Why isn't health app as good as fitbits?

[Fynd]

There's an app for that (or there has been, anyway).

Can't remember the name because it's been over a year since I've seen people talk about it. Plus, I only know a couple people to challenge on Fitbit, and back when I paid attention, my lead over them had been kinda unfair. ;-)

You're thinking of Sync Solver I'd assume, it lets you sync your steps and the like both ways but data synced that way can't take part in Fitbit challenges

 

[Manrico1]

I used in the past Powersync, sync everything but challenges.
I'm now moved to AW so I don't use it any more but since a few weeks ago it was in the Italian Apstore, probably it is/was available all the rest of the coutries as well

 

[SMonroe]

You're thinking of Sync Solver I'd assume, it lets you sync your steps and the like both ways but data synced that way can't take part in Fitbit challenges

I'm still looking for an app that will allow me to compete with my Fitbit friends and family. The Sync Solver developer said it can't be done but there's another one that's looking into it.

If he's successful I'll post it.

 

[exxxviii]

I'm still looking for an app that will allow me to compete with my Fitbit friends and family. The Sync Solver developer said it can't be done but there's another one that's looking into it.

I think that FB used to allow steps imported from outside sources in competitions. But, I think that changed within the past year. I have synced my Garmin activity into FB for a while, and IIRC, I think FB's justification for the intentional removal was that the import allowed room for cheating.

 

[SMonroe]

I think that FB used to allow steps imported from outside sources in competitions. But, I think that changed within the past year. I have synced my Garmin activity into FB for a while, and IIRC, I think FB's justification for the intentional removal was that the import allowed room for cheating.

That's correct, FB believes it would allow cheating- which is silly. Unless you're waging on results you'd only be cheating yourself to impress your friends! Let's face it, it has more to do with FB not wanting other devices to use their app than anything about cheating.

My family and some of my friends have FBs and I recently went to the AW. So The only thing they see from me is Motion Tracker from my iPhone instead of my Health steps.

 

[BarracksSi]

That's correct, FB believes it would allow cheating- which is silly. Unless you're waging on results you'd only be cheating yourself to impress your friends! Let's face it, it has more to do with FB not wanting other devices to use their app than anything about cheating.

Because some employers and health insurers encourage fitness by monetarily rewarding people who get good step counts, yes, some people would try to cheat.

But, I agree that it's about Fitbit wanting to prevent other devices from using their app. It's not a big deal for the phone itself to contribute data to Fitbit because a phone simply isn't as convenient as a little wrist gadget (one could even argue that trying the app on the phone might encourage a user to buy a Fitbit to get full functionality).

But if a non-Fitbit device is competing for the same wrist, it's a different story. If a longtime FB user is thinking of getting an AW, they might not want to wear both at the same time -- and if the AW data were fully embraced by FB, they'd definitely stop wearing a FB device, and might not buy another one ever again.

Fitbit doesn't generate income from their software platform, correct? At least, it's not nearly as much as they generate by selling wrist trackers. They have every reason to protect their hardware business. If it means making their app incompatible with the AW, then that's what they'll do.

 

[TxWatch]

My company allows me to track my daily steps with various step counters, including the Fitbit. I get $5 a day for every day I track 3000 steps, which is supposed to be 30 minutes of activity. My wife and I can both earn a maximum of $400 a year ($800 total) to be used towards our health care. We use the money for our insurance deductible, new glasses, medications, etc.

I use Sync Solver: Health to Fitbit to track my 3000 Watch steps a day and my wife uses a new Fitbit Flex 2. I do not care about the challenges or any of the social aspects, so Sync Solver works for me. Most days I have to manually sync my steps to Fitbit at the end of the day, but it is not too difficult.

I wish Apple had their own sharing site, so I could point my companies insurance to the Apple site instead of Fitbit. For now, I will keep using Sync Solver until Apple starts to take their health tracking more seriously.

TxWatch