It’s a Fine Time for PineTime?

A Linux-based smartwatch from PINE64

Back at the beginning of the year, the folks at PINE64 announced not just a bunch of new hardware, but a whole new product lineup.

With the PineBook Pro now in pre-order and shipping to community members in small batches, and the PinePhone shipping ‘soon’, that family just got an addition: the PineTime, a Linux-based smartwatch.

The smartwatch was teased in a tweet last week, and I think the response to the project has sort of taken the folks at PINE64 by surprise. Like the Cube IP Camera announced back in February, alongside the new PineBook Pro and PinePhone, the PineTime is billed as a ‘side project’ by the company and there isn’t much known about the watch as yet.

This is the #PineTime (actual photo) – a #Linux smartphone companion and a side-project of ours. Are you a @real_FreeRTOS or @ArmMbed developer with an interest in smartwatches? – let us know.

 — @thepine64

What we do know is that it’ll be cheap, around $25, and come with a charging dock. The housing will be built from zinc alloy and plastic, with a 20mm wrist band, while the watch itself will include a heart-rate monitor and a battery that should last ‘multiple’ days.

Right now, the PineTime is being built around a Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832, although the production unit may use the nRF52840 depending on ‘developer feedback.’

@real_FreeRTOS @ArmMbed Since there were questions regarding the body of the watch; yes, the watch body exists and is used by other manufacturers. We decide the internals + and customize the specs. Actual unit in picture below. Hope this clears things up.

 — @thepine64

Just like the PineBook Pro, the new PineTime makes use of an existing body, with the internals replaced. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, that’s just how manufacturing works these days unless you’re Apple.

It’s really rather interesting to see PINE64 pivot from being a company that makes single-board computers to, well, something a bit different. But we’re going to have to wait for more, as details of the PineTime aren’t expected until October.

It’s a Fine Time for PineTime? was originally published in Hackster Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.