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Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

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Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#111
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, there is no charge unless you start to put apps on the App Store. https://www.pcworld.com/article/2933052/apple-frees-casual-i...

The app will only run on your phone for 7 days[1] unless you pay Apple an annual fee, which is a non-starter if you want to write an app that you will actually use instead of merely test. No such restrictions on Android, Windows, or other platforms. Moto Sport 360[2] looks like it will fit OP's requirements. [1] http://mybyways.com/blog/new-limitations-imposed-on-free-app... [2] https://www.motorola.ca/products/moto-…

> which is a non-starter if you want to write an app that you will actually use instead of merely test.

You're assuming OP doesn't want to pay for a developer account. They didn't say that.

Also, OP said they wanted to get data out of the device. The Health app has an export function. So no, you don't need to pay to do what OP wants.

I would take an Apple Watch + paid developer account any day of the week over Android Wear.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> outside of open source Yes? By definition, if it's not open source, then you're looking at a proprietary license of some sort.

That's not by definition at all- a work can be open source with a "proprietary license of some sort", or closed source, with source that's liberally licensed- but never published.

"Shared source"?

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. I bought it when Pebble went down. That thing was buggy forever after, half Chinese most of the time, only allowed sync to a random online service (strava?) and was just.. broken. The worst purchase ever. The display sucks outside. The software is weird (swipe in random directions to find what you want), the companion app miserable. Whatever you buy, this shouldn't be it. A better Pebble would be appreciated ofc.…

If you've still got it, see if you can get an Enlgish ROM. Sounds like you might have been running the Chinese version. What do you mean by the display sucks outside? Couldn't you see it? Was it night time?

It has a weird "reflctive" display which is supposed to make it readable in bright daylight. It doesn't, in my experience (couldn't read it quite often, a Pebble works perfect though)

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#114
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. I bought it when Pebble went down. That thing was buggy forever after, half Chinese most of the time, only allowed sync to a random online service (strava?) and was just.. broken. The worst purchase ever. The display sucks outside. The software is weird (swipe in random directions to find what you want), the companion app miserable. Whatever you buy, this shouldn't be it. A better Pebble would be appreciated ofc.…

Strava is hardly "random", it's very popular in UK with cyclists and runners.

Random in so far as that I don't use it, don't want to sign up for it. A random cloud service and just ONE random cloud service.

When I got it, you couldn't even see your own data on your phone. HR? Steps? GPS? Stava or gone, poof.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can do this with the $20 Xiaomi Mi Band 2. It's the MVP of a smartwatch in the best way possible.

"Q2: Can use smart alarm clock when leave the phone? A: Certainly can, or else how to call smart alarm clock? After pair Mi band, set once in the Mi band app, and then switch off the phone, no problem." I still need a phone to set it though. I'm still using a 64GB iPhone 4S, and I don't plan to buy a new phone just so I can set up another alarm clock. In fact, if I buy another phone, then I can just use that as the s…

I'm using the first gen Mi band and the app works just fine on my 4S.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The app will only run on your phone for 7 days[1] unless you pay Apple an annual fee, which is a non-starter if you want to write an app that you will actually use instead of merely test. No such restrictions on Android, Windows, or other platforms. Moto Sport 360[2] looks like it will fit OP's requirements. [1] http://mybyways.com/blog/new-limitations-imposed-on-free-app... [2] https://www.motorola.ca/products/moto-…

> which is a non-starter if you want to write an app that you will actually use instead of merely test. You're assuming OP doesn't want to pay for a developer account. They didn't say that. Also, OP said they wanted to get data out of the device. The Health app has an export function. So no, you don't need to pay to do what OP wants. I would take an Apple Watch + paid developer account any day of the week over Androi…

> I would take an Apple Watch + paid developer account any day of the week over Android Wear.

You've given no reason why. You're assuming OP is a mindless fanboy who will pay for something that has a free and more hackable alternative.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#117
post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. I had assumed Tizen was a greatly reduced Linux-inspired OS. Do you have a source for the ability to SSH? Might it not be easier to have an Android app that grabs data from the watch using their API? https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40233692/how-to-integrat...

Do you have a source for the ability to SSH? I've used it myself on several models: Gear S2, Gear S3, Gear Fit 2. Tizen is a full Linux. If I remember correctly, it even runs X for the GUI (although I think it's been replaced with Wayland in Tizen 3).

Ok cool.

But how is it that you are managing to connect via SSH? When connected over wifi, it seems that only port 53 is open on the Gear S3, and it doesn't accept SSH. And I don't know the user name nor password. And I don't see a way to open a terminal on the watch.

Googling doesn't seem to help.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you've still got it, see if you can get an Enlgish ROM. Sounds like you might have been running the Chinese version. What do you mean by the display sucks outside? Couldn't you see it? Was it night time?

It has a weird "reflctive" display which is supposed to make it readable in bright daylight. It doesn't, in my experience (couldn't read it quite often, a Pebble works perfect though)

I haven't really had any bright light recently and probably won't until the summer. I guess, then it might be a problem for me.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> which is a non-starter if you want to write an app that you will actually use instead of merely test. You're assuming OP doesn't want to pay for a developer account. They didn't say that. Also, OP said they wanted to get data out of the device. The Health app has an export function. So no, you don't need to pay to do what OP wants. I would take an Apple Watch + paid developer account any day of the week over Androi…

> I would take an Apple Watch + paid developer account any day of the week over Android Wear. You've given no reason why. You're assuming OP is a mindless fanboy who will pay for something that has a free and more hackable alternative.

> You've given no reason why.

I don't have to. It's my opinion.

> You're assuming OP is a mindless fanboy who will pay for something that has a free and more hackable alternative.

I'm sure that's your neckbeard interpretation. There's a reason the Apple Watch is the most popular smart watch by far. You probably think it's solely due to marketing. You would be wrong.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a fitness wristband that is hackable?

#120
post #58

Is there a way to extract real time information from a Fitbit or similar fitness wristband? I'd love to push running data to a display I can see as I jog by.

Only Ionic. For other Fitbits you have to get data from the api later.

Thanks for the info!
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