Apple's Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor 'Sold Out,' Suggesting It's Been Discontinued

[MacRumors]

Apple in May purchased Beddit, a company that develops health-related hardware. It was an unusual acquisition because Apple continued to sell the company's Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor on Apple.com, and collected sleep data from the device.

As of early October, though, the Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor has been listed as "Sold Out" on Apple's website, suggesting it has perhaps been quietly retired. When an Apple product is sold out, that typically means it's not going to be restocked. Since the Apple acquisition, the device has only been sold at Apple.com and is not available elsewhere either.

With the Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor no longer available, it's not known what Apple will do with the Beddit sleep technology in the future. Apple could be planning to use the data it's collected to add more advanced health tracking and sleep monitoring into the Apple Watch, or it could roll the technology into some other kind of wearable device or hardware product similar in design to the Beddit 3.

Sleep tracking could be a planned feature for a future Apple Watch, but it remains to be seen if Apple thinks a wrist-worn sleep tracking device is the optimal solution. It is also not clear how Apple would overcome charging and battery life issues in that scenario, as Apple currently expects the device to be charged overnight. Given those limitations, other hardware solutions could be under consideration.

Apple is presumably continuing to collect, analyze, and utilize sleep-related data from the existing Beddit 3 sleep tracking devices that are in the hands of consumers, even if no additional devices will be sold.

Priced at $149 when it was available, the Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor pairs a thin, pliable under-sheet sleep sensor with an app that's designed to help users analyze and improve their sleeping habits.

It uses ballistocardiography (BCG) to measure the mechanical activity of the heart, lungs, and other body functions, a non-invasive monitoring technology that's similar to the light-based photoplethysmography the Apple Watch uses to monitor heart rate. BCG is able to measure the mechanical impulse generated by the acceleration of blood through the circulatory system, providing a wealth of data about the body.

The sleep monitor is able to track metrics like sleep time, sleep efficiency, heart rate, respiration rate, movement, snoring, room temperature, and room humidity. Following Apple's Beddit acquisition, we did an in-depth review of the Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor and concluded that there are still many hurdles Apple needs to overcome to create a sleep tracking device that's truly accurate, if a hardware solution is the ultimate goal of the purchase.

We've contacted Apple for comment on the availability of the Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor and will update this post should we hear back.

Article Link: Apple's Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor 'Sold Out,' Suggesting It's Been Discontinued

 

[Bacillus]

Well, transparency at least resembles the product's significance
Wild guess: Apple from time to time decides to buy out a company for further determination what - if ever - to do with it, or not

 

[TrentS]

I guess they put it to bed.

 

[routine_analyst]

Homepod 2 - the return of beddit.
Developer's revenge.

 

[deg0ey]

I feel like this could go either way. Based on the prior review linked in the article, it didn't seem like the 'hurdles' would be particularly difficult to address for a company with the R&D resources that Apple has.

I suspect the most likely outcome is that they bought the company for the data rather than the product and now they have access to all the units currently in homes they don't need to keep up manufacture. But I also wouldn't be surprised if they think they've addressed most of the issues with the Beddit 3 and are getting ready to launch a similar product of their own.

 

[IJ Reilly]

No reason to assume that an Apple Watch couldn't receive data from a sleep monitor while in nightstand mode.

 

[caerulea]

I've been using an app called Sleep Watch for several months, and as long as my Series 1 watch is around 40-50% charged when I go to bed, it tracks my sleep just great and still has about 15-20% remaining in the morning. I then take off my watch and charge in the morning while I'm showering and getting ready, and after about 30-40 minutes of charging (with an iPad charging brick), it's at 100% and good for the day.

 

[radus]

I don't see any real use of this product - may be it is useful to propagate hypochondriac behaviour and to fill some doctors pocket.

 

[Vanilla35]

My guess is they ate the company, discontinued the products they made. Happens all the time. Patents and what not.

 

[NomadicTy]

Can this be connected to a battery source, instead of connecting a device that is connected to power socket? I would not feel comfortable that I am laying on something that can electrocute me.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

No reason to assume that an Apple Watch couldn't receive data from a sleep monitor while in nightstand mode.

It'd likely go to HealthKit rather than the watch itself. All Watch users have to have an iPhone, so the iPhone seems the better place to send that data, as far more have an iPhone than an Apple Watch.

 

[thekeyring]

No reason to assume that an Apple Watch couldn't receive data from a sleep monitor while in nightstand mode.

Also, the battery life is so good that my partner actually tried to wear hers to bed and use it for sleep tracking. She would charge it for about 30-60 mins before bed. She stopped because the sleep tracking app she used was unreliable, not because of any problems with wearing the Watch to sleep.

 

[IJ Reilly]

It'd likely go to HealthKit rather than the watch itself. All Watch users have to have an iPhone, so the iPhone seems the better place to send that data, as far more have an iPhone than an Apple Watch.

That could happen too, but personally I don't like having my phone in the bedroom at night. Muted it still vibrates. I suspect many others who are not good sleepers feel the same way, and they'd be the market for sleep monitoring.
[doublepost=1507927448][/doublepost]

Also, the battery life is so good that my partner actually tried to wear hers to bed and use it for sleep tracking. She would charge it for about 30-60 mins before bed. She stopped because the sleep tracking app she used was unreliable, not because of any problems with wearing the Watch to sleep.

Wearing the watch to bed is another thing poor sleepers would never do on a bet.

 

[zorinlynx]

I'm getting so tired of huge companies buying smaller ones with cool products, then killing those products and not creating anything similar or better.

My most heartbreaking example is Sparrow. I STILL miss that E-mail client. It was amazing. And Google bought the company and murdered the app in cold blood.

 

[rcooked]

Perhaps they will be able to utilize the software in a future Watch OS update and activate sleep tracking in a manner similar to Fitbit...

 

[ChrisCW11]

Sleep tracking is a farce because you already know if you slept well or not, and these things do not improve sleep. It's not like they offer recommendations that will improve the quality of sleep other then the standard do not drink caffeine, or go to bed on time or the other usual cliches.

The idea that someone needs an app or device that measures sleep "performance" is ridiculous. If it could be used to improve sleep, sure, like step counts get people motivated more to exercise and move around that improves health, but a device or app telling you you didn't sleep well when you are struggling to get out of bed in the morning is just dumb and in many cases the "anxiety" of ensuring the device will properly report your sleep is enough to keep people restless at night.

I think in this case Apple is right in not building sleep tracking into Apple Watch. I have had sleep tracking on two products already and the result was a completely lack of any useful information other then to know what I already know, when I wake up feeling like ****, or wake up feeling great, I don't need an app to tell me the obvious.

Sleep tracking is another "smart hairbrush" kind of health device that sound cool until you waste money on them and realize they are completely useless.

 

[rcooked]

I disagree, but that’s just my opinion. I guess if a software update adds it, I’m not out anything since I already have the app.

Personally, I find the data interesting. Again, that’s just me.

Assuming there is some benefit or Fitbit wouldn’t have this feature as well.

 

[MadeMyDay]

Apple put Beddit to sleep.
Seemed like a good product. Much better than overheating an iPhone beneath your pillow to monitor circadian rhythm.

Why You’re So Groggy, Cranky and Obnoxious

 

[jerryk]

My fitbit has most of this information. And based on I feel some mornings, I think it is pretty accurate.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Sleep tracking is a farce because you already know if you slept well or not, and these things do not improve sleep. It's not like they offer recommendations that will improve the quality of sleep other then the standard do not drink caffeine, or go to bed on time or the other usual cliches.

The idea that someone needs an app or device that measures sleep "performance" is ridiculous. If it could be used to improve sleep, sure, like step counts get people motivated more to exercise and move around that improves health, but a device or app telling you you didn't sleep well when you are struggling to get out of bed in the morning is just dumb and in many cases the "anxiety" of ensuring the device will properly report your sleep is enough to keep people restless at night.

I think in this case Apple is right in not building sleep tracking into Apple Watch. I have had sleep tracking on two products already and the result was a completely lack of any useful information other then to know what I already know, when I wake up feeling like ****, or wake up feeling great, I don't need an app to tell me the obvious.

Sleep tracking is another "smart hairbrush" kind of health device that sound cool until you waste money on them and realize they are completely useless.

Well, yes, you are right, just reporting your sleep patterns is probably not of any real value in diagnosing disordered sleep. Most disordered sleepers, know it (though a good many people have sleep apnea and don't know it). Looking at what Apple is doing with heart rate monitoring might be a marker for how they hope to use the tech they acquired with this company. Monitoring your heart rate all day long isn't inherently useful, but if the monitor could detect an arrhythmia, then it could have some real diagnostic value.

 

[tailchaser]

I had one of these... Well... 5 actually... bought 1, had it replaced 4 times, eventually given a full refund. They all stopped working. After about 2 weeks, the heart rate tracking stopped, then total failure 2 weeks later.

 

[2IS]

First time ever hearing about this product...

 

[neutrino23]

I've been using an app called Sleep Watch for several months, and as long as my Series 1 watch is around 40-50% charged when I go to bed, it tracks my sleep just great and still has about 15-20% remaining in the morning. I then take off my watch and charge in the morning while I'm showering and getting ready, and after about 30-40 minutes of charging (with an iPad charging brick), it's at 100% and good for the day.

I do the same with the series 3 Watch. In the evening it already has about 60 or 70% charge. I charge it to 100% while I read which takes about 15 minutes. I wear it while sleeping with it in theater mode. In the morning it is still close to 100%. I top it off while washing up.

 

[autrefois]

I'm getting so tired of huge companies buying smaller ones with cool products, then killing those products and not creating anything similar or better.

My most heartbreaking example is Sparrow. I STILL miss that E-mail client. It was amazing. And Google bought the company and murdered the app in cold blood.

"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we do not disclose the fact that in spite of having more cash than most countries, we're probably going to kill off any associated products — or even our own products — and just leave users out in the cold."

 

[kstotlani]

That could happen too, but personally I don't like having my phone in the bedroom at night. Muted it still vibrates. I suspect many others who are not good sleepers feel the same way, and they'd be the market for sleep monitoring.

Do not disturb mode