Best Buy Expanding Wearable Technology Line
By Megan Zielinski, contributing writer
Best Buy is the only store inviting customers to get a first-hand look at the features of the new Pebble Steel smart watch this Sunday.
Designed with Marine-grade stainless-steel and Corning Gorilla Glass, with scratch resistant lens with anti-glare optical coating, the Pebble Steel is highly-durable. The watch syncs with Android and iOS devices, allowing for users to have a secondary phone through the Pebble Steel. Users can receive incoming call alerts, view personalized notifications from social media, send and read text messages, connect to email, and be reminded of important calendar events. The watch allows for users to manage and listen to favorite music from the convenience of their wrist, with music from iTunes, Pandora and Spotify. With over thousands of apps and watch faces provided in the Pebble app store, users have the opportunity to customize their Pebble Steel. The smart watch has Bluetooth technology and a voice GPS app for easy navigation. Sports fans can track scores and gamers can find a large assortment of game apps for entertainment. Users can take the watch for a swim while enjoying all the features provided—the Steel is waterproof up to 165 ft. deep. Backlight display allows nighttime view while e-paper display enables view in direct sunlight. Powered by lithium battery, the watch is fully-functional for 5-7 days before needing charged, the battery strength indicator reminds users when the device needs charged.
The high-end smart watch is the next-generation version of the original Pebble, which is also available for sale at Best Buy at $149.99 in Artic White. The Pebble Steel is a classy, sturdier upgrade from the sporty Pebble. The Steel is built on the same hardware platform but with double the 64KB of memory in the original. Pebble Steel also has a new tricolor status LED light that signals complete charge and notifications. The charger is four-pronged compared the two-prong charger of the original. The main difference is the enhanced design. “We noticed a lot of people saying they wouldn’t put it on their wrist when wearing a suit, in more dressed up situations, or even saying they liked it but the look wasn’t what they wanted,” said Eric Migicovsky, Pebble founder. The Pebble Steel is a broad move away from the playful look of the original.
The Pebble Steel will be incorporated in Best Buy’s selection of wearable technology. Customers can find the new watch in-store and online at the new Best Buy Wearable Technology site—presenting customers with a wide variety of action cameras, smart watches, sport watches, pedometers, and other health and fitness trackers to explore. The Pebble Steel is available in brushed stainless steel or matte black, with interchangeable metal and leather watch bands, priced at $229, a deal compared to the retail price of $249.