Pebble, makers of the smartwatch by the same name, has revealed a significant upgrade to one of its upcoming products.
In a post on the company’s blog earlier today, Pebble said Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant is being built into Pebble Core. The integration will allow users to experience Alexa outside of the house, making Core the first truly independent 3G wearable with such functionality.
Core users will be able to have Alexa check weather and traffic updates, grab and recite the latest news headline, set timers, tell a joke, shop for gifts and necessities on Amazon and even order a pizza, among other tasks.
Pebble’s Core immediately grabbed attention when it was announced a week ago. The tiny wearable resembles an iPod shuffle in that it doesn’t have a display. Advertised as a “hackable” computer, the device features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS tracking, 3G connectivity and more. Adding Alexa to the mix only heightens its potential.
Perhaps Pebble will strike a deal with Amazon to bring Alexa to its smartwatches as well but for now, it’s only testing the waters with Core.
The Kickstarter, by the way, has generated nearly $10 million in pledges. That’s not entirely surprising when you consider the campaign is collecting funds for three different products – two new Pebble smartwatches and the Core.
A pledge of $79 is needed to reserve a Pebble Core which should ship early next year.
Second image corutesy John Kim, CNET
