Misfit tried this (beddit for sleep tracking, and smart lighting). They still got acquired by fossil (though for 240m)
1. Turn off your OG Pebble
2. Remove the rear panel, either with the proper screwdriver or a small precision flathead
3. Gently lift up the panel and move it to the side. The vibration is glued to this panel, so go slowly. You do not have to remove the vibration piece.
4. Cut two small pieces of paper to fit the side of the pebble with the board exposed. Cut a space for the wiring, then slip it in.
5. Reassemble the Pebble
6. Turn it on.
Its worth a shot. They'll give you a case number and ask you to take a photo of the screen tearing along with your case number. Pretty standard.
I'm concerned about this acquisition. The few people I know with Fitbits have had nothing but trouble with them.
The problem with their model is they kept pushing newer watches. I'm fine with my black and white Pebble. It does everything I want. I mean the new ones look nice. I'd get one if I didn't have one already. I still like the design of the original Steel over most of the newer watches as well.
I hope it lasts several more years. They made a great product, and I'm glad they didn't depend on planned obsolescence like the cellphone manufactures that have left us in this Android mess. I wish that model wasn't required for growth.
They should had found some other means to support the company while keeping the wearables as just one of a larger line of products or services. Even something totally unrelated like professional grade home routers or garden watering systems or some other IoT crap.