Health

Nokia is buying French health tracking company Withings for a reported $192 million

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Nokia said this morning that it's buying French health tracking company Withings for a reported €170 million, or about $192 million, as it looks to gain a foothold in the competitive digital health market.

Withings, which designs, builds and sells wearables with health and fitness tracking features, as well as devices for the connected home such as smart weighing scales, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, home and baby monitors and so forth, will become part of Nokia's Technologies business.

Apple pushes further into health space with CareKit

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

In addition to new iPhones and iPads, Apple on Monday also announced a new software framework called CareKit. The initiative is an extension to ResearchKit, which launched last year to give hospitals and University's a way to conduct broad medical studies using iOS devices.

CareKit uses similar principles to help individuals keep track of care plans, as well as monitor their symptoms and medication. The goal is to provide insights that help people better understand their health, which may encourage them to take a more active role in their wellbeing.

Apple’s event kicks off with talk of encryption battle, environmental impact, health and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Tim Cook on Monday kicked off Apple's long-awaited March media event with his usual introduction. The CEO's first announcement was that Apple now has 1 billion devices being using around the globe, and then as expected, he took a moment to briefly talk about the company's ongoing fight with the FBI over encryption.

Cook thanked everyone for their support of Apple in what he believes is one of the biggest privacy battles of our generation. He then brought up Apple's VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, Lisa Jackson, to talk about Apple's progress in reducing its environmental impact. We have more highlights from the intro below.

Review: boost your sleep analysis with much improved Sleep++ 2.0

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 4, 2018

David Smith’s excellent Sleep++ app is my killer app when it comes to sleep analysis, a glaring omission from the Apple Watch. It's become second nature for me to open Sleep++ as I tuck myself in bed for the evening.

This native watchOS 2 app collects data from watch sensors to measure sleep quality and duration, which can then be reviewed in greater detail in a companion iPhone app and synced with your Health database.

The updated Sleep++ 2.0, now available as a free download in the App Store, takes sleep analysis to the next level with major improvements to its sleep analysis engine and new features such as better Health integration, an improved Night Detail view, night trimming and timezone support.

Fitbit unveils fashionable Alta activity tracker with swappable bands

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Wearable maker Fitbit on Wednesday announced a brand new activity tracker with fashionable design that gives you the ability to swap bands.

Featuring five days of usage on a single charge and a selection of bands, including leather ones and a stainless steel bracelet, Fitbit hopes to appeal to the burgeoning market of stylish tech gadgets that are worn on one's body.

The Alta has the usual assortment of movement-tracking sensors and includes a slim touchscreen OLED display that shows basic stats and notifications relayed from a smartphone.

Misfit debuts stylish new activity tracker and its first wireless in-ear headphones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 3, 2016

Wearable devices maker Misfit at CES 2016 announced new products that build on its expertise in health and fitness tracking. A new activity tracker from the company, called the Ray, tracks your movement and sleep and resembles a bracelet with a cylindrical aluminum body.

Another new product from Misfit, a first for the company: the Specter in-ear wireless headphones with dual driver technology and a built-in accelerometer sensor for tracking your activity and sleep when worn.

Tim Cook shares ‘Just Say Hi’ video message for Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 8, 2015

Apple CEO Tim Cook has joined the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, an initiative dedicated to transforming lives for people with cerebral palsy through research, innovation and collaboration.

In an interesting video message posted to the foundation's website, Cook can be seen conversing with Siri as he invites people to 'just say hi' to those whose lives have been affected with cerebral palsy.

Tim Cook says Apple has more health features in mind, talks iPad Pro and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 10, 2015

Yesterday, Tim Cook sat with The Telegraph's Allister Heath to talk a range of topics, including the Apple TV and the future of television, the forthcoming arrival of the iPad Pro and plans for the Apple Watch.

According to Cook, the company is considering additional health features. He also revealed why Apple doesn't want to put the Apple Watch through the certification process by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and more.

Review: track how well you sleep at night with Sleep++ for Apple Watch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 4, 2018

I was having high hopes ahead of the Apple Watch unveiling that detailed sleep analytics would be part of the headline feature set, based in no small part on the company's hiring efforts in that field.

As a blogger, my sleep is basically in disarray so I was keeping my fingers crossed that Apple's wearable would benefit my rest. Much to my surprise, the device arrived without specialized sleep-tracking functions.

But thanks to developer David Smith's nifty little app called Sleep++, I can now measure the duration and quality of my sleep thanks to the power of software.

Cook: Apple Watch sales accelerating, new health features in development

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 20, 2015

Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed a variety of topics at the Wall Street Journal’s WSJ.D Live conference last night in Laguna Beach, California, including confirming pre-sales for the new Apple TV next Monday and revealing that Apple Music currently has 6.5 million paid customers.

And while Cook was mum on Apple Watch sales—”We don't want to give information to competitors,” he said—he did allude to additional health-related functions coming to Apple's wearable platform in the future.

Apple’s ResearchKit now enabling new studies on autism, epilepsy and melanoma

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 15, 2015

ResearchKit, Apple's platform for medical research based on the Health app and iOS devices, is now enabling new studies on autism, epilepsy and melanoma, the company said in a media release today.

Tapping into data gathered from participants using iPhone apps; medical data from the Health app such as weight, blood pressure and glucose levels; and other data measured by third-party devices and the iPhone's accelerometer, microphone, gyroscope and GPS sensors—researchers can study autism, epilepsy and melanoma in greater detail than was possible before.

How to mute Activity reminders on Apple Watch for the rest of your day

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2015

Among the small things Apple's added to watchOS 2 is a new switch allowing you to mute Activity reminders for the rest of your day.

To be clear, hourly alerts to stand up and move a little, as well as other coaching reminders on your Apple Watch, can help a great deal when it comes to meeting your personal fitness goals.

But not everyone is a fitness buff.

If you yourself aren't exactly an active person, you might find Activity alerts a bit distracting, if not downright annoying. But worry not, you can suspend coaching alerts for the rest of your day with just a few taps. Let me show you how.