Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
Divorce, Maintenance, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence
I have written about Fitbit before, and its share price continues to go down. The problem for Fitbit is that the devices themselves, tracking one’s walking and activities, compete with so many other devices. At the exact same time that Fitbit sales are going down, predictably the sales of the Apple watch are going up. More and more phones, devices, etc all include these features and as a result companies that compete with the phones end up getting hammered. We have seen it with companies producing cameras that have largely been hit hard by the increased power of our phones and we have seen it in heart rate monitors and activity trackers. Personally, I think all of these companies are fairly easy to have bet against – in other words, to have predicted that their shares would go down and take a bet on that basis – just as it was obvious that there are not that many people that don’t have a GoPro already, or two as in my case, both of which struggle to work.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Monday 09-Apr-18
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Comments
Cornelie said:
on Wednesday 09-May-18 09:21 AM
I'm not really technology advanced and would not ware something like the fitbit or the Apple watch it is interesting to see how many steps you take a day.
Joyce said:
on Monday 07-May-18 11:15 AM
I think companies competing with phones are facing a real problem as it sounds like phone companies always win.
Sharne said:
on Monday 07-May-18 08:45 AM
I would definitely not get one because I already have a phone that helps me with everything.
Jolene said:
on Friday 04-May-18 04:28 PM
Fitbit was very popular when it first came out but like you said there is too many other devices that can do exactly the same or even more. I’m not interested to get a Fitbit anymore.
Helen said:
on Friday 04-May-18 11:59 AM
I would like to have watch like this, waiting for the price to come down even more though. When my husband thinks completely different, it is just waist of money to have such as expensive watch to know the heart rate!
Liz said:
on Friday 04-May-18 08:39 AM
I do not own a watch as I feel that I can track and access everything I want to on my phone. However, one does not take your phone everywhere with you and sometimes the information can be inaccurate.
Prishani said:
on Thursday 03-May-18 04:57 PM
The market in terms of fitness tech products is growing fast, and it is difficult for companies to keep up! Consumers are going to always go for what’s more convenient and what bests suits their lifestyle if they can get a product that can do it all, they will very seldom stay loyal to a brand.
Sinead said:
on Thursday 03-May-18 10:25 AM
There are so many different fitness bands today and there is no doubt in my mind that Apple is probably selling the most right now because of their target market as well as their marketing skills... Apple users tend to want all the fancy gadgets and sometimes I feel like it's just too pretentious.
I have a cheapy and it does all the things I need it to - tracks steps, counts calories, it has a heart rate monitor, I can sleep with it and I can swim and shower with it
Natasha said:
on Monday 23-Apr-18 09:37 AM
They should have known that its not going to be the only app that will have all those features, as well as their sales will go down
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Monday 23-Apr-18 07:59 AM
I don't have a watch But my phone tells me everything. Like most things, it comes and goes
Michelle said:
on Friday 20-Apr-18 07:59 AM
I do have to agree at the moment too many devices can do exactly what Fitbit stands for. I think to give it a few years; the Fitbit Company or device will come back with a bang. The company were too eager to present it to the world.
Jadine E said:
on Thursday 19-Apr-18 07:28 AM
It is much more convenient for a smartphone to have all the features that what the work of a fitbit does and that's why people have become more and more reliable on their cellphones to keep record of such.
Alexis said:
on Wednesday 18-Apr-18 02:03 PM
It is one of those products that will lose its intrigue quite quickly. There are many options out there to assist with such a requirement. A Fitbit is convenient however, as you do not have to carry something around. i also find it very fascinating that you need something to tell you what you already know, and in the end you do not even pay attention and carry on with it - I mean I have one, and i know I should be walking 250 steps every hour on the hour, but then you get busy, and what if you get questioned...
Tamaryn said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 01:41 PM
From a business perspective, I would never be interested in a product or a service which a smart phone can offer, now or in the future. Having everything on one device is less chaotic. The only downside is the battery usage, or if you happen to lose the phone. I am sure the sale of GPS's has also gone done substantially since smart phones.
Zindy said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 10:27 AM
I don't have a watch but my phone does something similar don't know how accurate but also tells me how many steps you take ect but of course only when you have it with you. Hit a record walking through the mall the other day lol. Tells you how many calories your burn ect, Would like to get one so it can be more accurate on your every move during day.
Ashleigh said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 09:58 AM
I would not buy these things because it really doesn't bother me how much steps I take a day. I gym now and just knowing that I am doing some sort of fitness is good enough for me.
Thabitha said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 08:33 AM
They wont survive because of the technology of the new phones it is hard to keep up with Appel.
Jadine Richards said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 08:17 AM
Phone companies really do have the advantage here. A phone is something you need to have whereas a fitbit for example is just an optional extra. I have never considered buying a camera but rather a phone with a better camera.
Mathilda Du Preez said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 07:46 AM
I was interested in getting a Fitbit when it came out as I love to exercise and would like to know when my heart rate reaches the peak of burning more calories (HIIT training)
But then the Huawei fit watch came out and I’m so happy I rather bought that than the Fitbit, it also shows how many steps you took and how many calories you burn and your heart rate
You can load all you workouts on there and it is like a personal trainer that motivates you the battery lasts at least 2 to 3 days and I use it every day when working out it also gets my messages, very similar to what your phone already has
Tersia said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 07:32 AM
I have a Fitbit watch and I still like my watch very much. For me to get an apple watch everything else, like your phone, must be Apple as well as Apple is only limited to Apple as far as I know. Fitbit connects to any phone. As I read the comments it seems that people don't really know what a Fitbit can do. All these watches can do the same thing, the only thing that is different is that some of them can go into water, like mine can't for example, but my Fitbit also reminds me to move and I can read my messages on my watch and do workouts from it. So for me the Fitbit is not that bad.
Megan said:
on Tuesday 10-Apr-18 04:42 PM
Personally a Fitbit seems quite boring now in comparison to the Apple watch. The Fitbit is so limited where as on the Apple watches you can do so much more than track your steps and monitor your heart rate like accessing your phone and reading messages...
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Tuesday 10-Apr-18 12:49 PM
I said I would not get an Apple watch and what did I do? I got one... Mainly because of Discovery and their vitality point system which basically pays the watch off itself. I am impressed and it is motivating however now and then I do get over it. It is annoying that I have to charge it everyday and it doesn't track my sleep because I either don't wear it to sleep (it has to charge) or its uncomfortable and I have to anyway download another sleeping app for it. I use to have a fitbit but it did not work and the battery was always dying. Like most things, it comes and goes but not if your medical aid rewards you for exercising.
Michelle D said:
on Tuesday 10-Apr-18 08:16 AM
The Fitbit was indeed a fad. It was very popular when it came out but now people are rather choosing alternatives, apple watches if you want to be a bit flashier or alternative digital watches if you want something rugged and durable. Fitbit have had their time and now it is over.
Bianca R said:
on Tuesday 10-Apr-18 07:34 AM
A Fitbit was nice to have when it first came out, unfortunately now, everything basically comes standard with the same features and in some cases, even more features! I am a huge lover of the Apple watch and just think it is so much more classier and looks far better than a Fitbit. When one is looking at spending money, you would rather spend a little extra and know that you can have a fully functional stylish Apple watch instead of a few features Fitbit.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Monday 09-Apr-18 01:28 PM
Fitbit was merely a novelty when it initially came out and there have since been so many better devices. I personally have a Polar and find that it is the most accurate when it comes to swimming, cycling and running!
Daniella said:
on Monday 09-Apr-18 12:19 PM
I must say I am way more impressed with the apple watch than the Fitbit. It looks better and its way more stylish- The Fitbit is just out dated now.
Fikile said:
on Monday 09-Apr-18 12:13 PM
i don't think that they will last long cause people are keeping up with the times, mostly the is a new invention every now an again of which it will bring this 1 down without anyone being interested in it.
patrick said:
on Monday 09-Apr-18 07:31 AM
They left it until too late. They should have introduced a phone at the time when everybody was happy about them . They will be like Blackberry and become one bit wonder.
david said:
on Monday 09-Apr-18 07:28 AM
i have seen them on many people's arms, i just don't see the attraction.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
