SourceCode: Pebble reportedly close to selling to Fitbit

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Pebble is reportedly in talks to get acquired and deleted by wearable giant Fitbit. Fitbit will reportedly purchase the struggling smartwatch pioneer for US $40 million, keep its intellectual property while eradicating the Pebble name and its various product lines. This is worrisome not just for existing Pebble owners but also for the sizeable amount of fans who have money on the hook for upcoming products like the Pebble Core and the Pebble Time Steel 2 slated to ship in 2017.

This isn't the first time Pebble was in talks for acquisition. The company refused a buyout from watch maker Citizen, who was interested in purchasing Pebble for $740 million in 2015 according to TechCrunch.

Click to read more ...

Amazon.ca gives startups some love with new Launchpad section

While not the big news expected from Amazon.ca today, Amazon did announce a new section open to Canadians called Amazon Launchpad which features innovative products from startups or crowdsourced companies. Think of it as a curated Kickstarter or Indiegogo section within Amazon.ca.

"Amazon Launchpad has worked with more than 100 leading venture capital firms, startup accelerators, and crowd-funding platforms to bring innovative products to Amazon. Canadian customers can now search for and purchase hundreds of products backed by firms like Andreessen Horowitz, accelerators like Y Combinator, and crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter," Amazon explains.

Click to read more ...

Spark email client comes to macOS

Spark on iOS was one of those transformative applications that really improved the way people worked and interacted with their mail. Offering a clean and intuitive design as well as great mail management tools made it a better option that the onboard Mail app. Spark is one of those free apps that users would be happy to pay good money for. 

The best news is that Spark is now available for macOS. Not only is this reimagined for use on notebooks and desktops, it is also compatible with the Touchbar on newer MacBook Pros. Check it out here. 

Moto Z might get Project Tango Moto Mod

Lenovo might be extending the Project Tango Augmented Reality functionality beyond the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, which is the giant smartphone that demonstrated the ability to place 3-D constructs in real space using cameras and AR technology was a good starting point but since it is a niche product (and unavailable in Canada), it makes sense to leverage the Moto Z's accessory ecosystem.

Motorola Mobility's president Aymar de Lencquesaing, mentioned to reporters that the Moto Z, Moto Z Play are likely going ot get Moto Mods that can emulate the functions of the larger Phab 2 Pro. No guarantees, of course, but since Lenovo is aiming to differentiate its flagship line by offering a range of functionality we can expect to see something soon.

Source: Engadget