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55 Layoffs within Nike's hardware team

CNET reported as many as 55 people from its hardware team are being laid off.

Plans for any  next generation of Fuelband have been halted. Just days ago, Nike has announced the launch of its Fuel Lab location in San Francisco to enhance partnerships with other digital services for athletes.

iWatch Concept by Todd Hamilton
 

This surely looks like a company pivot from hardware to software. With a wearable growing market heating up with companies like Samsung, LG, Motorola and Pebble. Maybe Nike learned something from their partnership with Applet.  Tim Cook Apple's CEO has worn a FuelBand since its launch and has been a member of Nike's board for nine years now. 

Could a wearable really be on the horizon for Apple?

My wife and I love our Fuelbands and have made use of them since their first beta. We will be sorry seeing Fuelband go away however if Apple released something like the talked about iWatch we would switch either way. It being more functional than a Fuelband and relatively the same footprint makes it a no brainier. With that said if this is the case then I feel Nike has made a smart choice to make the pivot now. 


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