Great now google can track my biometrics
So if Google acquired Fitbit, I'm guessing it would have access to all historical Fitbit user data.
When is the U.S. going to get proper user data protections?
Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
161–170 of 538 posts
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#162Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you own a Fitbit (I do), it's great news. Fitbit have done an unmatched job of destroying the device already. I was honestly considering buying a different device already. They don't support Spotify, or really any music app except the one (which I don't remember). Their subscription service provides no real value at all. Their devices track heart rate and nothing else. They simply don't innovate at all.
I haven't used Fitbit since the first iteration of the product, but why would you want Spotify on a device that tracks your fitness level?
I do not own a Fitbit, but on my older Pebble, the music integration feature allows me to play/pause the music, switch tracks (to skip that one song in the playlist I should really remember to remove), and adjust the volume.
When I'm working out or doing yardwork, it's handy to have access to these things on my wristwatch rather than trying to fiddle with the phone in my pocket. It's sounds like the most minor convenience, but I use it all the time. If that were to be limited to only a tiny number of apps (and not the Android bluetooth thing, which picks up whatever happens to be playing; usually VLC in my case, sometimes Spotify) it would be a lot less useful.
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#163Earlier quoted context omitted.
Its closer than you might think - Fitbit did $1.5B in rev last year. Haven't check their filings but presumably thats almost all from their devices. Garmin did $858m in rev last year from their "fitness" segment. Plus some fraction of their $809m "outdoor" segment includes the Fenix line, which is also in the same category. So probably $1B+ total
Fair point actually, it is closer than I thought my apologies. Garmin makes a lot more money per unit. (Avg selling price of likely over $300) Fitbit sells many more units per year (@~$130/unit), which is scalable.
that is definitely true
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah. I agree. Normally I’d think they’d improve things but after dropcam, I’m less enthusiastic. The consolation is that they’re not going after Garmin, so there is that.
I guess I'm going to have to stop using Fitbit after this. Google is really creepy.
I bought a Fitbit ionic two years ago. It was great for the first year. Then it started behaving oddly and now it doesn't work at all with Huawei phones (which I rely on now because they seem to be the first brand that doesn't effectively brick itself after 6 months from metastasizing updates and enhancements).
My solution for the past year has been to leave the device unsynced. Strangely, it still somehow manages to upload data occasionally and I have no idea how it's doing it. about once a month it just gets stuck and I need to restart the thing. I'm going to guess those two things are somehow related but I don't know quite how.
I was planning on switching to a cheap Chinese device anyway. This is the kick in my keister that will get me to do it.
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#165Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Xiaomi, Huawei, and Huami have really taken the wearables market by storm You link to a press release. Are there actual sales numbers to back that claim up? Because all I see out in the real world are Apple watches and Fit Bits. > I hope the rumoured Pixel Wearable isn't comically expensive like its Phone counterparts. The Apple Watch Series 3 is available on apple.com for $199.
Garmin has surprisingly good offerings in the smartwatch space too
I am likely to replace my Inspire HR with one if this deal goes through.
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#166I would think that Google's first choice was Garmin. In my personal opinion, they have better watch products. It was reported last month that Fitbit engaged Qatalyst for a sale. I wonder who leaked the news to Reuters, which did not mention a price: was it Qatalyst, hoping to start a bidding war?
Garmin is $16.5B. Fitbit is $1.5B (post news pump).
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#167They should change their dumbass unreliable piece-of-crap custom charging port.
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#168I wear a fitbit primarily for the sleep tracker. Is there a comparable non-google device that does sleep tracking? My garmin watch is not a great replacement in that regard.
Not sure if you have an iPhone or not, but sleep tracking with an Apple Watch is excellent. I use AutoSleep, but Sleep++ is also very solid.
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#169Very bad news for anyone who has a Fitbit device. Google tends to destroy any "smart" devices they acquire; first they tie it more closely to their ecosystem, too much for comfort, then they remove features, then they get bored and neglect it, then you have a brick.
Hoping this doesn't happen with the Nest Thermostat. The good news is the install base is huge, so it's not like they can just quietly brick them and have no one notice.
They already killed all their integrations, and since I exclusively set my multiple zone temperatures by voice with Alexa, when they killed the partner ecosystem I sold my Nests on eBay and bought some Ecobees that still connect with everything.
Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit
#170Fitbit is damaged goods. Just read https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Ionic/Would-you-buy-Fitbit-I... - I own one of these along with many unsatisfied customers. Google is buying technical debt.
you're still not thinking in the 21st century mindset: the data is what has the value here, not some mediocre optional hardware. read the thread - people are recommending just the app, which still fulfills the purpose of "hoover up valuable data"