If fitbit doesn't connect to Android, why can't the app provide the same functions as connected GPS?

[luca85]

So, we're all stuck with these devices that just don't pair with android devices at all. Yet I explicitly bought the charge 2 for its connected GPS capability.

Whatever, since I'm stuck I should at least be able to track the exercise I'm doing with my app, shouldn't I?

Instead no!! I can track a run but for reasons the app prevents the run to be used to compute the VO2 score. And this is a purely software imposed lock!

Furthermore, I cycle a lot. And the app prevents me from tracking cycling. Basically, I paid 160€ not to be able to see a graph that superimposes my heart rate with my speed and the place I was. What can't this feature be unlocked? It's already there, since it could track cycling exercises if it only could connect to the fitbit. But then the developers explicitly locked this function. How comes?

[RobertoME]

Hi there @luca85, thank you for visiting the Fitbit Community! thank you for your feedback about the compatibility of the Fitbit tracker with other options of mobile devices. Rest assure we are working to increase the options for the convince of our users.

In this case, I was reading your post and note that the app occasionally may present some abnormal behaviors, since the app is not optimized to run with not compatible devices. However to give you an example, I too have a not compatible device and I been able to use all the features of different trackers.

So even if your phone is not listed as compatible, you should be able to use the different features that your tracker and Fitbit Dashboard has to offer.

In this case I believed you are referring to two different features, Connected GPS and MobieRun.

Connected GPS is an alternative if the tracker has no GPS built-in like the Fitbit Ionic. On these instances is where the VO2 option plays a role. If your Fitbit device connects to GPS, we can provide a more precise estimate of your score using the relationship between pace and heart rate during your runs. This is because individuals with higher VO2 Max have a lower heart rate while running at the same pace compared to individuals with lower VO2 Max. Now to run your VO2 score is not mandatory to use GPS features.

In the other hand regarding my other point, there is the option of MobileRun. This feature is similar to Connected GPS but does not allow to track cycling as Connected GPS does. Just to clarify it doesn't mean this option is locked intentionally, instead is not available. Keep in mind the Connected GPS option is provided by your tracker and your exercise shortcuts which is a newer version for GPS features, so this is the difference from one option to other. The only exercise as default options available for MobileRun are Run, Walk and Hike.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have other questions.

[luca85]

Well, my device doesn't even sync at all with my phone (one of the best seller from 2017!!)

So, this is exactly my point. I can't use connected GPS because I have a 2017 phone, and you support only android phones released before 2016. So, why don't you let me track my cycling exercises from my phone directly? I know you should be able to do this.

(What would the difference be anyway between "not available" and "locked". The app is indeed able to track my GPS location. Why can't it save this position in a "cycling" kind of exercise? Because you decided to lock this feature)