REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. – Striiv is shipping the latest iteration of it Striiv smart pedometer, a small, touchscreen fitness device that accurately tracks steps and motivates its users to walk more.

The always-on device can track steps, distance, calories burned, stairs and minutes of activity throughout the day.

With its proprietary Fitness Motivation System, Striiv learns a user’s behavior and then encourages activity via personalized challenges and goals, games and donation opportunities.

AliveCor Touts Benefits Of Smartphone ECG

SAN FRANCISCO — AliveCor, which markets a mobile electrocardiogram (ECG) recorder for smartphones, announced results from a study that demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of simple heart-rate monitoring for users.

The eight-week study, “iPhone Rhythm Strip: Clinical Implications of Wireless and Ubiquitous Heart Rate Monitoring,” enrolled 54 participants to determine how they use the device.

MINNEAPOLIS — Best Buy house brand Insignia announced last week that it will bring to market an HD Radio designed for the blind and visually impaired.

The Narrator radio includes audible voice responses, access to local HD Radio broadcasts of reading services, and an ergonomic design designed in collaboration with the International Association of Audio Information Services (IAAIS) to be accessible for people with visual impairments. It was introduced last week at the IAAIS annual conference in Houston.

NEW YORK – Home and car audio supplier Pyle is entering the sports accessories market with a line of sports watches with built-in fitness monitoring capabilities.

At the top of the line, Pyle is shipping a GPS sports watch that comes with a 2.4GHz digitally coded wireless heart-rate monitor chest strap to help fitness enthusiasts track and analyze workout data.

Dennis van Schie has been named corporate VP, head of sales and marketing worldwide, at Sony Mobile Communications, reporting to president/CEO Kunimasa Suzuki. Van Schie is a 10-year Sony Mobile veteran, having served most recently as corporate VP, head of the product business unit, and will be based in London ... Ryan Conway was promoted to western regional sales manager of custom install sales at Panamax/Furman.

WEST CHESTER, PA. – Azione Unlimited (AU), the integrators and custom retailer buying group, has added Elan and Sunfire to its roster of vendor members.

The two join a growing list of AU manufacturers — 30 in all — that also includes Integra, Monitor Audio, Sonance, Liberty, Harman, URC, JL, Epson, and Digital Projection.

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Home Entertainment Source (HES) has added nine more manufacturers to its vendor roster.

The additions include Savant, Planar/Runco, TK Living, SIM2, Lutron, Vutec, Salez Toolz, Cinemacoustic Solutions and Zvox.

The specialty A/V buying group, a division of the $14 billion BrandSource organization, said the new additions provide more options for its independent dealer members and demonstrate the group’s growth.

IRVINE, CALIF. – Tablet sales’ meteoric ascent will continue, with 126.6 million units expected to ship in 2012, according to IHS.

The IHS iSuppli “Worldwide Tablet Market Tracker” report states the 126.6 million units shipped worldwide is an 85 percent increase over the 68.4 million that shipped in 2011. In 2010, 16.4 million tablets were sold.

Looking ahead, IHS is predicting sales to jump another 63 percent in 2013, with 360.4 million shipping by 2016.

New York – AMD has reiterated its plan to enter the tablet processor category, stating that the company will have a low-watt processor ready when Windows 8 tablets begin to ship later this year.

Leslie Sobon, AMD’s product platform marketing VP, said tablets are the obvious future growth area for processors. The company announced its intention of entering the tablet category in February, but it had not stated before when this might happen.

NEW ORLEANS – The leaders of the nation’s four largest wireless carriers took to the stage here at CTIA Wireless 2012 to promote agendas ranging from an urgent need for more wireless spectrum to a need to rehabilitate the industry’s reputation among consumers.

During their shared keynote session, some of the executives also pointed to a need for carriers to offer creative services to consumers, not just fast network speeds.