Ionic feedback on music apps and headphones

[Parker78]

Let me expand. So I've had the blaze for 18 months and now have the Ionic. So it's classed as a smart watch but without the facility to call or text. I'm a runner so it was more the music player and gps that appealed to me. So firstly I have Spotify which isn't compatible, so this means I needed to purchase music to be able to add it to the player (had to be done via a computer with Windows 10 and bluetooth so this in itself was a problem). Finally managed to add some music I've purchased and my headphones don't work. The music stops every 2 seconds. Fitbit support have advised me it isn't compatible with my jabra pulse headphones and the only headphones they can guarantee will work are the fitbit headphones at a further cost of £110. So I have gps but I'll have to continue taking my phone if I want to listen to music. So, I've bought a smart watch which granted looks great, however it cost twice as much as my Blaze and at the moment has the benefit of being waterproof. I'm so disappointed. 

Moderator Edit: Subject for clarity

[JWillis]

me.   After multiple restarts, reboots, adjustments to settings ....

Woke up,  zero steps.  Tripped to bathroom,  then to computer ... 820 steps.  Sitting at computer for a couple hours,  up to 5655 now.

This thing is a piece of junk.

[GySgt_Seidell]

I just updated my One Month Review of the Ionic, which you may want to check it out.  I also have a couple self-help messages out there that you may be able to use.  Anyway, Good Luck!

[Parker78]

Brilliant, thank you.

[Parker78]

So the steps part seems to work fine. I ran on the treadmill this morning and all seemed okay. The steps part worked fine on my Blaze though. Hopefully things will improve. 😐

[cbrosch]

I've had good luck with my 2 pairs of $10 bluetooth headphones.  Setup was easy even.

I was disappointed with the limitations of adding music, which were not clear in online reviews.  Reviews of smart watches were quick to ding Ionic for mic and phone calls, so no surprise there.

For me it still delivers on two things I was wishing for with the blaze:

1.  tracking activity whilst swimming

2. GPS connection while biking; the blaze was constantly dropping phone GPS connection.

I also trust the development of apps will continue to reward adopters... I am a fan of Treasure Trek.

[Parker78]

Thank you for your response. Yeah the whole adding music was a bit of a nightmare. I don't have bluetooth on my laptop so had to get hold of a fitbit dongle.

I'm conscious I'm really moaning about this at the moment which isn't like me or what I want to do, and hopefully things will improve. I'm just disappointed and if honest regretting how much I spent. 

[JWillis]

GYSgt - can't figure out how to access your review.

[Minkah]

Hi @Parker78, I'm also very disappointed. Here is the list of issues I've had since getting ionic, which was about 2 weeks ago. 1) I can't use the running app with GPS on bc it jams the bluetooth signal and my music skipped every 20 seconds. I'm using Samsung Level headphones. Got them on sale for $40. With the high cost of Ionic which doesn't work as advertised, I'm  in no hurry, and resent being forced into, purchasing Fitbits expensive headset.  2) My app lags and has constant sync errors. 3) Autodetect exercises is not working even though I have the settings applied correctly. 4) I lost floors while syncing recently, had logged 50 on the Ionic but it droppd to only 33 after the sync with my phone. Also, it often misses floors altogether. 5) Ionic misses steps, I've watched and counted it to confirm my suspicion.  6) loading music wasn't easy,  eventually I figured it out, I'm just avoiding ever doing it again bc it was such a nightmare. 7) the touch screen is iffy and the required stupid back button is so irritating. When I push the shortcut buttons that should be enough. I absolutely hate having to click that back button to return to homescreen before I can use the shortcuts.

I think that is all, but the list is getting longer each day so its getting tough to remember. I'll update if there's more.   Good luck with yours!

[Parker78]

Thank you for your response. At least I know it's not just me and it genuinely is a bit rubbish. 

[Minkah]

No problem!  One more I forgot,  the text notifications stopped working about 3 days after I got it 😞 

[Rally80]

Im sending mine back and getting refund. Gutted really because apart from its connectivity issues, i really liked it. I did a reboot and i just get stuck when its asks for the 4 digit pin and it keeps saying bluetooth problems. 

[Minkah]

Hi @Rally80, sorry to hear of your problems with ionic. I had the same thing happen to mine. It took at least an hour to resolve. (I posted about it in a post about sync issues.) My ionic wouldnt sync so trying to fix it I unpaired it from my phone, deleted it from my app, and uninstalled and reinstalled the app.  But then I could not get ionic set up again in the app and it kept getting stuck on the pin just like you described. So I went thru all those steps a few times and just kept trying, finally it worked but idk why and it was a huge irritating hassle. Good luck 🙂

[Minkah]

I have an update about my faulty ionic. I went running a couple days ago, ran 4.44 miles using the running app but Ionic only recognized 2.5 miles and had my pace as 19min/mile! Way way off. So that was the last straw, I finally called customer support. I listed all the issues I've had (see below and my other posts) the rep was nice but told me fitbit knows all about these problems with Ionic, their techs are working on firmware updates but they can't guarantee when, or if, the updates will fix the errors. He said not all Ionics have problems but, looking at the forums, plenty of us have bad Ionics. I  asked if they would replace mine since it is faulty and he said No, they do not offer replacements in this situation, the tracker is what it is and can't be fixed. Thanks for nothing fitbit.  He said my best option is to return it for a refund so that is exactly what I am doing. It will be sent back by Monday and shame on them for releasing a product known to be so faulty.

[Parker78]

Wow. That's Terrible. 

[BigRalphN]

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@Minkah wrote:

I have an update about my faulty ionic. I went running a couple days ago, ran 4.44 miles using the running app but Ionic only recognized 2.5 miles and had my pace as 19min/mile! Way way off. So that was the last straw, I finally called customer support. I listed all the issues I've had (see below and my other posts) the rep was nice but told me fitbit knows all about these problems with Ionic, their techs are working on firmware updates but they can't guarantee when, or if, the updates will fix the errors. He said not all Ionics have problems but, looking at the forums, plenty of us have bad Ionics. I  asked if they would replace mine since it is faulty and he said No, they do not offer replacements in this situation, the tracker is what it is and can't be fixed. Thanks for nothing fitbit.  He said my best option is to return it for a refund so that is exactly what I am doing. It will be sent back by Monday and shame on them for releasing a product known to be so faulty.

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That does not sound line great support. I am sorry you are having so many issues. It does suck.. His comments reinforce what I have said is an issue. Large companies do not care about a small number of people with issues. You look around this forum and say that everyone here has issues. But for the most part only people with questions and issues come to this forum and post. Let's day there are 10 forums dealing with ionic and 100 people in each complaint about problems.. Those 1000 people are enough to flag support to look at issues but if 20000 units were sold them that means 19000 were happy. Now 20 percent should be to high an number companies no longer care I less it gets much higher. It might be here, I do not know. But when the Chinese can sell a decent Android watch for $100 that does as much as a $350 Samsung you know profit margins are high. It's a shame. They should be taking care of everyone not just saying return it. 

[Bert6868]

same here..im going back to apple watch they simply work as they should......

[Cargocultist]

I've used Fitbit devices for about four years but I'm so disappointed with their abysmal customer service that I'll stop using them once it's time to replace this Ionic. They don't have the exclusive of the functionality they offer anymore, and I'm fed up of listening to platitudes and  "be empathetic with the customer even if you can do f'all to help them" 101-customer-service crap. 

[Parker78]

I agree. To top it all off, the clasp bit on the strap has fallen out and I've lost it. This in itself is a poor design. I can't wear it now until I replace it. Utterly fed up with my ionic. 

[SelmaFitbit]

It is good to see you digging in the Community Forums @Parker78 and @Cargocultist. 

We appreciate the feedback you're providing regarding your experience with your Ionic. I'm sorry you've both gone some difficulties with your Ionic trackers. 

@Parker78 I was able to get in touch with our support team and they let me know they are helping you to get back on track. 

@Cargocultist, regarding the difficulties you're having, our support team doesn't have any recent contacts with you. Can you please provide me with details of the difficulties you're having so that we can help you out? 

Look forward to your response.