Consumer

Fitbit Force This week there's a new report about leaked details of an upcoming Fitbit device -- this is the third device that has leaked from Fitbit in recent weeks -- The Verge reports that the Fitbit Surge will cost about $250 and will offer GPS-enabled distance tracking, heart rate sensing, and call and text message notifications.

Italy-based Xmetrics raised $1.

A few weeks ago, MobiHealthNews compiled a list of 23 health and wellness apps that connect to Apple’s HealthKit platform, which feeds health and wellness data from third party devices and apps into its consumer-facing app, called Health.

According to a report in Re/Code, Apple will stop selling Fitbit products in Apple stores in the near future.

Some industry stakeholders from providers to investors to consumer device makers think something like Apple's HealthKit could be the catalyst that finally brings the patient -- and patient-generated data -- into the healthcare ecosystem in a way that electronic medical records have persistently failed to do.

Fitbit Force Details and images of two upcoming Fitbit activity tracker devices, called Charge and Charge HR, have leaked, according to a report from Gizmodo.

San Diego, California-based GreatCall, the company that makes smartphones and flip phones for seniors, has partnered with Rite Aid to distribute Great Call products in more than 4,000 Rite Aid pharmacies.

Almond Systems CEO Eswar Priyadarshan Palo Alto-based Almond Systems raised $9 million from Matrix Partners and Charles River Ventures to develop a product that helps people make healthy, personalized eating decisions.

There seems to be a pattern emerging among health and fitness devices that do well on crowdfunding platforms: Break a record with your campaign, then ship your device several months late.

Philips has unveiled a prototype system, consisting of a wearable sensor and connected software suite, to monitor patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.