Fitbit Stories May 24
The delayed launch of the Google Assistant for Galaxy Watch 4 has been highly anticipated so we’ve gone hands-on to find out if it’s a massive step up.
Fitbit Stories May 16
We spotted how the Nest Hub is getting deeper Google Fit and Fitbit integration to let you see step count and other activity stats at the start of this month, and you some users can now connect either service to Assistant settings.
Fitbit Stories May 12
On Android, there are dozens of fitness apps you can use to track your steps, goals, and exercises throughout the day. Google’s new Health Connect app promises to sync fitness data from various Android apps including Fitbit, Samsung Health, and more.
Fitbit Stories May 11
The culmination of Google’s $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit is here, with the Pixel Watch officially coming later this year with a fully integrated Fitbit experience. What does that mean for Google Fit? We’ve been curious to know for a while, but it seems Fitbit and Google Fit only have plans to coexist.
Fitbit Stories May 5
How to set up Fitbit Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications for AFib detection
Smartwatches and fitness trackers can be a big help in improving our ability to see the state of our health, and heart health is especially important. Fitbit is now rolling out support for Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, which can detect and notify you of signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Fitbit Stories May 4
Back in March, we revealed that Fitbit is working on a pair of new smartwatches. 9to5Google can now report that the next two Fitbit wearables will be the Sense 2 and Versa 4, as well as some of their hardware details.
Fitbit Stories May 2
Earlier this year Fitbit issued a recall on its original smartwatch, the Ionic, over reports of the watch causing skin burns for some owners. Now, a lawsuit is alleging that all Fitbit products are affected by the same defect, which could lead to skin burns.
At the moment, Google Assistant’s health integrations are limited to asking about sleep. Moving forward, you’ll be able to see steps, calories burned, and other activity metrics from Fitbit or Google Fit on the Nest Hub.
Fitbit Stories April 27
Earlier this month Fitbit was granted clearance by the US FDA to passively send notifications when signs of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) were detected by its smartwatches and trackers. Now, Fitbit is officially rolling out Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications to nine of its products, including the Sense and Charge 5.
Fitbit Stories April 26
Fitbit Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications will only be available in the US, and this is what they look like
After being granted clearance earlier this month, and starting the rollout yesterday, Fitbit is confirming a few more details regarding Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, including where and how they work.
Fitbit Stories April 25
Fitbit Stories April 11
Just a few weeks after announcing its intentions, Fitbit and Google have today announced that clearance has been granted in the United States for select trackers and smartwatches to detect irregular AFib heart rhythms.
Fitbit Stories April 5
Last year, Google introduced a new Bug Hunters platform to encompass all its Vulnerability Reward Programs. An expanded “Android and Google Devices Security Reward Program” now brings Nest and Fitbit into the fold with Pixel.
Fitbit Stories March 25
Evidence within the Fitbit app suggests that Google’s acquisition has multiple fitness wearables on the horizon, none of which appear to run Wear OS.
Fitbit Stories March 2
Fitbit Ionic recalled over burn risks, offers full $299 refund and 40% discount on new hardware
Nearly five years after the smartwatch made its debut, Fitbit is recalling the Ionic due to concerns over potential burn risks.
Fitbit Stories February 8
Fitbit today offered a number of guided programs as part of its premium subscription. The Google-owned company is now testing one called Quantified Self that’s personalized and involves using “Fitbit data to figure out which strategies can meaningfully boost your stats.”
Fitbit Stories January 29
Like last year, Fitbit has taken until the end of January to release a personalized “2021 Year in Review” based on your health and fitness metrics. Owners of the Google-owned wearables started receiving the email on Saturday.
Fitbit Stories January 20
In recent years, Fitbit has offered a few months of free Premium when purchasing a new tracker or smartwatch. Subscribers that took advantage of that offer are now discovering that they’re eligible for another free trial.
Fitbit Stories January 5
For the past several years, Fitbit has used aggregated and anonymized user data to release global health stats. The 2021 year in review reveals that Fitbit users around the world slept 6.5 hours every night.
Fitbit Stories November 19, 2021
The “Sleep Score” is one of Fitbit’s most alluring metrics that people like to compare and improve on. Fitbit is now testing “Sleep Animals” as a friendly but surprisingly smart way to encourage “better sleep health.”
Fitbit Stories November 9, 2021
Alongside sleep tracking updates for the 2nd-gen Nest Hub, Google-owned Fitbit is rolling out the Daily Readiness Score to its latest smartwatches and trackers, while the Charge 5 gets an ECG app.
Fitbit Stories October 28, 2021
Fitbit OS 5.3 is rolling out as a smaller update for the Sense and Versa 3 that introduces status indicators. It follows the bigger release in June that added audible Google Assistant responses and better clock face switching.
Fitbit Stories October 11, 2021
At the end of last month, the Charge 5 went on sale as Fitbit’s first tracker to feature an always-on display mode. Fitbit is now adding an AOD to the Luxe through a firmware update.
Fitbit Stories September 27, 2021
Starting today, Fitbit’s latest health tracker is shipping to customers. The Fitbit Charge 5 is now available, and it’s coming with an upgrade to Fitbit Premium, too, in the form of new content from Calm.
Fitbit Stories September 17, 2021
With the Charge 5 and “Daily Readiness Score” announcement at the end of last month, Fitbit also confirmed our report that the Sense and Versa 3 would get “Snore & Noise Detect.” That microphone-powered feature is now beginning to roll out.
Fitbit Stories August 25, 2021
The Apple Watch popularized the concept of “closing your rings,” and Google Fit has Heart Points. Meanwhile, Fitbit — by nature of being around for so long — more prominently emphasizes step counts and miles than competitors. More recently, it’s found branding success in people comparing Sleep Scores, while there’s also one for stress. Fitbit today announced the Daily Readiness Score for Premium subscribers as the next metric you might care about.
Despite Google’s clear focus on using Fitbit to bolster its Wear OS platform, the company isn’t stopping Fitbit from launching its own new hardware. Following the launch of the Fitbit Luxe fitness tracker earlier this year, the Fitbit Charge 5 is now going official with some huge upgrades, including being the first Fitbit tracker with an always-on display.
Fitbit Stories August 23, 2021
We’re likely still a ways out from the debut of the next Fitbit product, but the leaks are starting to trickle out. Following a first look at the Fitbit Charge 5 earlier this month, another leak details the product’s price point and more.
Fitbit Stories August 16, 2021
The Fitbit Sense is nearly a year old at this point, but with no successor on the horizon, it’s getting a slight refresh. Fitbit today announced a new Sage Green option for Sense that also debuts a silver finish for the hardware, and new bands have been released, too.
Fitbit Stories August 14, 2021
Fitness trackers are the bread and butter of the Google-owned Fitbit brand, and despite Google’s focus on smartwatches, it seems Fitbit is not done with that market. After we first leaked the design last month, a new set of renders is showing off the alleged Fitbit Charge 5.
Fitbit Stories August 12, 2021
Fitbit partners with LifeScan, will give out Inspire 2 trackers to help with diabetes management
After adding blood sugar (glucose) tracking to its app earlier this year, Fitbit is taking another step in improving the feature by partnering with LifeScan to give users an automated way to capture and track their results.
Fitbit Stories July 26, 2021
The Fitbit wearable lineup remains split between smartwatches and trackers. The Versa 3 and Sense from 2020 are the latest devices in the former category, while the latter has seen Ace 3 and Luxe this year. Fitbit’s next tracker is codenamed “Morgan” and looks to be the Charge 5.
Fitbit Stories July 13, 2021
Fitbit Versa 3 bug counts too many floors climbed; company is aware
When it comes to a health wearable, the Fitbit Versa 3 is a great choice for its accuracy and affordability. However, a bug may have been inflating floors climbed on some Versa 3 devices, but Fitbit is aware of the issue.
Fitbit Stories June 30, 2021
The Fitbit Luxe was announced in mid-April but did not go on sale until earlier this month, and it’s now available at the Google Store. One advantage of buying direct is taking advantage of Google One cashback.
Fitbit Stories June 28, 2021
Many Fitbit owners missing sleep score for last night [Update: Fix]
Besides step count, distance traveled, and heart rate, one of the more common metrics that Fitbit owners keep track of is their sleep score. However, an issue this morning sees the sleep score missing from the Fitbit app and wearables.
Fitbit Stories June 20, 2021
Fitbit is ‘reviewing’ an option to turn off Minions-themed activity badges
If you’re an active Fitbit user who’s recently had a day with some heavy step counts, you might have triggered a new activity badge based on the animated Minions characters. Fitbit Minion badges are enabled by default, and currently, there’s no way to turn them off. The company is currently considering an option to do so, though.
Fitbit Stories June 1, 2021
Fitbit revealed it was making a premium Wear OS watch at I/O 2021 last month. However, until that’s released, the latest Fitbit OS update is rolling out with a slew of updates for the Fitbit Sense and Versa 3.
Fitbit users are probably familiar with the motivational badges that the brand’s trackers and watches send throughout the day as a user hits fitness goals. Soon, though, those badges will get a twist as Fitbit is soon rolling out character badges with the famous Minion characters.
Fitbit Stories May 27, 2021
The latest update to the Fitbit app contains the beginnings of nighttime snoring and noise detection, along with a cute way to think about your sleeping habits.
Fitbit Stories May 26, 2021
With activity and associated location data being highly sensitive, Fitbit is finally rolling out support for two-factor authentication (2FA). It’s not yet widely available and leverages SMS text messages.
The Fitbit Ace 3 is a fitness tracker designed for kids, and in tune with that, the company previously teased a special partnership with the Minions characters from the Despicable Me series. Now, we’re getting an early look at a bright, limited-edition Minion Yellow version of the Fitbit Ace 3.
Fitbit Stories May 25, 2021
Fitbit and Strava facing sync issues, temporary fix available w/ manual data
If you’re a Fitbit owner using Strava, you may have encountered a problem over the past few days that’s delayed sync between the two services. While a fix isn’t available just yet, the two companies are investigating the problem.
Fitbit Stories May 24, 2021
Fitbit is not yet using USB-C charging cables, despite ‘sample’ Luxe image [Updated]
Announced last month, the Fitbit Luxe is the Google-owned company’s first fitness tracker to have a color display. With the Luxe, Fitbit is also finally adopting USB-C for the charging cable.
Fitbit Stories May 18, 2021
After years of neglect, Google gave Wear OS some proper attention at I/O this year, revealing a major update that focuses on health, battery, and more. If you have a Wear OS watch today, you might be curious if current models will get this revamp. Unfortunately, you’ll be waiting a bit to find out.
As it turns out, the acquisition of Fitbit by Google really was about improving Wear OS for the better. Today at I/O, Google announced a revamp to Wear OS that hinges on Fitbit’s health expertise, and it includes essentially copying the step tracking and motivational badges that watches like Sense and Versa use today.
Under Google, Fitbit is helping to provide the backbone of health tracking on the revamped Wear OS and, soon, Fitbit will be making its own premium smartwatches based on Wear OS.
Fitbit Sense starting price quietly drops to $299 as a sale hits all-time low
Leading up to its purchase by Google, the Fitbit Sense turned out to be one of our favorite wearables in recent memory thanks to its stellar health tracking features and more. Now, the entire package is a bit more affordable as it appears Fitbit Sense has received a permanent price cut.
Fitbit Stories April 26, 2021
Besides being sold on the Google Store and talks of some Nest Hub sleep data integration, it’s still early days for that acquisition. One upcoming change will see Facebook no longer supported for logging on to the Fitbit website.
