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Fitbit's CEO, James Park, has more right than most to mouth off about what makes good wearable tech. Fitbit's sales continue to slay the competition, quarter after quarter with 1m Blaze smartwatches and 1m Alta fitness trackers sold within a month.

Talking to the Telegraph, Park threw some shade at the Apple Watch which by all accounts is Fitbit's nearest wearable rival, at least in terms of sales.

"I think it's a great product and Apple's a great company, but it's a product that probably does too much," said Park. "Really our research has shown that people who search for an interest in the Apple Watch do not overlap with people who search for and are interested in Fitbit."

Read this: New Fitbits go platinum in just one month

Considering the Fitbit Blaze is making a play as a fitness smartwatch, it's curious that Park thinks that smartwatches need this focus to succeed.

"I think the biggest problem with the category today is they do so many things and it hasn't been really clearly communicated to people why they should need one of these devices."

The average Fitbit user is a little bit overweight. They are more active than the average population but that's because we've managed to increase their activity levels over time.

Park also had a couple of interesting things to say about his own company. First up, that Fitbit engagement is increasing - 72% of people who bought a Fitbit in 2015 were still using it by the end of that year. That's apparently up on 2014 though Park didn't provide those figures.

He also shared some info on the average Fitbit user: "If you look at the aggregate of all of our users," he said, "actually they're not really that fit, the average Fitbit user is a little bit overweight; they are more active than the average population but we think that's because we've managed to increase their activity levels over time."

Read this: Fitbit Blaze review

The Blaze and the Alta are doing well but neither offers the new features that Fitbit's CEO has previously hinted at. Park continued to tease future sensors and software.

"While you're wearing these devices, I think there's huge opportunity for them to connect and interact with the broader world," he said, "whether its richer notifications or integration with the cars or homes or buildings or payments or authentication."

And: "A big part of our R&D going forward is our software intelligence that gives people insights and coaching."

We're looking forward to Fitbit pushing forward with insights and integrations now that it seems to have cornered both the fitness/ smartwatch crossover and casual fashion device.

The iOS 9.3.1 update is the latest upgrade for Apple's iPad and it brings a crucial bug fix for an iOS 9.3 problem. It's an important update and today we want to take a close look at the key iPad iOS 9.3.1 update details.

The iPad iOS 9.3 update was confirmed in January and it rolled out to iPad users in March, shortly after the company's iPhone SE event.

The iOS 9.3 update brought a ton of changes to the iPad but it also brought problems including a web link crashing bug.

This bug forced Apple to roll out another iOS 9.3 update dubbed iOS 9.3.1.

The next time you check for an update on your iPad, you'll encounter iOS 9.3.1 and its changes. For iOS 9.3 users, iOS 9.3.1 is small and includes that single bug fix. For others, it's going to be a much larger update thanks to iOS 9.3.

iOS 9.3.1 is a big update and there's a lot iPad users need to know about it. And that's precisely why we're taking a look at the upgrade today.

This iPad iOS 9.3.1 roundup includes our impressions of the software, a look at iPad iOS 9.3.1 problems, ways to downgrade to older versions of iOS 9, and more. Keep these things in mind as we push deeper into April.

iPad iOS 9.3.1 Impressions

Last week, we installed the iOS 9.3.1 update on three versions of the iPad: The iPad Air 2, the iPad Air, and the iPad mini 2. We've been using these iOS 9.3.1 updates for a few of days now and here's what we've found. 

We haven't noticed any issues with battery life, at least not yet. All three slates are holding a solid charge with the iOS 9.3.1 update on board. 

We haven't noticed any issues with connectivity either. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both holding up well after several days of use.

We've tested the tablets on several different connections with different routers. We've also tested them with various Bluetooth devices including speakers and headsets. 

Third-party apps are working fine on all three though we can't profess to have used every single app on the App Store. If you're concerned about performance, read recent app reviews from iOS 9.3.1 users.

As for Apple's stock apps, Apple's Podcasts application has crashed several times on the iPad Air. That's been the extent of our troubles. So far. 

We haven't run into any experience-breaking bugs and the Control Center/keyboard/Notification Center lag that we saw on the iPad mini 2 with iOS 9.3 on board hasn't emerged yet. 

If you're already on iOS 9.3, you'll want to think about moving to iOS 9.3.1. It comes with a crucial bug fix. If you're on iOS 9.2.1, iOS 9.3's features make iOS 9.3.1 worth it. 

If you're on something older, or you're using an older device, you might want to wait a few more days to see how iOS 9.3.1 performance pans out. 

Bluesound is upping the ante on cool ways to control a wireless home audio system with its recent launch of BluOS 2.0, an upgrade for BluOS-enabled wireless hi-res music systems. The release includes a major update to its mobile controller apps for iOS and Android. Version 2.0 is Bluesound's first phase in a fresh new user experience that features an enhanced interface, improved playlist and playback logic, additional Player functionality, widgets, and support for Apple Watch.

The new BluOS Controller app is built to be a universal one-app solution for all BluOS-enabled systems. Here are a few of the new features:

Better Music Access: A new search engine allows users to browse networked music collections, and select custom playlists and favorites stored in a local library, on a mobile device, or streaming music service with quick on-demand access to enhanced browsing functions.

SmartPlay Playlist Creation: A faster and easier way to queue up music, enabling users to instantly add and listen to tracks without limitations, while the rest of the album or playlist is auto-filled into the queue.

Assisted Player Setup: With guided in-app tutorials on startup, users can easily connect Players to an existing stereo system, powered loudspeaker, or home network.

Apple Watch: BluOS Controller is now available for Apple Watch, where you can instantly check what's playing, select a Player, or change the track.

Controller Widget: Access Player presents and control music playback at a glance with a single swipe, without ever launching the app.

"At Bluesound, we're committed to delivering the most intuitive, interactive, and immersive music experience for BluOS users," says John Banks, Bluesound chief brand officer. "This is a major enhancement, and we're confident that our new design and feature updates will connect BluOS users more deeply with their music than ever before."

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Greenwich TimeGreenwich Apple store to host April 13 iPad workshop for parentsGreenwich Time"The Apple Workshops are primarily geared towards improving iPad skills on the iPad apps," school officials said in a statement on the district's website. "The Apple reps are not trained in our curriculum or policies. The GPS-Apple workshops were ...

Those who liked the Apple Watch or wanted to buy it but decided to wait will have to face some disappointment hearing this news. It seems like the Apple Watch 2 release might not happen any time soon. It was surely being expected that Apple might launch the new device on 21st March at the big event, but that did not happen. It is now rumored that the Apple Watch 2 might make an appearance in fall along with the iPhone 7.

However, the latest patent for the smart band of the Apple Watch Original suggests that the company is still focusing on the first watch. A report from Mac Rumors says that the Cupertino company is working on some new modular smart bands that will bring GPS receivers and wireless charging battery packs to the Apple Watch Original. This could altogether mean that the Apple Watch 2 might not get launched in September this year.

A Christian Daily report had suggested that the Apple Watch 2 might come with a new 32-bit chip, an ARM Cortex A32 processor, new health sensors, woven nylon bands in several colors, inbuilt GPS, and watchOS 2.2. The Apple Watch costs $299, so the Apple Watch 2 might go as high as up to $399.

Apple's latest overhaul will impact one-to-one and shared device rollouts

In March, Apple upgraded the iPad and iPhone operating system to iOS 9.3 (quickly followed by iOS 9.3.1, which tweaked a few bugs). The lead up to the release caught the eye of the K-12 community, which had been waiting for a few tweaks of their own that would help it better manage both shared and one-to-one iPad implementations. It's only been a couple of weeks since the new operating system hit prime time, but the feedback is already coming in—and it's largely positive.

New features in iOS 9.3, for example, make it easier for IT to set up and manage devices via a new managed home screen layout. This feature allows administrators to deploy iPads configured for students, and to select which applications will appear on their device home screens. It might be most useful in shared environments, where more than one student is using a device—but where not all of the apps are relevant for all of those users. Schools can also locate and recover stolen or lost devices via ongoing location tracking that doesn't compromise student privacy.

Expanded capabilities

Carl Hooker, director of innovation and digital learning at Eanes Independent School District in Austin, Texas, says his 8,000-student district kicked off its one-to-one mobile device implementation in 2012. Devices at Eanes have been upgraded to iOS 9.3, he's already seeing positive impacts. The new Classroom app (the "teacher's assistant"), for example, lets instructors quickly see what students are working on at any given moment. "We were able to do this before with our mobile device management platform," said Hooker, "but it was never built into the iOS."

With the new operating system, teachers can also use AirPlay to share a specific student's work on a big screen using a projector and Apple TV. "We used to have to ask students to bring their iPads up to the front of the class to plug them in to be able to do this," says Hooker. On the backend, he says administrators like how the device enrollment profile (DEP) allows districts to purchase devices and then "sync" the device serial numbers with Apple. "This capability has been around for about a year and a half," says Hooker, "and it's great because if someone steals the device, it will ask for school credentials when the [thief] tries to wipe the device clean and reboot it."

What's different now is that the DEP function is folded into the operating system's volume purchase pricing (VPT) program on iOS 9.3. Through the program, schools save about 50 percent off mobile apps by purchasing them in bulk. "Apple turned it into a one-stop-shop that makes deployment faster," said Hooker, "and also helps us save money." The feature is particularly useful for schools whose one-to-one programs include students who are under 13 years of age. "It can take months to track down all of the parent approvals and get every single student's ID set up," says Hooker. "During that time—which could extend into October during the typical school year—pupils weren't getting apps. I feel like that's really going to be streamlined now."

Next page: Supporting a shared environment

Some exciting news recently surfaced with regards to certain futuristic features on the Apple watch.

A recent patent spotted by Patently Apple reveals Apple Watch extending support for various hand gestures. Reportedly, the advance gestures could also be sign language that would again be supported by the device. According to report on 9to5Mac, hands-gestures such as your raising the thumb as in "Phone Me" signal or pointing or waving, could lead to actions being carried out on the Apple Watch or the paired device. The patent reveals:

"While voice and touch input can be an effective way to control a device, there may be situations where the user's ability to speak the verbal command or perform the touch gesture may be limited.

This (patent) relates to a device that detects a user's motion and gesture input through the movement of one or more of the user's hand, arm, wrist, and fingers, for example, to provide commands to the device or to other devices (…) The device can interpret the gesture as an input command, and the device can perform an operation."

The patent also goes on to reveal how the Apple Watch could make use of various sensors in order to interpret gestures:

"One or more optical sensors, inertial sensors, mechanical contact sensors, and myoelectric sensors, to name just a few examples, can detect movements of the user's body. Based on the detected movements, a user gesture can be determined."

Some of the detailed examples of the gestures include making patting motions with your hands palm-down to decline a call.  Likewise, the speaker volume could also be controlled by moving your hand up and down. But as the case with every Apple patent, no one can say if and when the features will be included in an Apple Watch.

But it would sure be very interesting to see this implemented sometime in the future. Keep coming back for more updates, rumours and speculations on the upcoming Apple products.