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Fitbit Announces New $200 Smart Wearable 'Blaze' With Touchscreen Display
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I’m all for thinking different, but that case. And the bezel is massive - the screen is about 50% of the entire watch face.
There isn't another watch on the market that supports 1/2 as many apps. Many of those apps are far more than simple notifications that most other watches offer. If notifications are all you need then maybe another watch would work for less but for many of us it offers lots of additional functionality that makes it well worth the price.
Also remember that for many it's not just about the functionality, it's also about the style. Watches are VERY much about style for many who wear them (non-smartwatches). The Apple Watch is certainly one of, if not the, nicest in that area. Same can't be said for this one from Fitbit.
Consider support too. Apple has a long history with supporting their products for a long time after their release. They make sure they're still compatible even years later and offer updates for several years after their release. The same can't be said for Fitbit. They're pushing out products quick right now and generally stop updating the old ones as soon as the new ones are released. You may spend $200 less on this one but it may only be supported for 1/4 the time as the Apple Watch. If you're someone that updates to the newest version often that's not an issue but if that's the case then the $200 difference shouldn't matter at all.
Why does battery life matter? Don't you take off your watch when you sleep anyways? Serious question. I have zero issue charging my Apple Watch nightly because I'd never want to sleep with it on anyways. Takes .5 seconds to put it on the charger stand rather than throwing it on the nightstand. I can't imagine wanting to sleep in a watch and even sleeping in my old Jawbone UP wasn't great.
Well I was going off of the fact that Fitbit (family) was the only wearables to outsell the Apple Watch. I also wasn't counting the Samsung or Androidware wearables because even though you can technically use some of them on iOS, I think that crowd is too small to be considered real competition.
It seems everyone non-tech-savvy has or wants a Fitbit. Everyone. And now if they want a smartwatch, they can have one from a trustworthy brand, at nearly half the cost of the cheapest Apple Watch. I'm not saying that this Fitbit watch is better or even close to the design or utility of the AW. Not by a long shot. But, I think that for the majority of people (non-techies), price will ultimately win their vote over design and overall utility. Otherwise Pebble (lol) wouldn't have done as well as they did.
Just my opinion of course.
Oh don't get me wrong, I used to wear it all the time too and was pretty fond of it!
But remember just a month back with their software update had a false alert bug on low battery, well things treaded downhill from there. Before i knew that it was a bug I had already opened the watch to replace the battery, but then saw their post and thought to keep the original, but after few days the watch had condensation inside for quite a few days. (must have messed with the seal while putting back) but then I got another battery alert by christmas day via the email which they had asked to follow, so I did change the battery and this time with properly without damaging the seal, alas that now the watches primary function just doesn't work, it's always 20-30m backwards or forwards, tried everything from resets to reconfiguration with the iPhone, cant get it to work which is really sad cause apart from the time, the sleep and fitness tracker are working absolutely fine! (touchwood) and without a service centre in my country, sending it back and forth will just cost me as high as a new watch itself!
Agreed. After I've had mine for over a month I returned it and got the non HR version. The HR is too inaccurate during workouts.
Very odd move from fitbit. This watch doesn't to anything new to anything else they have done. No new sensors, no automatic sleep cycle waking up like the jawbone. In fact, it has less features than other fitbit products - no gps. It's like the idea/strategy behind releasing this hasn't been really thought through.
A well thought out strategy for smartwatches would not be to increase the amount of features and sensors, but to increase the usefulness of the hardware and software. That means (among others) better health advice based on combinations of health metrics and creating independence from the iPhone.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Why are so many people on here such downers of other products. I think this is sure to be a hit.
-Looks are acceptable (and mostly subjective).
-Performs 99% of what I do on my Apple Watch (3rd party apps, glances, and honestly even complications are mostly unused for me)
-5 day battery life
-automatic sleep tracking
-half the price of apple watch
Of course a lot of it comes down to implementation, but on the surface it seems to provide no noticeable loss in used features, adds 2 features that (for me) are SORELY missing on Apple Watch (battery life and sleep tracking), and half the price. For me, I'll be sticking to Apple Watch, because a) I already own one, b) I'm expecting s/w to continuously improve over it's lifetime c) I'm sort of a fanboy and definitely entrenched in the ecosystem.
That being said, for the average person, it would be hard for me to recommend the Apple Watch over this (assuming usability/functionality/etc turns out pretty good).
-Looks are acceptable (and mostly subjective).
-Performs 99% of what I do on my Apple Watch (3rd party apps, glances, and honestly even complications are mostly unused for me)
-5 day battery life
-automatic sleep tracking
-half the price of apple watch
Of course a lot of it comes down to implementation, but on the surface it seems to provide no noticeable loss in used features, adds 2 features that (for me) are SORELY missing on Apple Watch (battery life and sleep tracking), and half the price. For me, I'll be sticking to Apple Watch, because a) I already own one, b) I'm expecting s/w to continuously improve over it's lifetime c) I'm sort of a fanboy and definitely entrenched in the ecosystem.
That being said, for the average person, it would be hard for me to recommend the Apple Watch over this (assuming usability/functionality/etc turns out pretty good).
It's nicer than the surge and is less expensive than the surge albeit with the loss of seemingly one feature...gps.
GPS was probably the cost heavy feature on the Surge. I wasn't too impressed with the features of the Surge for the 5 months I had it. Sold it off after I got the Apple Watch and moved down to a Charge HR over Xmas cause the AW isn't great for fitness.
[doublepost=1452101866][/doublepost]That thing is truly hideous!
During CES this year, wearable manufacturer Fitbit is showing off the newest addition to its lineup of fitness-focused devices with the $199.95 "Fitbit Blaze". The new product is the first Fitbit with a full color LCD display that includes a touchscreen for users to interact with various activity tracking features and notifications.
Similar to the Apple Watch, the Blaze lets users pop out the case and alternate between different bands and styles for a more customized experience. But, in line with the company's other products, the Blaze has an activity and exercise focus with no other third-party apps available on the device.
The wearable will be able to track daily sleep, exercises, steps, and calories burnt, and also includes FitStar workouts that guide users through regimens with step-by-step instructions. All collected data from the Blaze will be able to be shared onto an iOS, Android and Windows Phone device, as the company's previous products have allowed.
The activity tracker will automatically begin detecting when its wearer is beginning activities like running or playing sports thanks to Fitbit's "SmartTrack" feature, taking some of the hassle out of gathering exercise data for Fitbit customers. The Blaze doesn't have GPS (although it can pull data from a connected smartphone), but includes a heart rate sensor and music controls.
Fitbit says the device will give its users access to the traditional notification settings seen in most smart wearables nowadays, including calls, texts, and calendar alerts on the brand new touchsreen display. The company also promises five days of battery life in total for the Blaze. The new wearable is available in small, large, and extra-large sizing options and, like the Apple Watch, can't be used when swimming.
Those interested can pre-order the Fitbit Blaze for $199.95 in Black, Blue, and Plum. A handful of accessories are also up for pre-order for anyone wishing to add variety to the Blaze, including a $129.95 Metal Links + Frame stainless steel band, $99.95 Leather Band + Frame, and the $29.95 traditional Classic Band in the three previously mentioned colors.
Article Link: Fitbit Announces New $200 Smart Wearable 'Blaze' With Touchscreen Display
Bad move FirBit. The previous wearables have been feature focused, functionality first, devices. They did a few things but they did them well. This foray seems like a step back. I highly doubt that this clunker will get 5 days of battery life and still be as pretty or speedy as they are making it out. This claims virtually the same feature set of the Surge but at a much lower price point so that's a little confusing as well.
I guess they could surprise me and actually come through with a miracle product but call me skeptical they will be able to deliver on the primary functional aspects of this device without compromise.
EDIT: I want to add that I have a Charge HR, I do like it and have little to no interest in a "smart watch" since I think there are still too mant design compromises to make it worthwhile give how little I use my phone.
I guess they could surprise me and actually come through with a miracle product but call me skeptical they will be able to deliver on the primary functional aspects of this device without compromise.
EDIT: I want to add that I have a Charge HR, I do like it and have little to no interest in a "smart watch" since I think there are still too mant design compromises to make it worthwhile give how little I use my phone.
I'm assuming this is supposed to sort of compete with the Moto 360 Sport coming out tomorrow except the Moto is better in every way at least on paper.
You really felt the need to stop reading, take off your generic-looking Apple Watch, take a photo of it, and post it like nobody's ever seen one before?
Interestingly enough several class action lawsuits were filed yesterday against Fitbit over this exact issue we were discussing.
How much of an investment is involved in the platform beyond the initial hardware?