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Apple's Beddit Sleep Tracking Company Now Offering Beta for Testing New Features

Monday June 17, 2019 2:01 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple-owned Beddit recently launched a new beta testing program that's designed to allow those who own the new Beddit 3.5 device released in December to test new and upcoming features.

In a new "Beta Program" section of the Beddit website (via 9to5Mac), Beddit says it is launching a new customer beta program that will let customers contribute to "making the product even better."

Through the Beddit Beta Program, you will have early access to new versions of the Beddit app before the general public. Participants will share valuable feedback with Apple Inc. ("Apple") such as app use, app settings, sleep results, and other diagnostic information. We may also request additional feedback through surveys. More information about how this data will be shared with Apple will be explained in an informed consent form that you must complete before starting the program.
The beta program will provide early access to new versions of the Beddit app prior to when those updates are released. No specific details on what features might be tested were included.

Participants must own a Beddit Sleep Monitor (version 3.5), must be located in the United States and using Beddit only in the United States, and need to be at least 22 years old but not over 75 years old.

Participants must also agree to receive email communications from Apple "from time to time" about the Beddit Beta Program.

Beddit 3.5 owners can sign up for the beta on the website by clicking on the "Enroll Now" button to send an email to the Beddit support staff.

Apple released the updated Beddit 3.5 back in December. The new model received some criticism for doing away with features like an ambiguous "sleep score," but in our review, we found it to be much more accurate than the Beddit 3 sleep monitor.

The Beddit 3.5 marked the first new version of the device since Apple's 2017 acquisition of the company. It's not clear what Apple is doing with sleep data collected from the Beddit, but it could be used for developing a future sleep-related Apple product, such as sleep tracking capabilities for Apple Watch.

[ 31 comments ]

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SpeedyTomato
21 weeks ago

Only an idiot would buy something like this. There is no benefit whatsoever to this nonsense of a fantasy market. I mean honestly. What is the point? You can’t sleep? Get a proper diet and exercise regiment.
I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.


When I see responses like this that are this categorically negative without any attempt to make your claim, I would normally pass you off as being a troll. But since you genuinely can't seem to see the world beyond yourself, let me explain why I am looking forward to something like this.
- Despite being in good shape with respect to weight, I have sleep apnea. I regularly track my O2 levels every night as I use my CPAP.
- My sleep apnea has caused heart issues, so tracking my heart rate while I sleep is an important metric.
- How much I move at night gives additional feedback that I use with the other (above) data to help me and my doctor make decisions.

Now, you can go back to your self-centered world while the rest of us rejoice when something useful comes out.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
entropys
21 weeks ago

Only an idiot would buy something like this. There is no benefit whatsoever to this nonsense of a fantasy market. I mean honestly. What is the point? You can’t sleep? Get a proper diet and exercise regiment.
I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.

Well to be fair, it is only a monitor. So it would tell you if all your diet and exercise regimes are making a difference. Or if a sleep apnea machine is making a difference.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
e-coli
21 weeks ago
[doublepost=1560857257][/doublepost]

I used a FitBit for a while to track my sleep and it actually helped improve my sleep.

The main reason was similar to the reason I use the Apple Watch to remind me of how many minutes of exercise and motion I make each day. So I'd set a goal to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.

I learned two things from it.

First, I wasn't getting nearly as many quality hours of sleep I should, even on nights I got to bed early. I could see exactly how long each sleep period was before tossing and turning, and how long I tossed and turned before starting another quality sleep cycle.

Second, I noticed a pattern to my sleep quality. On my BEST nights, I had a bathroom break in the first half of the night, and on the BAD nights I didn't go at all... or stayed in bed longer before using the bathroom.

This information made it clear to me that whenever I resisted the urge to get out of bed and use the bathroom, I would toss and turn more than normal, so even though I may be tired, it is better for me to hit the bathroom and enjoy the rest of the night in comfort.

I could've figured it out without the device, but the tracking made this pattern so much easier to recognize.


Only an idiot would buy something like this. There is no benefit whatsoever to this nonsense of a fantasy market. I mean honestly. What is the point? You can’t sleep? Get a proper diet and exercise regiment.
I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.


I have a Beddit and it helped me diagnose a chronic sleep issue, as well as helped me identify the cause. To the OP about exercise…turns out exercise was actually, in part, causing my sleep problems. So was drinking water after 10 PM.

Health trackers are good if you know how to use them. I find Beddit extremely helpful. And believe it or not, grasshopper, you won’t be in your 20’s or 30’s forever. Things change.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Mr. Donahue
21 weeks ago
Only an idiot would buy something like this. There is no benefit whatsoever to this nonsense of a fantasy market. I mean honestly. What is the point? You can’t sleep? Get a proper diet and exercise regiment.
I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
Cavepainter
21 weeks ago

Only an idiot would buy something like this. There is no benefit whatsoever to this nonsense of a fantasy market. I mean honestly. What is the point? You can’t sleep? Get a proper diet and exercise regiment.
I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.



Both my parents have memory issues as is very common with the elderly- dad was having various problems and felt awful, so at the Mayo Clinic the first thing they did was have him do an overnight sleep study at the clinic where they monitored his sleep patterns. They found out he was waking up over 75 times each night (!) That led to him getting a sleep apnea machine so he could actually get some REAL sleep for the first time in years. (Thank you, Mayo Clinic!!)

Many elderly may have issues with sleep patterns BUT they also have memory issues- so they cant really honestly answer any questions a doctor (or a caregiver) may have about their sleep. I could see this as a very helpful medical diagnostic product.

I don't understand why they sell alot of things that I don't use......... but that doesn't mean the product is absurd. It just means you're not the market for this product.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
shyam09
21 weeks ago

Only an idiot would buy something like this. There is no benefit whatsoever to this nonsense of a fantasy market. I mean honestly. What is the point? You can’t sleep? Get a proper diet and exercise regiment.
I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.

I think we're at the point in technological innovation where the ease of access to health-related information and data is just interesting to look at and analyze.

One can argue the same applies to the Apple Watch or the Health app (ie. whatever tracking Apple does via the iPhone) or the many multitudes of health devices on the market. We don't need any of that to judge our physical health because proper diet and exercise are really all we need. However, I wouldn't classify someone to be an idiot simply because they bought this simply because you don't see any value.

I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.

Ignorance is bliss ... I guess?
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
CouponPages
21 weeks ago

Only an idiot would buy something like this. There is no benefit whatsoever to this nonsense of a fantasy market. I mean honestly. What is the point? You can’t sleep? Get a proper diet and exercise regiment.
I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.


I used a FitBit for a while to track my sleep and it actually helped improve my sleep.

The main reason was similar to the reason I use the Apple Watch to remind me of how many minutes of exercise and motion I make each day. So I'd set a goal to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.

I learned two things from it.

First, I wasn't getting nearly as many quality hours of sleep I should, even on nights I got to bed early. I could see exactly how long each sleep period was before tossing and turning, and how long I tossed and turned before starting another quality sleep cycle.

Second, I noticed a pattern to my sleep quality. On my BEST nights, I had a bathroom break in the first half of the night, and on the BAD nights I didn't go at all... or stayed in bed longer before using the bathroom.

This information made it clear to me that whenever I resisted the urge to get out of bed and use the bathroom, I would toss and turn more than normal, so even though I may be tired, it is better for me to hit the bathroom and enjoy the rest of the night in comfort.

I could've figured it out without the device, but the tracking made this pattern so much easier to recognize.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
DoctorTech
21 weeks ago

Only an idiot would buy something like this. There is no benefit whatsoever to this nonsense of a fantasy market. I mean honestly. What is the point? You can’t sleep? Get a proper diet and exercise regiment.
I just don’t understand the push for this stuff. I truly don’t. I hope I never do. It sounds so pointless and absurd to me.

You could say the same thing for a pair of bathroom scales. If a person is overweight they can probably tell by looking in the mirror so what is the point of the scales? Then there are scales that not only tell you your weight but they also measure / estimate your body mass index.

Some people find this information useful for assessing and monitoring their health. The scales and the sleep monitor are both just tools for people who want to quantify / track their weight and sleep (there just happens to be a lot more people who see the value in quantifying their weight than their sleep). I like the analogy another person posted above about the activity rings on an Apple Watch - they are a tool to help you understand your habits better and encourage you to improve.
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I've been really curious why Apple acquired this company. The Beddit hardware is destined to be made obsolete by an Apple Watch with a longer battery life that allows it to be worn during sleep and the software analysis isn't all that great when compared to other companies like Withings.

I think that this finally answers that. They've kept the company "independent" and don't have any interest to have it known as an Apple brand nor do they promote it. However, collecting sleep data from an apparent third party company makes sense. Apple gets to build up its sleep knowledge from a niche product whose research can then be applied to Apple Watch.

My bet: Apple collects a couple of years of data, builds sleep tracking into the Watch and then kills Beddit. It'll have served its purpose.

That is a great observation. The same question had crossed my mind and I think you nailed it.
Rating: 2 Votes
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oliversl
21 weeks ago
Is this the solution for having the charge the Apple Watch every night?
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
CouponPages
21 weeks ago

[doublepost=1560857257][/doublepost]



I have a Beddit and it helped me diagnose a chronic sleep issue, as well as helped me identify the cause. To the OP about exercise…turns out exercise was actually, in part, causing my sleep problems. So was drinking water after 10 PM.

Health trackers are good if you know how to use them. I find Beddit extremely helpful. And believe it or not, grasshopper, you won’t be in your 20’s or 30’s forever. Things change.


If you think about it, before health tracking systems like this became available for consumers the only way to get diagnose sleep problems was to spend at least a few nights in a hospital setting.
Rating: 1 Votes

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