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Wearable Technology

iPhone 10 ten years wearable tech technology impact smartphone
Editorial, Wearable Technology

iPhone Turns 10: Paved Road For Wearable Technology

iPhone 10 ten years wearable tech technology impact smartphone

There has been a lot of press today about the iPhone turning 10 years old. On this day in 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone. For anyone that watched the unveiling, it was obvious that the device was going to be revolutionary. While a “smartphone” wasn’t exactly a new idea, no one had approached it with the same singular vision Apple did. Apple introduced a device that was closer to a pocket sized computer than a phone and, without being hindered by carrier demands, they were able to lay the ground work for something that would grow into a true platform. But no one could have guessed just how much it was going to change our world. Smartphones have become so ubiquitous and engrained in modern culture it is difficult to believe its modern incarnation is only a decade old (do you remember how primitive your cell phone from 10 years ago was?). Even more amazing to think about is all of the technologies, conveniences, and industries that might not exist without the iPhone, including wearable tech!

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2016 Gift Guide Wearables
Gift Guide, Sports, Watches, Wearable Technology

Holiday Gift Guide – Wearables

2016 Gift Guide Wearables

Wearables seem to be going through a sophomore slump right now. They are at that awkward stage of the market where they are starting to find an audience, but that audience is beginning to gather underneath a few tentpoles. As a result, the periphery marketplace is collapsing. The bowing out of 4 major wearable makers (with others likely on the way) should not be read as a failure of the segment though. The tentpole companies are putting out really exciting products that people are clamoring for. The list below is sure to please anyone!  

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LikeAGlove connected leggings jeans pants size fit recomendation denim review
Fashion, Reviews, Wearable Technology

How I Found Perfect Fitting Jeans With The Touch Of A Button: LikeAGlove

LikeAGlove connected leggings jeans pants size fit recomendation denim review

Let me start this review of LikeAGlove by saying, I hate shopping for jeans!

Ask any woman and they will tell you how impossible it is to find a perfect pair of jeans. I would equate it to finding a needle in a haystack, but perhaps even more difficult. Between inconsistent sizing and cuts, few activities make you feel worse about your body. Over the years I have found myself, along with my friends, exploring the Barney’s denim bar and countless other stores on a mission to find the perfect pair.

This Fall I finally threw my arms up and gave up. I was looking for my first post-pregnancy pair of jeans while mentally struggling with the reality of my body shape and weight not being my ideal. I simply could not cope with one more thing making me feel worse about my body image. This led me to deciding to try a new wearable device called LikeAGlove.  

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fitness activity tracker smartwatch dead future apple fitbit moto pebble
Business, Editorial, Watches, Wearable Technology

Moto Gone, Fitbit Down, Apple Unsure: What Is Happening With Wearables?

fitness activity tracker smartwatch dead future apple fitbit moto pebble

After years of false starts and stalled adoption, it was beginning to look like wearables were finally finding an audience. But the past week has brought nothing but sour news making one wonder if the connected devices are nothing but a fad. First Fitbit predicted a slow Holiday quarter, then Lenovo/Motorola announced the termination of the Moto 360, next Pebble shut down and sold off its assets for a pittance, and finally IDC released embarrassingly weak 3Q Apple Watch sales numbers. What is happening? Are wearables dead or is there more to it? While we might be a bit biased, we don’t see a reason for concern, yet. Let’s take a closer look at these headlines and the health of the industry as a whole.  

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Pebble Shut Down Fitbit Acquire Assets Intellectual Property Smartwatch
Business, Watches, Wearable Technology

Fitbit Pebble Deal Final, Details Emerge As Sales Cease

Pebble Shut Down Fitbit Acquire Assets Intellectual Property Smartwatch

As rumored, Fitbit has officially finalized their buyout of Pebble. Though, using the term “buyout” or “purchase” seems a bit misleading. In fact, Pebble sent out an email today declaring that they were shutting down the company. The communication referred to Fitbit deciding to purchase “key assets.” Therefore, counter to the original rumor, Fitbit is not acquiring Pebble. Instead, Pebble closed shop today and Fitbit was first in line to buy any meaningful assets. While a small detail, this means that the financials at Pebble were likely far worst than predicted.

If we had to guess, similar to last summer, Pebble was desperate for more cash. Likely, they once again could not find the money through VC and this time were not able to get another bank loan. Their only option at that point would be to sell or close. Pretty much confirming that line of thinking, in an email from Pebble this morning it states that they “can no longer operate as an independent entity.” This is all pretty astounding for a company that turned down a purchase offer from Citizen for $740 million in early 2015 (not even 2 years ago). Recognizing the immediate need to sell, Pebble most likely could not find a purchaser willing to acquire all assets including debt, therefore the only sound business decision left was to shut down (business school 101: shutting down is always a viable option). Details are emerging on what assets Fitbit is purchasing and what Pebble’s closure means for customers and employees.  

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Fitbit pebble acquisition buy merger smartwatch fitness tracker value price
Business, Watches, Wearable Technology

Fitbit’s Acquisition of Smartwatch Maker Pebble Is Smart – Here’s Why

Fitbit pebble acquisition buy merger smartwatch fitness tracker value price

With fitness trackers becoming more and more of a commodity item, it is no surprise that Fitbit would be looking to expand their business. The most logical space for the company to move towards is smartwatches, after all, a smartwatch is basically a souped up, more connected activity tracker. While the company has tested the market with two devices that straddle the line between a smartwatch and fitness tracker (the Surge and Blaze), they are too much of an in-between device. Despite costing as much as a smartwatch, they are both overly sporty looking and lack the level of connectivity needed to really function as a smartwatch. A smartwatch needs an intelligent and informative OS that has app-like functionality. Instead of venturing into the smartwatch world alone, it looks like Fitbit will acquire Pebble, producers of the Kickstarter funded e-paper smartwatches.  

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