Fitbit OS 4.1 - Firmware Release (70.7.14)

[MattFitbit]

Fitbit Update: 12/5

Hi everyone!

We’re excited to announce the release of Fitbit OS 4.1 (Firmware Version: 70.7.14). 

We've begun releasing this new firmware to customers. This is a progressive rollout which means everyone will receive it at different stages until it has been completely released to all users. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. 

*Firmware releases are not distributed based on region or location and can reach anyone no matter where you reside. We do not recommend performing a factory reset to force the update to your device as your data will be lost and you may not get the update. Please be patient and wait until you see the update banner inside of the Fitbit app to begin the firmware download.

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED

The update includes a variety of new features and enhancements, including: 

• Smart wake: Smart wake will gently begin to wake you with subtle vibrations during the optimal part of your sleep cycle (during light or REM) within a 30-minute window prior to your pre-set alarm. This allows you to wake up feeling refreshed. 

• Clock face switcher: You will now be able to store up to five clock faces right on your device and quickly change from one to the other using the new clock face switcher.

• On-wrist Sleep Score: The score will now be available in the on-device dashboard that can be accessed by swiping up from the clock face. You can still see it alongside your sleep data within the Fitbit app after you sync.

• Exercise app improvements: The redesigned Exercise app will now display all 20 workouts in a new streamlined list on your wrist. 

• Battery notification: When your battery is running low, a new feature will automatically disable notification vibrations

• Agenda app: A new Agenda app allows you to see your calendar right on your wrist. 

For more information on the new features included in Fitbit OS 4.1 check out this article. You can also check out our press release. 

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Step by step instructions for updating your Ionic can be found here. 

If you run into any trouble updating your Ionic, I recommend reviewing these troubleshooting tips. 

We appreciate your patience while we work to roll this out to everyone. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi everybody thank you for your feedback.

@LynseyNeill welcome to the Fitbit Forums. If you're having charging issues, please check this help article: Why isn't my Fitbit device's battery charging? Make sure to follow each one of the steps @puding.

@ITMOJO nice to see you around. I'd advise to confirm the compatibility of your mobile device here. You can also check this information: Why won't my Fitbit device sync?

@brianih634 Welcome to the Community Forums! Thank you for following this topic. Please consider checking the steps in this other thread about GPS issues. What model of phone are you using? Have you tried the steps here: Why are notifications delayed or missing?

I'll be around.

[puding]

hi, thank for the reply, i dont have any issue on charging, the main issue is, my device is look like 'battery sucker', with new update, after i fully charge it, even i turn off the device, the battery is drain out, not even for 24 hours after fully charge

[brianih634]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I'm using an iphone 7 at the moment, which is on IOS13. I have followed all the various help topics regarding notifications and have tried them all on multiple occasions with no success at all. The only notification I get is when my phone rings as someone calls me, I get nothing for any texts, emails and other Apps that I have switched on to receive. I used to get them all before, but not now. 

I'm not prepared to waste anymore of my time rebooting, disconnecting, switching off settings and back on etc. I've unpaired my watch, deleted the app and started from scratch, but to no avail.

[YojanaFitbit]

Thank your for your quick reply!

@puding sorry to hear this! This is not an expected behavior, thanks for confirming this information. I've requested a case on your behalf. You will be getting an email shortly from our support team. 

@brianih634 thanks for sharing this information and for trying those steps to fix the notifications issues with your iPhone. You visit this thread that has the specific details about this inconvenience. 

Let me know if you need anything else.

[stusteel]

My Ionic is also suffering mad battery drain since the latest firmware update. However, I have noted that the drain only happens when the watch is worn on my wrist. If I leave it charged but left off the charge lasts for days as it used to when worn.

So I only can only assume it is a sensor issue that is causing the drain. Is a sensor constantly running when it detects it is worn?

The issue is annoying and means I can not wear the watch when asleep as it will discharge during the night resulting in in correct sleep detection and more importantly, no alarm.

Has this been raised as a bug report with the developers, if so, are you able to put the bug tracker update for this on the forum?

[brianih634]

@YojanaFitbit 

I have tried all the "remedies" listed in that thread, but none make any difference.

I should also add that the notifications are actually on the watch, as I can see them when i swipe downwards from the top of the screen, but they never show up on the main screen or vibrate as they used to do. Unless they are actually going to notify, rather than be in the back ground, then they are pointless.

[LynseyNeill]

I don’t have any charging issues I would just like my Fitbit to send me notifications like it used to do!! This is becoming ridiculous, what’s the point in having a smart watch that now isn’t that smart!!!

Sent from my iPhone

[CP1968]

I noted this was happening to me as well but I had made a change to my iPhone.
I had turned off the Notification Preview so that when my phone was locked I could not preview the TXT message I could only see that I had a message.
When in this mode, the message does not at all display on the Ionic.
When I enabled Preview on my iPhone, the messages where back on my Ionic immediately. In fact when I did so, the whole day of messages popped on the Ionic.

[brianih634]

@CP1968 

I have tried preview on and off, makes no difference on my Ionic

[kluss0]

@SunsetRunner, there are several watches out there from Garman and others that have all of the same capabilities. My extended warranty expires in Feb of this year, and I am on my 3rd firmware-related replacement. The next time this happens, I will not be replacing it with another fitbit. The poor software quality is completely unacceptable.

[samsunite00]

@scally 

I'm one of those users that converted to Garmin (vivoactive 3) after dealing with the shortcomings of fitbit. I've owned 3 different models and I naively stuck with them through the charge HR, charge 2, and Ionic. The charge HR fell apart if you looked at it. The Charge HR was better, but randomly stopped working. The Ionic was the final straw. I left because of the following reasons:

1. I got tired of the syncing issues and missing notifications. I constantly had to remove the ionic from the app, add it back, and hope the syncing worked again.

2. Simple features like saving my default lap to 1 mile instead of .5 miles never worked, even after the firmware update. The update now defaults to 3 miles.

3. The "GPS" tracking for runs are deceiving. After the firmware update I wanted to see if it might've change the lap feature and the quickest way to test 1 mile was to drive in my car. I made sure the GPS was connected and I started driving. I expected my pace to be 1 minute/mi because I was driving at 60 mph. The pace never moved and I thought I need to move the watch to get better GPS signal. Then I noticed the distance go up, so I shook the watch and that's when the distance started moving. Even though the watch has GPS, the distance is calculated based on the step count. So in the end, my Strava result shows the entire trip (which is around 3 miles) on the map, but the data only showed 1 mile.

After #3 occurred, I went on Amazon and got myself vivoactive 3 since they were on sale due to the 4 being release. The watch was so simple to connect to the app and we all know what it's like trying to connect the ionic to the app. I immediately got notifications and was shocked at the ease of syncing. There are many watch faces and widgets available in Garmin's Connect IQ. The watch face is easy to read and the always on technology is nice. I don't have to shake the watch like I do with the Ionic to get the backlight to turn on. Keep in mind the vivoactive 3 is the "older" watch so imagine how much better the vivoactive 4 or the venu could be.

Overall, I wish I wasn't stubbornly loyal to fitbit and had switched sooner. All of the problems I listed above were solved.

TL;DR: Get a Garmin.

[SuperDave78]

@samsunite00  I agree! I've only had 1 fitbit, my ionic that is currently a paperweight after the 2nd update. I was commenting on here at first but after a couple of my posts got deleted i just decided to sit back and read everyone elses continuing posts of disappointments, anger and frustration. I ended up getting a garmin Venu and could not be happier! amazing device with great features and best of all, no glitches. I highly recommend any of the garmin vivovoactives or Venu. the vivoactive 4 and venu are the same exact watch except for venu has amoled screen. enjoy your garmin!

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi everybody, thanks a million for sharing your feedback with us. 

Sorry about the issues with your Fitbit Ionic. We strive for excellent customer service and customer satisfaction remains our number one goal. Your comments are greatly appreciated. I've noticed that some of you have contacted our support team and apparently they already took your case under their wings. In this case please communication open with our team. They will be glad to help.

If you're having syncing and notifications issues, you can check the steps in this post. If you need more help with your Fitbit Ionic, I'll be glad to request a case on your behalf.

Please let me know if you need anything else.

[tluke]

re: samsunite00: 3. The "GPS" tracking for runs are deceiving

I have long suspected the GPS does not actually track distance. I have a hiking app w/maps on my iPhone that I have run simultaneously to the Ionic on hikes and the two don't match. Since I hike in the mountains I need to take the car home. Sometimes at the end of the hike I forget to turn end the activity and it keeps running while I'm driving home. The picture of my hike that gets generated includes the time in the car but the mileage stat never does.

I've also wondered if the heart-rate is also somehow tied to steps - some algorithm factors them in to compensate for the lack of accuracy of just using the green light against your wrist. Sometime on steep inclines my steps/minute get down to 95-100 range but I'm breathing very hard and assume my heart is pumping to keep me going up  - yet sometimes my heart rates goes down (89-100). After I reach the peak and turn around, the Ionic shows my heart rate goes up as I step faster but exert myself much less on the way down (115-135).

I'm on my second Ionic and it acts the same as the first one that was bricked by the latest update.

[Truegrit]

I have had my watch app 18 month and it just died. I am on the 3rd Ionic watch. Don't think I will buy Fitbit again. Very disappointed.

[Truegrit]

same here

[Jonno34]

Mine will not update.  It says it cannot find the tracker.  

Really this is the most frustrating bit of kit I have ever come across.

[M.O.M]

That has happened to me more times that I can count.  I downloaded the
fitbit app onto my computer and with patience and practice I have
managed to get it to sync.  I go to the settings that is the little
wheel looking symbol on one of menu pages, not the settings that you get
when you scroll, (why there are two different "settings" selections on
the Ionic is not something I comprehend but in any case there are and
you want the one that looks like a wheel)  When you scroll down through
the setting options the last thing is "ABOUT"  when you select that you
can scroll to the bottom of the information and low and behold there is
a selection to Shutdown.  I have generally have had success shutting
down and then turning the Ionic back on.  Sometimes I have had to do it
more than once but perseverance has paid off. It believe it has always
asked my about pairing and then once it pairs itself it syncs.  Exactly
what makes that work I cannot answer.

[LynseyNeill]

It’s an absolute joke! This had been going on for weeks now and I can’t see Fitbit taking any REAL steps to fix the issues!

Sent from my iPhone

[M.O.M]

As I indicated in my first post, I contacted customer support and the representative gave me information that I believe was inaccurate and I noted that I wished I had personally recorded the call.  I indicated that I did what I was told to do and it did not resolve my problem at all.