Fitbit, why can’t I have my data? • Hacker News Board

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#51

Post by b3b0p » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:06 PM UTC

heyitsnick wrote: post #33

jessedhillon wrote: post #27

The Bodymedia FIT, in addition to being a superior device overall(1), has an API which let's you access caloric burn and other data up to single minute detail levels. If you Google around, there are some blog posts describing how to dump data from it using standard USB serial port drivers. API webpage: https://developer.bodymedia.com/docs/read/Home 1- The Bodymedia gives you steps taken as well as accurate sleep and…

Could you explain a bit more when Bodymedia FIT is superior? The FitBit One and Ultra tracks steps taken, floors climbed, and sleep efficiency, and tells you calories burned and distance travelled (the latter two i assume just simply calculated from the raw data collected; you can input your weight and stride length on the site).

I believe the Fitbit is nothing more than a step counter type of device. I could be wrong, but that's what it looks like.

The Bodymedia FIT has actual sensors, it's an armband you have to wear. It monitors temperature among other things. It has been tested against, a $40,000 "portable oxygen analyzer", the gold standard for measuring calories. (source: http://www.bodymedia.com/the_science.html)

Regarding the Bodymedia FIT developer program. It looks you still need a subscription though and one still needs to upload the data from the armband to the website to get at it. Seems kind of pointless. I would want to get the data directly from the USB armband without a subscription.

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#52

Post by Thrymr » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:11 PM UTC

bloaf wrote: post #13

MichaelApproved wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without using the website, I suspect you can use something like Fiddler to see what HTTP requests are being made. Chances are the charts are making an XML or JSON request to their servers. If you're lucky, the URL requests will be in an easy to reverse engineer format so you could easily dump all the data you need by adjusting the URL.

Why not try to intercept the data as it comes through the USB port instead?

Or try liftbit as noted above: https://github.com/openyou/libfitbit

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#53

Post by rb2k_ » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:30 PM UTC

Related: I also wrote a little script that uses the API to save data as YAML files: http://blog.marc-seeger.de/2012/09/16/backing-up-fitbit-data...

It isn't as detailed (e.g. distribution over time) as the website, but it still gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling to have at least part of the data in machine-readable files :)

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#54

Post by rb2k_ » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:33 PM UTC

yarrel wrote: post #16

There's libfitbit - https://github.com/openyou/libfitbit

The new fitbit can sync using the iphone's bluetooth 4 connection. This makes syncing a passive rather than an active thing which was the reason I bought the fitbit one even though I had the original one.

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#55

Post by hatberet » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:36 PM UTC

biturd wrote: post #19

Why do we need an actual hardware device to get to this data? Don't iPhones and Androids and others have all the internals needed to get the same data, and more, such as altitude, so you can check the incline you are against etc.

I'm not sure about Androids, but iPhones do not have a barometric pressure sensor, so the only way to obtain altitude data would be through GPS. For applications like this, where you don't need real-time altitude information, that low-power GPS paper from Microsoft could come in handy, but it's cheaper and lower power to just use a pressure transducer in the first place.

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#56

Post by kgarten » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:42 PM UTC

jessedhillon wrote: post #27

The Bodymedia FIT, in addition to being a superior device overall(1), has an API which let's you access caloric burn and other data up to single minute detail levels. If you Google around, there are some blog posts describing how to dump data from it using standard USB serial port drivers. API webpage: https://developer.bodymedia.com/docs/read/Home 1- The Bodymedia gives you steps taken as well as accurate sleep and…

"*Subscription required. The LINK Armband does not display information on its own, but rather works in conjunction with the online Activity Manager. Package includes a free 3-month trial period subscription. Monthly, 6-month, and 12-month subscriptions are available."

aehm ... do I understand that correctly, I have to pay them $7 bugs a month to get access to my data? WOW, yes so much better than fitbit :D

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#57

Post by npsimons » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:50 PM UTC

I also asked around and Fitbit seemed like the most “open” platform for collecting one’s own data.

Either the OP didn't ask around very well, or they were lied to. There are plenty of other much more open solutions out there.

Edit: A downvote? Really? In what way is the above not true?

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#58

Post by vannevar » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:52 PM UTC

I was looking at FitBit but am really not interested in uploading any data. Is it possible to use the FitBit desktop app without permitting it to upload? Would it cache everything locally and function normally or does it require access to be usable at all?

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#59

Post by vannevar » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:55 PM UTC

vannevar wrote: post #58

I was looking at FitBit but am really not interested in uploading any data. Is it possible to use the FitBit desktop app without permitting it to upload? Would it cache everything locally and function normally or does it require access to be usable at all?

Ah, found the answer in the product manual:

"The Tracker will upload your data every 15 minutes provided you are within range of any plugged in base station (about 15 feet for direct line of sight), the computer is on and not in sleep or hibernate mode, the software is installed and running, and you have an active internet connection."

This implies to me that the data isn't cached locally outside of the Tracker itself, if an internet connection is not available.

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#60

Post by npsimons » Thu, Jan 03, 2013, 3:56 PM UTC

alexkus wrote: post #40

nodata wrote: post #5

Just wait until a large health insurance company buys Fitbit (or Withings, or Garmin) - they will have your data.

I have various Garmins (Forerunner 405 for running and Edge 705 for cycling). None of my data goes to Garmin as I just use Garmin Training Centre and don't upload anything to Garmin Connect.

Much as I dislike Garmin's lack of support for Linux, I have to second this. My Forerunner 405, eTrex Vista and Vista HCx all download to my computer, with the option (not forced) of uploading. I have full access to .GPX files that I can use with any number of pieces of software (including Google Earth and Maps). Also, I've been pretty happy with the Zephyr HxM hooked up to my N900, and the wife has a Zephyr as well that works well with a Samsung Galaxy III and Google tracks.