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Withings challenges Fitbit with Bluetooth Activity Tracker and Star Trek-inspired scale

Withings challenges Fitbit with Bluetooth Activity Tracker and Star Trek-inspired scale

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Withings Smart Activity Tracker
Withings Smart Activity Tracker

Withings is at CES to announce its Smart Activity Tracker — the company's first wearable fitness tracker — with either Bluetooth or Bluetooth Smart (aka, 4.0) sync depending upon your iOS or Android device's capabilities. The thumb-sized device measures steps walked, strides ran, stairs climbed, distances covered, calories burned, and even quality of sleep. Uniquely, it also measures pulse readings when placing a finger on the heart-rate sensor on the back of the device. An OLED display graces the front while a two-week battery that charges via micro USB can be found within. Although it's not pictured, the Smart Activity Tracker ships with a belt clip and arm band for maximum flexibility.

The Smart Activity Tracker fills a big hole in the company's product portfolio

The Smart Activity Tracker fills a big hole in the company's product portfolio. In fact, as far as ecosystems go amongst the likes of Fitbit, Jawbone, and Nike, Withings has the most extensive, offering Wi-Fi scales for adults and babies, a blood pressure monitor, baby video monitor, and a claimed compatibility with over 60 partner apps and devices. Fitbit, by comparison, offers a Wi-Fi scale and two clip-on fitness trackers.

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Withings also announced an updated wireless scale today. The Smart Body Analyzer, as it's called, measures heart rate, weight, body fat and, get this, the temperature and carbon dioxide amounts in the immediate vicinity like a Star Trek tricorder. According to Withings, excessive CO2 can affect sleep, causing headaches, dizziness, restlessness, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, and sweating. The new scale syncs via Bluetooth, Bluetooth 4.0, or Wi-Fi to Android or iOS devices. It operates on four AAA batteries and should go on sale this quarter for a suggested retail price of $149.95. The Smart Activity Tracker is also due before the end of March but no price has been given.