Commentary first. Until now I did not allow myself for this as a mental model, but will start this folder to explore the snip from the cc. This will be a work in progress.o In addition to this design win, we have an EOS S3 evaluation with a world leader in wearable fitness tracking solutionsthat has significant volume potential.This customer has already prepared an evaluation board for our new EOS S3 samples that we are scheduled to deliver later this month. With those samples, we expect the design win process to be completed in Q2.Open q, can this be anyone but Fitbit?others to considerXiaomi,Jawbone,Garmin?none of them fit "world leader" for me.Now this would be a very happy way for things to go.Double tap needed for this sort of device.add in the cc tidbits on SenseMe, Fitbit could port its crown jewel algos, use some of QUIKs, if they want. They could have headroom for evolution to more sensors. They could make use of the FPGA portion perhaps in different ways for different devices?Please help discuss this one as its pretty big as far as upside potentialThanks in advance.
Roadmaps are important and FItbits?FitBit Needs to Integrate More Sensors, Not Sell Watch Bands, Says Sterne Agee CRT By Tiernan RayShares of fitness wearable maker FitBit (FIT) are down 85 cents, or almost 6%, at $13.83, with the broader market, and the stock did receive one mixed view today, from Sterne Agee CRT’sRob Cihra, who cites evidence of a “strong holiday season,” but also cuts his 2016 numbers, and cuts his price target to $18 from $35...............................................The Blaze seems to be about selling accessories, he concludes — thinks like stylish bands for the watch — rather than adding greater capabilities through more sensors:In new products, FIT’s strategy appears to be designed to drive up accessory revenues via bands. But while more fashionable devices and accessory sales are positive, we believe many FIT customers and investors alike are most anxious for core technology advances, particularly in its types of sensors. FIT’s addition of wrist-based heart rate monitoring, for example, was a tremendous driver to 2015 and we think breakthroughs along those lines are what people want most. The reality, however, is coming up with a step-function improvement like wrist-based HR is not something we should probably expect every year. A hoped-for function like blood pressure monitoring, for example, looks on the roadmap/ horizon but likely still requires a lot more work to shrink necessary mechanics. For now, we think FIT can compete well on brand (where it’s #1 by a mile) and technically via leading software platform/engineering (i.e., the long-term key, where we believe FIT is adding value and ahead of competitors), yet with neither seeming enough to sustain its previously-high multiple.
Fitbit cofounder interview sniphttp://www.forbes.com/sites/roberth...-survived-as-a-hardware-startup/#3b55f4a44f42Indeed, it seems that most entrepreneurs still aren’t willing to go the hardware route. Clavier asked the audience of several hundred how many are building a hardware startup. I saw only one hand. To which Park said: “You’re crazy.”Clavier’s parting advice: “Manufacturing is a bitch. Remember that
Why Fitbit Is Still Winning Wearables DECEMBER 10, 2015, 6:07 PM EST E-mail Tweet Facebook Linkedin Share iconsA recent study showing that activity tracker sales continue to outpace smartwatch shipments has Fitbit coming out on top.While the Apple Watch has carved out a sizable chunk of the wearable market share this year, the number-one manufacturer of these devices, Fitbit, remains the same.According to IDC’s latest numbers, in the third quarter, overall wearable device shipments were as high as 21 million units worldwide—a growth of 197.6% year-over-year. And this year’s launch of the Apple Watch has contributed to the increase, with IDC reporting 3.9 million units of the iPhone-connected device shipping in the third quarter. But even though Apple “AAPL” has had significantly more success with its smartwatch than brands like Motorola and Samsung, the company is still taking a back seat to Fibit “FIT” , which is known for its lineup of activity-tracking gadgets from the $60 Zip to the $250 Surge. Fitbit commanded 22.2% of the wearable market share in the third quarter, continuing its dominance as the segment’s number one vendor.To see why Fitbit and Apple are ahead of the pack in this still-young market, you need only look at their closest competition. Following Fitbit and Apple are Xiaomi, a Chinese manufacturer with an inexpensive activity tracker called the Mi Band; Garmin, known for its GPS fitness watches; and BBK, a Chinese electronics brand that sells a smartwatch for kids. Even though it sells fitness bands such as the Vivosmart, Garmin is best known for its GPS-equipped running watches and wearables that cater to more professional athletes across a number of sports. As for the other two brands, neither has yet to make a splash with worldwide wearables sales,So NOT Xiaomi, NOT Garmin, that leaves NOT Apple, but Fitbit?QUIK can tyou get Fitbit the EOS S3 LP and the new tools and camp out there for any needed support?Thanks in advance. If it should come to pass in the right time frame it would bout make Rick's 2nd half?though Xiaomi’s numbers in particular (3.7 million units shipped in the most recent quarter) are nothing to sneeze at.As to why Fitbit is the most successful vendor when it comes to fitness band sales, IDC research analyst Jitesh Ubrani sees several factors working in the brand’s favor. “They’ve done a great job at spreading awareness and targeting the growing segment of fitness trackers,” he says. “Apart from great devices, Fitbit’s partnerships with fitness- and health-focused companies [like MyFitnessPal and Runkeeper] and their growing distribution network have been key in maintaining their lead.” Ubrani also points to the company’s efforts in the enterprise sector, through corporate wellness programs, as increasing brand awareness for the company.Since it is still early days for smartwatches, which are still negotiating the delicate balance between form and function, wearable shipment data could paint a very different picture a few years down the line. For instance, activity trackers are relatively well established today, but the wider adoption of smartwatches such as the $349-and-up Apple Watch and Android Wear devices may be a longer-term trend. However, with Xiaomi and its sub-$20 Mi Band taking third place according to IDC, it’s fair to wonder whether this Chinese brand, not to mention other manufacturers such as Jawbone, could overtake the reigning champion.“It’s going to take more than just price to be a leader in the market,” says Ubrani, who says that while the Mi Band is already available in the U.S., Xiaomi’s sales volume in the states has been low. “In order for this to change, they have to exponentially increase marketing and distribution.”Fitbit, however, has managed to dominate the wearable market through a combination of marketing savvy and compelling software. Its apps and desktop dashboard provide a comprehensive look at fitness information, along with the option to connect and compete with friends. Incidentally, it is similar features on the Apple Watch—such as its ability to log basic fitness metrics and to communicate with fellow iOS users through the touchscreen—that have also made Apple’s smartwatch such a standout device.Jibrani sums it up thusly: “Fitbit does well because it’s built a community and helped make fitness a more social experience—they’ve created staying power.” But with other wearables continuing to evolve and add new features, there’s no saying that Fitbit—let alone any other fitness band maker—will hold the number-one spot in years to come.For more details on Fitbi
Some other snips to put in here...Bob W says,Momentum at QUIK is acceleratingExpect further acceleration when the EOS S3 samples to customers later this month.When EOS S3 becomes production ready, expect even further acceleration.QUIKs integrated development enviornment will add still further accelerationRick says...He noted that he thinks there will be more good surprises to come over the next several months. And one of those could be Fitbit as an S3 customer. (My inference - Andy P did not say Fitbit at any time.)Good indeed, if it comes to pass?!Fitbit needs a better battery life ASAP IMHO.The new Eos S3 LP would be perfect for them?
A mental model.The R & D bench at Fitbit has an evaluation boardfor our new EOS S3 samplesLP? I would think so.They will also get a copy of the new tools at the same time.Why?They need to get their algos on the Eos ASAP and may use a few of the QUIK algos.Like what one?Use B Faith last blog entry with this mental model...Why Enhanced Gesture Detection Is A Big Deal For WearablesBy BrianFeb. 11, 2016 @ 1:50 pm | Leave a commentAccording to a May, 2015 IHS iSuppli market research report, smart watches, activity trackers, fitness/sports monitors, and Bluetooth® headsets will total more than 150 million units by 2018. OEMs building these wearable devices know that their customers have the same basic desires: intuitive interactivity, high reliability, long battery life, and fashionable stylishness.Think Fitbit bout here....Choosing the right hardware (sensors and processing platform) is an important step towards delivering a market-beating wearable, but going forward we will all come to realize that choosing the right algorithms to complement the hardware is becoming an even more important step. For example, we recently delivered an enhanced Double-Tap gesture detection algorithm as part of its comprehensive SenseMe™ library.You might be tempted to shrug your shoulders and say “big deal”. However, it’s actually a very big deal. Enhanced gesture detection has the potential to directly affect all four of the key customer “care abouts” we listed earlier. Touch and movement are highly intuitive ways of interacting with a wearable device. Enhancing this capability allows OEMs to remove mechanical buttons, improving device reliability by eliminating potential dust and moisture intrusion points. Improved algorithms reduce overall device power consumption and extend battery life. Finally, devices become sleeker and more stylish as their user interactivity becomes focused on a touchscreen or internalized by a motion-based sensor.So there you have it. One small step for an algorithm. One giant leap for wearable OEMs and their customers.- See more at: http://blog.quicklogic.com/senseme/...-big-deal-for-wearables/#sthash.LkEDEyBY.dpufThis double tap is almost a requirement for a Fitbit. They use it now. Hopefully QUIKs is a little better.If you own part of the QUIK biz use this as a very good allocation of the precious $$ they have?
FItbit will compete with Apple. Apple will has some SiRi audio on their watch now.Imagine how they can cover this base with the Eos, now without any major redesign when they have a device that hasthe same as Apple only better. Sensory is pretty awesome ( reading only).I like to read jobs as it tells you where the puck will be in the future…Fitbit R&D SEE ALL OPEN POSITIONS Research Scientist, Biosensors and Signal ProcessingSan Francisco, CAFitbit is the leader in the explosive market of health and fitness wearables. We empower and inspire our users to lead healthier and more active lifestyles with simple and delightful products.Fitbit Research is world-class team of hacker-scientist-types who dream up, prototype, and deliver shipping products. We investigate a big set of problems from hardware development to embedded signal processing algorithms to data mining. Experimentation is critical. We work in a dynamic and collaborative environment where the goal is to learn things quickly, iterate fast, and make awesome products.Your RoleYou will push the boundaries of what can be measured or extracted from measurements using wearable and mobile sensors. You will have large responsibilities in generating or taking ideas and growing them into a final product. You will help prototype new hardware, perform analysis to determine what is interesting and useful in sensor data, design experiments to collect that data, and design extremely robust but lightweight algorithms that will run on mobile hardware. You will do a lot of experiments, often involving hardware and humans. You will work with a diverse group of technical experts in the research team to figure out hard problems and, ultimately, help ship products with the other engineering teams at Fitbit.Qualifications Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field, or equivalent experience Research expertise in at least several of the following: Experience with experimental design and human data collection. Familiarity with prototyping devices and algorithms. 3 or more years of work experience preferred Experience with programming and scientific computation (Matlab, Python, and/or other C/C++ languages). Numerical programming on embedded targets a big plus. Motivated, independent, efficient and able to handle several projects Friendly, articulate, and interested in working in a fun, small team environment Biosensor signal processing and sensor fusion. For example, extracting or reconstructing weak signals from noise in systems such as EEG, ECG, PPG, BIA, ballistocardiography, bio-acoustics, or medical imaging Hardware and sensor design. For example, prototyping new sensors and development platforms to find novel and interesting pieces of information for our users Time-domain and frequency domain discrete-time signal processing algorithms Parameter estimation and tracking algorithms such as HMM, Kalman Filter, etc. Knowledge of human physiology and bioelectric or optical sensing techniques. Biometric identification or quantification technologies Physiological modeling of circulatory system, nervous system, sleep, or emotions they could like the idea of headroom? Meaning the compute power they might need next yr?Mix and match algos. Use QUIK if its better, use their own if theirs is better. I can see an evolution of an UIFitbit needs to be able to go for a swim, i.e. it needs to be waterproof next gen. Get rid of the buttons!
Fitbit Has Taken A Lead In The Holiday Sales RaceDec. 4, 2015 5:41 PM ET|Research firm IDC published a report showing Fitbit has a commanding lead in the wearable device market.With global wearable device use expected to reach 500 million units by 2019, Fitbit's healthy market share should generate strong revenue and profit growth.Fitbit is successfully growing its Asia/Pacific market presence, which represents the fastest growing region for wearable devices.I expect analysts to increase 2016 estimates to $1.35 per share, and investors to pay a 40X multiple for shares. This leads to a $54 target price for FIT.The 2015 holiday season is shaping up to be "the year of the wearable tech device", according to a new research report from IDC. And Fitbit (NYSE:FIT) has emerged as the clear leader among device makers.The report from IDC tallied 21 million wearable devices shipped during the third quarter, which represents an increase of 197%. "Demand for wearables has been particularly strong within China, now the fastest-growing market for these devices", the report noted.Of those devices shipped, Fitbit (FIT) took a market share lead over Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) Watch.With demand for Fitbit devices giving the company a significant edge over its nearest competitor, it is looking like the company's fitness devices are here to stay, and not just an exercise fad.Long-Term Growth Projections Point To Strong DemandLooking forward, the wearable device industry is set to continue to grow by leaps and bounds. The quarterly report from IDC noted that Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) analysts expect 500 million devices to be in use across the world by 2019.For Fitbit, this industry growth could have a dramatic effect on overall sales. Consider what would happen if Fitbit were to control just 20% of this market in 2019. This would represent 100 million Fitbit devices in use if Cisco's projections are correct.will track along….
yes, a friend of mine mentioned his fitbit on facebook when he cleared a lot of snow lately.i didn't know many folks using wearables so this is like new market terrains.
Fitbit is winning at fitness trackers. According to the latest IDC estimates, it sold 4.7 million devices between July and September this year, beating Apple, Xiaomi and Garmin to the top spot.Even the Charge HR, Wareable's recommendation, isn't perfect, though, and Fitbit's CEO and co-founder has just let slip what we can expect in 2016. Speaking to Time, James Park said that Fitbit fans can look forward to more advanced sensors such as stress and blood pressure monitoring, as well as more coaching and insights and further fashion partnerships.Read this: The best fitness trackers you can buyFirst up, the sensors. Fitbit has had a lot of success with its step and activity trackers but added HRM to the Charge HR in late 2014. What's next?"We're definitely going to be releasing devices with advanced sensors that help people track not only more accurate metrics on what we're doing today, but additional metrics as well," said Park. "I can't talk specifically, but things people are going to be interested in in the future are blood pressure, or stress, or more stats about their athletic performance. Those are all things that we're working on and we'll continue to release over time."That's all quite vague - and obvious - but it's good to get a sense of which direction Fitbit is heading in. Stress and recovery is something that comes up time and again, everyone from Sony to TomTom is interested in it.Coaching and collaborationsNext, the coaching. Fitbit has a great app and community but it's fallen behind close rival Jawbone and the upstarts like Moov here in terms of making data useful to actually improving users' health and fitness."Up to this point it's been about gathering as much data as we can and the presentation and the visualisation of that data," Fitbit's CEO said. "Now I think a lot of that effort is going to go into making that data actionable, whether it's through coaching, insights, or guidance."Third party apps and fashion collaborations, similar to the Tory Burch Fitbit Flex ranges, are also on the cards for 2016 and beyond."We're going to allow third parties in some ways to tap into the power of having an always-on device on someone's wrist," said Park.Fitbit is already doing pretty damn well selling both beginner and mid-level trackers from the Fitbit Zip to the Fitbit Surge. We haven't seen a new device launch since early 2015 but Fitbit has done a good job of pushing out updates to keep users happy, from battery life improvements to the recent auto exercise detection update for the Charge HR and Surge.Even if we have to wait until spring or summer 2016 for a new, advanced, stress tracking Fitbit, it's more important to get it spot on.We can track this along and see how the commentary goes around this.In the past we had only one or at most 2 things that the $$ hinged on, now while some, like a Fitbit would be HUGE there are several evals for slots in the 10s of millions of units/yr.
the CES snip.It is Android wear OS.It is no me too device, aimed at a new group….only one like it so far?Android Wear has the power to diversifyThere was little chance of seeing many new Android Wear smartwatches this CES – most companies refreshed their line-ups before the holidays, so we were all pleasantly surprised by the appearance of the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10.But what does it represent? Well, the outdoors focused smartwatch shows that Android Wear can be about more than just everyday notifications, and that the platform is much more versatile than many give it credit for.New Balance also seems to have realised this with the confirmation that it is working on a running focused Android Wear device, which could trump the frustrating limitations of theMoto 360 Sport. It looks like it will be an interesting year ahead for Google's smartwatch OS.But what does it represent? Well, the outdoors focused smartwatch shows that Android Wear can be about more than just everyday notifications, and that the platform is much more versatile than many give it credit for.New Balance also seems to have realised this with the confirmation that it is working on a running focused Android Wear device, which could trump the frustrating limitations of the Moto 360 Sport. It looks like it will be an interesting year ahead for Google's smartwatch OS.New entrants, Casio has worked for over a yr making their device- along time.New balance…Where do these new entrants get the IP to get up to speed and join the fray?From this vantage point look at QUIK….algos, hub, assistance, battery life?I think some of our wearables will be exactly this sort of customer.Get us in the game now sort of people.Use Casio as a mental model for others we will learn about.
bumped it up to look over again.This may not be the units volume. but it is very different than most devices out there. No rush job they took their time on this device...TAG SmartWatch, Casio, wearable, Android WearCasio Wants To Develop Smartwatch To Beat All SmartwatchesBy Quinten Plummer, Tech Times | July 5, 9:25 AMLikeFollow3 Commentssaid.The smartwatch will launch in the US and Japan in March of 2016 and is expected to have a price range of $400, it'll go on sale in US for $349. It wasn't made clear what operating system the smartwatch will use, but it doesn't sound as the watch will be decked in Android Wear.The electronics manufacturer has set a target of $80 million in sales of its smartwatch. And while the wearables are expected to continue its lightning coming of age, Casio understands this avenue won't be friend of aggressive traffic."I don't think the smartwatch will be an instant success but we want it to grow in the long term," Kashio said.Casio, whose business extends beyond watches, has technically been creating smartwatches for decades now, though its past offerings don't qualify with the modern interpretation of the wearables.One way to classify many of Casio's past creations is the term "basic wearable," wearable tech that doesn't interact with third-party software, as the IDC Group describes. Casio's smartwatch, which is meant to be simple, sounds as if it may qualify as a basic wearable, and that's alright.While smart wearables are about to bound forward, Ramon Llamas, a research manager on IDC's Wearables Team, said basic wearable won't disappear anytime soon."In fact, we anticipate continued growth here as many segments of the market seek out simple, single-use wearable devices," said Llamas.IDC is projecting that sales of wearables will climb up to about 126.1 million units shipped by 2019, so there's plenty of room and opportunity for Casio to hit that $80 million mark with its smartwatch.
A read from Japan tech site..http://akihabaranews.com/2016/01/17...-f10-exclusive-hands-video-gallery-1603166279CASIO Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10 Exclusive Hands-On (VIDEO; GALLERY)Exclusive Access is Exclusive!Location, location, location! As has long been the AkihabaraNews advantage, we are boots on the ground: based in and operating from Tokyo for over 13 years. Probably like...95% of the press conferences and product launches we attend are a sea of Japanese journalists surrounding our tiny island of foreign reporters, and that’s always been our edge. Of course, online tech reporting has changed drastically in recent years, and really anyone on planet earth with internet access can “scoop” a new Japanese product launch.That being said, and even though CASIO unveiled their new Android Wear-powered smartwatch at CES, no other foreign language media outlet can get the kind of one-on-one, hands-on demo from a project engineer that AkihabaraNews received last week at CASIO’s Tokyo headquarters. Here’s what we learned:Why is CASIO Launching a Smartwatch Now?Consumers (and tech writers) are easily excited by flashy new products that do flashy new things, which is often justified. The thing about smartwatches that many are reluctant to admit, however, is that while they’re wholly unprecedented technological marvels, they’re also solutions in need of of a problem - a problem that their necessary accessory, the smartphone, can’t already solve.[RELATED]On CASIO and the Apple WatchCASIO was of course hip to that fact, so even with 40+ years of semi-smart-watchmaking experience (e.g., 1983's Databank CD-40 calculator watch, and 1999's GPS-enabled PRO TREK SATELLITE NAVI, among many others), and even with a chorus of tech writers and market specialists egging them on and publicly wondering why one of the world's techiest watchmakers hadn't entered the fray, they felt it was best to wait.More plainly, rather than jump on the bandwagon and push out a product with no clear purpose, which they easily could have done, CASIO felt it vital to offer a device with clear, well-defined utility that would appeal to and actually serve a well-defined consumer base. Well, they've found their angle, the wait is over, and we've finally met the CASIO WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch.Inline Gallery BelowPushing Hard Toward the OutdoorsCASIO’s first proper smartwatch of course has access to all Android Wear apps and does what any other like device on the market can do. What prominently sets this watch apart is the built-in, specialized functionality delivered by an array of environmental sensors and custom apps, coupled with a rugged durability unique among such devices. Users aren’t expected to be careful and cautious - in fact, CASIO’s created (what is, we’re pretty sure) the world’s first smartwatch built to U.S. Military MIL-STD-810 survivability standards. Even the mic, nestled just below the face and above the band, is waterproof to 50m.I ruined my first Fitbit in the water, and one thing about Japan, they like waterproof devices.For those who know CASIO, this makes perfect sense. Though outdoor gear has long been a focus, as we saw last month with the launch of the EX-FR100 Outdoor Recorder (an action cam this watch can control - see below) and earlier this year with a fishing trip/media junket centered around the PRO TREK 3500 watch, CASIO seems to be doubling-down on the take-your-tech-outside marketing line. With a feature set that really only distinguishes itself from the competition when users get up and get out of the house, the Smart Outdoor Watch lands comfortably in that evolution. Here’s how:TOOLSCASIO’s identified a set of environmental variables universally important to outdoor enthusiasts, and to display that information in real-time, one simply taps the dedicated “TOOL” button (nice when wearing gloves). These can be reordered and selectively included.This baseline of functionality, drawing from both watch sensors and smartphone connectivity, clearly goes far beyond CASIO’s long-running G-SHOCK and PRO TREK outdoor-use watch lines, but it also goes far beyond what any other smartwatch can do right out of the box.ACTIVITYFurther focusing the Smart Outdoor Watch’s specialized feature set, CASIO’s created three “ACTIVITY” apps that collate and analyze measurements to generate continuously updating displays specifically relevant to the following outdoor pursuits:Quick Video Details: Trekking • Cycling • Fishing
the restMOMENT SETTERComplementing the ACTIVITY apps, CASIO also developed a dedicated app that reminds users to take specific action while immersed in the above ACTIVITYs, e.g., if you’ve been biking or hiking for a good solid hour, MOMENT SETTER can remind you to stop and hydrate, go home before sunset, or in the case of barometric pressure, fish harder!One technically could use any number of smartwatch/app combinations from the Android or watchOS stable to analyze and track outdoor activities, but if you dropped your ZenWatch in the mud from a decent height or cycled a few hours through a healthy rainstorm with your Apple Watch, you’d quite likely brick one expensive piece of tech. Resistance to the elements coupled with a difficult to bruise design makes it clear that survivability is the Smart Outdoor Watch’s killer feature.Custom FacesThe Smart Outdoor Watch also ships with set of proprietary, customizable CASIO watch faces capable of displaying current environmental conditions (or not - you can mix and match), dual-time, calendar, altitude, etc.Dual DisplaysFor those considering a smartwatch buy, second only to defining its fundamental utility are concerns about limited battery life. CASIO’s offering will get you about 24 hours under normal use conditions, but there is also a simple Timepiece mode, powered by a discrete monochrome layer, that will continually display a high-contrast watch face for up to a month; mixing it up will likely extend time between charges.In Sum, and the Bigger Future Picture (we’re hoping for)While CASIO’s aiming at a niche consumer base, to the point about articulating a meaningful reason to own a smartwatch, that niche consumer base unambiguously exists, and is sizeable at that. On the other hand, while this is a handsome device for its intended purpose, unless outdoor-chic is your thing it’s not exactly a dainty fashion piece. With large enough wrists, one probably could pull of professionalism with the black model, but it’s still rugged-looking and bulky by smartwatch standards (though well within the traditional CASIO size statement).As for wearability, we had less than an hour with the Smart Outdoor Watch, but in that time it felt...good. As points of comparison, their business-focused, all metal EDIFICE EQB-500 weighs in at 199g, the burlyGPW-1000flagship G-SHOCK weighs in at a healthy 126g, and surprisingly, the Smart Outdoor Watch is comparably light at only 93g. Also, though it pretty much goes without saying when we’re talking CASIO watches, the band made for a comfortable wear, with just the right balance of stiffness and flexibility.Naturally, we’re hoping for more models. CASIO does make techy fashion watches that are useful in novel ways yet still professional and fashionable. There are plenty of G-SHOCK models that can match a business suit, and CASIO’s semi-smart, Bluetooth- and app-enabled EDIFICE line is designed specifically to do just that. For now, CASIO isn’t saying anything public about projects beyond the inaugural outdoor focus, but there’s a strong likelihood that’ll happen. With what is a globally recognized, tech-driven watchmaking legacy, we’d guess that consumers concerned less about the outdoor stuff and more about smartwatching for smartwatching’s sake would appreciate something more mainstream. We’d love to see smart versions of these:CASIO G-SHOCK GPW-1000 and EDIFICE EQB-500 Finally, Our One-Item Feature Wish List:We were very impressed by the Smart Outdoor Watch’s seamless ability to connect and control CASIO’s EX-FR100 Outdoor Recorder, but for now, it’s only that camera. We really hope they extend this functionality to all their Bluetooth/Wi-Fi compatible cameras, and perhaps even cameras from other makers. It’s a great selling point, and everyone we’ve shared this photo with totally lit up at the possibility:Unaltered photo - it really does that!Okay, that’s it for now. We want to thank to Mr. Imamura and Ms. Matsumura at CASIO for taking the time to give AkihabaraNews a personal hands-on with the Smart Outdoor Watch. We anticipate publishing a full review in early to mid-March - see you then!CASIO Smart Outdoor Watch Vital Specs: Water Resistance: 50 meters Environmental Durability: MIL-STD-810 U.S. military standards Touchscreen Display: 1.32-inch dual layer; 320×300px Color TFT LCD and monochrome LCD Sensors: Barometer, accelerometer, gyrometer, magnetic compass Microphone: Yes Vibrating Alerts: Yes Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1; Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) Physical Buttons: TOOL, Power, APP Battery & Charging: Lithium-ion; magnetic charging terminal; charge time approximately 2 hours Battery Life: Smartwatch mode under normal use: more than 1 day (varies); Timepiece mode: more than 1 month (varies) Size: H 61.7h × W 56.4 × D1 5.7mm Weight: 93g (including watchband) OS: Android Wear Smartphone Requirements: Android 4.3 or later; iPhone 5 or later running iOS 8.2 or later (some features limited) 2016 Release: March in Japan; April in the U.S. Price: ~¥70,000 in Japan; ~$500.00 in the U.S. - See more at: http://akihabaranews.com/2016/01/17...video-gallery-1603166279#sthash.xx4XiaAn.dpufCasio has a difference device here, very nice, they will have many adjacent items where QUIK might also be useful. THis will be fun to track along. We want to be in their next 6 more items...they will move into the IoT also.
http://world.casio.com/ces/en/On the popularity chart, Casio’s G-Shock models became very popular and they saw huge sales in 1990s. After the sales picked up in mid 1990s, almost hundreds of models or more were released every year for several years from 1997 onwards. They carried the tag “Triple Ten”; that means 10 year battery life, 10 bar water resistance, and 10 meter fall survival. Now that concept made G-Shock’s entry into several segments of people with tough job assignments such as police, fireman, diver, astronaut, mountaineer, soldier, and so on. There were particular G-Shock models classified for NASA space travel.The fist G-Shock model was DW-5000 launched in 1983 and since then 1000s of G-Shock models were introduced in the market. Going by tech quotient, GWS-900 was launched in 2004 which had contactless IC chip for making payments. Bluetooth notification was introduced in G-Shock models in 2011 and after a few years Gear STB-1000 was released which could connect with fitness apps on iPhone. You can imagine, with iPhone it can have other notifications as well. It can last two years on a single battery and has 100 meter water resistance. It connects with Wahoo fitness app which can pair with a heart rate monitor. Wow! It has features which a smartwatch, by today’s definition should have. So, that makes a wealth of experience for Casio to jump into the fray for next generation smartwatch!Casio is preparing to launch its first true smartwatch by 1st quarter of the coming year, i.e. 2016. According to Kazuhiro Kashio, the present president of Casio company (previous president being his father Kazuo Kashio and his late uncle Toshio Kashio as co-founder) the smartwatch they bring will be a watch that tries to be smart, rather than a smart device that is also a watch. Clearly this statement reflects the sentiments expressed in my last article “Smartwatch – A Tough Puzzle to Crack” where the primary consideration was sought to be on the watch rather than the technology. The technology is essential, but that should act as a good support vehicle to realize the functions which a smartwatch should have; it shouldn’t overwhelm the watch itself. Hope Casio defines the smart functions which the smartwatch users will love and nourish for many years. For now, we hear Kashio commenting on the basic features that a smartwatch should possess, e.g. durability, simplicity, light weight, right size and shape, comfort, appearance, feel good factor etc.Casio is working on the smartwatch since about four years and have experimented through several prototypes. Kashio says his smartwatch will have great functions as well as great appearance that will target sportsmen as well as people in other walks of life. The smartwatch will not compete on price point but on features, appearance and what a smartwatch should have. Its price is expected to be in the range of $350-$400 and will compete with Apple watch.Being realistic and having read the pulse of people over the years, Kashio is conservative on the smartwatch sales. He is not expecting an instant success in the smartwatch market, but is determined to grow it in the long run.
using Casio as a mental model for the text...We signed a SenseMe agreement with Casio last quarter, and we havefour additional SenseMependingagreements with very large and well-recognized OEMs. Out of this total of five, we believe three have thepotential to also becomeSensor Processing Platformcustomersthis yearMore names...........very large and well-recognized OEMs..Four more namesWho wants to pick them?New Balance, Someone in Korea, Another name in Japan, A China name?So New Balance, LG or iRiver, Sony, Xiaomi- just as a mental model- pick your own-certainly there could be some BIGGER names on this list than the placeholders I put in the blanks.Anyway just these names can spread the geography and the dependance on any ONE thing and as others have already said.In the past we have been burned because we were counting on one or at most 2 things happening.The work on the adjacent possible suggests that this nice expansion will lead to the next room for many of these players and that setsthe table for the S4, IoT, etc.Many regulars here will use these next 12 months to sort out QUIK to get out at a modest profit or at least a return of their invested capital.Or hold is as a seat in the sensor fusion, machine learning investment of the coming years.One thing I can tell you for sure- its is very,very hard to find investments here. Nice opportunities many are private, get taken out, already priced for the opportunity.So it's not that I can take my QUIK $$ and plunk them somewhere else for the same ride.
