After kicking crowdfunding goals on Kickstarter, the Pebble success came from its playful appeal and relative good looks (there are many sights to see when talking wearables). It’s colorful, waterproof, lightweight, and perfect for sports and fitness; categorizing the Pebble as a sports watch. Things have changed, and thanks to the first day of CES 2014, the smart wearable market has a new Pebble on its hands. The next gen, Pebble Steel, did some growing up, and it has more than some nice sleek looks going on (by far the most important feature). The alteration is perfect timing for the company, as global smartwatch sales are expected to explode this year. Big names such as Samsung, Sony, and the anticipated iWatch are all going to have to live up to something great to promote their place in the marketplace. It is highly unlikely consumers will put something on their wrist that they don’t find attractive, especially if they have some darn good alternatives.

 
The most noticeable feature of the Steel is the look. The handsome new lustrous design (CNC-machined stainless steel, available also in black steel) comes from a design problem related with the first watch. The company listened when folks complained that they wouldn’t wear the Pebble if dressing up for an occasion due its sporty appearance. This pretty piece should satisfy their craving for sophistication. Other than this, things haven’t changed much. They didn’t need to. Built on the same hardware platform as the first watch, fans don’t have anything to worry about. In fact, hardware changes include double the memory, a two-pin charging port (opposed to the four-pin before), and a 10 percent thinner body.

 


Expect the same 1.26-inch LED backlit e-paper display, as well as physical buttons. Those haven’t gone anywhere. Today, Pebble also announced partnerships with new apps. Including FourSquare, GoPro, iControl, Yelp, ESPN, and Pandora, these add-ons are part of their focus on adding function while experimenting. Having good apps is high priority because without a reason to not pull out your smartphone to use an app, why wear something on your wrist?

 
The Steel may not have shown as many changes to deserve the $250 price tag, but it expected that you can blame it all on the classy new look. Yet, maintaining the internal hardware was a good choice because people like their Pebble experience the way it is. “Simplicity is the mantra at Pebble”. Having the suited-up option in addition to new partnerships was a great move for the company to grab even more users. Pebble Steel orders can be placed via their portal as of today, with shipments later this month. Go to getpebble.com for your pre-order.