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I agree for another reason-- increase the community size. One of the things that makes my Fitbit fun is that almost everyone I know has one. Because of that, I have a large community of people in my Fitbit friends circle. It is fun and helps us motivate and encourage one another. This is less likely with the AW, because it is so expensive. If Apple could offer a basic tracker at a substantially lower price point, then others could join in. As it is, I am resigned to the fact that I will have to continue to carry my Fitbit zip for the social and motivational features of a fitness tracker. Only about 10% of the people I know with a Fitbit are likely to get an AW.

You can use the Fitbit app with a Watch still!
 
I know how to use Fitbit app with the phone, but not the watch. I have had the MobileTrack setup on my iPhone for about seven months. It works great to keep my activity info in Fitbit when I do not have my FB device with me.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/so-i-bought-a-fitbit-surge.1902291/#post-21630058

How do you use the FB app with the watch?

Oh that's what I mean. I assume that the steps from Apple Health (which includes both iPhone and Watch) pull into Fitbit app. I definitely use the Fitbit app and have not got a Fitbit.
 
Oh that's what I mean. I assume that the steps from Apple Health (which includes both iPhone and Watch) pull into Fitbit app. I definitely use the Fitbit app and have not got a Fitbit.
Nope, the Fitbit app disregards any data collected by the AW. Otherwise Fitbit's hardware sales would've hit a slump instead of a peak last quarter.

I've had slow days at home when I left the phone on the table all day long while wearing my AW. Several times, Activity, Apple Health, and the AW all recorded steps, but my Fitbit rang up zero.

(Edit to add a pic of last weekend. I'll guarantee I walked more than nine steps that day)
bd548d01c8eda7d92bc30b040c6f5979.jpg
 
Nope, the Fitbit app disregards any data collected by the AW. Otherwise Fitbit's hardware sales would've hit a slump instead of a peak last quarter.
Yep, the Fitbit app captures steps directly from the phone's motion co-processor hardware, not Apple Health app. Fitbit has been doing this long before the Apple Health or AW existed. (I think they started in 2013.) They were way ahead of Apple and probably felt no reason to change, especially since AH data can be fudged, whereas motion co-processor data are probably less accessible to falsification. Therefore, one benefit of this method is that MobileTrack steps can be included in challenges.
 
I'd love a fitness band or something. The Apple watch is very expensive and will be just another thing to replace every couple of years,
 
Hmmm. Could a fitness band be the "loop" Apple is referring to?

Apple-21-March-Event-Let-Us-Loop-You-In.jpg


After all, Apple playfully gave away the name of the MacBook Air before it's announcement at Macworld 2008 - so it wouldn't be the first time a new product was hidden in plain sight.

macworld_2008.png


Could this be why the next release of iOS will sync one phone with multiple "watches"? So owners can sync both their wearables?
  • The nice Apple watch for work and going out.
  • The cheap, rugged fitness band for the gym and rougher activities.
Maybe you'll even be able to wear the band (sorry, the "loop") in bed to track your sleep and wake up with tactile alarms - while your Apple Watch charges on the nightstand. In the morning, you'll just swap them over.
Nice theory. I'd be a customer for sure.
 
I'd love a fitness band or something. The Apple watch is very expensive and will be just another thing to replace every couple of years,
As much as I want a Fitness band from Apple, I can see the band being upgraded way more than the AW.

Look at Fitbit, 8 different models and they all basically do the same thing give or take HR. Unless Apple included everything in a version 1, I could see a lot of updates to a Fitness band from Apple.

Hell, I'd still be a day 1 customer though.
 
As much as I want a Fitness band from Apple, I can see the band being upgraded way more than the AW.

But I can't see it becoming outdated nearly as fast - e.g. through needing to update because of security issues when software updates stop etc.
 
Nope, the Fitbit app disregards any data collected by the AW. Otherwise Fitbit's hardware sales would've hit a slump instead of a peak last quarter.

I've had slow days at home when I left the phone on the table all day long while wearing my AW. Several times, Activity, Apple Health, and the AW all recorded steps, but my Fitbit rang up zero.

(Edit to add a pic of last weekend. I'll guarantee I walked more than nine steps that day)
bd548d01c8eda7d92bc30b040c6f5979.jpg

That's weird because mine does. I have to use it for my health insurance and it just pulls from Apple Health the steps - which is a combination of Watch and iPhone. I leave my iPhone around all day really and Fitbit still pulls all of the steps that I take.
 
That's weird because mine does. I have to use it for my health insurance and it just pulls from Apple Health the steps - which is a combination of Watch and iPhone. I leave my iPhone around all day really and Fitbit still pulls all of the steps that I take.
Are you using an app like Sync Solver or the Fitbit's native connection to MobileTrack?
 
Apple designed the watch so that you'd rid of your other watches or use it in your daily switcheroo of watches. Doubt we'll se a companion to a companion-product.
It's worked. I tried wearing my other watches for the last few days, and I can't make myself continue doing so. I'm so accustomed to the extra functions and convenience I get from the AW.

Would I want a plain little band instead? Even if it would let me wear my other watches? Nope.
 
Nice theory. I'd be a customer for sure.
Yeah, I was really pulling for your theory to matriculate but no such luck. Well, I used to think that there is no way they'll do it. Apple's strategy has always been keep a tight and lean product line, not getting distracted with too many options. But lately with so many iPhone options now, dozens of watch options and even two iPad Pro's - maybe they've changed that tune under Tim Cook and who knows, we could see an Apple "Loop" companion to the watch just yet!
 
Yeah, I was really pulling for your theory to matriculate but no such luck. Well, I used to think that there is no way they'll do it. Apple's strategy has always been keep a tight and lean product line, not getting distracted with too many options. But lately with so many iPhone options now, dozens of watch options and even two iPad Pro's - maybe they've changed that tune under Tim Cook and who knows, we could see an Apple "Loop" companion to the watch just yet!
There've been rumors that they're developing health related accessories. maybe a fitbit type band device would fit into this category. i can see them making something like this at some point in the future for sure, myabe when the technology matures a little more
 
I like this topic. I would love a companion Apple Fit Band that does connect to the phone, updates Apple health app, the activity band and does sleep monitoring. Since you can sync more than 1 watch to the phone this would/could work great as a companion. I workout with my watch but it does make me a little nervous that I might hit it on the weights and then you could charge your watch at night and wear the companion. I have used the VivoSmart and it works really great but I don't think the quality is there since I had to have it replaced multiple times and the same for my daughter. To me it really doesn't have to have a screen but it does need to vibrate for alerts. Keep it thin, I also liked the idea of a men's bracelet type band. The Jawbones are close but still a little thick to me.
 
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