My Ionic experience after 10 days ownership

[Nobblytanner]

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!)

Smaller but just as irritating are things like the Strava app which does not sync reliably, even though the data is captured, as well as the strap being unnecessarily fiddly to buckle.

Finally, at the time of launch, Fitbit were unable to deliver any music streaming app in UK (unlike the US) or Wallet functionality in UK (available on the Ionic in US and Canada) - it all adds up to a product that was rushed out in advance of Apple Watch3 and in time for Christmas, when it is still full of bugs and simply not ready yet.

In time, these issues may resolve themselves, although as an ex-Pebble owner (who Fitbit bought in order to create their own smartwatch), these syncing issues are all too familiar.

My Ionic is heading back to Fitbit for a refund - I advise not buying this product for 6-9 months minimum until it is sorted out.

[johneric8]

I didn't realize pandora had that low of a subscription rate?  Maybe fitbit and pandora merged into one company or something and they're trying to get subscribers up 😉     All kidding aside,  hopefully this gets sorted out sooner than later,  I really don't feel like spending $500 on mp3's so I can load them via my pc into my watch...   Nor,  do I want to illegally download the music..

I've admittingly posted too much on this subject,  but in my defense,  it was my #1 reason for getting the watch... 

[SunsetRunner]

Good points, @johneric8. It is likely that Pandora was the most willing to quickly come to an agreement on working on a music app for the Ionic. Just like there is currently only one coffee app -- Starbucks. Over time, more developers will start working with Fitbit for more Ionic compatible apps. That's how it went with the Apple Watch. It's to the developers' benefit to work with popular wearables. 

Here is the solution -- Go to the Fitbit Feature Suggestion Board. Create your own suggestion or add your vote to one that is already posted. The more of us who vote, the clearer the message Will be to Fitbit. The developers pay attention to these suggestions and act accordingly when they can. 

Here are a couple of the suggestions already posted. Let's all vote for what we specifically want!

Amazon Music

Spotify

Apple Music

[datalore]

---

@bbarrera wrote:

---

@johneric8 wrote:

I don't think it's people hating on Pandora as much as it is just being realistic with the percentages that use each service.

---

---

Paid subscribers:

60 million - Spotify

30 million - Apple Music

5 million - Pandora

The number of free users is higher.

---

Wow, I'm becoming "get off my lawn guy" at an early age. I actually buy music. 

[Kurto2021]

The yearly price of Amazon Music for prime members is too cheap not to use it over the others.  I do like Pandora though for multi genre radio.

[bbarrera]

---

@datalore wrote:

---

Wow, I'm becoming "get off my lawn guy" at an early age. I actually buy music. 

---

We buy digital music (mostly iTunes) and pay for streaming services (Spotify and SiriusXM). Even my kids in college and high-school will buy digital music. General rule: if its something we really love we buy it. Everything else is streaming.

[SunsetRunner]

Just checked my iTunes library. Last music I bought was in 2014. Since then everything has been streamed.