Blaze Firmware Update - 17.8.200.3 [Closed]

[AndrewFitbit]

Update 5/6/16:

Hey all,

I've been keeping a close eye on this thread, and I wanted to give a quick update.

For reports of Blaze steps and/or distance being inaccurate, I think this is definitely something worth looking into. I've passed on all the feedback to our team so they can investigate. As a friendly reminder, remember that accuracy depends on many factors.

Here's a couple things being worked on:

• Excess Calendar Notifications
• 'Auto' brightness setting is too dim or adjusts slowly

For 'Auto' setting being too dim, you can switch to 'Normal' as a workaround in the meantime. Please note switching to 'Normal' will have a slight impact on battery life.

I'll provide updates when I can. Thanks everyone. 🙂

Update 4/27/16:

The firmware update should now be available to everyone. Update your Blaze and let me know how it goes! You can read the release notes for version 17.8.200.3 in the lead post or check them out on our help site. 🙂

Update 4/23/16:

Sorry for the wait, here's the release notes!

"The Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages are now available on Blaze. Note that Blaze is only available for pre-order from fitbit.com in China, Japan, and Korea.

This release also resolves a couple issues:

• Some customers were unable to resume a paused FitStar workout.
• Some customers reported problems with the Blaze screen (display)."

You can find these release notes for this update (17.8.200.3) on our help site.

4/21/16:

Hey everybody,

Some of you may have noticed there's a new firmware update for Blaze! We just started pushing this update out yesterday, and just like any other update, we'll be rolling it out in waves. This update focuses on a few bug fixes. Release notes will be posted here soon.

Thanks!

[bbarrera]

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@wardrich wrote:
I'm actually surprised that Fitbit somehow managed to forget to have their own messages flow through to the watch.

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I'm not surprised, its part of a pattern.

[Uber]

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@bbarrera wrote:

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@wardrich wrote:
I'm actually surprised that Fitbit somehow managed to forget to have their own messages flow through to the watch.

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I'm not surprised, its part of a pattern.

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You guys are making me want to return it before I even got it. About the only thing that will make me keep it and continue with fitbit products at this point is a official explination as to why notifications like this haven't been included like I asked in this thread:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Blaze/Regarding-all-the-posts-about-lack-of-sufficient-notifications...

I was an engineer in the past, I totally understand when marketing and sales want X in 2 weeks, but the engineers in the back said it will take 4 weeks. Happens all the time. I get customers not liking that you arent fixing their single problem when there are much bigger fish to fry. I really would just like a clear official statements as to why the company has done X or Y. Even if its as basic as "We didn't think you guys would care, our bad, it's in the works" but there has been no mention of even attempting to address problems like this.

Every time I look in these forums all I see are lots of long time members doing their best to unofficially provide support to issue, on occasional message for mods, and lots of upset customers. I know many people not coming back after seeing the charge HR issues. Besides the fact that there is no wristband issues with the blaze, I honestly don't see a whole lot of people currently happy with the direction and development of the device.

This lack of clear offical responses are making it seem like higher ups are fearing loss of sales/stock because the community won't like the answer.

I know it is not the fault of the mods on here for not issuing a statement. I bet they would love to issue statements so people can actually feel happy with the products.

My solution(because pointing out issues without attempting to fix them is unproductive habit, stop that😞

Bring in the developers and engineers to give definitive official responses to the top 20 or so issue on each product board. Why these people? Because they are the ones who may or may not be working specifically to address these issues. There is nothing wrong with the community mods, but after working at larger companies, I have seen a lot of major miscommunication between departments.

THE COMMUNITY OF CUSTOMERS DESERVE OFFICAL ANSWERS, leaving them in the blank while launching more and more products each year is only going to lead to more decline in stock values.

I know this all comes off like flaming, it is not. I simply do not like being left in the dark about things that have cost me quite a bit of money. I want fitbit to succeed, but to do that, they really need to start winning back customers.

[curt81]

It wouldn't surprise me if they have an update out next week, as apparently the new products they have coming out, will be announced.  They want to look good, so perhaps an update before the announcement.

[chrisc76]

If it worked before this update why don't they rollback the firmware

[harrymclean]

It seems to be that updates are really fare away from each other could there be a way of letting us know when an update is coming up

[Rich_Laue]

Generally Fitbit doesn't announce when updates will be released, the announce on the day of release. Keep an eye on the top of the Blaze Forum.

[Yaakovchaim]

Looks like they are getting ready to release an update since they have annouced the new fitbits.  Here's the info: https://www.fitbit.com/blaze

@AndrewFitbit - Can you give us a TRUE estimate now that it is posted on the website?

Thanks.

[AndrewFitbit]

Similar to what I said here, there is a new firmware update coming out, but it's not coming out this week. We still don't have an exact date, but it is coming very soon so just be on the lookout for when I post new content.

[Yaakovchaim]

@AndrewFitbit,

   You want to know something.  That's not good enough anymore.  We have all been more than patient (and those that weren't have bought something other than a fitbit).  To continue to say "coming very soon" is no longer good enough.  You have some of the new things on your website, you have a press release stating that there will be an update, and there are articles on the update.  Blaze users have a right to know an exact date after waiting almost 5 months for fixes and improvements.  This does not fly in this day and age.  10 years ago you could still get away with it, but new technologies and methodoligies warrent more frequent updates and much better communication for something we all paid $200 for.

[bbarrera]

press release - "in September to all Fitbit Blaze users" 

[MattG92]

I don't think they should be advertised as current features as they are on the Blaze information page if you are not ready to release it. Surely Fitbit should wait to advertise new features until they are ready or put a 'coming soon' notice on the website.

[moettinger]

With the Apple event happening next week, this make sense in terms of marketing. They want their product to look as good as possible against any Apple Watch updates that may come out. 

[ErickFitbit]

@MattG92 Can you clarify which features you're referring to?

[bbarrera]

@ErickFitbit Watch faces that don't exist yet:

https://www.fitbit.com/blaze#night-day

and smartphone notifications in the copy just below:

"See notifications on screen, like calls, texts, calendar events and push notifications from apps like Gmail, Facebook & more."

[jb262004]

But who knows when the update will come.

[pierrotsc]

I had a blaze for a week. I think it is a really good looking watch. I had the gunmetal. I do not care about notifications. I want something that measures my health. I want accurate HR and calories. The HR while not exercising was really good. The calories were not. I could walk and burn as many calories that i would do cycling for the same amount of time with a much higher HR.

I have been watching this thread to see if that is going to be fixed in the next firmware but it looks like that is not going to happen. The move unction should have been done since day one. The apps notifications, i do not care. The all new design are really good but i want something useful.
I am going to try the philipps health watch. Not as cool I admit but maybe more inline with what i am looking for.
Fitbit makes good looking product but not enough for me.
I'll keep watching the thread..

[Uber]

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@bbarrera wrote:

@ErickFitbit Watch faces that don't exist yet:

https://www.fitbit.com/blaze#night-day

and smartphone notifications in the copy just below:

"See notifications on screen, like calls, texts, calendar events and push notifications from apps like Gmail, Facebook & more."

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Yes, this SHOULD NOT be posted. That is false advertisement with specific nonworking examples stated as currently available functions.

Edit:Wording

[MattG92]

@ErickFitbit wrote:

@MattG92 Can you clarify which features you're referring to?

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These descriptions are taken from the Blaze page from your website (https://www.fitbit.com/uk/blaze)

 "Reminders to Move

To help you stay active during the day, Blaze sends Reminders to Move that encourage you to take 250 steps every hour."

 "Call, Text & Calendar Alerts

See notifications on screen, like calls, texts, calendar events and push notifications from apps like Gmail, Facebook & more."

Having these there implies that these are current features available as soon as the device is activated.

Equally I don't think this description makes it clear that this feature only applies to 3 preloaded workouts

"On-Screen Workouts with FitStar

Start a FitStar workout on your tracker and get step-by-step instructions and coaching right on your wrist"

To me (and i would assume at least some other customers) this suggests that it has access to all fitstar workouts.

[ErickFitbit]

@bbarrera @jb262004 @Uber @MattG92 Those are all features and clock faces that will be coming in the upcoming firmware release that was announced earlier today. 

@MattG92 The Fitbit Blaze user manual states the following: "Choose from three FitStar workouts."

@pierrotsc Odd that you'd burn the same amount of calories while walking and having a higher heart rate measurement while cycling since Blaze takes heart rate into consideration when calculating your calorie burn. In this case, I recommend confirming that your demographics are all accurately portrayed in this personal settings page.

[Uber]

Yes but the language currently on the main blaze page currently says all these things are available at this current moment if I were to activate a newly bought blaze.

This is not the case, and they should probably put a "*" and specify that it will be in a future update.

Press release or not, the sales page is currently misleading and does not reference the press release. That's all I wanted to point out.