@Nobblytanner wrote:
I have had Fitbit Ionic for around 10 days, and whilst the concept is good, the product is simply not fit for purpose.
Specifically:
- sync crashes all the time, esp. if you turn on all-day sync function
- notifications don't work properly
- heat rate sensor is wildly inaccurate (compared to Garmin worn at the same time!)
Let me provide my experiences, in reply to the original post:
- I haven't experienced a "crash" of the software at any time, either on the watch or on the Fitbit app on my phone. And I've been using the all-day sync function all the time, from the very beginning.
- Notifications: I'm not sure about any sense that "they don't work properly." Frankly, this isn't that big of a feature for me -- for crying out loud, my phone is right in my pocket, or right on the table in front of me. I have tended to cut the notifications back, because I'd rather just see the watch face instead of having to hack through a bunch of notifications to get to the watch face. Still, the notifications I have running seem to be working perfectly. My phone will ring with a phone call, and vibrate, and my Ionic will vibrate, and show me the number -- I'm literally "beat over the head" with notifications that I've got a phone call. The same goes with messages and Facebook replies -- they all seem to activate on my phone and my Ionic at the exact same times. I certainly don't see anything wrong with my notifications.
- Heart rate sensor: Yes, I was getting some numbers that were insanely higher than I had ever seen with my Charge 2, and higher than the hospital-grade pulse oximeters I have been using at an exercise program I attend at my local hospital. But I was wearing my Ionic band quite loosely, which I really wasn't happy with. One replacement band later, and a bit of adjustment that got it fitting quite a bit tighter on my wrist -- though not "too tight" by any means -- resulted in perfectly fine heart rate numbers. Like my Charge 2, my Ionic is, if not in exact agreement with the hospital's pulse oximeters, only one or two beats different. I have done at least a dozen comparisons by now, during all stages of my exercise session and afterwards, and the Ionic was right on, every time. I'm thinking that this is why Fitbit advises to push your Ionic up on your wrist during exercise sessions -- it simply needs a tighter fit to accurately record your heart rate while you're exercising. Or, you could do as I did, and just tighten your band one notch.
Beyond these issues, while it certainly took some truly exasperating work to get my Ionic set up and working properly -- the Weather app was especially challenging -- I did get everything working, and I'm quite happy with my Ionic now. Frankly, the main thing I wanted was the functionality of my old Charge 2, but with a screen I could actually read, especially outdoors. And I certainly was able to find a watch face that I'm happy with. So, my Ionic absolutely does that.
Again, notifications aren't that big of a deal for me, but at least now I can see the number that's calling me, without having to grab my phone. But, that said, the next step is to grab the phone and do something about it. So, this isn't functionality that has me flipping cartwheels down the street, to put it into perspective.
The Weather app is perhaps the one app that I was most interested in. I can generally see what's going on with the weather because I'm either out in it, or I can see it out a window, but what I really want to see is what the temperature it is outside. And, now working properly, the Weather app certainly does that. I would like to have some kind of actual control of when and how often it syncs with my phone, but it usually has been updated within 15 minutes of whenever I check it. So, that's working well enough.
I really don't need "music" on the device, so I haven't gone there. Same with most of the other apps that have been included at launch. I think the Wallet app would be pretty convenient, but not if I have to enter a code EVERY SINGLE TIME I PUT THE DEVICE ON MY WRIST -- and still, I think that would be the same if I set it up to require the code every time I make a purchase. How on EARTH could that possibly be "easier" than opening up my wallet and pulling out a card to use? So, I haven't been willing to use the Wallet app.
In the end, the Ionic is getting the job done with the apps I want to use, so far. Most certainly, I'm happier using it than I was with the Charge 2, mainly because I can SEE the dang display. In every other way, it is functioning as well as the Charge 2 did -- sleep tracking is working properly, automatic recognition of exercise is working, and so on. But, as far as "smart watch" functions go, I'm really just using the Weather app, and getting duplicate notifications that I'm also getting on my phone that's very nearly always within arm's length. So, the biggest value to me is being able to choose a watch face that meets my needs, and being able to SEE that face, indoors and outdoors.
I'm looking forward to app development that will hopefully happen over time. My state has just implemented a law that really cracks down on interacting with your phone while driving -- you essentially can't touch it while you are on a public road -- even if you're stopped at a red light. About the only thing I want to do is tell the Shazam app on my phone to start listening to the song playing on my XM/Sirius radio, and perhaps some day I'll be able to do that with a tap on my Ionic. Stuff like that would be interesting to me.
(Oh, and yes, I have tried to do the Shazam thing via voice commands, but while it works fine to launch Shazam, which will automatically start listening, it seems that "while Shazam is listening," it takes over the microphone to the extent that you can't do any further voice commands, such as telling Shazam to stop listening, to start listening to the next song, and so on. I'll definitely keep on trying some form of "control Shazam without touching my phone" functionality, if developers come up with any solutions.)
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