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Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

reuters.com

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Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#491

Post by ldrndll »

Avamander wrote: post #308
beckingz wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

json is a good file format, but the way that fitbit exports the data is strangely partitioned by file and object depth. Machine readable certainly, but most machines will need a lot of guidance to turn it into a useful dataset.

Yeah and you could make an XML or a TOML that requires just as much guidance for computers to parse. That was my point.

I assume their point was that it is both hostile and incidentally uses JSON, not that its hostility results from using JSON.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#492

Post by crottypeter »

Retric wrote: post #410
mcv wrote: post #390

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, charge every night would be way worse. My wife uses her Fitbit to track her sleep, and it does this very well (much better than her previous smartwatch). She also tracks how much she walks during the day. A smartwatch that has to be charged every day would be useless to her. I have no idea about the UI that some people complain about, but my wife seems to have managed to get access quite a bit of functionality in…

I recommend using a separate sleep tracker. I was using the Fitbit constantly and got some skin irritation when I forgot to swap wrists before bed. Though, I was using a narrow version which probably made things worse.

I solved the skin irritation issue by buying a third party metal strap (YMMV)

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#493

Post by opencl »

drinchev wrote: post #296
not2b wrote: post #91

Very 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.

My 5 cents. Fitbit discontinued one of their best products Fitbit Flex 2, which I'm still using. It's a 50 bucks rubber band with 1 week battery life that tracks sleep & steps. I don't really know why they cancelled it but I'm wearing Fitbit flex and later flex 2 since they entered the market and it's a divice that I'm used to wear and forget even when I'm asleep ( compared to the Apple Watch, which nevertheless need…

The Mi Band 4 seems to tick those boxes. Small, $40,~3 week battery life.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#494

Post by sa1 »

encoderer wrote: post #367
solarkraft wrote: post #354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want a watch that only needs to be charged once in a few days, because I want to wear it at night for it to track my sleep and wake me up and I could charge it while I shower (every 2 days, in case you're wondering).

My wife does this with her Apple Watch and she only charges it while she’s in the shower and 15 mins or so before bed. It always lasts the full day. I was surprised when I learned this. So it might not be there for you yet. But it’s close.

I charge it for half an hour after my morning workout(while taking a shower and getting ready) and for 15 minutes once in the evening I sleep. I track both my sleep and workouts, and keep it wearing throughout the day otherwise.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#495

Post by mcv »

crottypeter wrote: post #492
Retric wrote: post #410

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recommend using a separate sleep tracker. I was using the Fitbit constantly and got some skin irritation when I forgot to swap wrists before bed. Though, I was using a narrow version which probably made things worse.

I solved the skin irritation issue by buying a third party metal strap (YMMV)

My wife has no skin irritation issue at all. (I probably would; I hate watches on my wrist.)

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#496

Post by diffeomorphism »

amatecha wrote: post #416
mcv wrote: post #390

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, charge every night would be way worse. My wife uses her Fitbit to track her sleep, and it does this very well (much better than her previous smartwatch). She also tracks how much she walks during the day. A smartwatch that has to be charged every day would be useless to her. I have no idea about the UI that some people complain about, but my wife seems to have managed to get access quite a bit of functionality in…

FWIW my Apple Watch S4 can go a whole weekend on a single charge. I don't use mine extensively, though I do use Apple Pay for every transaction that I can. You can def go 2-2.5 days on a single charge.

For comparison, a casio watch goes 3 years on a single charge.

I guess apple pay on a watch is marginally more convenient than taking out your phone, but $400 and having to charge it seems not really worth it?

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#497

Post by gadders »

atlasunshrugged wrote: post #6
MaximumMadness wrote: post #3

Every person I've talked to over at Fitbit (pre-this news) has been down on the company. Sounds like they've had trouble effectively scaling software/new hardware to the level of success that the initial device had. While this could easily be another money sink for Google as they attempt to figure out some sort of Android wearable, it also has the potential to be an Instagram level-acquisition. Non-Apple wearables se…

Something definitely has been off at Fitbit - I had their first device and then after swearing off smartwatches got a new Fitbit for Christmas. 10 months later I'm on my 3rd watch from them - the first one stopped taking a charge after a few months, the second one the screen went out in a week or two. I'm hoping the third time is the charm

Similar situation with my daughter. On her third Charge3.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#499

Post by michaelbrooks »

thevagrant wrote: post #404
harikb wrote: post #344

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A watch that needs to be charged once in a few days is actually worse than one that could use a charge every night. Charge at night is a habit that can easily be adjusted to our daily schedule. btw Apple watch does last a full day (I meant 16+ hrs) with decent use, unless you are playing music out of it all the time or obsessively checking time/calendar. Only advantage of fitbit is that some models are easier to wear…

My Garmin only needs to be charged about once a week. If I'm using it a lot for fitness then twice a week. Once I traveled and forgot the charger, I managed to eek nearly two weeks out of the thing. I find this much better than daily charging and have steered away from watches that need to be charged daily.

I haven't charged my Garmin for a good 2 weeks, it's the forerunner 735XT. I honestly think it's the best fitness watch I've had.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#500

Post by om3n »

mypalmike wrote: post #294
ceejayoz wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife and I both blew through multiple Fitbit replacements each, and we're not enormously active people. Build quality was abysmal.

Yeah I went through 3 Charges in a year. Lower quality than the cheapest no-name electronics I've ever had, but at a price premium. It's like they were manufactured to be disposable.

Very similar experience here, I went through 2 Charge HRs in about a year. I'm on my third now, but I purchased this one new on eBay for $50 iirc (after the Charge 3 was released).

Every Fitbit I've had has felt disposable, and I've been using their products since 2013.

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