Fitbit plans layoffs – report Fitbit is to cut some 80 to 160 jobs as the “smart” wearable novelty wears off. According to a scoop by The Information, cuts will affect between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of employees, and are part of a reorganisation designed to take $200m costs out of the business. Fitbit is almost synonymous with the activity tracker, and …
Still don't see the appeal of this product. I exercise (mountain bike) and know I get a good workout when I get my heart rate up and sweat profusely. The heart rate monitor on these devices is know to be inaccurate, so no benefit there. Pedometer? I can get one for $20 or use my phone. So I'm left with wearing a slightly unreliable watch thingie that doesn't tell time...?
Fair, although I think Fitbit's accuracy has gotten much much better with firmware updates. It's usually within 5bpm of treadmill at gym, if that's to be trusted. It does tell time. And count stairs climbed. The silent alarm is pretty great for not disturbing the other half in the mornings, and I use it as a Smart Unlock for my phone, which is otherwise encrypted with a long password. Necessary? Nah. Convenient? To some. I do wish they hadn't taken a dump on Pebble. I would have gotten one of those, except the pedometer on their new models is comically bad (records steps while you type!)
Yes. I thought I'd try one of these things on the cheap and bought a Chinese band with heart rate monitor. It's accurate enough and it was 1/3 of the price of my wife's similar thing from another manufacturer. The software isn't good but there are add ons available, cheap replacement bands and the like. If it only lasts a few months, I really don't care. The little watch face is occasionally useful. If these things aren't a commodity now, I doubt it will take more than another year.
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