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Apple to Cease Selling Fitbit Activity Tracking Devices in Stores
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Nothing shady about requiring another means of authentication to remove your account.
I can imagine the outrage if your account was deleted because someone hacked your account and they did nothing to confirm that you wanted your account deleted via email.
People _do_ go to an Apple Store to see what accessories are available for their Apple products. Even if they don't buy any of them, having hundred of accessories available makes it more likely that they buy an Apple product. They see "there are hundreds accessories available, so if I ever want one, it's likely that I can find something".
Apple will prefer products that say "we are going to support Healthkit" to products that say "we aren't going to support Healthkit", even if right now both don't support it.
That's incredibly hyperbolic and ridiculous. There are plenty of apps that now support TouchID and also have iPad versions. Are the iPad versions (or older iPhone versions, even) somehow suffering by supporting TouchID on devices for which it exists?
"Supporting HealthKit" is a completely different thing than "Being reliant on HealthKit". Every single app that support HealthKit that I've seen is also a perfectly functional app without HealthKit support. FitBit would contribute the data it gleans to HealthKit so that other apps could take FitBit's data into account. That's all.
I agree that this is not necessarily a ban. More like the end of a mutually-beneficial cross promotional agreement.
What I do see more like a "ban", or bordering on a "ban" is when Bose are going to be removed from the Apple Stores. In light of the Beats acquisition, and that Beats had been a direct rival-competitor to Beats (which is now an Apple brand), then the purging of the "rival Bose products" does make sense, from a business perspective.
It's a cutthroat move, of course, but not surprising at all as a business decision. I say this as a long-time satisfied customer of Bose products.
Part of that might be fueled by concern that there exist companies that don't bow down at the altar of Apple. This in conjunction with retail stores not falling over themselves to hook up with ApplePay may be the beginning of the realization that Apple is not invincible. It'll be interesting.
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I understand how my comments came across as screwing over anyone with older hardware or iOS devices, but I didn't mean it exactly that way. Apple isn't going to stop supporting the fitbit, and I'm not suggesting they are going to alienate their users.
Given that the Apple Store has limited retail space, why not showcase accessories that are moving forward with them? They are a business that wants to sell you their hardware after all. Having the latest accessories that work extremely well with iOS will only make people want to upgrade to the latest and greatest Apple device that much more.
People should feel free to purchase a fitbit at Best Buy, or anywhere else. What I am suggesting is that Apple should take advantage of having a retail space and showcasing accessories that take advantage of iOS 8 and are trying to integrate tightly with them.
The Jawbone UP, as I understand it, supports Health Kit. I expect this to be at the Apple Store.
To some degree. When it comes to cases, speakers and other 'generic' accessories, I don't think anyone questions whether or not there is going to be a selection. Apple's isn't some upstart with their first phone, computer or ipad.
However - for the watch, it's a very valid comment. I do think that showcasing products that will integrate with the watch would help sales.
It's not a requirement that they partner with Apple, but Apple Stores exist to promote Apple's products and services. Why should Apple promote an accessory that doesn't fully integrate with their products? It makes little sense for them to do so.
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Going to laugh when Apple and FitBit announce some kind of agreement tomorrow, and also promote the new FitBit Charge on stage. 
...but that is probably wishful thinking.
...but that is probably wishful thinking.
A competing case maker does not compare with competing hardware, which is what Apple makes their money from.
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Understood. It came off differently
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I believe the UK (and perhaps other regions) use ARE differently.
We'll see what happens. There was a patent case between Bose and Beats/Apple that has just been settled on unknown terms. Quite possible that part of the settlement is that Bose products stay.
Per the article:
"...it is unclear whether Apple will continue to sell these devices or if the ban is limited to Fitbit."
Ban is a pretty harsh word here, don't you think?
"...it is unclear whether Apple will continue to sell these devices or if the ban is limited to Fitbit."
Ban is a pretty harsh word here, don't you think?
This has nothing to do with other retailers. The choices in the Apple Store are very small to begin with, it's always been that way.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Oh wow, I missed that bit at first. I had just been thinking that I might get a fitbit to tide me over to the Apple Watch 2. But lack of healthkit integration is a dealbreaker for me.
FitBit is hostile to IOS. Good Apple removes them. FitBit lives in the IOS ecosystem, it collect health data. HealthKit is a hub, support it. If not, expect to be downplayed by Apple hard.
I think it´s a power-play by Apple, and an excellent one at that. Either you fully support our ecosystem, strategy and course, or you suffer the consequences.
Adapt or Leave, fitbit chose the latter.
I think it´s a power-play by Apple, and an excellent one at that. Either you fully support our ecosystem, strategy and course, or you suffer the consequences.
Adapt or Leave, fitbit chose the latter.
Fitbit did not say that they would never support Healthkit. Here's a quote from one of their employees on the Fitbit forum:
"We do not currently have plans to integrate with HealthKit… It is an interesting new platform and we will watch as it matures, looking for opportunities to improve the Fitbit experience."
I think this is a perfectly reasonable attitude. Healthkit was rushed and is still very buggy (just read the release notes of the latest Withings Health Mate update). Apple has also not communicated its plans for it well, and right now I can't see any benefits of using it (which will hopefully change in the future).
Anyway, I don't think not being sold in Apple stores will have a big impact on Fitbit. You can still buy their stuff everywhere, even at places like Walmart.
"We do not currently have plans to integrate with HealthKit… It is an interesting new platform and we will watch as it matures, looking for opportunities to improve the Fitbit experience."
I think this is a perfectly reasonable attitude. Healthkit was rushed and is still very buggy (just read the release notes of the latest Withings Health Mate update). Apple has also not communicated its plans for it well, and right now I can't see any benefits of using it (which will hopefully change in the future).
Anyway, I don't think not being sold in Apple stores will have a big impact on Fitbit. You can still buy their stuff everywhere, even at places like Walmart.
how do you get snobby from their responses?
but no sense in making products available in a limited store space from a company that dosent take advantage of your platform. perhaps that will change if/when their stance changes.
Agreed that even though my argument for lack of health kit integration sounds valid, I think you are right that the real reason is simply the Apple Watch.
I did not know that about British English. Now I do. And it does make sense, since a company (corporation) is generally seen as a collective of people, employees, workers.
But in USA, there are lots of single-owner businesses too.
I would love a waterproof tracker for swimming.
I had hopes for
Watch but until it is waterproof, I will pass.
I had hopes for
Watch but until it is waterproof, I will pass.Considering the Apple stores were designed to "benefit from having few products" (according to Jobs by Walter Isaacson) it will be interesting to see how they show off all the versions of the Apple Watch.
Cutting down on the amount of third-party accessories - especially ones which compete with their products - seems smart.
Cutting down on the amount of third-party accessories - especially ones which compete with their products - seems smart.