MasterCard brings contactless payment support to Fitbit Ionic

Fitbit just unveiled its newest smartwatch, the Fitbit Ionic, and brings with it a slew of new features. With that, MasterCard just announced that the new wearable will get contactless payment support, which it says is available at over 6.6 million merchants around the world. You just have to add your eligible cards to the fitness watch. The payment feature will first come to the US with participating issuer banks and will come to other markets soon after.

What our tech lovin' mommy friends want for Mother's Day

By Sonya Davidson

Ask any mom (myself included) what we want for Mother's Day. We will tell you that we'd like to stay out of the kitchen (especially the cleaning up part) and we'd really just like some time to do something we enjoy doing like reading, sleeping in, do something creative, watching movies, time to take care of ourselves without interruption by someone asking what's for lunch? Where are my soccer socks? or is the laundry done yet? We love you all but seriously, just a few hours of peace is bliss. 

So, when we asked some of our tech lovin' mommy friends what would be on their gift lists, it came to no surprise that their ideas tie right into our collective desire for "me time" and of course, the kids can shower us with all the hugs and kisses too!  

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Leaks show Fitbit's new smartwatch and headphones

Fibit's first 'smartwatch' coming after its acquisition of Pebble seems to have been leaked along with the company's Bluetooth headphones. Possible an updated version of its Blaze fitness tracker, which looks like a smartwatch, the render shows a squarish watch with rose gold accents and possible removeable bands. The device is said to be sporting a GPS as well as Heart Rate monitor plus NFC for payments, which are all critical features of the Apple Watch. There's also talk of an app store just for this device which will be sold for $300.

Fitbit is also targetting the popular Bluetooth headphone market with what is expected to be a $150 pair of Bluetooth headfphones. While the design isn't all that exciting or new, it could well be a prototype with the final version looking more appealing. Personally, I am interested to see some of Pebble's design and software personality make it over to Fitbit. The fitness tracking and analytics is already peerless, the smartwatch aspect, not so much. Here's hoping Fitbit can leapfrog their previous attempts at merging both.

Breaking: Pebble officially announces it has dissolved to join Fitbit

No joy: Existing Pebble devices will no longer be updated as the company has dissolved.

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

It's a definite end of an era as Pebble has finally 'fessed up and confirmed it is joining Fitbit. In a celebratory letter to backers and fans today, Pebble stated,"due to various factors—Pebble is no longer able to operate as an independent entity. We have made the tough decision to shut down the company and no longer manufacture Pebble devices." Fitbit is said to have bought ailing Pebble for around US $40 million.

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