Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit • Hacker News Board

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#121

Post by johnatwork » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:44 PM UTC

toasterlovin wrote: post #102

ignoramous wrote: post #16

> Fitbits’ stock shot up almost 30 percent after the first rumors surfaced. In recent months, the company’s stock often traded below $3, down from close to $48 shortly after its IPO in 2015. Today, after the announcement, it went up to around $5.20. Good lord, must the acquisition offer feel like a relief? Surely, Fitbit wouldn't do a Groupon now. The article fails to mention Fossil, but Google recently did acquire t…

> 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.

> The Apple Watch Series 3 is available on apple.com for $199.

Which is still a great value.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#122

Post by cannonedhamster » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:46 PM UTC

freeplay wrote: post #100

corporateslave5 wrote: post #73

Location tracking for better ad targeting if anyone is curious why they want fitbit

They already have that from your phone. If you have an android device, no explanation needed. If you use an iPhone, unless you abstain from Google products completely, they have it from maps, wifi AP MACs, etc.

Yeah but now they can sell the data for military personnel using the devices to foreign governments to target our soldiers when they exercise. Google doesn't care who gets hurt by what they do, just want that sweet, sweet cash.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#123

Post by Avamander » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:48 PM UTC

partiallypro wrote: post #101

dblock wrote: post #97

Fitbit 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.

I love my Fitbit Versa, every product has unsatisfied customers. Anyhow, I was actually hoping Microsoft would buy them, and make an assistant agnostic device that could run Google, Alexa or Cortana.

Versa has a terrible design (flaw#) when it lets moisture seep in in any amount.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#124

Post by filmgirlcw » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:48 PM UTC

This makes sense. Wear OS has utterly failed, but FitBit (and the Pebble assets), offer a great experience. Plus, it's cross-platform (important differentiator). I just hope Google doesn't try to kill it/ruin it, the way they have in the past.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#125

Post by puranjay » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:49 PM UTC

aries1980 wrote: post #98

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.

There is not much "feature" in a Fitbit. You can't even correct simple numeric values of an exercise, such as the ran distance or the bodyfat percentage of the scale reading.

I can't even understand how they're able to charge as much as they do. I've owned 3 Fitbit devices and they perform uniformly worse than a cheap as dirt Xiaomi Mi Band I received as a free prize. Their battery life tops out at 2 days max and the sync feature is broken. Heck, they don't even look good

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#126

Post by wlesieutre » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:49 PM UTC

Pxtl wrote: post #114

fyfy18 wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this is exactly why any consumer device that relies on the cloud is a bad idea. I would never buy a Ring doorbell or Nest camera for the same reason - I'd always look for a version that can be used locally so I can host the software myself and don't need to depend on a third party that may go bust, or get aquihired and shutdown.

Especially one that I'd have to install into a wall. I mean, I was always thinking that the whole "IOT lightbulbs" were at the wrong spot - that an IOT lightswitch would make more sense - you get all the lights on that circuit in one go, and you don't have the "is the light off because it's set off or is the switch off" thing. But IOT device lifespan is way too short to be installed into a wall, even something as eas…

I think Lutron Caseta is what you want for that.

No personal experience but I know people who have some and I haven't heard complaints.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#127

Post by jdalgetty » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:51 PM UTC

I 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.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#128

Post by mbesto » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:51 PM UTC

gamblor956 wrote: post #44

aluminussoma wrote: post #38

I 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?

Probably, but it's unlikely that Garmin would sell to Google.

Why do you say that? Everyone has a price.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#129

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:52 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#130

Post by tschellenbach » Mon, Oct 28, 2019, 5:52 PM UTC

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.

yup, can't use my nest anymore on my ipad since their latest "round of improvements"