Amazon announces Halo, a fitness band and app that scans your body and voice (theverge.com) 30
Amazon is getting into the health gadget market with a new fitness band and subscription service called Halo. From a report: Unlike the Apple Watch or even most basic Fitbits, the Amazon Halo band doesn't have a screen. The app that goes along with it comes with the usual set of fitness tracking features along with two innovative -- and potentially troubling -- ideas: using your camera to create 3D scans for body fat and listening for the emotion in your voice. The Halo band will cost $99.99 and the service (which is required for Halo's more advanced features) costs $3.99 per month. Amazon is launching it as an invite-only early access program today with an introductory price of $64.99 that includes six months of the service for free. The Halo service is a separate product that isn't part of Amazon Prime. The lack of a screen on the Halo band is the first indicator that Amazon is trying to carve out a niche for itself that's focused a little less on sports and exercise and a little more on lifestyle changes. Alongside cardio, sleep, body fat, and voice tone tracking, a Halo subscription will offer a suite of "labs" developed by partners. They're short challenges designed to improve your health habits -- like meditation, improving your sleep habits, or starting up basic exercise routines.
and suggests appropriate Amazon products (Score:1)
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I'm into fitness. I'm fitness whole taco right into my mouth.
Soon to be 'encouraged' for lower insurance rates (Score:2)
Like the OBDII adapter insurance companies want drivers using. It will be paired with the insurance company's 'health' app that sends body telemetry back to the insurance mothership.
Re:Soon to be 'encouraged' for lower insurance rat (Score:4, Insightful)
And mountain climbers.
And bikers in urban areas.
And people who have a temper (emotional stress shortening their lifespan don't' cha know..).
And soon, those who sit too much. Who don't do their expected exercise first thing in the morning. Who don't live however Our Exalted Overlords want us to live.
Thanks but no thanks to all this garbage.
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Poor drivers get charged higher automobile insurance rates... why shouldn't smokers and fat slobs and alcoholics get charged higher health insurance rates? Instead, we all wind up paying the price for their poor hygiene.
In my insurance plan they actually do. If I do not complete an annual exam and a series of questions each year I will be charged an additional $40 a pay period. If My wife does not also complete the "healthy steps" there will be another $40. $80 bucks every 2 weeks for non-compliance. Seems a little overreaching to me, and i'm fairly liberal.
Not just your voice... (Score:2)
But the voices of all the unwitting people around you. And if you say "hold my beer" your insurance policy is cancelled.
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I foresee a sudden spike in new pooches in the neighboring yards, all sporting some spiffy health tracking devices.
Send 3D body scans to Amazon? (Score:3)
Which users trusts Amazon with a picture of themselves in their underwear?
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Queue Jeff Bezos jokes here
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Monthly service fee (Score:2)
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Thanks Alex (Score:1)
sounds kinda like that Halo bracelet in Continuum. Nothing good came of that :)
Another original, imaginative product name. (Score:1)
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At least if "HALO" stood for something like "Hand and Lotion Orgasm". But no.
A HALO is a circle.. that angels wear. And angels protect us. Therefore your amazon electronic device should be seen as an angel watching over you.
Guessing that's why, but no idea.
not a celestial super-weapon (Score:2)
I'm surprised they didn't get into a trademark spat with Microsoft. I wonder if it integrates with Cortana?
And it comes with Prime PLUS! (Score:2)
Because of the body sensors it has so much insight, that you'll get your new hairdryer delivered 24 hours before you wanted to order it, in this specific case even before the old dryer died.
i predict this will fail (Score:2)
other fitness bands are better and cheaper and don't have a monthly fee. Nice try, Amazon.
Even MORE surveillance! (Score:2)
Halo name? (Score:2)
Doesn't MS own that name? How is Amazon allowed to use that name?
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Well, originally the military "owned" that name. Which is afaik where the game got it from.
You are being watched and listened to and ... (Score:2)
... now measured, in 3D.
We all though that the surveillance state, run by governments, would reach these levels.
Instead, as with advancements in Space flight, it is mega-corporations who are the ones doing it, under the guise of selling you a service.
So now, someone with a 'smart' device like Alexa, that could so easily be used to 'listen in' without permission, can also have even more of their privacy invaded, by having a 3D body scan - and their emotions recorded.
What the actual Fuck?
This is madness we ar
Familiar (Score:1)
No invite for me (Score:2)
I checked to see if I got an invite since I bought a Xiaomi from them a few years ago. I'm a bit surprised Amazon doesn't think I would go for it, or maybe they figure I'll buy the full-price version though.
The monthly fee is the real deal-killer. Mine sort of has a periodic fee. The bands wear out once or twice a year and I have to buy new ones before it falls off my wrist. They're cheap though.
I'm not worried about fat so I just wouldn't use that feature or maybe I would take a picture of my cat. The