Comments on: Reviews for Fitbit, DirectLife, Contour USB

By: A review of living with connected devices | mobihealthnews

A review of living with connected devices | mobihealthnews — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:10:13 +0000

[...] A new article from lifestyle blog Lifehacker, ‘How I Got in Shape with the Help of Technology,’ reviews multiple consumer connected health devices, including Fitbit, Withings Scale, RunKeeper and BodyMedia Fit. Writer Adam Pash combined the devices with regular exercise over an eight month period and lost ten pounds in the process. Back in 2009, the New York Times’ David Pogue and AllThingsD’s Walt Mossberg reviewed Fi… [...]

By: Hitachi’s new fitness device: Life Microscope | mobihealthnews

Hitachi’s new fitness device: Life Microscope | mobihealthnews — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:26:52 +0000

[...] to a review by the New York Times’ David Pogue, Philips’ DirectLife device is not as “cool-looking” as Fitbit: “The DirectLife, from [...]

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:32:46 +0000

I have had a fitbit for about a month. Long story short- it got broken and the folks at fitbit have been so good to take care of it- no questions asked.

I have been really impressed by their customer service and warranty. I really love my fitbit and think the information it gives me is really useful.

I am so impressed that they replaced my Fitbit so quickly. And who says customer service is dead? Not at fitbit- they were great!

By: Glenda

Glenda — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:54:33 +0000

DirectLife is working just fine for me. My coach responds in a reasonable length of time: Remember that the coach is an actual person, not an automated messaging device. I’ve finished my first 12-week plan, and managed to increase my activity level by 200 calories during that time.
I love the happy dance that the lights perform when I hit my goal for the day!
My only suggestion to users is that the only way to get real credit for being on an elliptical is to put the device in a wristband. The necklace and waistband positions just didn’t pick up the activity at all, and even using the bicycling suggestion (put it in your sock) didn’t help with the elliptical.

By: rusty Martin

rusty Martin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:37:57 +0000

DirectLife largely useless without membership. Phillips knows it and hides that fact from users.

Now that I want to end the “membership,” I learn that without the membership, you can’t change your goal and you lose the ability to do more than see how many calories you burned on that day and the day before.

While I like the monitor and the web site, and would have recommended it to others, I’m very disappointed the fact that Phillips largely disables the device if you don’t buy the membership. In my case, the “coaching” was no great shakes and certainly not worth $150 a year.

Unlike its competitors, Phillips has attached an expensive “gotcha” to this product. They “got” me. I hope they don’t get you.

By: Broadcom Bets on New Bluetooth Tech for Mobile Health – GigaOM

Broadcom Bets on New Bluetooth Tech for Mobile Health – GigaOM — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:01:29 +0000

[...] we’re already seeing gadgets like Fitbit (see disclosure below), DirectLife and Contour USB that help users monitor their health wirelessly. BLE is an alternative to ANT, which is a [...]

By: Cleopara

Cleopara — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:32:11 +0000

I’m having problems reaching them as well. I’ve left several emails, still no response. I wish I had read all this before I purchased it.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:16:27 +0000

Beware. DirectLife price is 4xmonthly subscription + additional amount. 4 months get counted down from even before you receive the device and start the one week initial calibration. If you do not continue to pay the data storage and graphing facilities are withdrawn and the only use of the device is the small green light display.

By: CES: Topol demos GE’s ultrasound device, Vscan | mobihealthnews

CES: Topol demos GE’s ultrasound device, Vscan | mobihealthnews — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:39:34 +0000

[...] talk included mentions of a half dozen different wireless health devices including FitBit, Zeo, DirectLife, Corventis’ PiiX sensor and AirStripOB’s smartphone application, but [...]

By: Butch Crain

Butch Crain — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:41:42 +0000

I’m afraid the directlife device may be a ripoff.

Plugged the monitor to my computer yesterday to get some feedback – nothing.

Emailed Philips 3 times – no response. So much for personal coaching.