Fitbit acquired Pebble, but only maintained basic smartwatch functionality. Google later acquired Fitbit, and Pebble OS became part of Google’s intellectual property portfolio.
Why Pebble is Returning
Migicovsky is working on a new smartwatch that will use the open-sourced Pebble OS and maintain the original design philosophy.
Pebble OS Goes Open Source
Google, which acquired Fitbit, has made Pebble OS open source. The project was spearheaded by former Pebble employees.
What’s Being Released
Google has released a comprehensive portion of Pebble OS’s source code, which includes modules for memory management, graphics, and timekeeping, with a framework for running custom applications in C and JavaScript through the JerryScript engine.