iOS devices that make little sense

Well, at least not much sense to me.

At 100 bucks, you can get a blood-pressure meter. There's another company
that makes one for $129.

For another $100, you can get the iGrill, which is a meat thermometer that
connects to your iDevice via Bluetooth.

Then for $169, you can get a scale that connects to the internet via WiFi;
you can use a web browser on any computer or an iOS app to read the results
and charts, etc. It also computes bodyfat percentage and (if you program
your height) BMI.

Oh, these devices are, or soon will be, available for Android too.

 

I would have bought that 3 years ago, when I was diagnosed with high
blood pressure. My doctor wanted me to measure my blood pressure
several times a day for a few weeks. I could have just bought a cheap
blood pressure monitor and written down the values, but being a gadget
guy, I purchased one of these:

<http://www.omronhealthcare.com/products/5-series/>

The software (Windows only, of course) could print measurements as
tables or plot graphs, but there was no version for Mac. I had to boot
up in boot camp to be able to fetch data from the device.

Lots of people need to monitor their blood pressure daily.

 

True; my BP meter stores the readings in nonvolatile memory. So does my
glucose meter.

 

For a mere $400+, you can buy a home thermostat with WiFi. Includes
software to control it from somewhere else by iPhone.

Almost as cheap as buying an extra house key, calling a friend to go set
your twenty dollar thermostat, and paying for his gas to get there.

 

As a Mac user since 1985, I have grown quite used to the concept of paying
a premium for quality, convenience, and ease-of-use. If I had any medical
conditions that required me to log anything, I would certainly consider a
device that allowed data capture, storage, and display on my iPad
(preferred) or Mac.

And if I thought that a $169 scale would actually motivate me to
successfully lose weight, I would buy it in an instant...

I don't know about the meat thermometer, but I would be sorely tempted if
somebody sold an under $100 ATSC tuner for the iPad...

Quite honestly, I have been a bit disappointed that there haven't been more
devices that connect either directly or via BT to the iPad.

 

or you can do that by spending much less too. there are various models
from several different manufacturers.

only if said friend will do so at any time day or night, regardless of
weather, as often as you want.

 

<-septembe
r.org>,

Most hardware companies don't know how to become software companies.

 

Nor coffee nor trucking companies either.

One interesting hardware company made Steve Jobs the largest
stockholder of Disney. The purpose of Pixar wasn't to make movies.

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

 

Jim Glidewell:

Yes. But here's a great start <http://southernstars.com/>. See SkyWire
and SkyFi. iThingie control of an astronomical telescope mount via wire
or WiFi.

Davoud

 

Now, that is something that definitely makes sense.

 

My BP meter stores the data in an .XLS file and looks like any other
stick to the computer. Of course, .xls reads just fine with OOo 3.x,
so I'm FDH.
--

- dillon I am not invalid

"You idiots, it's rape, pillage,THEN BURN!!!"
--- chief of the Aggie Vikings

 

And because there's a sucker born every minute.

I wrote a program for the Palm III that was a learning remote for my
VCR, TV and stereo. I even was quoted in the San Jose Mercury-Times
(or whatever it's called) about this, although I was still writing it
at the time. Sadly, my Palm went tango uniform when the onboard
battery finally died and whole thing bricked itself. But it lived for
almost 12 years.

I still have an iPaq that I use with Mini Stumbler to war walk. Not
as challenging as it used to be with all of the intentionally open
WiFi locations. But still fun to find (yes, I found this one)
"Wachovia".

Plenty of toys back then for our toys.

Of course, why would I pay for a scope set up for an iPad when I can
get a much faster scope for less money? But folks are doing just
that.
--

- dillon I am not invalid

"You idiots, it's rape, pillage,THEN BURN!!!"
--- chief of the Aggie Vikings