Author: Matt Peskett

Quell, a developer and publisher of fitness gaming based in the UK, is leading the way in advancing the realm of fitness gaming technology. Its ‘Impact’ platform is the world’s first dedicated fitness gaming system, built from the ground-up to deliver high-impact training in immersive digital worlds. This week the firm announced the completion of a US$10m Series A funding round led by Chinese tech firm Tencent. This latest round brings Quell’s total financing to US$15.6m. The latest funding round enables Quell to upsize its launch game, Shardfall, and continue to expand its video game library. The company will also…

Australian tech firm Orbit, a prominent producer of tracking technology, has recently unveiled its latest breakthrough: Orbit Velo – a state-of-the-art bike tracker that seamlessly integrates with Apple Find My. The advanced Orbit Velo tracker is specifically engineered to offer cyclists a secure and hassle-free method of monitoring their bikes, while also helping to tackle the escalating issue of bike theft worldwide. According to a recent report by the National Bike Registry, over 1.5 million bicycles are stolen in the United States each year, with an estimated 50% of all bike thefts going unreported. Similar trends have been observed around…

Playfinity, the Norwegian sports-technology company on a mission to keep children active, has been nominated in two categories at the 2023 Sports Technology Awards #STA23. The firm’s gaming baseball (with app) are up for ‘Innovation of the Year’ and ‘Best Fitness and Participation Technology.’ They are alongside other recognised brands such as Apple Fitness+, LA Clippers and T-Mobile. These awards, presented in association with NBC Sports Next and known as the ‘Oscars’ of sports innovation, are recognised as the leading international mark of excellence for start-ups and major brands alike. This year’s finalists reflect an elite group of companies and…

Leading nutrition tracking app, Cronometer, and WHOOP, the human performance company, have partnered to provide their users with the most in-depth fitness and health monitoring available to find out how nutrition impacts strain, recovery, and sleep. Cronometer users can now import WHOOP health data such as sleep stages, recovery score, resting heart rate and skin temperature into their Cronometer account. Cronometer Gold subscribers can take advantage of Custom Charts, which will allow users to chart specific WHOOP metrics against intake of specific nutrients to identify trends associated with their diet, such as protein and Recovery. The integration launching today adds…

If meeting somebody ‘just like you’ is a requirement for a successful relationship, then US dating app ‘Lunge’ is on the right track with its gym matching service. Dating apps have long used algorithms to match users based on shared interests, personal preferences, and location. Marketing itself as ‘The dating app for meeting people only at your gym’, Lunge claims to be the first dating app to match people at the same gym OR exercise classes. A previous US app in the fitness space was launched in 2015 called ‘SWEATT’. It was supposed to be the ‘all-new dating app for the…

Garmin has today announced the ECG App¹, an FDA-cleared app for the Venu® 2 Plus smartwatch that allows users to record their heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Customers can use the ECG App to record a 30-second ECG and view their heart rhythm results immediately on the watch or, optionally, later in the Garmin Connect™ smartphone app. “The ECG App is Garmin’s first FDA-cleared smartwatch feature and we are thrilled to offer this revolutionary tool to our customers as another way to stay on top of their health,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of…

Strava, the GPS tracking subscription service used predominantly by runners and cyclists, has announced the acquisition of FATMAP – a mobile app used for planning, tracking and sharing outdoor adventures. With its cutting-edge 3D map, FATMAP allows users to plan a range of mountain activities, from hiking and biking to trail running or ski touring. Strava subscribers will gain access to the full FATMAP offering as part of the deal. The acquisition is part of Strava’s ongoing investment to provide a best-in-class digital experience for people who are striving for an active lifestyle. FATMAP has built a global proprietary 3D…

Sleepagotchi, the US firm that brings gamification to sleeping habits has raised US$3.5M in a seed funding round. The Sleepagotchi app rewards users for meeting consistent sleep goals with digital collectibles. Each morning when they wake up, users claim a digital collectible from which they can construct virtual collectible rooms. Sleepagotchi found popularity in Asia during the closed Alpha testing in mid-2022, which built an active and passionate user base in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. In November 2022, Sleepagotchi launched its closed Beta, now available on the iOS app store, with Android development ongoing. In Sleepagotchi, users enter their…

French firm Baracoda gave CES 2023 visitors a first glimpse of its ‘endless battery’ health tracker in Las Vegas today. Using patent pending BMotion energy harvesting technology, BHeart can recharge itself entirely by motion, body heat and environmental light. Integrated discreetly within bracelets and watch bands BHeart is compatible with any classic timepiece. Through the power of motion, BHeart gathers enough energy to power a range of sensors that deliver health data to a smartphone app for iOS or Android devices. Sustainable leather and high-quality and lightweight alloys have been chosen for durability and its design for use with current…

Dyson’s first air purifying headphones – the Dyson Zone™ – will now be on-sale from January 2023 in China and from March in the US, UK, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore. Prices will start from US$949 / £749. Following over a decade of air quality R&D, the Dyson Zone captures city pollution including gas, allergens and particulate matter whilst cancelling unwanted noise with advanced noise cancellation and pure, high-fidelity audio. Powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries and USB-C charging, the headphones offer 50 hours of audio-only run-time. They were engineered by teams across the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and China, with a…