Intel backing away from wearables, reports suggest

PanARMENIAN.Net - When Intel bought Basis back in 2014, there were hopes the acquisition would push the wearables firm to the next level. Sadly, things didn't go that way -- the company's first Intel-backed product had a tendency to catch fire, and was subsequently pulled from the market earlier this year. Now, any hope for a bounce back has been all but extinguished: as Engadget reports citing a report from TechCrunch, Intel's wearable division is facing massive layoffs.

According to TechCrunch, sources close to the company say that Intel is planning to back away from the wearable space -- and will soon lay off staff in its New Devices Group. In addition to the layoff report, TechCrunch also managed to get a few pictures of the Basis Ruby, an unannounced fitness wearable that will now never see the light of day.

The Ruby's product box shows a compact watch with sleep tracking and heart rate monitor features with some basic smartwatch functionality -- a Basis Peak in a smaller form. The Ruby was also set to usher in a new version of the Basis software. There's no word yet if that update is still coming for users of older products, Engadget said.