Short Version: Yes, this is that scale that Tweets your weight. And yes, it’s actually pretty cool.
Features
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Backlit screen
- Battery powered
- Body mass sensor
- $159 MSRP
Pros
- Multiple users with automatic user detection based on weight
- Slim design
- Quick readings
- Lots of reporting options
Cons
- Potentially fragile
- Seemingly low battery life
- Who wants to Tweet their weight?
Review
So the Internet made me fat. That and all the beer. Anyway, now I’m going to depend on the Internet to make me skinny again and I think the Withings WiFi scale is just the thing to get me back in Abraham Lincoln mode.
This glass scale features a body mass sensor complete with invisible electrodes as well as a backlit OLED readout. To start, you connect the scale to your computer via USB and assign your wireless hotspot. Then each time you hop on the scale you wait for the electrodes to sense your body fat (or if they can’t it just transmits your weight) and then you check your progress online. New users are “added” when they weigh themselves and show up as unknown users until you assign their measurements to an account. Because folks usually float among a few data points, your wife’s numbers won’t get mixed up with yours and the dog’s numbers will definitely not get mixed up with your son’s (Note: Do not try to put a dog on this scale. They do not like it.)
The obvious question here is whether or not you need a web-enabled scale. You could feasibly do all of these functions with a pad of paper and a pencil. However, the Withings system allows you to take BMI as well as set goals for yourself. Most importantly, you can check your progress remotely so you don’t have to worry about your weight at work. If you know you lost five pounds over the past week then obviously you can go and grab yourself another four donuts. You’re worth it!
Even if you don’t use all of the Wi-Fi features it’s still a nice scale for $159. Sure it can Tweet your weight and it also works with Google Health. It may be a great idea for a personal trainer with multiple clients. By sharing readings with a group or individual you can work more closely with that person on your regimen.
I’ve been using this thing for about two weeks and its fun to see the weight sort of fluctuate but inexorably tend towards pulchritude and obesity. Thanks, Internet! And thanks beer!
Bottom Line
A clever and interesting way to track your weight loss (or gain) regimen. May not be worth $159 but the free web service adds a great deal of value.