The Misfit Shine is a simple, stylish activity tracker and sleep monitor that began as an ambitious Indiegogo campaign but grew into a full line of workout trackers that manage to compete in a crowded field that includes devices like the Fitbit Charge HR and Jawbone UP3. On Tuesday, Misfit announced the second generation with the Misfit Shine 2, which gets some basic upgrades and also now functions as a remote control of sorts for your life.
Like its predecessor, the Shine 2 is designed as a simple and stylish disc that can be worn with a wristband, clipped on to clothing or hung around the neck as a pendant. There's no touchscreen or other display here, except for a subtle halo of 12 lights capable of displaying over 16 million colors that Misfit claims are bright enough to be seen in direct sunlight. These new rainbow lights and vibration motor allow for text and call notifications that weren't part of the original Shine.
Some of the basic hardware upgrades in the Shine 2 include a newly added triple-axis magnetometer to complement a triple-axis accelerometer for better sleep and activity tracking. The company also says touch responsiveness, syncing with the companion mobile app and Bluetooth range have also been improved.
With so many activity trackers on the market and added competition from a growing number of smartwatches with similar functionality, the Shine 2 adds a novel remote control feature in an apparent attempt to stand out. Using the Misfit Link software, the wearable can also be used to turn on lights, control music or presentations, and even take a selfie by double-tapping the Shine 2. Some of these functions we've already seen in the budget Misfit Flash Link.
Measuring 8 mm thick, the device is waterproof to 50 m (164 ft) and will run for around six months courtesy of a coin cell battery
The Shine 2 is available in Rose Gold and Carbon Black, and can be purchased online for US$99.99. It will hit retail stores around the world next month.
Source: Misfit