Skip to content
Beeronaut
Menu
  • YouTube One Take Beer Review
  • Beer Calendar
  • About
  • Beeronaut on Facebook
  • Beer Reviews Index
  • EMail Me!
Menu

BACtrack Vio: A Keychain-sized Breathalyzer

Posted on July 16, 2014
Share

Here’s some info from a news release about the smallest iteration of the personal breathalyzer. I figure this is worth the interest of people like us who enjoy beer often.


BACtrack, the leader in personal and professional-grade breathalyzers, introduced its newest smartphone breathalyzer, BACtrack Vio™, available at retail as of July 15. This new breathalyzer combines a compact keychain design with Bluetooth® connectivity and MicroCheck® Sensor technology, making it the most affordable and convenient way for consumers to measure their BAC levels and drink responsibly. In addition, BACtrack today is releasing an updated version of its free companion app.

“Due to the overwhelmingly positive response we received to BACtrack Mobile, we worked systematically to adapt its technology and hardware to create BACtrack Vio, and offer it at an even more affordable price point,” said Keith Nothacker, CEO and Founder of BACtrack. “Our goal is to make breathalyzers accessible to anyone and everyone so that we can ultimately help consumers better understand how alcohol affects their bodies and also make smarter, more informed decisions.”
Portability & Connectivity
BACtrack Vio is small enough to fit on a keychain, allowing users to easily take it with them everywhere they go. It transmits BAC results via Bluetooth to the BACtrack companion app, which makes it easy to use in any situation, convenient to share, and eliminates the inconvenience of having to plug a device into a headphone jack or power outlet.
Proprietary Technology
Through proprietary MicroCheck® Sensor technology, BACtrack Vio offers users a high level of accuracy and reliability. Using a semiconductor sensor as a base, the MicroCheck® sensors go through a patented burn-in process that equalizes the response, resulting in a higher performance. BACtrack Vio was also designed with an innovative flip-up mouthpiece to collect a high quality breath sample, an essential component for reliable results; a user’s breath goes into the breathalyzer and ambient air, fumes, and other airborne gases are kept out.
Powerful App Features
To accompany the launch of BACtrack Vio, BACtrack also introduces a brand new version of its companion app. The BACtrack app, also compatible with the award-winning BACtrack Mobile, has been completely redesigned and now offers new features along with user favorites from the previous version.
Top features include:

  • What’s Your BAC? Users are prompted to guess their BAC result prior to testing, and then both the actual BAC result and the guess are displayed. The app also compares and charts results and guesses over time so users learn if they become better at gauging their level of alcohol intoxication.
  • ZeroLine® Feature: BACtrack’s innovative ZeroLine® feature provides an estimate of how long it will take for a user’s BAC to return to 0.00% based on their last test result.
  • Tracking Graph: Users can save results and view their history on the Tracking Graph; they can also attach pictures, notes, drinks, and locations to specific readings.
  • Public or Private:  A user’s BAC results remain private or can be shared via text message or on a social network.

The BACtrack Vio Breathalyzer can be purchased at BACtrack.com for $49.99. It will also be available later this month in Best Buy Stores nationwide and online at BestBuy.com and Amazon.com.
The updated version of the companion app is available for free download in the App Store and on Google Play. BACtrack Vio is compatible with iPhone 4S, 5, 5S, 5C; iPad 3, 4, iPad Air, iPad Mini 1 an 2; iPod Touch 5; Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, S5 and other Android 4.3 smart devices equipped with Bluetooth Smart technology. 
About BACtrack
San Francisco-based BACtrack is the U.S. leader in breathalyzers, offering a full range of innovative products for both personal and professional use. Founded in 2001, BACtrack helps people monitor their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and make informed decisions about alcohol consumption. In 2013, BACtrack launched BACtrack Mobile, the world’s first smartphone breathalyzer that uses police-grade fuel cell sensor technology and Bluetooth connectivity. It has since won Popular Science’s 2013 ‘Best of What’s New’ Award for its innovation in health, and an Edison Award for Industrial Design. BACtrack breathalyzers are available in 20 countries and at over 10,000 store locations, including Walgreens, Costco and Best Buy stores, and can be purchased online at Amazon, Brookstone, and drugstore.com. BACtrack products have been featured on Oprah’s All Stars, The Dr. Phil Show, The Doctors, and MythBusters. Connect with BACtrack via Twitter and on Facebook. For more company information, visit www.bactrack.com.


(Disclosure: I was sent a Vio to try out with this news release. Unfortunately, I do not have any of the smart devices it runs on. Thinking that I’m a clever monkey, I tried the iOS emulator on my Mac’s xCode programming suite: won’t support Bluetooth. Then I tried Bluestacks, a highly recommended Android emulator. Got that running, was able to find the program in Google Play, but it claimed my “device” was incompatible. Well, that’s my fault, not theirs. I’ll work this out eventually and probably have a video to go with. No, that does not mean I’ll keep drinking on camera to see how soon I can blow a .08.)

Loading

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • DLD & More Chicago Area Beer Stuff for May 15-17
  • Chicago Beer Week and other Things, May 11-14
  • Beer Under Glass and Mother’s Day Weekend, May 8-10
  • Chicago Beer This Week: May 4-7
  • Kentucky Derby & Pre-Cinco Weekend with Beer

Join the mailing list!

Here's the subscription link

Loading

My profile and latest of over 4,400 beers reviewed at Brewver.com

Mark's Bookshelf: Beer Books
Brew Britannia: The Strange Rebirth of British Beer
really liked it
Brew Britannia: The Strange Rebirth of British Beer
by Jessica Boak

The Comic Book Story of Beer: The World's Favorite Beverage from 7000 BC to Today's Craft Brewing Revolution
really liked it
The Comic Book Story of Beer: The World's Favorite Beverage from 7000 BC to Today's Craft Brewing Revolution
by Jonathan Hennessey



goodreads.com

Recent Comments

  1. Beeronaut staff on Chicago Area Beer Events, February 16-19
  2. NM on Chicago Area Beer Events, February 16-19
  3. Beeronaut staff on This Weekend in Chicago Area Beer, April 12-14
  4. Steve “Pudgy” D. on This Weekend in Chicago Area Beer, April 12-14
  5. John E Streetz on This Weekend with Chicago Beer, December 1-3

Archives

One Take Beer Review Playlist
TV Time: Primal Seasons 1 & 2
©2026 Beeronaut | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme