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Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

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Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#71

Post by tommoor »

heyitsnick wrote: post #36

I'm a huge fan of the entire Fitbit product; the hardware is a joy to use, it has great apps for desktop and Android, sync is a breeze, the web app works very well; the whole process has been excellent. However, having spent close to €300 with the company (for the scale + ultra, and recently upgraded to the Fitbit One), i was very disappointed when I found out about their data policy. Having to pay a premium 50/pa to…

Agreed, also a fitbit owner and this seems like a no-brainer - they should open up this data and allow for more to be built on the platform ala runkeeper.

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#72

Post by wastedbrains »

keep emailing and asking on the message boards. Fitbit is a bit slow to get back to people but normally pretty good about it. I built ruby apis to access fitbit before they had an API and a android app prior to them releasing their own. I was in email contact with them the whole time and they were willing to help me out and give me beta access to the api before it was public.

I love fitbit, and hope they allow users to at least download the detailed personal reports.

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#73

Post by Dylan16807 »

jessedhillon wrote: post #61
kgarten wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"*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

Yeah you do in order to use the SaaS, unless you dump the data over USB and process it yourself. Honestly, I have to imagine that the objection to $7/mo is on principle with this crowd, and not a financial issue. This is the same crowd though, who loves to shout "if you're not paying for it, you're the customer" so here we have a situation where you're paying for what you use. Is the price you're paying set by percep…

If they want to charge more, they should charge more. It's not just about overall value. For a moment let's focus on devices that charge solely to get the raw data two feet onto a computer. The user pays $5 for this service. What are they actually paying for the company to do? Nothing. They're not buying a license, they're not receiving any service... It's in fact not a sale at all, it's a gift of $5. You can't have a contract without consideration on both sides.

I'm not interested in giving away money just because a product is neat. Charge me the real price up front if you want more money. Or do it right and charge me for analysis but not for raw data dumps.

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#76

Post by hiroprot »

Slightly OT, I used to obsess about the accuracy and actual data that these devices provide (had a BodyMedia FIT and now a FitBit), until I realized that the data itself isn't what I'm most interested in.

IMHO the main draw for these devices is their ability to motivate me to be more active, sleep better, etc. Historical data is interesting, but not crucial to that function (although I'd like to see FitBit make the data available). Far more important are real-time feedback mechanisms, such as notices that I achieved a goal, motivating messages ("you're almost there"), etc.

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#79

Post by beaumartinez »

marcusestes wrote: post #69
beaumartinez wrote: post #29

I feel the same with regards to my Nike FuelBand. I even asked Nike if they would provide an API[0] (they won't). Fortunately their web app keeps your NikeFuel—Nike's activity metric—for every day (in 15-minute increments) as a global JavaScript variable. I wrote a scraper[1] to get me my data. I wonder if you can do the same with Fitbit. [0] https://twitter.com/NikeFuel/status/205424488836370433 [1] https://github.c…

They recently announced that Fuel data will be available by API after all: http://developer.nike.com/resources

Thank you, you have made my day!

Re: Fitbit, why can’t I have my data?

#80

Post by npsimons »

jessedhillon wrote: post #64
npsimons wrote: post #57

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?

Give us names, add links.

Okay, names and links:

I speak here only from personal experience; having used the following mostly at the gym, biking to and from work and while hiking in the Sierras:

- Garmin Forerunner 405 (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11039&ra=true): All around general good "exercise" watch, but battery life requires a backup plan. Doesn't have Linux software, but can easily export to GPX for use in things like Google Earth and Maps. You can also combine other sensors: bicycle speed/cadence sensor (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=1266) and a foot pod (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=15516) for gym workouts, or just longer battery life.

- Zephyr HXM (http://www.zephyr-technology.com/products/fitness) combined with a smartphone (such as N900): Another good solution for basic logging; a variety of software to choose from, with different levels of openness.

Just to curb some replies: I know that FitBit does other stuff, lasts longer on a charge, has less friction getting data off, etc, but the thing I'm countering is the openness claim. If you have to pay for your data, and you still don't get a copy, it's a) not your data and b) not an open platform. Some basic research would have revealed this, hence why I didn't (and won't) get a FitBit, and I recommend others avoid it too.

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