New Fitbit to be released for 2017

[SunriseRun1250]

Usually rumours get me excited but the bezel on this thing looks massive. I hope someone from Fitbit is reading as this is is an issue with the blaze too - big screen but all the real estate is taken up with a border around it. That bezel must be a 1/4 of the 'screen' 

https://www.engadget.com/2017/05/01/fitbit-smartwatch-headphones/

Moderator edit: format

[WendyB]

looks nice to me

[hd57]

I agree. Wonder why no one in R & D dept. notices major design flaws. Fitbit really needs a game changer product to turn things around. This is their chance and I guess they are going to blow it with the same retro look as Blaze. Although 100nits, GPS and contactless payments, music from Pandora and 4 days of battery life may swing things in their favor. I believe the price tag of $300 is reasonable.

[SunriseRun1250]

Whoa! 300? The reason Fitbit is still in the game is price. I think this just solidifies the nail in the coffin to buy an Apple Watch. 

I don't think pandora works in the U.K. But typical Fitbit. The barcodes didn't work outside the USA either. 

The Fitbit name taking up the bezel looks like things you see on kids toys. 

[Rich_Laue]

First on the Blaze the Fitbit name doesnt take up more than a small portion of the bezel and is barely noticible.

As for the bezel soze the weater repprt goes to the edge of the screen.

So far there has only been pre-released rumors leaked, not really any substantial facts to go on.

I assume you would say it's the same child like look as the $121,000 has because the word Rolex is plastered on its face.

 As for makor design flaws, that is the reason for the delay in its release

As for contactless paymemts, fitbit a year ago bought a patent.

[bbarrera]

Sorry its Friday and even at the end of a long day I can't find humor in that gross exaggeration. So lets break it down.

The tiny word Rolex is not "plastered" on that watch. Its hard to even see it. Counting the rows of crystals the word is maybe 4% of the vertical space. More importantly, its buried inside the face where your eye is naturally drawn to the larger design elements - chronographs and hour/minute/second hands. Heck even the 5 minute marks are larger and more prominent.

By comparison, the height of the bezel where "Fitbit" appears on Blaze, and in the rumor screenshot, is something like 10-20% of the vertical height of display. We are talking about the rumor pics, so split the difference and call the bezel 15% of the total height of watch face. As a result the word Fitbit is prominent enough that the eye is drawn to it.

[Fehifhe]

If you bothered to open your eyes and actually look at your Blaze (if you even have one, that is), you would realize that the bezel is black and the "Fitbit" logo is a relatively dark gray. It's almost impossible to see it unless you are 6 inches or so close to it or in direct sunlight. I'll admit, the logo in Project Higgs is large and obnoxious looking, but this problem wasn't present in the Blaze.

[bbarrera]

---

@Fehifhe wrote:

I'll admit, the logo in Project Higgs is large and obnoxious looking, but this problem wasn't present in the Blaze.

---

We are talking about Project Higgs logo. Agree the Fitbit logo on Blaze is understated. I just sold my Blaze, inventory on both the Blaze and Flex 2 is running low which indicates the Fitbit smartwatch is near (or maybe Fitbit mgmt just being conservative after channel inventory ballooned last year).

[pierrotsc]

I like it..Let's see on ho accurate the HR is..

[bbarrera]

instead of hoping year after year for better HR, it needs the option of pairing to ANT+ or Bluetooth chest strap. 

[pierrotsc]

Indeed, that would be a great idea. Although the Philips watch gives you very good accuracy on the wrist. I wear mine higher on the arm for HIIT and it is spot on. No fluctuation. I guess it can be done with the right combination of hardware and software.

I do not like watches to do too much and nothing really is great. Better to focus on a few key features and make them great.

Look at the garmin fenix 5. Looks awesome , lot of features but tons of issues.

[bbarrera]

Never ever had optical HRM (Surge, Blaze, Apple Watch) accurately track HR while lifting weights (barbell and some dumbbell)... never, as in my HR is 120-160bpm and every optical HRM records something like 70-100bpm. I do my routine (no pauses to let optical HRM 'catch up') and then return home to compare against chest strap and the difference is obvious and dramatic. 

Optical HRM is typically very good on resting HR when the wrist and body isn't moving. And its generally good for walking, hiking, spinning, but not road biking (too much movement). Even when optical HRM is good on a specific bike ride, every device I've tried fails to accurately track at least once and usually a many times. So for a wearable I'm going to stick with Apple Watch because of payments and superior notifications. 

If Fitbit wants to move beyond 'help people stop sitting and get moving' market they need to support chest straps (for athletes), and payments. And the forum cheerleaders that conveniently dismiss payments ("don't need it"), will amazingly change their story when Fitbit offers payments on a new tracker. 

[pierrotsc]

I agree with your points but it also depends on the user. All the smartwatches I tried, i disabled notifications. I had them turn on when I had a Basis peak and it drove me crazy.

The payment maybe nice but do you need your phone next to the watch? If so, i can just pull my phone with NFC chip. Do not need the watch.

I see people at the airport with their QR code boarding pass on their apple watch. I guess it is cool but got that on my phone.

I think companies are switching to health devices like Withings & Philips compared to fitness tracker. Philips advertise for their HR accuracy. I think it may be the only company that does that.

Competition is good. Just have to pick your poison.

[bbarrera]

---

@pierrotsc wrote:

I agree with your points but it also depends on the user. All the smartwatches I tried, i disabled notifications. I had them turn on when I had a Basis peak and it drove me crazy.

The payment maybe nice but do you need your phone next to the watch? If so, i can just pull my phone with NFC chip. Do not need the watch.

---

On Watch, like Blaze and Garmin and everyone else, it starts by mirroring all notifications sent to phone's lock screen. However there is far more control, for example I can disable Fitbit app notifications on lock screen, but still have them pushed to Watch. Notifications are annoying in general, and I only allow a small number of notifications to get pushed to my lock screen and Watch.

Payments work without the phone or WiFi or BT. At least a couple times a month I'll run to store, forget wallet or phone, and purchase using only Watch. And when I'm out road biking my phone is buried in back jersey pocket, really don't want to drag it out. I don't do a lot of shopping, but I do use payments 2-4 times a week. So much faster, secure (can't be tracked), and more convenient than pulling out wallet or phone.

Competition is good.

[pierrotsc]

You have a lot of valid points I never thought about. I guess if you can pay with the watch by itself without the phone, it is indeed a god feature. I got an iphone 5 for free. I am an android user but I like the size of the 5. The only thing is that it does not support apple pay so i did not see the need to look into the apple watch pay thing.

I am waiting to hear on Monday the announcements from apple. maybe the watch 3 will be the one. I know they bought beddit so they could incorporate that into the watch.

Best

[bbarrera]

@pierrotsc Pay works with iPhone 5 or later and AW - I had original AW and 5s until fall 2016 then kept AW and upgraded to 7.

[pierrotsc]

The 5 does not have the nfc chip. i went to the apple store and do not see a download for the apple pay.

Look.

Apple Pay is compatible with these devices

iPhone

In stores, within apps, and on the web in Safari*

• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone SE

[bbarrera]

---

@pierrotsc wrote:

The 5 does not have the nfc chip. i went to the apple store and do not see a download for the apple pay.

---

@pierrotsc Allow me to clear up your misunderstanding. The 5s doesn't have an NFC chip, but Watch does. Adding credit cards to Watch is done via the Watch app, and using Settings on iPhone 6 or later. Anyone with 5, 5c, or 5s can setup pay using the Watch app. From that moment forward, you can pay using AW with or without a phone. It just works. 

Fitbit payments needs to deliver both:

- convenience: pay with smartwatch

- security: doesn't store credit card on phone or smartwatch

[pierrotsc]

@bbarrera I understand no but i am practically sure that i had read somewhere that the apple pay/watch/iphone 5 was not supported. i guess i was wrong. thanks for the link.

[bbarrera]

Happy to help, and hoping to see Fitbit introduce some real competition in the smartwatch market this year!