MacRumors

Health monitoring products have recently seen a huge surge in popularity, with offerings like the Jawbone UP and the Nike Fuelband bringing consumer awareness to the connected devices.

Several different companies debuted new wearable fitness tracking devices at CES this year, including Fitbit, Fitbug, Withings, and BodyMedia.

Fitbit Flex

Fitbit, known for its tiny clip-on Fitbit One, announced the Fitbit Flex, which is a wristband that is similar in design to the Jawbone UP.

Like the Fitbit One, The waterproof Flex automatically counts calories burned, distance walked, and steps taken. It can also be used to record food intake and sleep quality, via an app.

Data is sent to a personalized website using Bluetooth Smart, and the band lasts between five and seven days on a single charge. The Flex will be available in Spring 2013 for $100.

Fitbug Orb

Fitbug (via Engadget) is a UK-based company that just debuted its new Fitbug Orb, a small, button-sized activity monitor.

The Orb measures steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and sleep quality. Like other offerings, the Orb allows for food recording. The Orb is designed to be worn in different accessories, like a belt clip, lanyard, fitness band, or sleep pouch.

Though the Orb has no display, it does use Bluetooth Smart to connect to the iPhone or the iPad. Fitbug's Orb will be available in Spring 2013 for $50.

Withings Smart Activity Tracker

Withings Smart Activity Tracker is a small, clip-on health monitor that is similar in design to the Fitbit One. It measures sleep quality, food intake, movement, and pulse rate, with a touch-sensitive front and a heart rate sensor in the back.

The Activity Tracker also uses Bluetooth Smart to connect to Withings' Health Mate app, and it comes with an estimated two week battery life. Withings Smart Activity Tracker is due before the end of March, and while no retail price has been announced, Withings says that the pricing will be in line with competing products.

BodyMedia CORE 2

BodyMedia CORE 2 is the second iteration of BodyMedia's popular health and fitness tracking band. Like the prior version, the Core 2 captures 5,000 data points per minute, measuring calories burned, exercise intensity, and sleep patterns. It has a three-axis accelerometer in addition to heat flux and galvanic skin response sensors.

The quarter-sized device is designed to fit into a range of fashion-oriented interchangeable straps and cuffs, and connects to BodyMedia's existing apps and web portal using Bluetooth Smart.

The BodyMedia CORE 2 will launch in August of 2013, with additional faceplates, straps, and cuffs coming at a later date. Pricing information is not yet available.

Griffin and ShopKeep POS have partnered up on a new iPad stand with integrated credit card reader, designed to be a physical point of sale terminal for retail stores.

The stand will be available only to ShopKeep POS customers beginning this quarter.

Durability and secure credit card transactions are often the main concerns merchants have for their POS system. Griffin's Kiosk Retail addresses these pain points with an integrated magnetic card reader and impact-resistant housing for the iPad. For secure transactions, the built-in magnetic card reader is TDES encrypted and has DUKPT key management, similar to the current MagTek® swiper that ShopKeep POS offers.

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"We researched many POS companies before selecting ShopKeep POS as an exclusive launch partner for the Kiosk Retail in the United States," said Dean Shortland , Director of Business Development at Griffin Technology. "We are devoted to creating intuitively designed solutions that enhance user experience and the simple and powerful solutions that ShopKeep POS offers to small businesses fit well with our company focus. Plus, with over 3,500 merchants across the country, they are the leading iPad POS company in the US, and we are looking to scale our solution quickly."

The press release does not share details about pricing or how the stand actually connects to the iPad, whether through Lightning/30-Pin ports, or via the headphone jack like Square's more portable card reader does.

Griffin yesterday announced (via Engadget) the forthcoming launch of its PowerDock 5, a $99.99 charging station that organizes up to five iOS devices in the space otherwise taken up by one iPad laid flat.

PowerDock 5 is the ultimate space-saving, countertop charging and storage solution for up to 5 iPads. Designed for convenience and efficiency, PowerDock 5 contains five charging bays large enough to accommodate an iPad encased in even the largest of cases, including Griffin's own Survivor case. When not in use, PowerDock 5 keeps all the users' device cables tucked away and organized, ready for use at any time.

The PowerDock 5 will launch later this spring.

Griffin is also introducing several other charging accessories at CES, including the PowerBlock wall charger ($29.99) and PowerJolt car charger ($24.99). Both devices include Griffin's new "ChargeSensor" technology that automatically senses a device's power profile and charges the device accordingly.

All mobile devices have specific charging profiles that dictate how much, and how quickly, they can charge. Most chargers are designed with a one-size-fits-all approach which typically does not support the requirements of each individual device. Griffin's new ChargeSensor technology senses the requirements of any device plugged into it, providing optimal charging for all USB-chargeable devices.

Both the PowerBlock and PowerJolt will also be launching in the spring.

Adding to its extensive line of iOS device docks and accessories, Philips today announced a slew of new devices that take advantage of iOS apps. The first set of accessories includes security monitors that allow users to control their cameras via their iOS device.

Philips In.Sight

Available for both Apple and Android, Philips In.Sight (M100D) is designed to give you added security. The camera monitor allows you to see what is happening in your home directly through your smartphone or tablet wherever you are via 3G, 4G LTE, Edge or Wi-Fi networks. An app notification will immediately alert you to any movements or noise in your house and then make a video recording of the event, which is then automatically uploaded to your free Dropbox account, so you can view any activity immediately, privately and securely. Or, if you want to keep an eye on children or a pet, simply tap on your screen for real-time viewing.

Philips In.Sight Baby Monitor

To keep you close to your baby at all times Philips has developed the In.Sight Baby Monitor (B120). A 2013 CEA Innovations Award winner, the B120 is it is the ideal nursery accessory as it works with the iPhone and iPad. It allows you to watch and listen to your baby from anywhere on your iPhone or iPad, making it the ultimate baby monitor for the smartphone generation.

Philips InRange

InRange works with Bluetooth 4.0, the latest in Bluetooth technology, and is compatible with the iPhone 4S and the latest iPad. Philips InRange is simple: a thin credit-card shaped leash, which measures just 3.8mm thick, is inserted into your wallet, or placed in the protective pouch that attaches onto your luggage or keys. This then connects to the app and creates an invisible leash to your phone. You can set the range of the leash – either far or close – depending on your preference, and be safe in the knowledge that your belongings are connected to you.

The apps for the InRange of products are optimized for at least iPhone 5 and iOS 6. The InSight will retail for $129.99 while an HD version will be $229.99 while the Baby Monitor will retail for $169.99. The InRange will retail for $49.99 and all of these will be available at the Apple Store this month.

Philips has also unveiled several new docks for iOS devices. The first is the TwinPlay, which allows users to split streamed video content to two people when traveling long distances. It connects to an in-car charging port and comes with two screens, either in 7 or 9 inches. The Twin Play is available now for $169.99 for the 7-inch model and $199.99 for the 9-inch model and work with 30-pin iDevices, although the iPad can't fit in the cup cradle.

In partnership with Algoriddim, the creators of hit app djay, Philips is releasing the Party Machine dock. You can hook up two iPod Touches or iPhones to turnstyle-docks and, using the djay app, you can mix the music as a DJ with traditional DJ-ing equipment would. The dock also has channel faders that allow you to fade in between the two iPods, all while built-in lights sync to the music you're playing. It's set to retail this month for $349.99 and is compatible with iPods and iPhones with 30-pin connectors. Lightning versions will be available in the future at some point.

As noted by Engadget, Lego has announced Mindstorms EV3, a new line of kid-friendly robotics designed to introduce children to building and programming robots while also attracting hobbyists and other robot enthusiasts.

The new Mindstorms system is powered by the EV3 Intelligent Brick, which features an ARM9 processor, 16MB of flash memory, 64MB of RAM, and the ability to function without the PC that previous Mindstorm systems have been dependent on. Lego has been producing Mindstorms since 1998, but the EV3 is the first version that can be programmed without a computer.

The Intelligent Brick offers full compatibility with iOS and Android devices right out of the box, and a new infrared sensor provides additional control over robots. Mindstorms EV3 also features Linux-based firmware, a USB port, and an SD expansion slot.

We are equipping today's tech‐literate generation of children with a more accessible, yet sophisticated robotics kit that meets their tech play expectations and abilities to truly unleash their potential so that they may surprise, impress and excite the world with their creativity.

At launch, the set will include building instructions for 17 robots, like "Reptar" the robotic snake that slithers and "Everstorm" the mohawk-sporting humanoid that can shoot mini spheres while it walks.

Lego has partnered with Autodesk to incorporate its first set of 3D building instructions, which will be released in the form of an iPad app.

Lego Mindstorms EV3 will be available for purchase in the summer of 2013 for $349.99.

HAPILABS HAPIfork (via The Verge) is an electronic fork that is designed to monitor eating habits with built-in Bluetooth, a capacitive sensor, and a vibration motor.

HAPIfork provides information about eating schedules and alerts users when they are eating too fast, a leading cause of weight gain, according to the manufacturer.

The fork measures each movement from fork to plate, which is recorded as a "fork serving." The fork monitors how long it takes to finish a meal, the number of fork servings eaten per minute, and the interval between each fork serving.

All of this information is uploaded through USB or Bluetooth to an online dashboard. The fork is also designed to work with the HAPILABS app to provide a coaching program that encourages better eating.

HAPIfork will retail for $99.99. The USB version will ship during the second quarter of 2013 and the Bluetooth version will ship during the third quarter of 2013.

Parrot, the company behind the iPhone-controlled AR Drone quadricoptor, has debuted its new Flower Power project at CES 2013.

The system consists of a two-pronged Bluetooth monitoring device that sticks in the soil, and an iPad app. The Verge has a rundown on how it works:

Simply place the Flower Power device — which looks like a colorful leek — in the soil near any of your plants, pair the device with your iPhone or iPad, and you can track all of your plants' needs from anywhere. Once you've paired the device with your phone or tablet, you can choose your plant from a library of about 6000 plants, and if you're not certain of your plant's name, you can search by leaf type, color, and a number of other options.

The app is updated every 15 minutes, pulling information from the device about the sunlight the plant receives, the ambient temperature, and the moisture level and fertilizer content of the soil.

When plants need attention, the app will provide push notifications, and an included graph allows for the long term tracking of plant health. According to CNET, the tongs can be moved from plant to plant and the system also works with lawns.

There is no word on a release date or pricing, but Parrot hopes to bring Flower Power to the market sometime in 2013.

Withings today announced its new Smart Activity Tracker, which is designed to measure heart rate, monitor sleep quality and food intake, and track movement.

Health monitoring devices have seen a surge in popularity of late, with offerings like the Jawbone Up, the Nike Fuelband, and the Fitbit One.

The Smart Activity Tracker, which is designed to clip to clothing or fit into a pocket much like the Fitbit One, is the first health monitor to also measure pulse rate. It has a touch-sensitive front allowing for navigation between functions and a heart rate sensor in the back that is activated when a finger is placed on it.

The tracker uses Bluetooth Smart (4.0) to sync to Withings' Health Mate app, and has an estimated two week battery life.

Withings has also introduced the next iteration of its smart scale. The Smart Body Analyzer WS–50 now tracks air quality and heart rate in addition to changes in weight and body fat.

Both products will be available at CES this week, which begins on Jan. 8 and ends on Jan. 11. The Smart Body Analyzer is expected to go on sale this quarter for $150, while the Smart Activity Tracker is due before the end of March. At this time, no pricing has been announced.

We expect many Lightning-enabled accessories to be coming from companies at CES 2013. Griffin today announced an update to their StudioConnect Audio/MIDI dock which adds a Lightning connector. They claim it to be the first music creation accessory that supports the Lightning connector.

StudioConnect gives your iPad: audio in and out, MIDI in and out, and a stereo headphone jack with its own volume control so you can monitor what's going in (or out).

The StudioConnect with Lightning will be available in the Spring of 2013 and will cost $149.