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Yeah, I am done. I have priced other trackers, but I just get terribly upset when I think of how much I've already spent with FitBit over a period of at least five years, four different tracker models (One, Blaze, Versa, and now Inspire) plus the Aria scale - and, the fact that they have decided to change the format of sleep data to something completely useless. Oh, and don't get me started on the sleep data that is now only available through Premium 😡.
I've tracked macros/diet, weight, body fat, for at least 20 years, as I was once into bodybuilding. And, I have used some type of fitness tracker for as long as they have been available... I even had a BodyBugg back in the day. And, even though I am older now, I am still very health-conscious, but I think it may be time to break the addiction to tracking, numbers, and data and just live my life.
I agree! Last night with my wrist itching from a rash due to wearing my Charge 3, I woke up and realized that I don't need this headache. I have been a Fitness Instructor for over close to 30 years and now work as a Holistic Lifestyle Practitioner. I have become addicted to this data and it's silly. I will exercise, walk and sleep without a Fitbit.
With that being said, this morning I delved into the EMF and radiation info available, and not what Fitbit is saying about these issues but looking at other data from more reliable sources. I realized that the radiation/EMF's is an issue and I don't want this exposure anymore.
I discovered that if I decide to wear a device, it will be an Apple watch which has an airplane mode ON the device so it can be shut off. It still gathers data in airplane mode but only syncs it when you take it off of airplane mode. This is a much safer way to monitor activity. Plus an Apple 3 is only $199 and I don't need the latest and fanciest watch. So IF I get another watch - no more Fitbits!
I also have had the Charge 3 for less than one year, and I am on my THIRD device. They were constantly breaking and that was just another headache!
On Android, my sleep time averages came back... But I'm already moving onto a competitor as I don't have time for this BS meddling into my life routines
I'm new to the mania that is trackers but I'm thankful for all the data people like you have provided over the years so people like me can simply look at an app and know so much. You'll never get a thank you from Big Corp but know that people like me appreciate you.
I'm looking for a compatible sleep app that works with Fitbit. Ideally, it would not show sleep scores, which gives us a false positive. How is it that if you sleep longer than 6 hours your sleep rating is 73 and if you sleep 4 1/2 hours you get a score of 76? Math is one of my strong suits but this is something I will never understand! I'm not into the rays things...I am happy to wear my Fitbit wherever I go. I like to know how far I walk and how many steps it takes. I want to know if I am getting 10k 15k or 20k steps per day. When my steps are down I want to know what causes that. And how I can get my steps more competitive.
Please make sleep score optional. The information it provides is not useful and can make me feel stress about my Sleep Quality, even though I know I slept well. Even on my best nights of sleep it only tends to give me a fair rating. I find the Sleep score information useless and irrelevant. It does not correlate with my sleep experience.
@Runner0001 Thanks, but I'm not sure I've done anything all that positive, at least not intentionally. But I sure do love numbers, stats, and being able to see that the changes in my lifestyle can significantly change the numbers reflecting the quality of my health. But I've done it long enough that I don't need a tracker. Heck, I did it for YEARS before trackers were even a thing. So I'm feeling quite liberated at this point!
@SunsetRunner I hear you! Even though I am ready to ditch fitness tracking, I do love having text, email, phone notifications. So Apple Watch is something I may consider. I hadn't even thought about the EMF and radiation - yikes. In the meantime, I just bought a $4 watch so I can at least tell time without pulling out my phone. Old-school is feeling pretty good 😊.
I agree with everyone else on the Forum. I would also say I am disappointed with the developers. As a software developer myself I know the golden rule with a new 'feature' is that if it replaces an existing feature then it must be made switchable. It might seem a good idea to you but as you have seen, there are a lot of people you have upset.
I am also moving on to a competitor. Apple watches also allow the device to be put in airplane mode which is important to me. Fitbit doesn't have this feature on any of there devices. And I don't need a device to make calls, answer emails etc. The simple Apple 3 is my best bet!
I've been following this thread a while. Sadly, I'm more convinced than ever that this is a gimic to sell premium. Fitbit gives sleep scores below what they should be so that we want to see our sleeping heart rate/restlessness (only available on premium). It's nearly impossible to get excellent given the current algorithm. My advice--bump up all your scores a level. Fair=good, good=excellent. If you sleep five hours or less it's poor no matter what they say (they're also inflating poor scores, not sure why).
You remember when you used to get a good night's sleep and you'd look at your Fitbit and it would say, "You did it!" and make you feel even better? Now it says "66 sleep score". So even though "I did it!" I'm made to feel like a failure. I try to look at the other data and ignore that last line but my eyes tear to it anyway. What's the opposite of motivational? Disheartening? Depressing?
Sleep score as developer IQ. I love it. Btw, watch out responding to a poster here, I responded to some one and they call it harassment and deleted my post.
also, Apple Watch is not an alternative at this time. Not when you have battery power for 18 hours at best. Garmin is a possibility but their selection is maybe 3 fold of Fitbit and I just don’t see users singing their praises. One girl in my gym only used hers for about 3months. Our best hope is to get Fitbit to act right, but at some point when you feel the company doesn’t care, you will have to move on. Sadly, I am almost there. . .
@Dajjer I have considered the Apple Watch, and wouldn't mind the battery life since I am in a routine of daily charging anyway. I just don't like the square, utilitarian look of it. That's part of the reason I didn't replace my Versa with another Versa and went with the Inspire instead. The Garmin's features are great, but it is just too big for my wrist. The Withings Steel HR really caught my eye. It is smaller, and beautiful, plus I already use a Withings scale. But the online reviews are not stellar, so I'm holding out a while longer. I've also looked at the inexpensive ($30-$40) trackers that appear to do everything the Inspire does.
But more on topic here - and to be very clear - if FitBit had responded favorably (or at least given a true response over canned non-responses) to the volumes of dissatisfied feedback and made sleep scores optional - AND not put sleep data behind a premium fee - I would still be wearing my FitBit device and likely recommending it to others. But as it stands now, I have taken off my Inspire indefinitely. Going forward, I will either continue with no tracker or find a different company to work with.
I took my Charge 3 off too. I may switch to the Apple 3 as all I want to do with a tracker is track exercise and sleep. I love the airplane mode option on the Apple trackers that allow you to turn the device off except when you are syncing it. This means you are not connecting your body to wifi and EMF's 24/7. Fitibit hasn't even offered the airplane mode on any device and after doing quite a bit of research on this issue, I feel far more comfortable having the option to shut the device down when I want.
Plus with Fitbit's newest addition of "Premium" service that just costs more money for basic nothing really helped me make the decision to ditch the Charge 3. I tried the Premium service for the free 7 days and it was a joke.
So all things considered, I am done with Fitbit and will switch to the Apple 3, if I decide to get another tracker. Right now I am "unplugged" and feel I had an unhealthy addiction to my device. It's nice to be free of all the "input" and just enjoy my exercise and sleep without worrying about my stats!
Hey @RunnerGrrl . I pretty much charge daily too, but it is an option not a necessity. I’m on vacation right now and not worrying about the charger I left home. Apple is out. (Note: I have an iPad and iPhone)Garmin does have some bands that are like the charge or versa but their accompanying app and community features are just underwhelming. Oh, and I too have a withings scale.
still . . . holding out for the developers to make the sleep score optional.
Former Charge 3 wearer here, checking in to see if Fitbit has come to their senses--and to share some experiences with replacing the crippled Fitbit app with workable alternatives.
Focus: Sleep Tracking
Living with chronic pain, I used my Fitbit for sleep tracking first, activity tracking second, so the changes in sleep data were deal-killers for continuing my relationship with this firm.
Moreover, because my sleep is fragmented and occurs throughout the day, I needed a tracker that would count naps into my statistics.
After struggling to get the information I needed from the "updated" Fitbit app--and finding myself depressed each morning by the judgment embodied in Fitbit's bogus "sleep score", I looked for alternatives.
Favorite Apple Watch App for Sleep Tracking: Auto Sleep
About a month ago, I hauled out an old Apple Watch--a Series 0, so REALLY old--and installed several sleep tracking apps. After a few weeks, I found one inexpensive app to work very VERY well if sleep tracking is your primary motivation: Auto Sleep.
The app offered everything I wanted--and more. Heart rate measurements, check. Naps appear in the totals, yep. After three weeks, I found the only issue is getting the Apple Watch charged daily; Auto Sleep did the rest.
Price is $2.99, with NO subscription--and the data is in-depth and easy to access. Large graphs, presented in ring style, make it easy for me to track sleep time and quality.
Runner-up: SleepWatch. A bit more fussy, a bit less info, but another solid replacement.
Replacement Device: Garmin Vivosmart 4
Three weeks ago, I replaced my Charge 3 with a Garmin Vivosmart 4, and aside from a few issues, it's doing what I need it to do--and what I wish Fitbit would resume doing.
Haven't had as much time to gain impressions, but this is a sturdy little competitor. I particularly like the in-depth stress tracking and "body battery" features.
They're what Fitbit's Sleep Shame, er, Sleep Score, would like to be, except that Garmin doesn't make you buy an app to understand what these features measure--and they're not shoved in your face in PLACE of your data.
Biggest issues I'm running into with the Garmin? Most critically, the app misses naps in the sleep tracking, and the screen is so tiny, senior eyes can't read it. But it does a good, solid job of tracking activity, heart rate and sleep, and I'm looking forward to learning more about it.
Fitbit, Why Are You Doing This?
I came back to this forum this morning to see whether consumer voices and customer demand matter one whit to Fitbit. Apparently not.
Evidently, the folks at Fitbit so jazzed by signing up millions of Singapore residents that they're willing to sacrifice long-term customers for whatever business goal these moves are intended to serve.
I've worn their devices since the days of the cute little button, and have NO understanding of why this firm suddenly downgraded their app, damaged their customer relationships, and forced BIG FANS out into the marketplace for a replacement.
Fitbit, what will it take? I've added my 2 cents to the parade of 1-star reviews, I've jumped ship to Garmin and Apple ... and still, no effective change is even being considered?
BRING BACK THE OLD DASHBOARD, AND GET THAT SLEEP SCORE OUT OF MY FACE.
Please, please make sleep score optional. It’s not an issue of whatever “my” number is on a given night. An opaque algorithm is simply USELESS. Seeing average sleep time upfront on the screen is much more helpful.
I was here looking for a different answer but am pleased that I’m not the only one who wants my real data back. I dislike the sleep score and would like to see my time asleep average and totals back. That is much more useful information to me! I’d vote to just bring back the time asleep data week over week/ day over day and don’t care if the sleep score is there or not.
Your comments ring true and your research is fantastic and a help to all of us. A very thorough job. Like you I am so disappointed in the lack of responses from Fitbit.
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