Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

theverge.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 125 posts

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#41

Post by redler »

snuxoll wrote: post #37
dkonofalski wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While that may be true, Fitbit was one of the launch partners for HealthKit and debuted their web interface at the Apple Keynote where HealthKit was first shown. Google had info online that Fitbit was working with them from the start to include integrations. They pulled out of both after they had already had a functional integration. Edit: Fitbit launched their web integration in 2012 and there are mentions of a part…

The lack of HealthKit integration and needing to use half-assed hacks like the sync apps on the iOS AppStore really turned me off fitbit. Since their API doesn't let you pull anything but basic data like steps walked you were effectively locked into their little garden with your data. I'm much happier with my Apple Watch as a fitness tracker, I wish the battery was better and it had sleep tracking support because tha…

It's not perfect, but something like the Sleep++ Apple Watch app can get you part of the way there.

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#42

Post by macintux »

snuxoll wrote: post #37
dkonofalski wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While that may be true, Fitbit was one of the launch partners for HealthKit and debuted their web interface at the Apple Keynote where HealthKit was first shown. Google had info online that Fitbit was working with them from the start to include integrations. They pulled out of both after they had already had a functional integration. Edit: Fitbit launched their web integration in 2012 and there are mentions of a part…

The lack of HealthKit integration and needing to use half-assed hacks like the sync apps on the iOS AppStore really turned me off fitbit. Since their API doesn't let you pull anything but basic data like steps walked you were effectively locked into their little garden with your data. I'm much happier with my Apple Watch as a fitness tracker, I wish the battery was better and it had sleep tracking support because tha…

Fairly confident there's sleep tracker software available. People have had success in charging it for ~15 minutes at night before bed, then charging it in the morning while getting going.

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#43

Post by wccrawford »

CydeWeys wrote: post #28

I've said it before and I'll say it again: A big part of Fitbit's problem is the poor hardware quality of their products, especially considering the high price. A lot of people, me included, will never buy another Fitbit after having been burned. Their warranty only lasts one year, yet I've had to replace both Fitbit devices I've had twice within that one year. I'm now Fitbit-less because the latest, a Charge HR, fai…

Yup. I've owned quite a few of their devices, and every one of them died within 3 years. Previously, though, they were pretty good about replacing them even if they were out of warranty. I often eventually upgraded to the newest, knowing that I didn't really have to worry about the hardware, as they had great customer service.

Last time I had one die (it literally fell apart, the glue letting go) they told me that they have changed this policy and are no longer doing that.

I now wear a Withings activity tracker watch. I haven't had it long enough to know how long it'll last, but I know one thing: When the band broke, I was able to buy an after-market replacement cheap and put it on myself. This was not possible on most Fitbit devices.

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#44

Post by test1235 »

CydeWeys wrote: post #28

I've said it before and I'll say it again: A big part of Fitbit's problem is the poor hardware quality of their products, especially considering the high price. A lot of people, me included, will never buy another Fitbit after having been burned. Their warranty only lasts one year, yet I've had to replace both Fitbit devices I've had twice within that one year. I'm now Fitbit-less because the latest, a Charge HR, fai…

Glad to see I'm not the only one with that plastic housing problem. Once that comes off, you pretty much can't charge your device. I superglued mine back on, but it's just asking for trouble having to do that so close to the connectors.

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#45

Post by TarpitCarnivore »

sremani wrote: post #6

I have bought my share of fitbit, Band etc. The only way to make wearables tolerable is making them less smart and more accurate. Accurately measure my heart rate and stop bugging me about a stupid text!

This is why I've been eyeing a Garmin Vivoactive HR. I know people slam Garmin because they feel behind but if there is one thing they know it's accuracy. There's a reason they're the goto brand for cyclists, runners and triathletes. It's because they work reliably.

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#46

Post by alexg0 »

snuxoll wrote: post #37
dkonofalski wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While that may be true, Fitbit was one of the launch partners for HealthKit and debuted their web interface at the Apple Keynote where HealthKit was first shown. Google had info online that Fitbit was working with them from the start to include integrations. They pulled out of both after they had already had a functional integration. Edit: Fitbit launched their web integration in 2012 and there are mentions of a part…

The lack of HealthKit integration and needing to use half-assed hacks like the sync apps on the iOS AppStore really turned me off fitbit. Since their API doesn't let you pull anything but basic data like steps walked you were effectively locked into their little garden with your data. I'm much happier with my Apple Watch as a fitness tracker, I wish the battery was better and it had sleep tracking support because tha…

AutoSleep app does a decent job of retrofiting sleep tracking into the apple watch. With a data lockin, I have an Aria scale, and Sync Solver is good at extracting Fitbit data into the HealthKit.

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#47

Post by [deleted] »

CydeWeys wrote: post #28

I've said it before and I'll say it again: A big part of Fitbit's problem is the poor hardware quality of their products, especially considering the high price. A lot of people, me included, will never buy another Fitbit after having been burned. Their warranty only lasts one year, yet I've had to replace both Fitbit devices I've had twice within that one year. I'm now Fitbit-less because the latest, a Charge HR, fai…

[deleted]

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#49

Post by reitanqild »

nemild wrote: post #31
CydeWeys wrote: post #28

I've said it before and I'll say it again: A big part of Fitbit's problem is the poor hardware quality of their products, especially considering the high price. A lot of people, me included, will never buy another Fitbit after having been burned. Their warranty only lasts one year, yet I've had to replace both Fitbit devices I've had twice within that one year. I'm now Fitbit-less because the latest, a Charge HR, fai…

Is your experience emblematic of the that for most customers? Some of the things you mention seem like fundamental design flaws, so I'm curious if most customers have issues?

The reason I don't have a fitbit is because the glue that attached the rubber wristband to the electronic failed.

Spoke to another parent at school and he had at least a couple of these fail "because of humidity" IIRC.

Re: Fitbit will lay off 110 employees amid challenges in wearable market

#50

Post by reitanqild »

ben_jones wrote: post #38
moonka wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We had similar issues with my wife's charge. To Fitbit's credit, they were happy to send out multiple replacements, but my wife got tired of it and stopped using it after the 3rd replacement starting showing the same issue. By contrast, I have an old Fitbit One which still works well after all these years, but it's just a simple pod as opposed to a wrist band.

Couldn't such a lenient return policy signal that these devices really are being marked up a ridiculous amount? I.e. $10 devices going somewhat unfairly for > $100 as mentioned above?

Could also just be that they care about their customers or at least their reputation even if they failed to create the product they wanted to create in the first place.
Post reply on HN