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Nike Fires Majority of FuelBand Team, Plans to Stop Making Wearables

Iconoclysm said:
I'm starting to get the feeling that this is truly going to be an accessory to a phone, possibly even something in the box with the new iPhone - explaining the extra $100 on the price.

While I'm not one to speculate or run with things, putting this in the box will sell more iPhones.
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I doubt it. iWatch will likely be stand alone, so people who don't want it don't have to pay a premium on iPhone. People want a more affordable iPhone, not more expensive.

And I doubt iWatch will have GPS. I don't see Apple packing it with features already on their phone. iWatch will tether via Bluetooth and split responsibilities with iPhone, letting the M7 chip process data, link everything through the Healthbook app, and sent info back to iWatch for display. Just my two cents, anyway.

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AppleScruff1 said:
Normally employees would be laid off in a case like this, not fired.
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To the employee, there is little difference.

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kreasonos said:
Proof the iWatch will fail. The concept has already failed. Concept first, product second.
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Not really. Just from people I've listened to, there is desire for a wearable, people just didn't like Fuel Band's price, considering the limited features.

I would like to see an iWatch unveil at WWDC. If Apple is opening it to APIs, which hopefully they do, it will give developers four months to start getting things together for a potential Sept/Oct launch date (assuming it would launch alongside a new iPhone).
 
BornAgainApple said:
Will be interesting to see if Apple's employment increases by 80+ in the near future.
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80 potential new macRumors articles about people from Nike making transition to Apple.

Only hope that Tim Cook is not delusional about his own hobby turning in some non-existent consumer base product meaning this fuel band or other wearable product things will always remain a relatively niche product and not a thing for the masses.
 
All of those claiming Apple's take on a wristable will fail, is too narrow a concept or any other ill-fated claim... This will be the most talked about & desirable thing Apple releases this year, the much needed start of a complete new category for them and will likely surpass all iDevice sales records. Amongst other things, their user base is too massive and loyal for this to be anything short of a grand slam. If not, media, blogs and boards will blow up with and endless sea of "Steve never would have..." and "Apple's slipping..." and call for Tim's head on a stick. No pressure.
But Tim & team will deliver. Hell, they already have. Ask Nike.
 
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I hope you are right, but I think fitnes devices are not the same.

People love music, so a system making that convenient has a good future (iPod, iTunes). It is also human nature to communicate and look for information. So a system making that easy has a good future (iPhone, iPad).

But for a lot of people exercising is not easy. Maybe they buy some fuel band sort of device, but after some time they realize the device won't do the exercise for them and it does not make it any easier. The device tells them "do more" over and over again, but it does not help them to get the time or "energy" to do that. So a lot of these devices end up in some drawer unused after some months (there are studies that showing this). Like many exercise bikes etc.
Apple can make a cooler band. But they con't make the exercise any easier.

Yes, there are enthusiasts who work hard to do marathons etc and there is a marked for devices for such people. But thats not nike fuel band and I think this is not Apple, too.

If Apple is really able to make a product that provides long term(!) motivation for "average people" that would be great. But I think that is very hard.

Christian


dmccloud said:
How many MP3 players failed before the iPod? How many smartphones failed before the iPhone? There is a strong market for such devices, look at the sales of Jawbone and Fitbit devices over the last two years. Additionally, you're confusing a "concept" with a market segment. While the Fuel Band may not have set sales records, those other manufacturers I mentioned before have been making money in the same segment.
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rmatthewware said:
I would like to see an iWatch unveil at WWDC. If Apple is opening it to APIs, which hopefully they do, it will give developers four months to start getting things together for a potential Sept/Oct launch date (assuming it would launch alongside a new iPhone).
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They have to announce the release of an updated XCode at WWDC, even if they don't show off the device itself. Depending on where in the product development stage they are, they might not even address it in the keynote, but in one of the breakout sessions.
 
They are probably already working on the Nike FuelBand App for the iWatch or something similar.
 
That's a shame, but I would say I think they shot themselves in the foot by only supporting iOS with it' software for the Fuelband, so when/ if Apple launches it' wearable then bam it has very strong competition. And that's a shame as I think Nike made the market what it is today, and now we have tons of companies bringing their own devices out but the Fuelband is cool.

They were a talented team. Let's hope Apple or someone big hires them? Or maybe they can start their own business up what with Kickstarter etc now?
 
kreasonos said:
Proof the iWatch will fail. The concept has already failed. Concept first, product second.
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I wonder how well it will sell. Watches are out because they got boring and mostly did one thing. It's possible people may care if they have a device that does a lot more than a watch. Of course that can only go so far as it's not a huge deal to grab ones phone most of the time.

MrLoL said:
I expect "iWatch offered for free with iPhone 6"
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Apple and free don't go together very well. They can't even knock off this 16GB entry level thing.
 
Disappointing.

I was hoping for further development for this unit. I only just purchased mine a couple of months ago.

They should just rip open the API so anyone can make software for it.

Not happy; once more I have ZERO interest in a smart watch.
 
I feel like it's a dead area not one of rapid development.

We want one device not two!

The iPad replaced the cheap laptop, the iPhone replaced all PDAs calculators, web surfing netbooks and loads more.

Apple entering this 'fitness' band/watch market isn't replacing anything and will fail. I just don't want to see apple enter this market at all please i hope it's all lies.
 
The Nike fuelband is a gorgeous bit of industrial design, but I lost interest on learning it measured activity a vague, proprietary unit defined and controlled by Nike. (Fuel Point - or something like that). Why not calorie or Joule?

It was an unashamedly obvious lock-in ploy. No thanks.

Pity, 'cause the hardware was nice.
 
alexgowers said:
I feel like it's a dead area not one of rapid development.

We want one device not two!

The iPad replaced the cheap laptop, the iPhone replaced all PDAs calculators, web surfing netbooks and loads more.

Apple entering this 'fitness' band/watch market isn't replacing anything and will fail. I just don't want to see apple enter this market at all please i hope it's all lies.
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Tablets had never been successful, pre-iPad.
Smartphones were the realm of Blackberry business warriors pre-iPhone.
So many poo pooed their launches...

Apple finds a way to carve a new market. And if they fail? Who gives a ****, they are just another profit driven greedy corporation.
 
christian_k said:
I hope you are right, but I think fitnes devices are not the same.

People love music, so a system making that convenient has a good future (iPod, iTunes). It is also human nature to communicate and look for information. So a system making that easy has a good future (iPhone, iPad).

But for a lot of people exercising is not easy. Maybe they buy some fuel band sort of device, but after some time they realize the device won't do the exercise for them and it does not make it any easier. The device tells them "do more" over and over again, but it does not help them to get the time or "energy" to do that. So a lot of these devices end up in some drawer unused after some months (there are studies that showing this). Like many exercise bikes etc.
Apple can make a cooler band. But they con't make the exercise any easier.

Yes, there are enthusiasts who work hard to do marathons etc and there is a marked for devices for such people. But thats not nike fuel band and I think this is not Apple, too.

If Apple is really able to make a product that provides long term(!) motivation for "average people" that would be great. But I think that is very hard.

Christian
Click to expand...

Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about. Those that do not want an iWatch to exercise, want an iWatch to measure glucose levels, diabetes, etc.

Those that do not want and iWatch to exercise or to take a close look at their health want an iWatch for improved notifications, change TV channels, etc.

Those that do not want and iWatch for exercise, measuring glusose levels and such, improved notifications and change TV channels will want an iWatch because of the status that comes with it (wow, much tech, such nerd, very gentleman) and the beautiful design that it will surely have.

Apple will sell millions and the other companies will again show the public why they are 2nd tiers and only Apple can push the industry forward, even against everybody else at the same time.

I wonder how many times people will want samsung delivering plastic products with useless software, ugly design, failed attempts before saying enough is enough.
 
pedromcm.pm said:
Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about. Those that do not want an iWatch to exercise, want an iWatch to measure glucose levels, diabetes, etc.

Those that do not want and iWatch to exercise or to take a close look at their health want an iWatch for improved notifications, change TV channels, etc.

Those that do not want and iWatch for exercise, measuring glusose levels and such, improved notifications and change TV channels will want an iWatch because of the status that comes with it (wow, much tech, such nerd, very gentleman) and the beautiful design that it will surely have.

Apple will sell millions and the other companies will again show the public why they are 2nd tiers and only Apple can push the industry forward, even against everybody else at the same time.

I wonder how many times people will want samsung delivering plastic products with useless software, ugly design, failed attempts before saying enough is enough.
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And your living in a dream world if you believe Apple will launch that sort of tech this year or if it does, that it will be even remotely affordable for most.
 
silentmajority said:
I always wondered why the Nike Fuelband was never available for purchase in sports stores, tech stores, and other retail stores.
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It's the typical cycle of clueless upper management. Take an idea that is decent, hire a team, then mismanage the whole thing and layoff the group behind its development. You rearely see upper douchebag management fall on the sword for mishandling something...
 
lazyrighteye said:
Yeah... While surprising (and sad), I can't really say I'm surprised.
"Say what?"
Nike Fuel Band + is without question the best hardware design of current wristables. And the ecosystem they have created is what truly separates them from the comp. And while they've done well with what they have, at the end of the day, it's a pretty basic offering. Glorified pedometer.

Enter Apple. THE hardware masters with an impenetrably robust ecosystem. And with the intimate relationship the companies shared, the writing was on the wall. Nike had no option but to cease all hardware design and put all their tech eggs in the software basket. Again, the ecosystem Nike established has been pretty impressive. They can leverage their relationship with Apple and offer a built-in (or at least prominent) aspect of the iwatch experience. Possibly furthering their already established ecosystem. If they play their cards right. Or not. We'll see.
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I'm just shocked that Nike's engineering team was never able to evolve to the next step. And it isn't just making a watch. They were so far ahead w/ Fuel Band, but they were never able to make the jump to incorporating sensors and making Fuel Band something w/ true utility.

But I agree w/ all of this.
 
Cary Groneveldt says:
April 19, 2014 at 6:48 am
Nike obviously knows what’s coming, WDC14, maybe?
And while all of the other losers have gone in the opposite track,flooding the market with garbage hardware,
Nike is, smartly, deciding to get out of the market altogether and, instead make software that’ll run on iBand.
Well played, Nike, well played ….

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