Amazon Discontinuing 'Halo' Health and Fitness Wristband

[chucker23n1]

Amazon included a 3D body scan feature

Really feels like Amazon overplayed its hand there. If Apple were to do a similar feature, they'd probably get criticized less, because people trust them more.

(This hinges on the assumption that such a scan even works well. Weight and body fat percentage based on a photo?)

and a feature for analyzing speech, both of which were criticized for their invasiveness.

Well, not just invasive, but also kinda gross.

"Tone of voice analysis can help you communicate more thoughtfully with family, friends, colleagues, your favorite food truck proprietor, and everyone in between."

Uh, does it, though? Or does it merely reinforce sexist, racist stereotypes?

 

[msackey]

I really hate this kind of thing where companies produce something and then only support it for a scant few years and then call it a day. The momentum for an individual to adopt something and then have it integrated in their lives can be high and once established in their lives, it's not necessarily easy to de-establish it! Also, e-waste.

 

[Solomani]

I really hate this kind of thing where companies produce something and then only support it for a scant few years and then call it a day. The momentum for an individual to adopt something and then have it integrated in their lives can be high and once established in their lives, it's not necessarily easy to de-establish it! Also, e-waste.

Which is why I prefer the Apple model of releasing new hardware technology: Let the others (Google, Amazon, Samsung) release their half-baked hardware into the general population first. Let them fail first, while Apple R&D spends the extra years refining its own hardware prior to launch.

 

[Arran]

The Up bracelet was my first fitness tracker. I only moved to Apple Watch when the Up was discontinued.

Yeah, the original UP was my first. And my second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth....

Each band lasted somewhere between 30 and 60 days before dying. Then the manufacturer would send out a replacement, then another, then another. The Up forums were on fire with it. After a few months, I had packages arriving that I didn't even bother to open. Then they refunded everyone (in full, I think). It was interesting.

I then moved onto some other band that was similar but it had a single line led display hidden under the translucent black silicone band. That couldn't have lasted long since I can't even remember its name! (I didn't try any of the later UP bands - but I kind of wish I had.)

Then I took a break from bands until the impressively reliable Apple watch appeared.

 

[9646829]

I then moved onto some other band that was similar but it had a single line led display hidden under the translucent black silicone band. That couldn't have lasted long since I can't even remember its name! (I didn't try any of the later UP bands - but I kind of wish I had.)

Sounds like the original Fitbit Flex.

 

[enb141]

Which is why I prefer the Apple model of releasing new hardware technology: Let the others (Google, Amazon, Samsung) release their half-baked hardware into the general population first. Let them fail first, while Apple R&D spends the extra years refining its own hardware prior to launch.

Well, the trash can and the mac studio seem to be half baked.

 

[_Spinn_]

Totally forgot this was even a thing.

 

[Arran]

Sounds like the original Fitbit Flex.
View attachment 2194678

Same era, but not quite. It took me a while to find a picture but here it is. Garmin Vivosmart:

The display stayed off mostly, so it looked like a plain silicone band. I could wear it with my regular watch without looking odd.