Hasta La Gadget!

Fitbit has revealed its latest take on the activity tracker, the Fitbit Flex, a new challenger to the Jawbone UP complete with Bluetooth 4.0 for real-time sync with a nearby iPhone, iPad, or Android device. The tracker slots neatly into a waterproof wristband, or can be removed and clipped on elsewhere, tracking steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned, and even sleep, and giving at-a-glance feedback on the wearer’s performance using LEDs.

Those lights show 20-percent increments of the daily goal, which is set by the individual wearer. However, the low-power Bluetooth 4.0 is used to ping more complex data over to Fitbit’s Flex app, with various graphs and graphics to show how close you are to your targets for steps, calorie burn, and other factors, as well as how long you’ve been sleeping, how many times you woke up, and how efficient your sleep was.

The Flex can also wake the wearer up with a silent alarm, using its sleep tracking abilities to automatically figure out what the best time to vibrate is, based on how fresh you’ll be feeling at any point. The new Flex app – which also works with the Fitbit One and Zip, and is available for Android for the first time – has social integration too, with activity badges, and support for challenges between friends and family.

There’s also support for a food log, allowing the wearer’s diet to be recorded each day, and compared with activity and overall health. However, Flex can also integrate with third-party apps, such as Endomondo, LoseIt, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal, and Sparkpeople.

Fitbit Flex is up for preorder now, priced at $99.95, and is expected to ship in the spring of this year. The Android Flex app will arrive by the end of February.

Fitbit Flex takes on Jawbone UP with Bluetooth activity tracker is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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We liked the Fitbit One activity tracker, but there was some convenience lacking. While its pebble-like form-factor was very discreet, it meant you always had to take it out and put it in a special arm band if you wanted to monitor your sleep, then return it to your pants in the morning. And which pants did you forget them in this time? More »

Mad Catz has announced a new range of GameSmart hardware which is designed to work across pretty much any platform. These things will get you gaming on PC, Macs, tablets, phones, TVs—and even consoles. More »

Here in Chicago, it’s so frakkin’ cold right now that growing plants is about the furthest thing from my mind. But I keep telling myself that spring is only a few months away. And once I’m hanging out on my deck and enjoying the nice weather again, my planters might have something other than dead branches in them. While I’m at it, I might want to listen to some tunes. This new speaker is designed to let you enjoy both at once.

ION Audio’s new Planter Speaker has a built-in Bluetooth receiver, so you can stream music from your smartphone or other mobile device. It’s also water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about rain or watering your plant having any impact on the electronics. You’ll also be able to link multiple speakers together, albeit with a cable – and not wirelessly.

There’s no word on a price or release date yet for the Planter Speaker, but rest assured that it’s be available in time for the nice weather to return.

[CES 2013] Bluetooth headphones are an accessory that have been increasing in popularity as more and more headphone users have been trying to live their life completely removed from wires. iHome is offering its first luxury model of bluetooth headphones this year with the iB85 Bluetooth Wireless Foldable Headphones.

iHome’s iB85 isn’t just a completely wireless bluetooth headphone, but it’s also foldable which makes for traveling with it easy, especially when it’s tucked away in its included travel pouch. The iB85 includes a dynamic, enhanced bass response with detailed sound and a built-in microphone as well as an on-ear remote. To complete the package, iHome has included padded ear cushions, an adjustable padded headband and a USB cable to charge it.

The iHome iB85 will be made available later this year for $99.99.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: ION Clipster Makes Your Bluetooth Speaker Wearable, iHome iBT20G Is A Bluetooth FM Clock Radio With USB Charging Port,