Pebble bringing new timeline to old watches this month, Android beta test open now

When Pebble announced its new Pebble Time watches and (later on) the Pebble Time Round, it also released a brand new operating system for its popular wearable. This new Timeline was a drastic departure from its original user interface. Sadly, it was a UI only available to those with the new Time models, although the company did promise that the new OS would make its way to older devices too.

In an article published to its official blog, Pebble has revealed that it’s finally making good on its promise to breathe new life in to its first two products and will release the 3.0 operating system for the original Pebble watch and the Pebble Steel. What’s more, if you’re an Android user, Pebble wants you to test Firmware 3.8 before the public release is pushed out later this month. As a kicker, once you have the new OS on your Pebble or Pebble Steel, you’ll no longer have to put up with the 8-app limit.

In order to join the beta test group, you need to request to join the Pebble Classic Beta Group on Google Plus. If you’re accepted you’ll receive a beta version of the Pebble Time Android app (v3.8.0). Invitations are being sent out on a rolling basis, and will increase over time, so if you’re request to join isn’t immediately accepted, just hang in there. If you do install the beta, there are a few caveats/things worth noting:

• Watches upgraded to the Beta version of Firmware 3.8 can be operated in English only. The public version of 3.8 later this month will include support for French, German, and Spanish as well.
• The Pebble Time smartphone app (required to upgrade and manage any Pebble running 3.0+ firmware) is currently available in English only.
• The original Pebble app (which manages Pebbles running 2.X firmware) is available in English, French, and German, and Spanish.
• Chinese support is not available for watches on 3.0+ firmware. Chinese remains available on watches running Firmware below 3.0.

Pebble claims that getting the Timeline UI ready for its non-Time watches has been a tough challenge, which explains why it’s taken so long to get to this point. If you do get involved in the beta project, be sure to share your experience with us. I’ve applied, so I’m hoping I’ll have the new software on my old Steel relatively soon.