https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/28/fitbit-is-teaming-with-adidas-for-a-branded-version-of-its-ionic-smartwatch/ >The Ionic needs to be a big product for Fitbit. Sure, the company’s CEO assured me that it’s not make or break, but after years of research and development and tens of millions in acquisitions, Fitbit needs a hit. The company’s hedging its bets a bit by bringing on third party launch partners like Starbucks and Pandora for its new app store, and is teaming up one key company for a limited version of the smartwatch. >Starting next year, Fitbit will be offering an Adidas-branded special edition of the smartwatch. The details are pretty scant on precisely what the partnership means, but the whole thing suggests some pretty unavoidable comparisons to Apple’s long-standing partnership with Nike that gave us last year’s Apple Watch Nike+.