Blaze Firmware Release - 17.8.301.4 [Closed]

[AndrewFitbit]

9/23 Update:

See the new firmware thread here

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9/22 Update:

For those that have the firmware update already, new clock faces have been re-enabled.

We've continued the rollout process. If you don't yet have the update, please be patient. We'll post updates about the rollout when we have more information.

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9/19 Update:

Hey everyone - it seems like we're struggling to maintain civil conversation on this topic, so I'm going to go ahead and lock the thread. We'll open a new thread once the firmware update goes into wider distribution. Until then, here are answers to the questions that keep getting asked here:

When will I be able to download the latest update?

The update is on hold while our team addresses an issue found at the beginning of the release. Once their work is complete, we will start rolling it out again. We generally don't announce specific dates or timeframes, but you will see the update on your dashboard as soon as it is available. The only thing you need to do right now is wait patiently.

Why did you release the latest update to only a small percentage of users?

We've done tons of testing on this new firmware, but there can still be unexpected issues when we release it. If every Blaze customer updated at once, those surprises would affect everyone. Instead, we use an incremental release to observe and address issues on a relatively small scale. We definitely want the best experience possible for our Blaze customers, and a slow, cautious release helps accomplish that goal.

If only 5% of Blaze users have the update now, does that mean 10% will have it next week and 15% will have it the week after? Won't that take forever?

Nope! We aren't moving in 5% increments. We started the release at 5% and will increase it in much larger increments once we are confident that it's good to go. You should receive it soon.

Why haven't you communicated this information to customers?

All this information was previously posted in this thread, and also added to the lead post. Any time you find a discussion of an emerging issue or a newly-released update, make sure to check the first post for the latest information. We aim for clear, concise, transparent, and frequent communication - you should always find what you need in the lead post.

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9/15 Update:

The new Blaze update is currently available only to a very small percentage of users, as we are troubleshooting some emerging issues. It will be released more widely soon. Once it is available, you will see a banner at the top of your website or mobile app dashboard. Thanks for your patience!

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Hey everyone! 

We're rolling out a new update for Blaze, release notes below: 

• In addition to call, text, and calendar event notifications, you can receive notifications from email and other third-party apps on your tracker.Common emojis also appear. Keep in mind all notifications currently on your tracker will be deleted after the update.
• You can receive reminders to move throughout the day.
• Five new clock faces are available. Navigate to your device settings and check them out!

This release also resolves the following issue:

• Some users reported that auto-brightness was too dim or delayed.

Important to note: A sync is required after a manual shutdown or a battery drain in order to show the correct time on Blaze. This is especially important for your activity tracked by Blaze because you'll want to make sure it's associated with the current date and time.

The initial wave of users will receive the update starting September 12th, 2016, and will eventually be rolled out to everyone within a few days. If the update to the latest firmware version is not yet available for your Blaze, just hang tight!

[Thaibahoa]

new version support Vietnamese language???

[VanHien]

I hope Vietnamese

[meresydotes]

@AndrewFitbit That makes sense. Sometimes I need small words. I guess this is one of the times I'm perhaps lucky to be last. I think I would probably cry if my Blaze broke.

Thanks!

[Scitryx]

Is there any way to be part of the "Group 1" test group? I'd love to get a hold of it! thank you! 

[herget]

Do you mean the test group (initial 5%) of users receiving the Blaze firmware update? If I understand your question the answers is currently... nope. One must patiently await for the update to appear on their app. I chatted support and even tried a back-door method via the Beta Field Testing Groups - no luck thus far.

[crushinit]

I suspected this would happen. The first wave had issues so they stopped rolling it out. However, the problem is that no one said the rollout fully stopped. So we've all been checking daily, expecting it will come (in my case checking the app and web browser multiple times per day) when there was absolutely no chance anyone would be getting the update. That's not cool. 

[SanFit]

@AndrewFitbit
>>>All - the firmware update will remain at 5% of users until we're confident that we can release to 100%. There is no exact date, but we appreciate your continued patience.

Why FitBIT did not previously clarify that the firmware update download was suspended since the problems occurred? Users are thinking that the download is on the way by random selection. Does FitBIT think that HIDING the fact is the best solution?

[Danzzzzy]

I agree that Fitbit handled this very poorly and is demonstrating that they don't care. Such an opportunity for Fitbit wasted. A new release of the iPhone and people want to know what watch to purchase. When they look into Fitbit they are going to see everyone say they suck. A simple release will cost them millions. I'm thinking of upgrading my iPhone to iPhone 7. Fitbit looked promising, but maybe they really won't have a release?

[SanFit]

Releasing unstable update without proper testing is BAD.
But the way you handle the issue, hiding the fact, not making a clear explanation is WORST. It is inexcusable.

[Danzzzzy]

Well said.

[Skillman34]

What's sad is that we are all waiting so anxiously for 5 additional watch faces. That still seems idiotic to me. The money you are paying for the blaze, you could spend a bit more and get a watch that has 100’s of faces and does better than 80% step counts. Just saying

[SanFit]

@AndrewFitbit
>>>@meresydotes I sort of explained in the post above, but perhaps I can clarify. Think of the 5% as group 1 and the 95% as group 2. Group 1 currently has the update, and group 2 will have to wait until we make sure we're ready to release to them. Typically group 2 will receive the update a week or two after group 1 has received the update. We want to try and make sure things go as smooth as possible when updating everyone's firmware. Hopefully that makes sense.

This explanation is confusing. It sounds like that the 5% already distributed firmware update contains NO BUG, and the remaining 95% will receive the update later.
My simple question is:

1. At this moment, have the 5% users already downloaded the update completely? If not, how many percent still remaining? Why does it take so much time?

2. When you allow the last 95% users to start downloading the update, are the first group of 5% users also required to re-download the firmware update? If the answer is YES, then you are lying... You are trying to excuse the fault of fitBIT in releasing BUGGY update in the first time.

[SanFit]

@AndrewFitbit

If you are more gentlement by saying that the first release of firmware update which already downloaded for around 5% contains critical bugs so that it is necessary to be suspended and a newer firmware will be released after the bugs have been fixed, users will not be so anxious and furious. The more you are trying to elude the problem, the more you are falling into a deeper problem.

[Danzzzzy]

Yup, Fitbit should not have said anything about an update. Now people are waiting and Fitbit is giving no clear information. Apple released IPhone 7. I suggest and may go to Apple Watch. Fitbit does not care about customers...

[Julia_G]

To be fair, I think @AndrewFitbit's information was very clear: the update was released to a small number (5% of randomly chosen users across all regions). Some issues emerged from the initial release and the update has been temporarily paused while they troubleshoot those issues.

The best way of staying up to date with progress on this is to check the first post at the top of this thread for any new information.

[SanFit]

@Julia_G
>>>To be fair, I think @AndrewFitbit's information was very clear: the update was released to a small number (5% of randomly chosen users across all regions). Some issues emerged from the initial release and the update has been temporarily paused while they troubleshoot those issues.

If you think that it is clear.
So, please answer my simple question: If that is the case, why should they create the perception of "Group 1 of 5%" and "Group 2 of 95%".
If the update was suspended TOTALLY due to critical bugs, then nothing to say about Group 1 or Group 2. They all MUST download the NEWER firmware after the bugs have been fixed. So, there will be no more 95%, but 100% [Read Again: 100%] of users MUST download the firmware.

[AnitaI]

@SanFit I couldn't agree with you more!

[manstondrive]

Simple question - When will the full roll out if the firmwear take place - a date would help - Thanks

[Spg2810]

Should stop showing all the new features on the website as it's very misleading the product advertised doesn't do what it's says.

[EmilGJ]

I see that people have downloaded the update. But I haven´t got a notification about the update. Does it matter where you live?