Withings taking pre-orders for new Pulse activity tracker
When it comes to the "connected health device" market, the leader has been Withings. The company started selling its first WiFi-connected scale back in 2010, and since then has added such devices as a baby scale and a blood pressure monitor to the product mix. Today the company announced that it has begun taking pre-orders for a new activity tracker named Pulse (US$99.95).
Pulse weighs just eight grams and has a clip built into the back that performs several functions. First, the clip provides a way to attach the Pulse to your pants, bra or an included sleep wristband. But put your finger on that clip and it turns into a pulse monitor.
As you'd expect, the device syncs to your iOS or Android smartphone a number of times throughout the day, and the information is viewable in the Withings Health Mate app that many people are already familiar with. Withings has also built up partnerships with over 100 other health and fitness apps, so the information can be shared with those applications as well.
Pulse displays not only your pulse rate, but also the number of steps you take (similar to Fitbit and other devices), elevation gain, estimated distance you've walked and calories burned. If you're running or walking, Pulse displays how many minutes you've been active and how far you've gone.
Pulse has an estimated two-week battery life, and also features a touchscreen that you can swipe to view two weeks' worth of fitness data. The device is expected to ship within the next 30 days, and we'll have a full TUAW review soon.
