ships.</p>
<p>Pebble says the new Steel edition has CNC-finished 316L stainless steel case and a larger battery; you can expect up to 10 days of run time on a charge. Finishes for the watch include Gunmetal Black, Silver Stainless and Gold, while bands will be made of leather or stainless steel.</p>
<p>The starting retail price of Pebble Time Steel is $299 but Kickstarter backers will save $50. Those (like me) who backed the Pebble Time can upgrade to a Steel model and not lose their place in line for delivery, but again, the newer model won&#8217;t ship until July.</p>
<p><a href="https://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/strap-components.jpg?quality=80&strip=all"><img  src="https://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/strap-components.jpg?quality=80&#038;strip=all&#038;w=804" alt="strap-components"   class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-918359" /></a></p>
<p>Pebble&#8217;s new smart straps are an interesting approach to cramming sensors in a watch. Why do that when you can build them into the wristband and have the data read by the watch? It&#8217;s a clever idea, provided the bands don&#8217;t get too bulky. Pebble has outlined <a href="http://developer.getpebble.com/blog/2015/03/03/Get-Ready-For-Smartstraps/">how the smart bands will work on its developer blog</a>, hoping to drum up some interest as it begins to broaden its smartwatch ecosystem.</p>
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