FitBit is a pioneer in wearable technology. But the company has recently shifted its strategy amid competition from the Apple Watch, and as the wearable market has failed to really see mass adoption. Cheddar's Hope King and Brad Smith explore the company's performance using E*Trade's innovative platform.
Adult wearable technology users in the U.S. is expected to grow nearly 12 percent this year, according to eMarketer. In a survey conducted by Cheddar, 18 percent said they own a FitBit compared to 27 percent who've said they own an Apple Watch. 47 percent of those surveyed by Cheddar say they don't wear any wearable technology.
FitBit has had an up and down year, with shares ranging between $5 and $7 a share. Overall, shares are down 17 percent over the course of the past year. The company did introduce its first smartwatch in 2017, and is looking to directly compete against the Apple Watch at a similar price point. Shares also hit a 52-week high in December during the holiday shopping season.
FitBit reports fourth quarter earnings after the Closing Bell Monday. Analysts expect revenue of nearly $590 Million, and to break even in profit.
The company provides accountants with tools to automate a lot of processes so they can focus on a "much higher value activity," says Mark Huffman, COO of the software company.
Facebook released new details Tuesday regarding how it patrols content posted on its platform. In the 8,500-word document, Facebook disclosed what content it deems appropriate and what it considers offensive, covering everything from sex to drug use to hate speech. The social media company is also changing the way it handles cases of potentially offensive content.
We also dig into the latest quarterly earnings report from Google's parent company, Alphabet. The company beat expectations on earnings and revenue, thanks to strong ad growth. It's Alphabet's best earnings report since 2009.
And Cheddar's Hope King sits down with fashion icon Rachel Zoe at Suiteworld 18 in Las Vegas. Zoe talks about how she's grown her businesses over the years and how important social media is to her brand. Zoe is best known for her clothing line and Instagram series, "Real Life With Rachel Zoe."
Kristen Scholer and Tim Stenovec unpack Google's strong earnings report. Alphabet, Google's parent company, beat expectations on earnings and revenue. It was the company's best quarterly earnings report since 2009.
Facebook released detailed information on Tuesday regarding how it polices content on the site. The comprehensive new guidelines outline what users should and shouldn't post, covering topics from drug use to hate speech to sex. Facebook is also changing the way it responds to cases of potentially offensive content.
Despite a strong earnings report, Alphabet's stock dropped on Tuesday, as investors worry about looming privacy regulations. But actual regulation may not ultimately have any significant impact on the company, say two analysts.
The Farmers Business Network allows the agriculture industry to share data on everything from the price of fertilizer to which seeds grow best, says CEO Amol Deshpande.
The head of Unity Technologies said in an interview with Cheddar that the video game development company is "strong enough financially" to go public. Unity's tools are most widely used by game developers, but the company has been branching out into science, architecture, and other industries.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman launched an investigation into more than a dozen major Bitcoin exchanges. But this is very much "part of the evolution" of digital money, says Lynn Martin, the president and chief operating officer of ICE Data Services.
The actress and daughter of writer/director Kevin Smith, says the Facebook-owned platform has been the most effective in helping her advocate for animal rights and veganism because it enables engagement. But she thinks overall, "everybody needs to learn how to be more compassionate with each other" on the platform. Smith's new movie, "All These Small Things," debuts on April 24 at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The designer behind the sleeping bag coat says the industry needs to adapt to a more automated supply chain and find creative ways to interact with customers. "It's an investment we all have to make," Kamali told Cheddar in an interview Monday.
This movie about Jack and the Beanstalk uses VR technology to put you at the center of the action. "It's going to tackle pretty much every sense," explains Mathias Chelebourg, the creator of "Jack: Part One," one of the most talked-about projects at the Tribeca Film Festival this year.
