Roger Fingas
Fitbit's first true smartwatch will launch with select third-party apps and an "app gallery," the company's CEO promised on Friday, trying to dispel earlier rumors.
A software development kit will be available to all developers shortly after launch, Park told The Verge. The SDK is said to be based on software picked up through Fitbit's Pebble acquisition, enabling apps that are also compatible with iOS and Android devices.
The company is expected to use a light touch in reviewing apps, and will let developers build special software shared only with friends and family.
To install apps, the public will have to browse an "app gallery" in the company's existing mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.
Park declined to say when the watch will launch, or name companies it's partnering with for initial apps.
"All we can say at this point is that music is a really important part of the fitness experience, and you'll see functionality related to that," he commented. "When it comes to the music industry, it's not just technical. There are business issues as well when it comes to offline playback."
It's been rumored that Spotify could be missing from Fitbit's initial app slate. Instead Park may be referring to Pandora integration, including offline caching for listening without a smartphone.
Other alleged features include GPS, a heart rate sensor, a unibody aluminum shell, and a bright 1,000-nit display — all features on par with the Apple Watch Series 2. It may also offer some form of wireless payments, and four-day battery life, which would top the one-day life on current Apple Watches.
Pricing could slot in around $300. Optional BeatsX-like Bluetooth earbuds might cost about $150.
While still a leading wearables maker, Fitbit has lost significant ground in the past year, faced with pressure from Apple and Garmin on the high end and brands like Xiaomi on the opposite side.
A Fitbit smartwatch will likely have to compete against the Apple Watch Series 3, which could ship as soon as this fall. Some rumored technologies include sleep tracking, a glucose monitor, "smart" bands, and/or built-in LTE.
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20 Comments
Remember this comment from Fitbit CEO:
"We look at it from a consumer point of view,” Park said, noting that the Apple Watch, “is a computing platform [instead, and] that’s really the wrong way to approach this category from the very beginning.”
"but the point seems to be that Fitbit tries to make its wearables simple, one-purpose devices. The Apple Watch, meanwhile, tries to be all things to all people — providing notifications, fitness stats, and phone calls — but without excelling in any of them."Ah, the circle of life continues....pretty funny
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cultofmac.com/426280/fitbit-ceo-apple-watch-is-the-wrong-way-to-approach-wearables/amp/
I predicted this:
The next Apple competitor willl offer a cheaper knockoff that looks and functions as close to Apple as posible. This manufacturer will NOT be a past competitor as every new category brings in a new rival.
The problem is that Apple does excel in all those areas that FitBit thinks it doesn't. We've heard the same response from Blackberry back in the day as a response to iPhone. Now look at where we're at.
I like my Apple Watch because it "just works" and it looks stylish. I don't use all the fancy features, but I might some day when I upgrade.
That design looks like the work of a first-year college student (who earned a B in design).
Why is the body of the watch so much bigger than the screen? Why is "Fitbit" taking up so much space? Why do the buttons feature a heavy non-slip texture? What's with that ugly sun (?) icon if that's what it is? Why is temperature (presumably what you want to know) no larger than the name of the city (which you presumably know)?
I would think Fitbit would be better served by making cheap and functional items. "Good enough" type stuff. This will get expensive.