Location required for Sync? Really?

[leetramp]

I suddenly need to have my GPS location turned on before I can sync. Is this a change with an update? I never had to before. This will earn the app a one-star review from me. There is absolutely no reason why I should have to do this. I keep my GPS receiver off to save battery.

[leetramp]

I'm using 2.28 with Android 6 on a Samsung Note 4

[SunsetRunner]

ask Google why they required location must be on since androîd 6.0

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Android-App/Syncing-on-Android-6-0-Marshmallow-official-release/m-p/...

[leetramp]

Thanks for the explanation ☺️

[Arrendalek]

Good morning! Is anyone still unhappy about location having to be activated before your tracker will synch? If you are keep up the pressure on Fitbit to change the way they synch!

[Rich_Laue]

Do a sync, then go to your location settings, look at what apps have recently asked. You will notice that Fitbit has not requested to know tour location.

If fotbit does change their way of dyncing, it will require more steps when using multiple trackers. Require more steps in Fitbit connect which currently will sync any tracker that answers its reqiest to sync.

[Rhirhi83]

I don't like having to turn on location for it to update... its unnecessary and a bad decision from fitbit

[Rich_Laue]

I agree it is a bad decission, but if it was Fitbits decision dont you think they would require it with all android systems and not just Marshmellow?? ,
I have synced several tmes in the last 10 hours, look at the history of apps requesting history. Why is it that if Fitbit wants history on, they are not asking for a location?
Because it is not Fitbits decision, Android made the change.

[SunsetRunner]

It is a Samsung S5. The Blaze is turned on. The question is why do I have
to turn the phone notifications on each time I turn the phone on....don't
have to do that with WiFi or bluetooth

Mike
Sent from my Samsung S4

[SunsetRunner]

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@Rhirhi83 wrote:
I don't like having to turn on location for it to update... its unnecessary and a bad decision from fitbit

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ONE MORE TIME : it's not a Fitbit decision, it's a Google decision

complain at Google

[Rich_Laue]

@SunsetRunner ive moved your post about Android Marshmellow and the Fitbit app, out of the thread about text notafacations and into the Android App Marshmellow thread.

Please see above for your answer.

[Rich_Laue]

@SunsetRunner Google has sold off the Android line, this has nothing to do with Gohiogle.

[SunsetRunner]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

@SunsetRunner Google has sold off the Android line, this has nothing to do with Gohiogle.

---

can you be more precise ?

Google sold off Motorola, but controls Androïd

at least until sept. 2015

http://www.wsj.com/articles/ftc-looking-at-complaints-over-googles-android-control-1443201867

[geeruff]

Turning Location on in order to sync is not an intuitive step for many.

There is also currently no information on Fitbit Help pages that suggest that Location Services need to be turned on.

This caused me grief when I tried all ways to sync without knowing why it wouldn't work, until I found out that Location needed to be on!

1) Can the moderators here make a "sticky" post about the Android App needing Location Services turned on to sync please?

2) Can the moderators get someone to update the Fitbit help page for "I can't sync my tracker":

http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1866/

under "Fitbit app for Android"

to reflect the information that Location Services need to be turned on? Please!

[Milliebug85]

I think fitbit should contact Google on our behalf to express our discontent. Their opinion would carry more weight than any one person. But it is still important to voice our opinion with Google as well. Maybe that would apply enough pressure to make changes happen.

[Rich_Laue]

I dont see the big deal here, half my apps rebel if location is turned off, and only half of these really ask for location.

Set your location to power saving and it will use WiFi and the cell towers, even if WiFi and your cell network is turned off. But then you wont be able to sync anyway.

It only uses battery power when an app requests the actual location. Fitbit doesnt do this.

[geeruff]

I posted a topic called "Update Help Pages - Android & Location on to sync app & tracker" in "Feature Requests" to ask Fitbit to update their help pages with this information. My Android is still running Lollipop (5.0.1) but just recently I had a sync problem and discovered that I had to turn on Location Settings in order to sync.

This information should be in the Help pages because that is the first place people are directed to when they have problems.

Please discuss and support the request for the updating of Help pages: http://fitbit.link/29pe82W

[danettew]

Have you gotten a response on this!  This is happening to me also, no reason at all! I wouldn't have bought the device last month if I had known.

[Rich_Laue]

@danettew the reason has been clearly explained above. You updated the phone to Marshmallow, fitbit needs to know the Bluetooth MAC of the tracker. Marshmellow updated the security to mske things more secure, and now requires location services to be on before the OS will send the MAC to the Fitbit app. 

The reason is Google wanting to make your phone more secure. 

[danettew]

That's a line....I wouldn't have bought it if all the battery draining settings had to be on to use it.  I don't need fitbit or google for that matter to know where I am...I don't use that in social media either...