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Las Vegas, Nevada, January 6, 2015 – Age, income, and gender vary greatly among fitness tracker and smartwatch owners, according to the new NPD Connected Intelligence Consumers and Wearables Report.
The last year or so has seen the beginning of a subtle trend towards disconnecting from the always-on world that we live in. Some hipsters have embraced the not-so-smart flip phone, along with film-based cameras and other such curiosities from the technological past. We even got temporarily swept up in it a couple of years ago when I put my smartphone away for a week or so and dusted off my old Motorola Razr. It was an interesting experience, but hardly life-changing. What I learned most was the value of self-control: I didn’t HAVE to check my email as soon as it arrived. It could wait.
Access to nearly all top TV and Streaming Video Apps is Driving Video Usage
PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8, 2014 – Tablet ownership among U.S. consumers is on the rise, and growing at a faster rate than that of any other connected device. According to The NPD Group’s Connected Intelligence, Connected Home Report, as of the third quarter of 2014 (Q3 2014) there were 109 million tablets in use, up 35 million from last year.
The semi-annual TV & Video App Availability Report identifies which devices have the most TV network and streaming video apps. Coverage includes smartphones, tablets, video game consoles, Blu-ray disc players, connected TVs, and streaming media players. The research ranks the networks that are leading the drive to have their content available across the broadest set of devices. Further, it uncovers in-app differences driven by authentication requirements, content availability and live streaming.
Key metrics include:
This holiday season will be the first major test for the smartwatch category. One year ago the category was immature, with only a small handful of devices in market; the majority of which were not from known brands (the exception being Samsung’s initial Gear watch). Awareness of the category was also fairly low, with only 36 percent of the U.S. market showing any awareness whatsoever.
Fitness Apps Provide Opportunity and Threat to the Devices
PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 – In less than a year, awareness of wearable fitness devices among U.S. consumers has doubled, going from 30 percent last November to 70 percent at the end of July, according to new the NPD Connected Intelligence Consumers and Wearables Report. This increased awareness will help shape a strong holiday season.
Connected Intelligence® tracks the connected consumer, complementing sales data by quantifying what happens after a device is purchased. Detail on device ownership and usage patterns among various consumer segments, augmented by our industry advisors’ expertise, informs product development strategy and content partnership decisions. The Wearables practice tracks activity trackers, smartwatches and the emerging category of VR headsets.
PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 – The NPD Group announced today the launch of its new wearables advisory service. Eddie Hold, Vice President of NPD’s Connected Intelligence group, is leading the business. NPD’s new business solutions for the wearables market include consumer panel-based reporting, qualitative reports, U.S. point-of-sale data, and unique analysis from NPD’s leading industry experts.
Tuesday’s Apple event proved, once again, that the industry should never underestimate how successfully Apple can break the mold or flaunt conventional wisdom. Everyone knew two new iPhones were coming – and that they would be 4.7” and 5.5” and that they would look nice, and that they would fit neatly into the current buying, stocking, and usage trends for smartphones in the U.S. (as we discussed in our press release last week). But seeing a mock-up, or sketching something out as a model, or examining a pirated photograph is a poor substitute for seeing something in person. And it is impossible to express how slick both new iPhone models are until you see them in person and hold them in your hand.
As I sat with the rest of the world watching Apple's annual Fall product announcement, I could sense in those I connected with on Twitter a feeling of excitement as Tim Cook finished the first part of the program and led into his "one more thing". Apple certainly did not disappoint. If NPD Connected Intelligence's Eddie Hold asked Apple to amaze him and I've asked companies to push the smartwatch beyond what we've seen thus far, then we both got our wish. The Apple Watch fits what a smartwatch should be- a nicely designed fashion accessory and a piece of technology (that does more than relay phone notifications to your wrist).