11 ms·

Fitbit Charge, Charge HR and Surge

109 points by valanto 12y ago

drinchev 12y ago
Interesting for me, I get 404 for the bit.ly links for the new trackers. Are they available only for US?
unicornporn 12y ago
This might be the time to ask: Does anybody know of an activity tracker (like the Pebble or FitBit devices) that doesn't need to upload data to a distant server in order to analyze and give me insights? I want a piece of software for OS X or Windows that can sync with the device and help me interpret the data. I want to store the data myself and I don't want to be dependent on an internet connection. Is there such a device? Or, should I just accept has the data collection economy has penetrated all aspects of our lives?
- tomschlick 12y ago
  That seems to be exactly what apple is trying to do with healthkit/healthbook. Store that data for apps so they dont have to worry about privacy/security. So any device that would sync with healthbook would do this for you (so long as you could disable third party service syncing)
- k-mcgrady 12y ago
  For insights I think you would need to upload. They are able to provide those insights by analysing the data of all of their users.
  - asadotzler 12y ago
    Not true at all. They could send down a batch of insights and do local matching to expose the proper ones.
    - achompas 12y ago
      How would you suggest they generate insights to begin with? And what local matching are you proposing here?
- bryanlarsen 12y ago
  Misfit on Pebble doesn't upload on Android, that feature is currently disabled. It provides one week graphs of sleep and activity right on the watch itself.
  - mikestew 12y ago
    I think they've since fixed this on iOS, at least for synching to the phone app (which was temporarily disabled as well on iOS). It looks like it now syncs as soon as the app is fired up. However, I'm not sure that the Pebble app even requires the Misfit mobile app. So you could just run the Pebble app, and remember to look at the stats on the watch at least once a week.
- IgorPartola 12y ago
  Yes. Polar lower level monitors will do this. They don't have Bluetooth, but will analyze stuff right on the watch. Workout-only, but it's a fantastic way to boost your workouts.
pdx 12y ago
I anxiously read the specs of the new products, sure that they would have seen the error of their ways when they went from waterproof with the 'flex', to non-waterproof with the 'force'. But nope, they're still wasting my time. Apparently the 'flex' was the anomaly, and non-waterproof jewelry that can't be showered with, swam with, or wash the dishes with, is what they actually think is a good fitness product.
MBCook 12y ago
So they're announcing new products again. Tell me when they update their app for the new iPhone. Tell me when they decide that when there's a bug that makes the calorie tracking almost useless for existing users they won't just fix it for new people and pretend it didn't happen, instead actually telling users who were affected and lost months and months of data. Tell me when they decide to integrate into HealthKit. Or maybe just fixing a bunch of the weird little UI things that have been wrong with the app since the iOS 7 version launch. When FitBit pretends to care about their software they might be worth considering again. Right now they're behaving like just another hardware manufacturer who only makes half-assed attempts at software.
- obviouslygreen 12y ago
  This is why I skipped the high priced crap and went straight to a pedometer. It's not perfect, but it is engineered to serve its purpose and does so in a predictable way. What is this high-price-point, high-maintenance appliance worth if it's broken for significant portions of its audience and requires constant updates that don't actually happen to run or keep running? I have friends who use and love these. Frankly, for the headaches they deal with, my ~20USD pedometer sits in my pocket and reliably estimates both my distance traveled and calories burned. No fuss, no muss, no upgrades, no OS issues. It does one thing and does it pretty well; I'd rather have that than have an appliance that attempts to do a lot of things and manages it rather poorly.
  - MBCook 12y ago
    When I bought my FitBit it was a very nice device. The app worked and the fact that it handled figuring out total calories made it very easy to use. But at some point there was a bug in their software which they never bothered to tell me about. I recently asked support they said that they actually knew about the problem it had turned it off for all new users so they wouldn't hit it. But they never told me. So I have about 18 months of data we're most days I expended almost exactly 3000 calories which is a total lie. On top of that the quality of the app has been terrible ever since they released the iOS 7 version last year. They had clearly implemented custom controls which cease to work well when iOS 7 came out, and after more than a year and numerous bug reports they still haven't fixed any of them. The app is been redesigned a few times; clearly to push whatever their current goal is. In doing so they have actually taken away extremely useful features. I spent a lot of time looking around find the best company with a health tracker. At the time FitBit was the clear winner. But it seems that since the market growing they're happy to do whatever they want and the money keeps flowing in. It doesn't matter how you treat current customers. Once you've sold the device they don't matter.
calferreira 12y ago
For me the most important thing is accuracy. If the values are estimates, any smartphone with an exercise tracking app does the same...
- pcurve 12y ago
  I have Galaxy 4s and Fitbit Flex. Their step tracker figures are close, withing +/- 2-3%. I mainly bought it for sleep tracking, but then I realized you had to manually enter sleep / wake up times for you to see any graphs. I don't know why there can't be some default value that can be algorithmically adjusted, because most people tend to go to bed and wake up around the same time.
  - mahyarm 12y ago
    Misfit basically does that. I think their pebble app does that too, but I hear about bugs with data syncing.
    - mikestew 12y ago
      The Pebble app/iOS app syncing used to be buggy as hell (retrying a few times might get it to sync). The updated iOS app seems to sync reliably now. As for sleep tracking, as far as I can tell you have to push a button at bedtime. Don't care much about sleep tracking, so I haven't researched to see that my assessment is correct. Still, not a big deal to me when I do use it.
- MBCook 12y ago
  It made more sense a few years ago when phones didn't have the ability to do constant motion tracking with very little battery use.
cheath 12y ago
I really don't want one that has to be a fashion statement. I wish an upgraded version of the clip (with heart rate monitor) was available.
- zorpner 12y ago
  I continue to want a fitness monitor that's just a nice-looking watch strap, that I can put on my watch that I already like. I suppose that would be a pretty niche market, though.
- phreeza 12y ago
  A heart rate monitor would have to be some kind of bracelet, unless you want to be wearing a chest strap all day, no?
  - Nowyouknow 12y ago
    An unobtrusive bracelet, paired with a a great app, that I could wear on my right wrist (watch on the left) would be ideal. I wouldn't mind an un-obnoxious vibrate option that lets me know I have a notification or that I need to wake up. At $49 that would be a day 1 buy for me.
    - LaurensBER 12y ago
      Xiaomi Mi Band, It's 25 dollars and does exactly what you want it to do with a 30 days battery life. The downside? Instead of only the American government tracking you, the Chinese government now also knows if you're out of shape!
      - Nowyouknow 12y ago
        Thanks! Almost exactly what I described. Appreciate the direction.
- lnanek2 12y ago
  there isn't any way for a clip to measure your heart rate. previously you needed a strap around your chest with wet contacts. now you need a light sensor pressed against your wrist. but no one has done it with a clip on your clothes device
suprgeek 12y ago
So pricing wise Fitbit Charge-$130, Fitbit Charge HR-$150 and Fitbit Surge-$250. Why even have the entry level Charge? For 20 bucks more I get (allegedly) accurate Wrist based Heart Rate Monitoring, so why would I not spring for the Charge HR over the Charge? The top end model is a whole $100 more expensive and going into Moto 360 pricing - too expensive IMO. Better structure: Charge $99 Charge HR $149 Surge $199 The fact that all of these get 5 days or more of battery life is the key for me. I do not want another thing in my schedule that I need to top up daily - no way.
- frandroid 12y ago
  If they didn't have a $99 model, one would think the $150 is expensive. There is have a crippled, just slightly lower-priced model so that people who want to "optimize" the price think that they're so clever by getting the level-up. Just like one thinks "Cool, I'm getting twice the amount of pop for 25 cents more!" but you would have been happy with a single can of Coke for a dollar, now you have a 32oz cup of fountain Coke for $1.75. Regarding the battery (Flex owner here), I find that the slightly-more-than-once-weekly charging schedule annoying. If it could last 8 or 9 days, I would just charge it at the same time every week. Now I have to keep monitoring this thing and figure out when's a good time to charge it so I don't miss steps.
- davidedicillo 12y ago
  That's the definition of price anchoring... That makes look like the $150 device is a bargain, because for ONLY $20 more you get the HRM, distracting from the more objective consideration of the price of the item.
  - joshschreuder 12y ago
    How does price anchoring work with physical products though? They still have to manufacture the product at the lower price point because someone will buy it, do they just manufacture less stock for the lower price point (and higher for the other two) and hope the demand doesn't exceed the stock levels?
- runamok 12y ago
gadders 12y ago
"Records multi-sport activities like running, cross-training and strength workouts; see comprehensive summaries with tailored metrics, workout intensity and calories burned" I wonder how it records strength workouts? It would be good to see strength training get the same benefits from these devices as cardio-based training does.
jbrooksuk 12y ago
I purchased a Fitbit Flex over a year ago and at the time I was really happy that I chose it over competitors. However, since I learnt recently that they're not going to be integrating with the Health app, I've got absolutely zero interest in continuing to use the device as the iPhone app is terrible and I've been using Health.app a lot recently tracking flight count, steps etc. The iPhone app is really broken. It doesn't work on the iPhone 6, doesn't count calories correctly and refuses to connect to the Flex for the first couple of attempts. Silly Fitbit, I thought you were a cool company.
- mahyarm 12y ago
  I wonder how broken their engineering org is if they cannot even let their 1+ iOS engineers implement it properly o_O.
  - IgorPartola 12y ago
    I think not integrating with HealthKit is a strategy decision, not an issue of resources.
    - MBCook 12y ago
      Right. I'm pretty sure they want to BE HealthKit, not part of Apple's thing. They've offered integration for a few years. PS: Who remembers OpenFeint on iOS? Yeah.
ctz 12y ago
Every product link in this announcement being a 404 is the quality I've come to expect from Fitbit. (Now on my fourth Flex in just under a year, with the first three dying in precisely the same way. Fitbit replaced them all under warranty, so I can't fault them there. But I'd prefer if they lasted more than a few months.)
- johngd 12y ago
  Is it common to use bit.ly links when linking to your products off your own press release? I understand that bit.ly offers link analytics but I can't imagine they offer something that you couldn't do in house that offsets the loss of branding by not advertising with your own domain.
  - ignostic 12y ago
    It is common on third-party sites, but not on the same domain. It's often just PR and marketing people who don't know they have better options for tracking. Some do know better, but can't get access to the data they need (for various bad reasons).
kolev 12y ago
Fitbit syncing on Android is constantly broken. Don't have this issue with other BLE devices. Anyway, I have a bunch of wearables collecting dust (Basis, Amiigo, Alpha). They need to be worn tight to have a precise HR measuring and this always causes dermatological problems. I stopped wearing them as although I don't have allergies and always clean the band with alcohol and shower daily, yet, I still get redness, and it slowly damages your skin. If I loosen this a bit, then HR monitor stops working. I was wearing this fanatically 24x7, but even alternating arms every day didn't show improvement, so, I quit using any. They might be great devices, but the bands are poorly made, and non-breathable.
- mahyarm 12y ago
  I would just give up on the continuous HR monitoring. I'm not sure of the actual value after having a basis watch for over a year now. Basis is far worse than fitbit. No API still, and their bluetooth syncing has always been unreliable. I find I don't look at the data because it's locked into their platform, and I don't like how they organize the data in their own app. I want to get a new watch tracker soon, but so much new stuff is coming out now, I'm in a wait and see mode. Just go for automatic sleep tracking and movement tracking. You wont have your phone with you all the time, so a wrist tracker is ideal.
  - kolev 12y ago
    Apple's watch doesn't have continuous, only on-demand HR, correct? I think they have better options and I would trust them much more than anybody else regarding choices of materials and so on. And, yeah, Basis doesn't have an API and that's another reason not to waste money into it. It's been years and they still keep our data for themselves! As a beta tester, I told them that I don't mind paying an annual fee to get access to an API, they told me they are working on it (2 years ago), and, yet, there's nothing to date!
  - mikestew 12y ago
    > I would just give up on the continuous HR monitoring. I'm not sure of the actual value after having a basis watch for over a year now. It strikes me as a "because we can" feature. Frankly, step counters almost fall into that category: "what can we do with solid-state accelerometers and gyros now that they're $2 in lots of 10K?" But beyond counting steps, not a lot has been done. (The exception were the Nike+ shoes, but I can't even find them on the Nike site anymore. Pity, too, as they were actually pretty cool.) I fail to see the value of continuous HR monitoring. For starters, as others have pointed out, it's a PITA to get it working and keep working. I'm a scrawny guy with single-digit body fat % (I assume that the monitor has less to have to look through), and I still have to clamp a Samsung Gear Fit to my wrist to get it to work consistently. Second, what does it tell you? Your resting HR? You can do that without having to turn your hand blue from lack of blood flow. HR during exercise? Doesn't work that well, if at all, and is a HR strap that much of a burden? That your HR rises when you get pissed off in that meeting with your boss? Duh. Maybe it's a useful metric, but I haven't seen any information on how it's useful...other than "because we can".
Poiesis 12y ago
Going to have to pile on here. The Flex seemed like it was going to be cool, but then the software was buggy for the longest time--wouldn't sync, silent alarms wouldn't work, etc. These are largely fixed but now they won't add HealthKit support. Seems stupid since the software isn't their strong point. But whatever, despite the lock-in attempts I'm not sticking with their stuff. Really like the Flex form factor but can't stand the platform at this point.
mrtomahawk_5 12y ago
Am I the only one that noticed that only the Charge lists the feature of it being water resistant? Does that mean the Charge HR and Surge can take a splash of water, or that you can't go running in the rain with them? If so this is a huge drawback.
- pdx 12y ago
  It's not water resistant. It's band is. From FTA A high-quality, water-resistant, comfortable new textured wristband design with an improved clasp
  - MBCook 12y ago
    Water resistant rubber/vinyl. What will the world invent next. /sarcasm
kyro 12y ago
I would be hesitant to purchase another Fitbit device. As someone who was a hugely loyal fan of theirs, they've repeatedly dropped the ball. I've had to replace multiple devices for loss of functionality, poor quality of the Flex band, and wrist rashes. To their credit, they've been more than responsive and replaced my products no questions asked, but it's all left me with a sour taste. Their simplistic app, confusing calorie tracking and refusal to integrate HealthKit doesn't help. Fitbit was on top a few years back when the wearables game was still young, so a slip up here and there was acceptable, but now there are a ton of competitors with great products, so research your options.
therobot24 12y ago
I loved my Fitbit Force (no app problems that i noticed on android), however it literally fell apart in 6 months, as in the rubber completely disconnected and i was left with 3 pieces of what was my fitbit. I'm debating on getting a Charge with the recall money from the Force, though i'm hesitant because i don't believe this one will last me any longer than the last...
IgorPartola 12y ago
So having used a Polar heart rate monitor (the kind with the chest strap), I am used to the heart rate to be very accurately measured. The downside to the Polar HRM is that I can't wear it 24/7. It'd be nice to see my HR all day long, but the strap is not comfortable for anything but actual workouts. The improved version of my HRM includes Bluetooth to connect to my phone, a GPS unit, and a large display that shows me where I'm going. It also includes things like connectivity to a cycle computer on an exercise bike, etc. All of this is still workout-only, but doesn't help with day to day stuff. Now, the Charge HR and Surge promise the same thing without the chest strap. This sounds really appealing, and it's at a price point that's very competitive with the Polar and Garmin products. However, I doubt that it's that accurate. The reason is that I am sure that if the technology existed to get rid of the strap, by now Polar and Garmin would have been all over it. Remember, these companies are targeting people that are very serious about getting info about their workouts only. If they could deliver the same level of accuracy without the annoying chest strap, or even with the chest strap that you didn't have to use with electrode gel, they would. What I suspect will happen is the same thing as happened with the previous iterations: you will get moderately accurate heart rate at rest, but when you start running, swimming, playing basketball, etc., the FitBit will not get a reading. I'd love to be proven wrong. The moment I see serious fitness nerds jumping from Polar to FitBit, I'll join them. Until then, I remain skeptical.
- mikestew 12y ago
  > However, I doubt that it's that accurate. It's not that it's not accurate. In comparisons of two products (Samsung Gear Fit and an as-of-yet-unannounced product) with my Polar and Garmin straps, it seems to be close enough...when it works. And that's the trick, because if I can't consistently get it to work, then it effectively doesn't work at all. But if the strap isn't tight, forget it. And during exercise it just won't reliably give you HR regardless. Either it just gives up, or it tries to pretend that it worked when conditions were not optimal to get an accurate reading. > The moment I see serious fitness nerds jumping from Polar to FitBit, I'll join them. Until then, I remain skeptical. Serious fitness nerd here (well, just an obsessive runner, really) with a shelf full of Garmin and Polar devices. I doubt FitBit will ever even try to grab that market. If they do, they appear to lack the experience (and chops, for that matter) to pull off grabbing the 70 mile/week marathoner market (or serious triathlete, et. al.). It's a big jump from "inactive person who needs motivation to get off their ass" to "serious athlete who wants accurate telemetry presented in a useful manner". Even Garmin and Polar struggle with that, and they've been at it for years.
dantiberian 12y ago
> PurePulse uses safe LED lights to detect blood volume changes right on the wrist to deliver heart rate monitoring 24/7. Is there such a thing as an unsafe LED?
- wahsd 12y ago
  Maybe ones that put out UVA and UVB rays? Just a stab in the dark.
click170 12y ago
I like my Fitbit, but I'm having a hard time liking the company. Thing is, they're providing a service, and they're only charging for a product. I don't think this is sustainable and it makes me feel very uneasy about the safety of my data. The cherry on the cake is that they already put their Data Export feature behind a paywall (though last I checked they allow you to retrieve a small subset of your data once for free). I concede that storing that data costs money, but they do not provide an option for me to use my own servers for that. This leaves me feeling like they're holding my data hostage, and I don't like that. I'm looking at ways of intercepting that traffic and setting up my own server, and am interested in any similar or related projects.
Brian-Puccio 12y ago
I posted a comment on their blog a few hours ago echoing some of the sentiments here (less bugs, free the data, etc.). It was deleted, it looks like they only want a cheerleading section in their comments.
- Istof 12y ago
  unfortunately, many (if not most) companies do this ... this happened to me a few weeks ago on Dropcam's website as an example (it was a post about it's inability to stream the camera's video feed locally)
swamp40 12y ago
Since Fitbit has an API, what is stopping developers from making a Fitbit-to-HealthKit data transfer app?
borgchick 12y ago
When I first investigated these personal fitness monitors, Fitbit was a standout (I have the Flex). It made the Jawbone look old and clumbsy. The automatic syncing was really nice. Then, my Indiegogo funded Misfit Shine came, and initially it was still behind Fitbit in terms of the app, and sleep tracking. Then, Misfit kept updating their firmware and app, so month after month, it got better. Although not as detailed as Fitbit, when they added automatic sleep tracking, the war was over, and Misfit shine had won. Why in the world do you tell Fitbit that you are a) going to sleep, and then b) you are now getting up? Also, initially I thought the prospect of a USB charged device great. But then, I realized the drawbacks. With my Shine, I can replace the standard 2032 battery every three months. So I replace it, and forget it. With Fitbit, I'd have to take it off every 4 days or so (depending on usage). The "lasts a week" thing is a lie. And if I was travelling, I'd have to think if I need to take the USB charger or not. With the Shine, no worries, unless I am going somewhere for more than 3 months! Another thing that really sucks about the Fitbit are the bands. Yeh you got lots of colours, but they break! And then you'll have to spend $30 for 3 bands. Whether you like all three colours or not, you'll have to buy 3 at a time. I guess you'll use them all, because they all will eventually break. The wrist band Shine comes with isn't super either. It is a cheap rubber band, but it didn't break. I bought a nice leather one about a year after because I wanted to, not because the original one broke. I have the Aria too, that product I still like, and I still use the Fitbit app just for that. I wish that could integrate with Healthkit. I think the only thing Fitbit is still ahead of the Shine is with the online app. But in terms of functionality and long term durability, the Shine for me, is a clear winner.
- MBCook 12y ago
  > Why in the world do you tell Fitbit that you are a) going to sleep, and then b) you are now getting up? It made more sense on the FitBit One, the previous device. It had to go in a special arm band at night to do that feature. At this point I hate this feature because I accidentally press the button on my One and it decides that means I sleep-walked for 6 hours in the middle of the day. There is no way to turn the tracking off totally, I just have to watch and remove the errant data when I accidentally trigger it. > With my Shine, I can replace the standard 2032 battery every three months. So I replace it, and forget it. With Fitbit, I'd have to take it off every 4 days or so (depending on usage). The "lasts a week" thing is a lie. My FitBit One lasts a week, but it's a bigger device and could hold more battery. The 'children's FitBit' (the Zip?) also does the 2032 battery thing and lasts months. > I have the Aria too, that product I still like, and I still use the Fitbit app just for that. I wish that could integrate with Healthkit. Sort of possible. FitBit -> My Fitness Pal -> HealthKit.
BHSPitMonkey 12y ago
Can anyone from Fitbit attest for how hackable (or not) the Charge might be? I'd be very interested in picking one up if there's some way for me to push some custom information from my phone to the display (preferably without having to generate fake incoming call events).
davidcelis 12y ago
I liked my Flex, but when I upgraded to the Force I ended up with skin irritation that lasted for months. I was worried my wrist would never be the same again. I'll pass on anything Fitbit related now.

109 points by valanto 12y ago

Interesting for me, I get 404 for the bit.ly links for the new trackers. Are they available only for US?

This might be the time to ask: Does anybody know of an activity tracker (like the Pebble or FitBit devices) that doesn't need to upload data to a distant server in order to analyze and give me insights? I want a piece of software for OS X or Windows that can sync with the device and help me interpret the data. I want to store the data myself and I don't want to be dependent on an internet connection. Is there such a device? Or, should I just accept has the data collection economy has penetrated all aspects of our lives?

tomschlick 12y ago
That seems to be exactly what apple is trying to do with healthkit/healthbook. Store that data for apps so they dont have to worry about privacy/security. So any device that would sync with healthbook would do this for you (so long as you could disable third party service syncing)
k-mcgrady 12y ago
For insights I think you would need to upload. They are able to provide those insights by analysing the data of all of their users.
- asadotzler 12y ago
  Not true at all. They could send down a batch of insights and do local matching to expose the proper ones.
  - achompas 12y ago
    How would you suggest they generate insights to begin with? And what local matching are you proposing here?
bryanlarsen 12y ago
Misfit on Pebble doesn't upload on Android, that feature is currently disabled. It provides one week graphs of sleep and activity right on the watch itself.
- mikestew 12y ago
  I think they've since fixed this on iOS, at least for synching to the phone app (which was temporarily disabled as well on iOS). It looks like it now syncs as soon as the app is fired up. However, I'm not sure that the Pebble app even requires the Misfit mobile app. So you could just run the Pebble app, and remember to look at the stats on the watch at least once a week.
IgorPartola 12y ago
Yes. Polar lower level monitors will do this. They don't have Bluetooth, but will analyze stuff right on the watch. Workout-only, but it's a fantastic way to boost your workouts.

pdx 12y ago

I anxiously read the specs of the new products, sure that they would have seen the error of their ways when they went from waterproof with the 'flex', to non-waterproof with the 'force'. But nope, they're still wasting my time. Apparently the 'flex' was the anomaly, and non-waterproof jewelry that can't be showered with, swam with, or wash the dishes with, is what they actually think is a good fitness product.

MBCook 12y ago

So they're announcing new products again. Tell me when they update their app for the new iPhone. Tell me when they decide that when there's a bug that makes the calorie tracking almost useless for existing users they won't just fix it for new people and pretend it didn't happen, instead actually telling users who were affected and lost months and months of data. Tell me when they decide to integrate into HealthKit. Or maybe just fixing a bunch of the weird little UI things that have been wrong with the app since the iOS 7 version launch. When FitBit pretends to care about their software they might be worth considering again. Right now they're behaving like just another hardware manufacturer who only makes half-assed attempts at software.

obviouslygreen 12y ago
This is why I skipped the high priced crap and went straight to a pedometer. It's not perfect, but it is engineered to serve its purpose and does so in a predictable way. What is this high-price-point, high-maintenance appliance worth if it's broken for significant portions of its audience and requires constant updates that don't actually happen to run or keep running? I have friends who use and love these. Frankly, for the headaches they deal with, my ~20USD pedometer sits in my pocket and reliably estimates both my distance traveled and calories burned. No fuss, no muss, no upgrades, no OS issues. It does one thing and does it pretty well; I'd rather have that than have an appliance that attempts to do a lot of things and manages it rather poorly.
- MBCook 12y ago
  When I bought my FitBit it was a very nice device. The app worked and the fact that it handled figuring out total calories made it very easy to use. But at some point there was a bug in their software which they never bothered to tell me about. I recently asked support they said that they actually knew about the problem it had turned it off for all new users so they wouldn't hit it. But they never told me. So I have about 18 months of data we're most days I expended almost exactly 3000 calories which is a total lie. On top of that the quality of the app has been terrible ever since they released the iOS 7 version last year. They had clearly implemented custom controls which cease to work well when iOS 7 came out, and after more than a year and numerous bug reports they still haven't fixed any of them. The app is been redesigned a few times; clearly to push whatever their current goal is. In doing so they have actually taken away extremely useful features. I spent a lot of time looking around find the best company with a health tracker. At the time FitBit was the clear winner. But it seems that since the market growing they're happy to do whatever they want and the money keeps flowing in. It doesn't matter how you treat current customers. Once you've sold the device they don't matter.

calferreira 12y ago

For me the most important thing is accuracy. If the values are estimates, any smartphone with an exercise tracking app does the same...

pcurve 12y ago
I have Galaxy 4s and Fitbit Flex. Their step tracker figures are close, withing +/- 2-3%. I mainly bought it for sleep tracking, but then I realized you had to manually enter sleep / wake up times for you to see any graphs. I don't know why there can't be some default value that can be algorithmically adjusted, because most people tend to go to bed and wake up around the same time.
- mahyarm 12y ago
  Misfit basically does that. I think their pebble app does that too, but I hear about bugs with data syncing.
  - mikestew 12y ago
    The Pebble app/iOS app syncing used to be buggy as hell (retrying a few times might get it to sync). The updated iOS app seems to sync reliably now. As for sleep tracking, as far as I can tell you have to push a button at bedtime. Don't care much about sleep tracking, so I haven't researched to see that my assessment is correct. Still, not a big deal to me when I do use it.
MBCook 12y ago
It made more sense a few years ago when phones didn't have the ability to do constant motion tracking with very little battery use.

cheath 12y ago

I really don't want one that has to be a fashion statement. I wish an upgraded version of the clip (with heart rate monitor) was available.

zorpner 12y ago
I continue to want a fitness monitor that's just a nice-looking watch strap, that I can put on my watch that I already like. I suppose that would be a pretty niche market, though.
phreeza 12y ago
A heart rate monitor would have to be some kind of bracelet, unless you want to be wearing a chest strap all day, no?
- Nowyouknow 12y ago
  An unobtrusive bracelet, paired with a a great app, that I could wear on my right wrist (watch on the left) would be ideal. I wouldn't mind an un-obnoxious vibrate option that lets me know I have a notification or that I need to wake up. At $49 that would be a day 1 buy for me.
  - LaurensBER 12y ago
    Xiaomi Mi Band, It's 25 dollars and does exactly what you want it to do with a 30 days battery life. The downside? Instead of only the American government tracking you, the Chinese government now also knows if you're out of shape!
    - Nowyouknow 12y ago
      Thanks! Almost exactly what I described. Appreciate the direction.
lnanek2 12y ago
there isn't any way for a clip to measure your heart rate. previously you needed a strap around your chest with wet contacts. now you need a light sensor pressed against your wrist. but no one has done it with a clip on your clothes device

suprgeek 12y ago

So pricing wise Fitbit Charge-$130, Fitbit Charge HR-$150 and Fitbit Surge-$250. Why even have the entry level Charge? For 20 bucks more I get (allegedly) accurate Wrist based Heart Rate Monitoring, so why would I not spring for the Charge HR over the Charge? The top end model is a whole $100 more expensive and going into Moto 360 pricing - too expensive IMO. Better structure: Charge $99 Charge HR $149 Surge $199 The fact that all of these get 5 days or more of battery life is the key for me. I do not want another thing in my schedule that I need to top up daily - no way.

frandroid 12y ago
If they didn't have a $99 model, one would think the $150 is expensive. There is have a crippled, just slightly lower-priced model so that people who want to "optimize" the price think that they're so clever by getting the level-up. Just like one thinks "Cool, I'm getting twice the amount of pop for 25 cents more!" but you would have been happy with a single can of Coke for a dollar, now you have a 32oz cup of fountain Coke for $1.75. Regarding the battery (Flex owner here), I find that the slightly-more-than-once-weekly charging schedule annoying. If it could last 8 or 9 days, I would just charge it at the same time every week. Now I have to keep monitoring this thing and figure out when's a good time to charge it so I don't miss steps.
davidedicillo 12y ago
That's the definition of price anchoring... That makes look like the $150 device is a bargain, because for ONLY $20 more you get the HRM, distracting from the more objective consideration of the price of the item.
- joshschreuder 12y ago
  How does price anchoring work with physical products though? They still have to manufacture the product at the lower price point because someone will buy it, do they just manufacture less stock for the lower price point (and higher for the other two) and hope the demand doesn't exceed the stock levels?
runamok 12y ago

gadders 12y ago

"Records multi-sport activities like running, cross-training and strength workouts; see comprehensive summaries with tailored metrics, workout intensity and calories burned" I wonder how it records strength workouts? It would be good to see strength training get the same benefits from these devices as cardio-based training does.

jbrooksuk 12y ago

I purchased a Fitbit Flex over a year ago and at the time I was really happy that I chose it over competitors. However, since I learnt recently that they're not going to be integrating with the Health app, I've got absolutely zero interest in continuing to use the device as the iPhone app is terrible and I've been using Health.app a lot recently tracking flight count, steps etc. The iPhone app is really broken. It doesn't work on the iPhone 6, doesn't count calories correctly and refuses to connect to the Flex for the first couple of attempts. Silly Fitbit, I thought you were a cool company.

mahyarm 12y ago
I wonder how broken their engineering org is if they cannot even let their 1+ iOS engineers implement it properly o_O.
- IgorPartola 12y ago
  I think not integrating with HealthKit is a strategy decision, not an issue of resources.
  - MBCook 12y ago
    Right. I'm pretty sure they want to BE HealthKit, not part of Apple's thing. They've offered integration for a few years. PS: Who remembers OpenFeint on iOS? Yeah.

ctz 12y ago

Every product link in this announcement being a 404 is the quality I've come to expect from Fitbit. (Now on my fourth Flex in just under a year, with the first three dying in precisely the same way. Fitbit replaced them all under warranty, so I can't fault them there. But I'd prefer if they lasted more than a few months.)

johngd 12y ago
Is it common to use bit.ly links when linking to your products off your own press release? I understand that bit.ly offers link analytics but I can't imagine they offer something that you couldn't do in house that offsets the loss of branding by not advertising with your own domain.
- ignostic 12y ago
  It is common on third-party sites, but not on the same domain. It's often just PR and marketing people who don't know they have better options for tracking. Some do know better, but can't get access to the data they need (for various bad reasons).

kolev 12y ago

Fitbit syncing on Android is constantly broken. Don't have this issue with other BLE devices. Anyway, I have a bunch of wearables collecting dust (Basis, Amiigo, Alpha). They need to be worn tight to have a precise HR measuring and this always causes dermatological problems. I stopped wearing them as although I don't have allergies and always clean the band with alcohol and shower daily, yet, I still get redness, and it slowly damages your skin. If I loosen this a bit, then HR monitor stops working. I was wearing this fanatically 24x7, but even alternating arms every day didn't show improvement, so, I quit using any. They might be great devices, but the bands are poorly made, and non-breathable.

mahyarm 12y ago
I would just give up on the continuous HR monitoring. I'm not sure of the actual value after having a basis watch for over a year now. Basis is far worse than fitbit. No API still, and their bluetooth syncing has always been unreliable. I find I don't look at the data because it's locked into their platform, and I don't like how they organize the data in their own app. I want to get a new watch tracker soon, but so much new stuff is coming out now, I'm in a wait and see mode. Just go for automatic sleep tracking and movement tracking. You wont have your phone with you all the time, so a wrist tracker is ideal.
- kolev 12y ago
  Apple's watch doesn't have continuous, only on-demand HR, correct? I think they have better options and I would trust them much more than anybody else regarding choices of materials and so on. And, yeah, Basis doesn't have an API and that's another reason not to waste money into it. It's been years and they still keep our data for themselves! As a beta tester, I told them that I don't mind paying an annual fee to get access to an API, they told me they are working on it (2 years ago), and, yet, there's nothing to date!
- mikestew 12y ago
  > I would just give up on the continuous HR monitoring. I'm not sure of the actual value after having a basis watch for over a year now. It strikes me as a "because we can" feature. Frankly, step counters almost fall into that category: "what can we do with solid-state accelerometers and gyros now that they're $2 in lots of 10K?" But beyond counting steps, not a lot has been done. (The exception were the Nike+ shoes, but I can't even find them on the Nike site anymore. Pity, too, as they were actually pretty cool.) I fail to see the value of continuous HR monitoring. For starters, as others have pointed out, it's a PITA to get it working and keep working. I'm a scrawny guy with single-digit body fat % (I assume that the monitor has less to have to look through), and I still have to clamp a Samsung Gear Fit to my wrist to get it to work consistently. Second, what does it tell you? Your resting HR? You can do that without having to turn your hand blue from lack of blood flow. HR during exercise? Doesn't work that well, if at all, and is a HR strap that much of a burden? That your HR rises when you get pissed off in that meeting with your boss? Duh. Maybe it's a useful metric, but I haven't seen any information on how it's useful...other than "because we can".

Poiesis 12y ago

Going to have to pile on here. The Flex seemed like it was going to be cool, but then the software was buggy for the longest time--wouldn't sync, silent alarms wouldn't work, etc. These are largely fixed but now they won't add HealthKit support. Seems stupid since the software isn't their strong point. But whatever, despite the lock-in attempts I'm not sticking with their stuff. Really like the Flex form factor but can't stand the platform at this point.

mrtomahawk_5 12y ago

Am I the only one that noticed that only the Charge lists the feature of it being water resistant? Does that mean the Charge HR and Surge can take a splash of water, or that you can't go running in the rain with them? If so this is a huge drawback.

pdx 12y ago
It's not water resistant. It's band is. From FTA A high-quality, water-resistant, comfortable new textured wristband design with an improved clasp
- MBCook 12y ago
  Water resistant rubber/vinyl. What will the world invent next. /sarcasm

kyro 12y ago

I would be hesitant to purchase another Fitbit device. As someone who was a hugely loyal fan of theirs, they've repeatedly dropped the ball. I've had to replace multiple devices for loss of functionality, poor quality of the Flex band, and wrist rashes. To their credit, they've been more than responsive and replaced my products no questions asked, but it's all left me with a sour taste. Their simplistic app, confusing calorie tracking and refusal to integrate HealthKit doesn't help. Fitbit was on top a few years back when the wearables game was still young, so a slip up here and there was acceptable, but now there are a ton of competitors with great products, so research your options.

therobot24 12y ago

I loved my Fitbit Force (no app problems that i noticed on android), however it literally fell apart in 6 months, as in the rubber completely disconnected and i was left with 3 pieces of what was my fitbit. I'm debating on getting a Charge with the recall money from the Force, though i'm hesitant because i don't believe this one will last me any longer than the last...

IgorPartola 12y ago

So having used a Polar heart rate monitor (the kind with the chest strap), I am used to the heart rate to be very accurately measured. The downside to the Polar HRM is that I can't wear it 24/7. It'd be nice to see my HR all day long, but the strap is not comfortable for anything but actual workouts. The improved version of my HRM includes Bluetooth to connect to my phone, a GPS unit, and a large display that shows me where I'm going. It also includes things like connectivity to a cycle computer on an exercise bike, etc. All of this is still workout-only, but doesn't help with day to day stuff. Now, the Charge HR and Surge promise the same thing without the chest strap. This sounds really appealing, and it's at a price point that's very competitive with the Polar and Garmin products. However, I doubt that it's that accurate. The reason is that I am sure that if the technology existed to get rid of the strap, by now Polar and Garmin would have been all over it. Remember, these companies are targeting people that are very serious about getting info about their workouts only. If they could deliver the same level of accuracy without the annoying chest strap, or even with the chest strap that you didn't have to use with electrode gel, they would. What I suspect will happen is the same thing as happened with the previous iterations: you will get moderately accurate heart rate at rest, but when you start running, swimming, playing basketball, etc., the FitBit will not get a reading. I'd love to be proven wrong. The moment I see serious fitness nerds jumping from Polar to FitBit, I'll join them. Until then, I remain skeptical.

mikestew 12y ago
> However, I doubt that it's that accurate. It's not that it's not accurate. In comparisons of two products (Samsung Gear Fit and an as-of-yet-unannounced product) with my Polar and Garmin straps, it seems to be close enough...when it works. And that's the trick, because if I can't consistently get it to work, then it effectively doesn't work at all. But if the strap isn't tight, forget it. And during exercise it just won't reliably give you HR regardless. Either it just gives up, or it tries to pretend that it worked when conditions were not optimal to get an accurate reading. > The moment I see serious fitness nerds jumping from Polar to FitBit, I'll join them. Until then, I remain skeptical. Serious fitness nerd here (well, just an obsessive runner, really) with a shelf full of Garmin and Polar devices. I doubt FitBit will ever even try to grab that market. If they do, they appear to lack the experience (and chops, for that matter) to pull off grabbing the 70 mile/week marathoner market (or serious triathlete, et. al.). It's a big jump from "inactive person who needs motivation to get off their ass" to "serious athlete who wants accurate telemetry presented in a useful manner". Even Garmin and Polar struggle with that, and they've been at it for years.

dantiberian 12y ago

> PurePulse uses safe LED lights to detect blood volume changes right on the wrist to deliver heart rate monitoring 24/7. Is there such a thing as an unsafe LED?

wahsd 12y ago
Maybe ones that put out UVA and UVB rays? Just a stab in the dark.

click170 12y ago

I like my Fitbit, but I'm having a hard time liking the company. Thing is, they're providing a service, and they're only charging for a product. I don't think this is sustainable and it makes me feel very uneasy about the safety of my data. The cherry on the cake is that they already put their Data Export feature behind a paywall (though last I checked they allow you to retrieve a small subset of your data once for free). I concede that storing that data costs money, but they do not provide an option for me to use my own servers for that. This leaves me feeling like they're holding my data hostage, and I don't like that. I'm looking at ways of intercepting that traffic and setting up my own server, and am interested in any similar or related projects.

Brian-Puccio 12y ago

I posted a comment on their blog a few hours ago echoing some of the sentiments here (less bugs, free the data, etc.). It was deleted, it looks like they only want a cheerleading section in their comments.

Istof 12y ago
unfortunately, many (if not most) companies do this ... this happened to me a few weeks ago on Dropcam's website as an example (it was a post about it's inability to stream the camera's video feed locally)

swamp40 12y ago

Since Fitbit has an API, what is stopping developers from making a Fitbit-to-HealthKit data transfer app?

borgchick 12y ago

When I first investigated these personal fitness monitors, Fitbit was a standout (I have the Flex). It made the Jawbone look old and clumbsy. The automatic syncing was really nice. Then, my Indiegogo funded Misfit Shine came, and initially it was still behind Fitbit in terms of the app, and sleep tracking. Then, Misfit kept updating their firmware and app, so month after month, it got better. Although not as detailed as Fitbit, when they added automatic sleep tracking, the war was over, and Misfit shine had won. Why in the world do you tell Fitbit that you are a) going to sleep, and then b) you are now getting up? Also, initially I thought the prospect of a USB charged device great. But then, I realized the drawbacks. With my Shine, I can replace the standard 2032 battery every three months. So I replace it, and forget it. With Fitbit, I'd have to take it off every 4 days or so (depending on usage). The "lasts a week" thing is a lie. And if I was travelling, I'd have to think if I need to take the USB charger or not. With the Shine, no worries, unless I am going somewhere for more than 3 months! Another thing that really sucks about the Fitbit are the bands. Yeh you got lots of colours, but they break! And then you'll have to spend $30 for 3 bands. Whether you like all three colours or not, you'll have to buy 3 at a time. I guess you'll use them all, because they all will eventually break. The wrist band Shine comes with isn't super either. It is a cheap rubber band, but it didn't break. I bought a nice leather one about a year after because I wanted to, not because the original one broke. I have the Aria too, that product I still like, and I still use the Fitbit app just for that. I wish that could integrate with Healthkit. I think the only thing Fitbit is still ahead of the Shine is with the online app. But in terms of functionality and long term durability, the Shine for me, is a clear winner.

MBCook 12y ago
> Why in the world do you tell Fitbit that you are a) going to sleep, and then b) you are now getting up? It made more sense on the FitBit One, the previous device. It had to go in a special arm band at night to do that feature. At this point I hate this feature because I accidentally press the button on my One and it decides that means I sleep-walked for 6 hours in the middle of the day. There is no way to turn the tracking off totally, I just have to watch and remove the errant data when I accidentally trigger it. > With my Shine, I can replace the standard 2032 battery every three months. So I replace it, and forget it. With Fitbit, I'd have to take it off every 4 days or so (depending on usage). The "lasts a week" thing is a lie. My FitBit One lasts a week, but it's a bigger device and could hold more battery. The 'children's FitBit' (the Zip?) also does the 2032 battery thing and lasts months. > I have the Aria too, that product I still like, and I still use the Fitbit app just for that. I wish that could integrate with Healthkit. Sort of possible. FitBit -> My Fitness Pal -> HealthKit.

BHSPitMonkey 12y ago

Can anyone from Fitbit attest for how hackable (or not) the Charge might be? I'd be very interested in picking one up if there's some way for me to push some custom information from my phone to the display (preferably without having to generate fake incoming call events).

davidcelis 12y ago

I liked my Flex, but when I upgraded to the Force I ended up with skin irritation that lasted for months. I was worried my wrist would never be the same again. I'll pass on anything Fitbit related now.