Reasons for returning the Ionic

[Elizabeth2222]

I am really frustrated with my Ionic right now. Here are a few problems I am having:

I have to manually enter each exercise I start or the Ionic will not record them. Steps/heart rate is recorded, but the exercise itself is not. For instance, today I used the elliptical machine at the gym for 80 minutes, and the bike for 20 min. Everything was recorded correctly, although I think the HR was too low (but that's another topic).

Later today I went on two walks in the park. Neither were recorded. My HR and steps were, but the activity was not. I walked consistently for 20, or more, min each time without stopping.

I really don't think I should have to stop.....enter in an activity.....and then remember to stop the recording when done. I thought the Ionic was supposed to pick up activities????

Another problem I am having is that my watch face will not turn on when I flick my wrist. This happens about 1/2 the time and is really frustrating when I am exercising and I can't just look down at my watch. When this happens, I have to tap the front of the watch at least 5 to 10 times to get it to turn on.

I am planning on returning this watch and purchasing another.

Anyone else going through the same frustrations?

[SunsetRunner]

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@WavyDavey wrote:

  Microsoft is valued at over 400 times Fitbit's.

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Apple 760 billion $
Microsoft over 500 billion $
Fitbit is valued under 10 billion $.

[SunsetRunner]

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@datalore wrote:

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

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@datalore wrote:

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I think most people with a software background would agree that Apple has one of the best software development teams on the planet. 

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LOL most dev's don't care about operating system wars. They like the dev tools supplied. It's all about tools and customers who consume the end product. Apple sadly is quite lacking in good tools compared to elsewhere, but they certainly have some of the best consumers who want to spend their cash over whatever they feel is cool or something. Sadly  Apple is one of the strictest and annoying regimes when submitting software to their store. Dev's aren't really susceptible to marketing unlike most consumers either, they prefer to leave it to the fan boys (of whatever OS you choose it to be!)... computer are computers. It's like... whatever.

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The point was from a pure software development standpoint Apple is great. The comment wasn’t about dev tools where I actually agree with you. The point is there is no bullet proof software. I write software for a living and I’m making the broader point that even talented teams don’t catch every bug. 

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Not sure what a "pure software development standpoint" means.

The Apple store is difficult but Microsoft store sucks.

Microsoft has far better dev tools than Apple and most OS's.

Perhaps the Apple OS is superior from the desktop consumer side/ but MS is far superior from the server side and business software standpoint. Then there is (admittedly my fav) Linux, I always like an underdog.

[Haz11]

This conversation really is going off track

Sent from my iPhone

[shipo]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

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@WavyDavey wrote:

Was I the only one old enough to remember the 4 versions of Windows 95 it took to get it to work properly? I think Windows 98 was just about out by then, which also needed another version to correct numerous bugs.  Microsoft is valued at over 400 times Fitbit's.

How people feel about bugs is one thing, but expectations that they would be fixed within a few days or weeks doesn't seem in line with normal software practice.  It would be nice, and a few companies can pull it off, but I'd suggest it's more the exception than the rule.

Apple is an exception because they keep a tight reign on development.  The company is also valued at over 500 times what Fitbit is, to give you an idea of the resources available for each company.  

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Windows 95/98/millennium edition was simply the stepping stone to get DOS/Windows 3.X applications moved over to the Win NT platform (Windows NT/2000/XP etc).

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Hmmm, I don't believe that's an accurate statement.  I was doing a lot of development back then and if I recall correctly, Windows NT was initially developed as a platform independent high-end 32-bit only business Workstation and Server technology and was meant to be a complementary product to the Window 3.1 line which was for the Intel based x86 consumer 16/32 bit environment.

[SunsetRunner]

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@Haz11 wrote:
This conversation really is going off track

Sent from my iPhone

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True - apologies - as your were..

[bbarrera]

A little off track but interesting. I've worked for open-source software companies for 10+ years now. Current company delivers commercial grade Linux for embedded systems, allowing our customers to focus on app development. We also work on Android, mostly fixing driver issues. Prior to that I was working for a company that delivered real-time OS (RTOS) for use on microcontrollers (CPUs), the exact same class of CPUs used in Fitbit Surge, Blaze, and Ionic. And prior to that I was at a company that provided open-source compilers to ARM, Intel, Samsung BADA to enable 3rd party apps on feature phones, Qualcomm BREW for 3rd party apps on feature phones, Palm Pre (Linux cellphone), etc., etc.

I'm in technical sales and work with a lot of companies. Small teams can accomplish a lot, and deliver high-quality software in short time frames. It doesn't take the resources of Microsoft or Apple or Intel to do the job right the first time.

My 2 cents.

[WavyDavey]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

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@WavyDavey wrote:

  Microsoft is valued at over 400 times Fitbit's.

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Apple 760 billion $
Microsoft over 500 billion $
Fitbit is valued under 10 billion $.

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Where did you get those numbers? As of today, their values are:

Apple 843 billion

Fitbit 1.5 billion

Microsoft 646 billion

Edit: Fitbit just went down to 1.4 billion as I was typing this post.

[datalore]

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@bbarrera wrote:

A little off track but interesting. I've worked for open-source software companies for 10+ years now. Current company delivers commercial grade Linux for embedded systems, allowing our customers to focus on app development. We also work on Android, mostly fixing driver issues. Prior to that I was working for a company that delivered real-time OS (RTOS) for use on microcontrollers (CPUs), the exact same class of CPUs used in Fitbit Surge, Blaze, and Ionic. And prior to that I was at a company that provided open-source compilers to ARM, Intel, Samsung BADA to enable 3rd party apps on feature phones, Qualcomm BREW for 3rd party apps on feature phones, Palm Pre (Linux cellphone), etc., etc.

I'm in technical sales and work with a lot of companies. Small teams can accomplish a lot, and deliver high-quality software in short time frames. It doesn't take the resources of Microsoft or Apple or Intel to do the job right the first time.

My 2 cents.

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Couldn’t agree more, some times it’s best to have a small team. My point was software engineering isn’t easy. When it comes to actual coding it’s tough. Not excusing fitbit for the problems people are experiencing. Since this thread has taken a left turn I’ll bow out here. 

[billdehaan]

Old fart speaking here 

Here's the short version. In the late 1980s, the operating system wars came to an end, as IBM and Microsoft agreed to a ceasefire, and had a JDA (Joint Development Agreement) to build a new operating system for the PC. This new operating system was to be called OS/2. IBM and Microsoft would co-own the kernel, Microsoft would own the GUI, which would be based off of its' Windows product, and IBM would own the "Extended Edition" of networking and database services.

The original plan was the DOS, with Windows, would be phased out, as OS/2 was phased in.

The problem was that OS/2 was a dud that failed to sell, and Windows started selling like hotcakes. Microsoft therefore wanted to keep selling Windows, while IBM wanted OS/2 to be the only OS going forward. And so, the JDA ended, and there was a divorce. Each side got to keep their stuff; IBM got OS/2 2.x, and Microsoft kept windows and OS/2 v1.x.

Microsoft took that OS/2 v1.x, hired Dave Cutler (who had designed VAX VMS), and built a microkernel OS. That which was originally going to be OS/2 v3 instead became Windows NT. As a historical footnote, that's why Windows NT could run OS/2 v1 programs, by the way.

Over time, Microsoft phased out the x86 Windows line, in favour of Windows NT, which kept evolving. It was basically the same plan as OS/2 had been, except it ended up happening around 2000, rather than the original target date of 1993, and of course, IBM, having bet on OS/2 instead, stopped being a major player in PC operating system software.

[SunsetRunner]

So there you go, the history of personal computing. I'll get back to my ZX80 now.

[SMILES123]

It may be the stroller causing  "walking" to not SHOW up as exercise. It seems when I am pushing my mother in her wheel chair, I do not get steps or exercise  recorded. Must be sometging with the arms nor swinging or pumping.

[shipo]

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@SMILES123 wrote:

It may be the stroller causing  "walking" to not SHOW up as exercise. It seems when I am pushing my mother in her wheel chair, I do not get steps or exercise  recorded. Must be sometging with the arms nor swinging or pumping.

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Yup, if your arms ain't swinging, then you ain't gettin' steps.  I experience the same thing when I work in the barn, on the long walk out and back to the manure pile I don't get any steps.

[JJ14]

I just got my ionic and it did not record a 7 mike bike ride I just took as steps nor did it even automatically pick up that I was bike riding. Same issue with my screen not coming up unless I push the buttons. Frustrated

[Denodan]

Well if you have to press buttons for screen to come in then your watch is  set to manual.

[carenl]

My Fitbit ALTA always recognized my gym sessions as exercise... so far, the Ionic does not. All active minutes are just that--the only time they count as "Exercise" are when I log them with the watch.

Is this some sort of bug that people are experiencing? Or is it the device itself? Why did I pay $300 for something that is taking me backwards with technology?

[winb83]

I always start and stop my activities manually. As for the raise to wake it usually works for me but if not a tap on the screen works. Those are pretty minor issues. People are experiencing way worse. If that's the worst you have id keep it. 

[JJ14]

No it isn’t. It occasionally come in when I turn my wrist. Rarely.
I think it’s a flaw. I even called and we re set.
Should have gotten Apple Watch.

Janice Jason