Misfit Flash
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Which fitness bands are worth buying?
We spend a lot of time in front of our computers, which could be why we're so keen to track all the times we actually step away from our screens and get a little walking or running done. To that end, every manufacturer seems to be coming out with a fitness band to brandish on your wrist. But when one wearable looks like the others, and they each operate in different ecosystems, it's hard to know which will best suit your needs. We've taken a look at a few recent releases and their reviews, narrowing the field to seven of the better models out there -- plus one you should avoid.
Misfit Flash is an affordable, fun, and waterproof wearable
If you think that the world of wearables turned all Apple last week with the announcement of the Watch, you're wrong. Over the past few days TUAW has received information about a number of new wearables, including one that is incredibly affordable. The new Misfit Flash (US$49.99) is the second wearable from the same folks who brought you the Shine. Misfit, of course, is the company co-founded by none other than ex-Apple-and-Pepsi CEO John Sculley along with Sonny Vu and Sridhar Iyengar. Despite its low price tag, Flash is relatively full-featured. It's made out of a soft-touch plastic for comfort and it's waterproof down to 30 meters (98 feet). As you well know, the much more pricey smartwatch from Apple isn't waterproof... While the Misfit Flash won't run apps like Apple's Watch will when it arrives next year, it will track your activity and sleep, tell you the time, and sync with the Misfit App on your iPhone. Flash comes in seven colors, including "lemon-lime Zest, funky Fuchsia, and minimalist Frost." Like the Shine, you'll never have to charge the Flash -- it uses a common watch/camera battery to run for up to six months. You'll be able to buy one at Best Buy, Target, Amazon.com, and Walmart starting in October, or you can pre-order one today.
