Last year the FitBit debuted at the 2008 TechCrunch 50. I read about it and instantly wanted one. This little gadget would help me with my neverending (and seemingly fruitless) quest for weight loss. Before I tell you about it, let me tell you about how I just now got my hands on one. I have a definite case of “early adopter syndrome.” Knowing this, my husband immediately pre-ordered a FitBit for me last September, assuming it would be a Christmas present. The FitBit date was pushed back multiple times (birthday, Valentine’s, Easter, anniversary) until he finally presented me with it yesterday. (“Happy, um Sweetest Day, honey!”)
It’s hardware, which always takes longer than software to create. Additionally, they’ve apparently had some firmware issues along the way that they were unable to reproduce consistently. But on Tuesday it arrived in the mail – one for each of us actually – in a very tiny package.
The FitBit itself is about the size of a USB stick. This has me a little nervous, because although the FitBit can actually be clipped to my clothing, I have a superpower for losing USB sticks. Cross your fingers I don’t lose this.
The FitBit monitors my steps – yep, it’s a high-end pedometer with a fancy blue OLED. But additionally, it monitors how many calories I’m burning and, most intriguingly, it monitors my sleep habits. You place the FitBit in a soft wrist pouch while you sleep and it tracks when you’re awake and when you’re getting the most sleep and how much. I’ve only done this one night, but I apparently woke up 15 times throughout the course of the night and ended up getting about 7 hours sleep despite being in bed for 9 hours. Consistent sleeping habits are key for weight loss and I’ve never really been able to monitor my own before.
How does all this information get shared? The FitBit comes with a tiny wireless base station. If I’m anywhere near it, the FitBit transmits my latest information, which is then uploaded automatically to FitBit.com. At any point in my day, I can log onto my account and view my progress. The site itself is reminiscent of Weight Watchers online. You can enter information into a daily food journal, as well as add specific activities. In my case, the FitBit knew I’d taken rapid steps for an hour, but I was able to specifically adjust the calories burned for ballroom dancing. Of course, there’s also a weight tracker and a few other tracking charts.
How does all this help you lose weight? It is, after all, a fancy pedometer. Well, it makes you very aware of your habits. By being more aware of how many calories you’re burning per day, even with regular movement, you can more easily figure out what changes you need to make to get healthier. Will it work? Well, I’ve only had the FitBit a few days. In fact, as you’re reading this, I’m on vacation, walking around the Epcot Food & Wine Festival at Disney World in Florida. After wearing the FitBit through vacation (and hopefully not losing it), I’ll report back and let you know.
The FitBit is finally available and retails for $99, including use of the web site. You can, however, use the web site without purchasing a FitBit.
__
Cheers! Tweet Michelle @writetechnology, send her technology news at michelle[at]writetech[dot]net, visit her wine blog when you’re thirsty, and drop by her day job.
TechCrunch50 (TC50) had a little something for everyone. The three-day conference was jammed packed with presentations from the 52 presenting companies, demonstrations from the DemoPit companies, and the TC50 exhibitors, partners and alumni showcasing their products and services. We caught up with a mix of these companies to hear about what they were launching and showcasing at this year’s event.
Our first video is highlight clip that includes snippets from Closet Couture, Delver, Fitbit, Five Sprockets, Grooveshark, TechCrunch50 winner Yammer, and last year’s TechCrunch40 (TC40) second place winner Zivity. Also, be sure to check out the full-length interviews (don’t worry they’re short) from watchMEmelt, Fitbit, Closet Couture, Zivity, and Yammer.
TechCrunch50 DemoPit: watchMEmelt
WatchMEmelt is an online video sharing community focused on weight loss and fitness-related topics. Basically, its MySpace meets YouTube for the weight loss and fitness community. The site launched into public beta last week during TC50 and is opened to anyone interested in losing weight and sharing the experience with others. The company was founded by Brian Edward Kenny, who has enlisted two very fun and energetic spokespersons who know first-hand what it’s like to publicly lose weight.
WatchMEmelt’s Marty and Amy Wolff, now newlyweds, met on season three of NBC’s reality TV show the Biggest Loser. We caught up with them at the conference and they shared their story with us and explained what watchMEmelt is all about. It was a fun interview and certainly not something we expected to find at a tech conference.
TechCrunch50 Presenting Company: Fitbit
Ever wonder how many calories you burn in a day or if you exercise enough each day or how well you sleep each night? Well, wonder no more. You can now get those answers with the Fitbit Tracker. During the TC50 mobile session, Fitbit introduced the Fitbit Tracker and Web site.
The Fitbit Tracker and site are designed to help people live healthier by outfitting them with a small monitoring device, which is the size of a USB drive, that wirelessly sends data to the site about the users’ physical activity and other information, so people can track and monitor their progress, and share it with others if they choose to.
The Fitbit Tracker can monitor daily activity and exercise, calories burned, the quality of sleep one gets, and more. The Fitbit Tracker works in combination with Fitbit’s Web site, which offers many features including tracking weight, logging food intake or activities, connecting with or meeting new friends for encouragement and support, or starting or joining a group, such as a weekly exercise group or walking group. The whole concept is to provide people with advanced tools and a place to connect with others so they can live healthier lives. The site is free and the Fitbit Tracker will retail for $99 when it ships in late December or early January.
The Fitbit Tracker price seems reasonable, but I think Fitbit’s business model could be improved. On the distribution front, they may want to consider partnering with weight loss vendors and health clubs who have a built-in customer base. And they should consider offering a premium service for the Web site that offers additional features for a small monthly fee.
People dedicated to losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will pay for additional value. One doesn’t have to look far to see this, just look at the success of Weight Watchers (NYSE: WTW) where customers pay a monthly subscription fee to access Weight Watchers’ online weight-loss tools, content and community.
As someone who is very health conscious, exercises regularly and is annoyingly careful about what and how much I eat every day, Fitbit is by far my favorite startup that launched at this year’s TechCrunch50. I will be sure to review it when it comes out, who knows, maybe I’ll do a video review of Fitbit over a period of time and share the results here. Check out our interview with James Park, CEO and co-founder of Fitbit.
TechCrunch50 Presenting Company: Closet Couture
Closet Couture was definitely a company we had to check out as it immediately caught the eye of our very own fashionista and Bub.blicio.us Reporter Alison McNeill. Closet Couture is a social community focused around fashion and a place people can go to get fashion advice from community members or professional stylists. Users can create a virtual wardrobe that reflects their real-life wardrobe and then get advice on what to wear for a special occasion or on a new outfit or advice on adding a garment or accessory to an existing outfit.
Closet Couture is currently in private beta and is free to all users, but it also offers paid services such as time with a professional stylist for as little as $25, which is a bargain considering top stylists are paid thousands of dollars for their services.
I’m sure this went right over the heads of the geek boys in the crowd, but it surely wasn’t missed by us, and it also got the attention of Oprah’s editors. Closet Couture will be featured in the November issue of O magazine, at which point the site will be open to the public. But you don’t have to wait until then to see what they’re up to. Check out our interview with Christine Elia, CEO and founder of Closet Couture. Watch the entire video clip because Elia shares with our Bub.blicio.us viewers how to be part of the private beta and get a sneak peek to the service.
TechCrunch40 Alumni: Zivity (second-place winner at TechCrunch40 2007)
While everyone may have had all their attention on this year’s 52 presenting companies launching new products and services, we wanted to share the love by bringing you the latest from a company who had launched at last year’s TechCrunch40 conference and came back this year to provide a service to attendees with the Zivity Em-power-ment charging station while showcasing the Zivity community.
According Zivity Founder and Editor-in-Chief Cyan Banister, she says the Zivity community is a social networking site where models and photographers can interact with their fans. What’s unique about Zivity is that it’s one of the only social networks and content sites that offer a royalty-distribution platform. Zivity empowers models and photographers by providing them with a place to share and monetize their art. The service is currently in private beta and is by invitation only.
At this year’s TC50, the Zivity team had quite the fun booth with beautiful women (Zivity models), a charging station and cupcakes! Check out our interview with Banister as she shares with us a little bit about Zivity and the growth they are experiencing since launching at last year’s TC40. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for their public launch in early 2009.
TechCrunch50 2008 Winner: Yammer
Surprisingly, we were lucky enough to interview the TechCrunch50 2008 winner Yammer. Of course when we stopped by their station in the DemoPit the day before they won, we had no idea that they would win, and frankly, I was a bit surprised when they did win because I’m skeptical whether or not Yammer will succeed long term. However, as a huge fan and user of Twitter (despite constant outages), I do love the concept of what Yammer offers and my hat is off to them for winning.
With Yammer’s launch, it clearly points out that Twitter has not been quick and agile because the Twitter team should have already launched a “Twitter for business” service. But since they haven’t, Twitter left the door open for Yammer to provide it. Yammer is available now, so companies interested in using the Yammer service can sign up at Yammer and begin using it now.
Check out what David Sacks, CEO and founder of Yammer, has to say about Yammer and how it’s one of the most used communications tool in his company Geni, a genealogy site where families can build and share their family trees and history, and it’s also where Yammer was birthed. With the launch of Yammer at TC50, Sacks says that Yammer will now spin out as a separate company. Congratulations to David and the Yammer team!
