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Fitbit Charge 3 hands-on: Better controls come with a trade-off
I recently set my mom up with a Fitbit Charge 2 and had to go to great lengths to explain how to use its pseudo touchscreen. "You have to tap it, but really hard, more like jab at it," I told her, as she poked at the device. "Aim for the logo, it's a bit more sensitive there." My poor mom is almost 60, and learning a new way of interacting with a watch isn't easy. She looked on wistfully as I explained to her why the Fitbit Versa, with its easier-to-use touchscreen, was too complicated for her needs. More than anything, my mom doesn't like the appearance of smartwatches like the Versa and Ionic, preferring the simpler aesthetic of the Charge. I finally got her an Alta HR instead, which adds a few more features, but still uses that odd "Tap Display."
Fitbit says Charge skin issues aren't caused by its materials
Fitbit is no stranger to customer complaints, especially when it comes to skin issues. After dealing with a wave of criticism, and subsequent recall, of its Force activity tracker last year, the company recently introduced a trio of new gadgets. Well, early adopters are already crying foul with reports of irritation after using the Fitbit Charge. The company offered an explanation, maintaining that it remedied the issue that plagued the Force by using new materials to construct the products. "We have conducted extensive testing with laboratories and consulted with top dermatologists to develop stringent standards so that users can safely wear and enjoy Charge," says CEO and co-founder James Park. So what's the cause of the issue this time? It turns out that it boils down to good habits and proper hygiene.
Fitbit announces three new activity trackers, including a GPS watch
The last year has been a bit rough for Fitbit. The biggest thorn in its side has obviously been the allergic reactions to, and the subsequent recall of, its Force fitness tracker. Despite having spent the better part of 2014 without its flagship model on store shelves, the company still holds a lead over its competitors in market share. And now it's hoping to extend that lead with an all-out assault on the activity tracking market. Today the company is announcing not one, but three new devices that are set to be released over the next several months.
Meet Fitbit's new Charge activity trackers (update)
Nearly a year after Fitbit revealed its last fitness gadget, it looks like its next devices will be called Charge. The wearables passed through the FCC revealing the moniker and designation as a "wireless activity tracker." Thanks to a USPTO filing, we can glean that it'll carry the usual waterproofing alongside pedometer and altimeter for tracking steps, sleep and calories burned. On top of those expected features, the paperwork also indicates that a heart rate sensor, navigation info, weather forecast, call notifications and volume control will also be lumped in for syncing up with your phone.
