GPS vs Connected GPS

[kurtisscott1]

I did a comparison on the Blaze and the Surge it pretty much had (in the chart) everything the surge had except GPS route tracking, but in the video and the feature of the Blaze it said it does have GPS route tracking.

Moderator Edit: Title For Clarity

[Scuba1]

I enjoy my walks to and from work, but my work does not allow us to bring a cell phone. So I have to leave it at home so the GPS is on the top of my list. That said I do like the replicable bands and wish they would revamp the Surge so the bands was replaceable to.

[AveryRay]

Yea, but who is to say that third party apps do not get added with later updates. It has one app (Fitstar) already built in. So it is possible that other apps could be introduce in time.

The thing that sells me on the Blaze is that I can have a band for the gym and workouts and one for everyday life. This was not an option with my Fitbit charge HR. If your band broke and was not under warranty, you are buying a new fitbit.

[bbarrera]

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@AveryRay wrote:

Yea, but who is to say that third party apps do not get added with later updates. It has one app (Fitstar) already built in. So it is possible that other apps could be introduce in time.

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Don't hold your breath, "Fitbit apps" are really just features, and have been available since exercise mode was introduced (Force, Charge, etc).

Note that Fitbit positions Fitstar as a feature, not an app. 

The "Fitstar app" is limited - it works standalone, not linked to your Fitstar account, and only supports 3 workouts:

- Warm Up

- 7 Minute Workout

- 10 Minute Abs

Its really a Blaze feature, not an app. I won't bore you with technical arguments that its highly unlikely to offer true 3rd party apps. Simple version - it is unlikely that Blaze will have a powerful application processor like Apple Watch or high-end Android Wear devices. Instead it will likely have a low-end processor, optimized for power and cost, and generally not suitable for general purpose 3rd party apps.

[ErickFitbit]

@bbarrera Is spot on with the explanation of how Connected GPS works on Blaze.

@Lunchbox87 I recommend following the tips in the "How do I maximize my tracker's battery life?" help article.

@Luigi408 I enjoy both the Surge and Blaze and love to wear each one for specific occasions. I normally wear Blaze during the day as I like it's thinner profile and wear Surge when I go on mountain bike rides as I don't like carrying my phone with me while going downhill over rocks and through creeks. They're both awesome trackers in my opinion.

@Scuba1 Thanks for your feedback, I will make sure to pass it along. Valid points when your workplace doesn't allow cell phone usage.

@AveryRay FitStar isn't a 3rd party application as Fitbit has acquired FitStar. Currently, there are no plans for 3rd party app support.

As for interchangeable bands, you're right! I love wearing my leather band during the work day and then easily switch over to my classic band for my workouts. Very convenient.

[tinkerbell3399]

This is sort of what I'm wondering. What if your phone doesn't have a signal while using the Blaze. Will it still store your activity information (example: distance ran) minus that map? 

[Michael]

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@tinkerbell3399 wrote:

This is sort of what I'm wondering. What if your phone doesn't have a signal while using the Blaze. Will it still store your activity information (example: distance ran) minus that map? 

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If your phone doesn't have a GPS signal it won't be able to track the map. I don't know if the Blaze will let you start it in GPS mode when the phone doesn't have a GPS signal or if you would have to turn GPS off so that it just tracked steps/distance/calories/HR/etc.

If your phone doesn't have an Internet connection (cellular or WiFi) the Blaze will hold all of its data until your phone does have an Internet connection so it can sync it to the Fitbit servers.

[Racerx67]

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@ErickFitbit wrote:

@bbarrera Is spot on with the explanation of how Connected GPS works on Blaze.

@Lunchbox87 I recommend following the tips in the "How do I maximize my tracker's battery life?" help article.

@Luigi408 I enjoy both the Surge and Blaze and love to wear each one for specific occasions. I normally wear Blaze during the day as I like it's thinner profile and wear Surge when I go on mountain bike rides as I don't like carrying my phone with me while going downhill over rocks and through creeks. They're both awesome trackers in my opinion.

@Scuba1 Thanks for your feedback, I will make sure to pass it along. Valid points when your workplace doesn't allow cell phone usage.

@AveryRay FitStar isn't a 3rd party application as Fitbit has acquired FitStar. Currently, there are no plans for 3rd party app support.

As for interchangeable bands, you're right! I love wearing my leather band during the work day and then easily switch over to my classic band for my workouts. Very convenient.

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The problem with the highlit comment is you then need to buy two devices to do that. Here in the UK that could be about £360.00 which is up at well over Garmin Forerunner 235 prices and you end up to two devices which have a lower spec. Not far off the estimated Garmin Fenix 3 HR saphire prices too.. 

[carly1212]

If I pre-order the charge, will my card be charged at the time of purchase? Or at the time of shipment? 

[UltrarunnerJonL]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

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@ErickFitbit wrote:

@kurtisscott1To add to @Michael's excellent response, Connected GPS will connect Blaze with the GPS on your phone to map your routes and see run stats like pace and duration on the Blaze display in real-time. Additionally, as the GPS is being used from your phone it keeps a longer battery life while running a GPS activity.

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and the smartphone will have a lesser battery life 

iPhone 4s GPS on : around 2h30min

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Haha, sorry iPhone users, my Android phone here will last me more than 15 hours easily. GPS on. BT on. Network off. Mobile internet off. Wifi off. 

[UltrarunnerJonL]

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@golfercacher wrote:
Not having built in GPS is a big mistake. Fitbit could have differentiated themselves but instead decided to marry their newest device to a phone for fitness functionality.

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Having a build in GPS but with shorter battery life is the only reason I decided not to buy Surge!

They made Blaze for runners like me! 😄

[Julia_G]

Your card will not be charged until your Fitbit ships, unless you live in New Zealand.

[Rich_Laue]

Many people get 8+ hours on the Surge while the GPS is on, i even have gone 4 hours with GPS on a reported low battery. Im not sure if tgere are many people that would need GPS for a longer period. Maybe for a  double ironman

[UltrarunnerJonL]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

Many people get 8+ hours on the Surge while the GPS is on, i even have gone 4 hours with GPS on a reported low battery. Im not sure if tgere are many people that would need GPS for a longer period. Maybe for a  double ironman

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From reading previous posts, surge seem to last only a few hours but 8 hours is definitely not enough for me.

Correct me if I'm wrong but:

Surge with GPS = 8+ hours

Blaze with connected GPS = ?? days?

[bbarrera]

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@UltrarunnerJonL wrote:

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Haha, sorry iPhone users, my Android phone here will last me more than 15 hours easily. GPS on. BT on. Network off. Mobile internet off. Wifi off. 

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Haha? Rich_Laue's Samsung S5 with new battery gets 2 hours with his Android phone:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Blaze/Does-connected-GPS-have-much-impact-on-Blaze-battery-life/m-p/...

Meanwhile my ~2.5 year old iPhone 5s easily gets 5-6 hours. And really pushing it, I can get 4.5 - 5 hours with:

- everything on: GPS, BT, network, WiFi

- BT connection to Apple Watch

- Apple Watch using 'connected GPS' to record bike ride

- BT connection to Garmin Edge 520 bike computer

- Garmin Edge 520 getting network updates and displaying text/phone notices

I can easily stretch battery life out to 15 hours if I turn on airplane mode, and still use phone GPS:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Blaze/Does-connected-GPS-have-much-impact-on-Blaze-battery-life/m-p/...

[UltrarunnerJonL]

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@bbarrera wrote:

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@UltrarunnerJonL wrote:

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Haha, sorry iPhone users, my Android phone here will last me more than 15 hours easily. GPS on. BT on. Network off. Mobile internet off. Wifi off. 

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Haha? Rich_Laue's Samsung S5 with new battery gets 2 hours with his Android phone:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Blaze/Does-connected-GPS-have-much-impact-on-Blaze-battery-life/m-p/...

Meanwhile my ~2.5 year old iPhone 5s easily gets 5-6 hours. And really pushing it, I can get 4.5 - 5 hours with:

- everything on: GPS, BT, network, WiFi

- BT connection to Apple Watch

- Apple Watch using 'connected GPS' to record bike ride

- BT connection to Garmin Edge 520 bike computer

- Garmin Edge 520 getting network updates and displaying text/phone notices

I can easily stretch battery life out to 15 hours if I turn on airplane mode, and still use phone GPS:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Blaze/Does-connected-GPS-have-much-impact-on-Blaze-battery-life/m-p/...

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I don't know what he does with his phone! Haha I'm using an Samsung S5 too and I have certainly used it past the 15 hour mark frequently with all functions on (including posting instagram pictures of my run) and if I'm using ultra-power saving mode, it will stretch past the 24 hour mark!

Could be childish this time and boast that my phone is also [waterproof] and allows [interchangeable batteries]

But I'm actually more concerned if Blaze can outlast my phone battery and being waterproof on top of that! 😉

[Rich_Laue]

You might want to reread my comment again, there was no menyion of the phone, the comment was strickly about the Surge and it's abilility to track your walk without any live connection to the phone. It is the puney Surge battery that eaailt gets 8+ hours while having it's GPS on!

[bbarrera]

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@UltrarunnerJonL wrote:

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But I'm actually more concerned if Blaze can outlast my phone battery and being waterproof on top of that! 😉

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We don't know about battery, and Fitbit doesn't have any "waterproof" (swim/snorkel/etc) devices. This is more up your alley if I understand your requirements: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/wrist-worn/fenix-3/prod160512.html

And yeah, I was pretty shocked to see someone only getting 2 hours on the S5. Honestly I think he was exaggerating, or it was an extreme use case, or his phone is a lemon and needs to be replaced. And you've been childish now on two posts so don't hold back! Game on - my bike is a Trek, TVs are Sony and Vizio, computers are Dell and Apple, microwave is GE, etc, etc. Really, don't hold back on my choice of phone, this is the Internet and I'd like you to have as much fun as possible feeling better about your stuff vs some random dude's stuff 😉

In this day and age, if you have a top-end phone then getting decent battery life with GPS on is straightfoward unless the app was poorly written. 

[UltrarunnerJonL]

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@bbarrera wrote:

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@UltrarunnerJonL wrote:

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But I'm actually more concerned if Blaze can outlast my phone battery and being waterproof on top of that! 😉

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We don't know about battery, and Fitbit doesn't have any "waterproof" (swim/snorkel/etc) devices. This is more up your alley if I understand your requirements: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/wrist-worn/fenix-3/prod160512.html

And yeah, I was pretty shocked to see someone only getting 2 hours on the S5. Honestly I think he was exaggerating, or it was an extreme use case, or his phone is a lemon and needs to be replaced. And you've been childish now on two posts so don't hold back! Game on - my bike is a Trek, TVs are Sony and Vizio, computers are Dell and Apple, microwave is GE, etc, etc. Really, don't hold back on my choice of phone, this is the Internet and I'd like you to have as much fun as possible feeling better about your stuff vs some random dude's stuff 😉

In this day and age, if you have a top-end phone then getting decent battery life with GPS on is straightfoward unless the app was poorly written. 

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Good point! I'm indeed looking closely at Fenix 3 HR for serious races and more accurate chest straps readings, better battery life, the list goes on...

But I've preordered Blaze for a more casual weekend run. It does the job for me. 

Just curious to see how far can I push this Blaze so can't wait to get my hands on it.

[SunsetRunner]

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@UltrarunnerJonL wrote:

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

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@ErickFitbit wrote:

@kurtisscott1To add to @Michael's excellent response, Connected GPS will connect Blaze with the GPS on your phone to map your routes and see run stats like pace and duration on the Blaze display in real-time. Additionally, as the GPS is being used from your phone it keeps a longer battery life while running a GPS activity.

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and the smartphone will have a lesser battery life 

iPhone 4s GPS on : around 2h30min

---

Haha, sorry iPhone users, my Android phone here will last me more than 15 hours easily. GPS on. BT on. Network off. Mobile internet off. Wifi off. 

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that's depending the smartphone age.

new iPhone 6s, basic use, wifi on, bt on, gps off, battery is at 68% after 3 days.

old Galaxy S3, basic use, wifi on, bt off, gps off, i must charge it every day.

[UltrarunnerJonL]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

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@UltrarunnerJonL wrote:

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

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@ErickFitbit wrote:

@kurtisscott1To add to @Michael's excellent response, Connected GPS will connect Blaze with the GPS on your phone to map your routes and see run stats like pace and duration on the Blaze display in real-time. Additionally, as the GPS is being used from your phone it keeps a longer battery life while running a GPS activity.

---

and the smartphone will have a lesser battery life 

iPhone 4s GPS on : around 2h30min

---

Haha, sorry iPhone users, my Android phone here will last me more than 15 hours easily. GPS on. BT on. Network off. Mobile internet off. Wifi off. 

---

that's depending the smartphone age.

new iPhone 6s, basic use, wifi on, bt on, gps off, battery is at 68% after 3 days.

old Galaxy S3, basic use, wifi on, bt off, gps off, i must charge it every day.

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New iPhone, THREE days battery! Lucky you! Hahahaha! I missed the good old Nokia days when it used to last a week!

You're almost right about the smartphone age but missed 2 main points.

Battery life is affected by softwares - an software update or factory reset will be able to help increase the battery life.

However, as time goes by, the battery cells will deteriorate - you will eventually have to change the battery or buy a new phone.

Lucky for me, I've got 3 interchangeable batteries so my phone will last me quite a while longer 🙂