As a casual user - ionic is too expensive - heed my warning

[soguilk]

Honest truth. I purchased the ionic with the expectation that it can meet the features of products that are on the same price point as its competitors. Unfortunately, the ionic at its best is an upgraded blaze that should be priced no where near $300.00. As a person that works with people all day, I have told at least 20 interested people to not buy the product because it's just simply not ready. Add the fact that communication with the company have been very lacking (especially when there are so many bugs going on). To make this clear, why was it someone from the forum @KarenLeah was able to confirm that apps will probably not be available until "late winter to early spring" and when I ask to provide a communication time frame in the forums I was given some technical bull**** about "agile something."

Honestly, as a new adopter I am very disappointed with the ionic. 3 weeks into its release and still no firmware update. I really wanted to keep the ionic. Unfortunately all I am left with is bitter disappointment. If I, a blaze user, already feel this way. What do you think the sentiment of people that are switching from other product feels?

I am returning my ionic. Sorry, I hope you guys don't lose hope. The ionic have so much potential. Unfortunately, it appears that potential won't be available until next year. fitbit coach integration, apps, O2 data, dexcom, etc. Maybe I'll purchase again 6 months from now. right now I will probably just use my blaze.

[SunsetRunner]

It's very clear in the store what the Ionic offers "now". What it will offer in the future is speculative. Unless you are a gadget geek I never advise anyone to buy something if it does not "currently" meet their needs. You are just setting yourself up for disappointment. 

[WavyDavey]

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@soguilk wrote:

Honest truth. I purchased the ionic with the expectation that it can meet the features of products that are on the same price point as its competitors.

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That's really the heart of it. How did you form this expectation, that the newly born Ionic with a new OS would be as developed as the AW that's had years head start?

I encourage people to do some research before buying, watch some of the video reviews like DCRainmaker's. These make it very clear what the Ionic can and cannot do, and might save some the trouble of dashed expectations.

[soguilk]

My expectation is based on the category (smartwatch) which ionic is in and the fact that I have been using the blaze for a year. Why market it as such if its smart features will not be available at launch. Every reviewer (from Rizknows(youtube), CNBC, Yahoo) have emphasized the lack of features in the ionic. Add on top of that the bugs that are present of the product. What it truly is, is a Fitness tracker that is trying to be a smartwatch. This should have been given an introductory price of $250.00 and raised the price to the 300.00 after 1 month. It is important to note that while it is pretty much useless as a smartwatch it is a great fitness tracker.

In relation to features. The least it could have done is allow pre-made text replies, calendar, and a reminder, camera control. Yet those basic functions are not available at launch.

[Julia_G]

I would take the report of a Commnity member that Fitbit Customer Support told her that new apps would not be available until next spring with a grain of salt.

Typically Fitbit does not announce such timetables and it is very possible that there was either a misunderstanding or that the CS representative was making a general guess.

I am personally very happy with mine as I am more interested in a fitness tracker than a smart watch.

[minigno]

You said it yourself...every review has stated what it doesn't have.  This was true also of pre-order first look reviews...the information was pretty obvious.  Why purchase it?  It sounds like you read the reviews AFTER you purchased it.  "Smartwatch" is a pretty broad category with no definitive definition, if you are buying based on a category name, you should still do your research!

Luckily, they do have a generous return policy, so nothing lost there!

[bbarrera]

The Charge 2 is value leader in Fitbit lineup. If someone is somewhat interested but not sure, I tell them to use MobileTrack first, and if they like Fitbit app and find it motivational, to buy the Charge 2 or Alta HR.

[KarenLeah]

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@Julia_G wrote:

I would take the report of a Commnity member that Fitbit Customer Support told her that new apps would not be available until next spring with a grain of salt.

Typically Fitbit does not announce such timetables and it is very possible that there was either a misunderstanding or that the CS representative was making a general guess.

I am personally very happy with mine as I am more interested in a fitness tracker than a smart watch.

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I am that community member. 

I was in a chat with a support rep. They told me to expect the App Store to open late winter to early spring. They said February to March time frame. Their words. February to March time frame. 

I just worry that a new device will come out by then and the Ionic will be obsolete according to fitbit. 

The Ionic is a Fabulous fitness tracker! I just wish the price would co e down a bit to reflect that. 

[Julia_G]

@KarenLeah, sometimes the Support Reps do their best to answer without having exact information.  As I said, Fitbit rarely announces these timetables, so I would be very surprised if this were more than a best guess from an individual CS employee.

I am guessing Fitbit will be pulling out the stops to get some more apps out ASAP, and with luck before Christmas.  Also third psrties may be developing apps as they have opened up the SDK.  Of course this will depend to some extent on how widely popular the watch is.

[datalore]

You can see some of the things developers are working on here: https://twitter.com/hashtag/made4fitbit?src=hash

I want pong and I want it now. 

[bbarrera]

Not impressed. And I played Pong as a kid in the mid 70s when it was hot and fresh. 

[datalore]

I was denied the beauty of pong in my childhood, as I was born later. I’d also like a Big Wheel! 

[ultrablazer]

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@Julia_G wrote:

@KarenLeah, sometimes the Support Reps do their best to answer without having exact information.  As I said, Fitbit rarely announces these timetables, so I would be very surprised if this were more than a best guess from an individual CS employee.

I am guessing Fitbit will be pulling out the stops to get some more apps out ASAP, and with luck before Christmas.  Also third psrties may be developing apps as they have opened up the SDK.  Of course this will depend to some extent on how widely popular the watch is.

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@Julia_G  I don't understand why one would discount the fairly specific Feb/Mar given by the CSR in favor of your guess,,, unless you have inside knowledge I guess I'm unclear why you would try to diminish or otherwise "correct" their response? 

[NellyG]

@ultrablazer what I read in @Julia_G's response her her experience of the way Fitbit works. I dont see she is correcting the Support Rep, just giving her opinion about time frames along with how Fitbit has worked in the past. I dont think anyone has insider knowledge apart from a limited number of employees on a 'need to know' basis.

[soguilk]

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@minigno wrote:

You said it yourself...every review has stated what it doesn't have.  This was true also of pre-order first look reviews...the information was pretty obvious.  Why purchase it?  It sounds like you read the reviews AFTER you purchased it.  "Smartwatch" is a pretty broad category with no definitive definition, if you are buying based on a category name, you should still do your research!

Luckily, they do have a generous return policy, so nothing lost there!

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No, I definetly read and watch many reviews before purchasing the ionic. I also watch and read tons of reviews from different products (apple watch 3, garmin vivo active 3, etc.) Even bought an apple watch 3 (returned it because I was hopeful for the ionic).

Hence why I was able to provide a non-biased opinion despite being a blaze user. (Trust me I want the ionic succeed) Unfortunately, it is just REALLY REALLY lacking at this point. What it does best is fitness tracking which is already widely available in their other products, which are prized below $199.00.

The apple watch destroys it in smart features.

the Garmin has essentially better fitness data

the ionic tries to provide a middle ground but is severely lacking on both at its current price point.

This is a product that is at the minimum release 3 months to early. 3 weeks into its release and still no Bug fix for many many early adopters. You don't think that doesn't leave a bitter taste of peoples mouth after spending $300.00 or more?

[RL7]

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@datalore wrote:

I was denied the beauty of pong in my childhood, as I was born later. I’d also like a Big Wheel! 

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I had a Big Wheel as a kid and can attest that it was truly something special. Some great memories, I tell you. 

While I will never scoff at a lower price, I’m happy with what it is for now and feel it’s doing a great job tracking my workouts, sleep, meals and so on. In this regard, it’s one of the best trackers Fitbit has put out to date. An improvement on the Blaze for sure. But I do expect some expansion in apps and capabilities long term.  I see the Ionic as an investment with lots of upside potential.

The link thats been posted shows shows off some great possibilities. I love what I’m seeing there.

[SudeepBatra]

Bad product for the price, not worth it!

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@soguilk wrote:

Honest truth. I purchased the ionic with the expectation that it can meet the features of products that are on the same price point as its competitors. Unfortunately, the ionic at its best is an upgraded blaze that should be priced no where near $300.00. As a person that works with people all day, I have told at least 20 interested people to not buy the product because it's just simply not ready. Add the fact that communication with the company have been very lacking (especially when there are so many bugs going on). To make this clear, why was it someone from the forum @KarenLeah was able to confirm that apps will probably not be available until "late winter to early spring" and when I ask to provide a communication time frame in the forums I was given some technical bull**** about "agile something."

Honestly, as a new adopter I am very disappointed with the ionic. 3 weeks into its release and still no firmware update. I really wanted to keep the ionic. Unfortunately all I am left with is bitter disappointment. If I, a blaze user, already feel this way. What do you think the sentiment of people that are switching from other product feels?

I am returning my ionic. Sorry, I hope you guys don't lose hope. The ionic have so much potential. Unfortunately, it appears that potential won't be available until next year. fitbit coach integration, apps, O2 data, dexcom, etc. Maybe I'll purchase again 6 months from now. right now I will probably just use my blaze.

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