I think they read the market just fine in that people have longer and longer buying cycles for new fitness trackers and they thus need to search for revenue elsewhere.
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Fitbit Debuts New Versa 2 Smartwatch and $10/Month 'Fitbit Premium' Service
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Disclaimer: I use a Fitbit.
That said, I have looked for other avenues to jump ship, as the quality of Fitbit's products has been suspect over the past year or so. I really would like an Apple Watch, but there are things that FitBit does that Apple Watch doesn't. The main sticking points for me are:
1. Battery Life and sleep tracking - I get 5 days of battery life out of my Ionic (I can do a 2+ hour cardio workout and only drop 3% - 4% on my battery) and that means that I can sleep with it on without having to worry about the battery going dead overnight. The Apple Watch just can't match this. Its 18 hours of battery life doesn't leave room for sleep tracking, and even if there was a way to crowbar sleep tracking in, Apple doesn't support sleep tracking from the watch.
2. Full time, 24/7 heart rate tracking - FitBit does this, and Apple Watch does not. From what I understand, Apple Watch takes periodic measurements of heart rate data throughout the day. But it's not a constant measurement. Fitbit tracks heart rate data constantly.
If I decide to dump my Ionic, I'll probably stay in the Fitbit fam and try for a FitBit Versa (1st gen). I don't like the privacy concerns with Alexa, and I definitely don't need a subscription service. Plus, the 1st gen should be discounted.
Just my 2 cents' worth.
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In what way is the software lacking? Personally, I like the sleep insights (breaks things down into categories like light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep). I agree that it would be awesome to have Apple Health integration (apart from the third party apps that sync your FitBit data to Health), but for the most part, I see the software as very good.
That said, I have looked for other avenues to jump ship, as the quality of Fitbit's products has been suspect over the past year or so. I really would like an Apple Watch, but there are things that FitBit does that Apple Watch doesn't. The main sticking points for me are:
1. Battery Life and sleep tracking - I get 5 days of battery life out of my Ionic (I can do a 2+ hour cardio workout and only drop 3% - 4% on my battery) and that means that I can sleep with it on without having to worry about the battery going dead overnight. The Apple Watch just can't match this. Its 18 hours of battery life doesn't leave room for sleep tracking, and even if there was a way to crowbar sleep tracking in, Apple doesn't support sleep tracking from the watch.
2. Full time, 24/7 heart rate tracking - FitBit does this, and Apple Watch does not. From what I understand, Apple Watch takes periodic measurements of heart rate data throughout the day. But it's not a constant measurement. Fitbit tracks heart rate data constantly.
If I decide to dump my Ionic, I'll probably stay in the Fitbit fam and try for a FitBit Versa (1st gen). I don't like the privacy concerns with Alexa, and I definitely don't need a subscription service. Plus, the 1st gen should be discounted.
Just my 2 cents' worth.
[doublepost=1567008537][/doublepost]
In what way is the software lacking? Personally, I like the sleep insights (breaks things down into categories like light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep). I agree that it would be awesome to have Apple Health integration (apart from the third party apps that sync your FitBit data to Health), but for the most part, I see the software as very good.
Well page one is mostly people complaining about optional subscriptions so I’m guessing page 2 or 3 aren’t much different.
I’m not interested in the subscription service, but I do like the look and design of the new watch. I currently have a charge 3 and have tried to move to Apple Watch, but always go back to Fitbit. I like what Fitbit offers over the Apple Watch. To each their own though.
I’m not interested in the subscription service, but I do like the look and design of the new watch. I currently have a charge 3 and have tried to move to Apple Watch, but always go back to Fitbit. I like what Fitbit offers over the Apple Watch. To each their own though.
Apart from News, Music, Match, TV, Games, iCloud, and apps you mean?
I'm over all of the subscriptions. If they truly want to help people get healthy, then have a free service with your purchase of the watch.
No GPS or LTE.
These are the two major features I love about the Apple Watch - and have since become a requirement for a wearable. Being able to go for a run or do other activities like run errands without my phone is liberating.
These are the two major features I love about the Apple Watch - and have since become a requirement for a wearable. Being able to go for a run or do other activities like run errands without my phone is liberating.
How much are you paying a month for that iPhone contract you also need to run an Apple Watch?
Sounds like you need my new subscription tracking service Subscrybr
Just $15/month to track up to 5 subscriptions and an extra $5/month for each additional subscription
Actually, less. Working at a wireless carrier occasionally has some benefits.
However, I never criticized Fitbit's subscription service. Just like LTE, it's optional.
Any info on battery life? Not that I’d lose my AW for it but at the base price if they offer longer battery life Apple should at least have to respond to that either with price or even better battery.
The fact that Fitbit refuses to support HealthKit (workaround is using 3rd party app such as Sync Solver for Fitbit) reinforces their desire for locking in to Fitbit and their $10/month subscription service.
I bought their cheap Inspire trackers for my kids, but only because my employer offers 50% discount on Fitbit gear (bringing the price down to $30).
I bought their cheap Inspire trackers for my kids, but only because my employer offers 50% discount on Fitbit gear (bringing the price down to $30).
Agreed, Apple's infrequent heart monitoring is a joke compared to 24/7 heart tracking for up to 5 days between charges.
It would be a ‘subscrise’ (geddit) if Apple didn’t announce a similar subscription service next month. Although to be fair Apple Watch isn’t actually that great at providing actionable targeted coaching.
The fruit company? The subscription company.
You're comparing monthly LTE cellular service to some canned sleep and fitness advice delivered over Bluetooth to your wrist?