Fitbit is now officially part of Google • Hacker News Board

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#11

Post by ocdtrekkie » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:14 PM UTC

rnotaro wrote: post #4

I wonder if future Fitbit watches will use WearOS instead of the current Fitbit software.

Nobody knows yet which side will "win" internally. Wear OS is Android-based and a Google product. It's also universally accepted as garbage: Even Android Police bloggers trash on the state of Wear OS. Fitbit is a better platform that has vastly more users and performs better. But it's not Googley at all, so if Google keeps it, there will likely be a lot of changes.

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#12

Post by dx87 » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:15 PM UTC

karimtr wrote: post #5

Anyone stopped using Fitbit as a result of this?

My wife switched over to a Garmin fitness tracker. She'd been having technical issues with her old Fitbit anyway, but the Google acquisition made it so she didn't even consider a new Fitbit as a replacement.

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#13

Post by ocdtrekkie » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:15 PM UTC

that_guy_iain wrote: post #10

I was about to buy a new fitbit as my current one is basically dead after 4 years. But the way Google handles things they buy doesn't inspire confidence. I guess I'll investigate others and probably end up with an Apple Watch.

I'm waiting for PineTime, personally. My significant other just switched from a Fitbit Ionic to an Apple Watch SE and definitely likes the upgrade.

Battery life is your biggest loss if you leave Fitbit, almost nobody was making smartwatches as battery efficient.

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#14

Post by laurent123456 » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:18 PM UTC

I guess it means that if Google blocks your account due to a false positive on an unrelated service, you can no longer use you watch.

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#15

Post by Vermeulen » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:19 PM UTC

I don't understand the fear of Google from FitBit users in these comments. Google has a clear user agreement with how they use your data, including not selling it - and they rely on users trusting them. I'd rather my data be with one of the tech giants than a unprofitable start up

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#16

Post by Grazester » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:20 PM UTC

scohesc wrote: post #6

I guess it's time to de-activate my FitBit account. It was nice while it lasted. I wish companies wouldn't fall prey to Google money on principle, but that money is oh so good...

I wonder how long Fitbit would have been able to survive on it own. Something tells me not very long.

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#17

Post by DaftDank » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:20 PM UTC

I had a Fitbit Charge 3, and had to replace it about 3 times IIRC in a little over a year period. The 3rd replacement happened a week after the warranty expired, which to their credit they still replaced it. But it once again died shortly thereafter, at which point I just bought an Apple Watch. Mainly for the ECG function -- my wife had bought me the Fitbit after I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, so I figured I'd rather have something that could help me check more than just my pulse to determine if I was out of rhythm.

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#18

Post by mc32 » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:21 PM UTC

Vermeulen wrote: post #15

I don't understand the fear of Google from FitBit users in these comments. Google has a clear user agreement with how they use your data, including not selling it - and they rely on users trusting them. I'd rather my data be with one of the tech giants than a unprofitable start up

While you’re right that your data might be safer with Google, the fear or unease is with Google having even _more_ data on people. Too much data in the hands of one company.

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#19

Post by client4 » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:22 PM UTC

Vermeulen wrote: post #15

I don't understand the fear of Google from FitBit users in these comments. Google has a clear user agreement with how they use your data, including not selling it - and they rely on users trusting them. I'd rather my data be with one of the tech giants than a unprofitable start up

I think the concern centers more around Google's horrific customer service and wanton axing of services.

Re: Fitbit is now officially part of Google

#20

Post by brmgb » Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:23 PM UTC

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #11

rnotaro wrote: post #4

I wonder if future Fitbit watches will use WearOS instead of the current Fitbit software.

Nobody knows yet which side will "win" internally. Wear OS is Android-based and a Google product. It's also universally accepted as garbage: Even Android Police bloggers trash on the state of Wear OS. Fitbit is a better platform that has vastly more users and performs better. But it's not Googley at all, so if Google keeps it, there will likely be a lot of changes.

Wear OS needs work but it's not garbage. Given enough RAM it's usable. The Fossil Gen 5 for example is somewhat fine. The issue is more with Qualcomm releasing garbage CPU. Google releasing a watch would help in the same way the Nexus line helped with phones.

What WearOS needs is man power and an easier time getting the fix they need in the Android tree. It's not however a lost cause. With the improved activity monitoring provided by Fitbit it could be nice.