Will Ionic support audio cues over bluetooth?

[rcork]

Will the Ionic play audio cues during exercise over bluetooth? I currently use Runkeeper on my phone will running so that it will play current pace, average pace, distance and heart rate over the bluetooth headphones i have connected. Once i have the Ionic i wont carry my phone anymore on a run and I'm hoping Ionic will play audio cues over the bluetooth headphones connected directly to the Ionic.

[WavyDavey]

Hi @rcork,

I haven't read anything that indicates the Ionic gives audio cues like that. Not that it won't, but it seems like something they would advertise if it's able to do that. Fitbit might partner with Runkeeper to add this very functionality...?

[SunsetRunner]

There is an exercise setting that allows you to receive cues. The manual shows three configurable settings; Show Cues, Cue Type and Cue Every.

[rcork]

I read that to mean that it will show the cues on screen, similar to how the Blaze works now. 

I really hope they have this. Right now if you start an activity tracking from the Fitbit app (not the Blaze), then it will play audio cues from the Fitbit app on my phone over my bluetooth headphones. The whole purpose of getting the Ionic is finally getting rid of my iphone when i run and just run with my Fitbit and headphones. If they dont have audio cues from the watch directly, then this is a step backwards.

[SunsetRunner]

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@rcork wrote:

I read that to mean that it will show the cues on screen, similar to how the Blaze works now. 

I really hope they have this. Right now if you start an activity tracking from the Fitbit app (not the Blaze), then it will play audio cues from the Fitbit app on my phone over my bluetooth headphones. The whole purpose of getting the Ionic is finally getting rid of my iphone when i run and just run with my Fitbit and headphones. If they dont have audio cues from the watch directly, then this is a step backwards.

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Yes, I meant the settings were watch settings, not phone app ones.

[dermbrian]

Since there's no real mention of audio cues in the manual for the Ionic, I doubt that there will be any. 

I do wonder, though, if the additional "coaching" products that will be sold for the Ionic will give audio feedback during activities.  It seems like they would/should.

Brian

[SunsetRunner]

What the manual shows regarding cues:

[dermbrian]

The "Show Cues" leads me to believe you'll get a vibration and a chance to look at your watch at each cue. 

TomTom didn't implement distance audio cues in their gear, either.  One reason, I gather, is that cues would need to be in multiple languages for a global company.  A phone app can be big and also involve cellular service for these functions.  I'm not saying the same couldn't be done on the standalone Ionic, just that it looks like it isn't being done.  As long as the info is big enough and bright enough, and the vibration is strong enough, I'll be satisfied to have them presented on the watch.

[rcork]

I know that these are watch settings but it still doesn't answer the question. Will the watch play audio cues over the Bluetooth connection or will it only display the cue on the screen of the watch?

i guess we'll have to wait to find out. Hopefully mine shows up next week. 

[Rich_Laue]

I saw a fitbit produced video that implies that it does have verbal cues.

I dont see wh6 not since it has the ability to play music through connected headphones 

[PGV]

indeed, the the main reason from "upgrading" from a HR to Ionic was to stop needing to strap on a bulky 7plus. The ionic's promise of a GPS, music player and cues were close to perfect, but alas, the ionic does not give me the same verbal cues when I run outside. 

Not sure why they cannot implement it, especially since all the information is presented on the screen every 2 minutes (my setting) any way

rather disappointed

P.G.

[user1842]

I can confirm there are no audio cues when running. The cues noted in the manual are screen and vibration cues.

Please fitbit add this functionality. 

It would be great to get a audio readout out of pace, distance and heart-rate every KM or mile.

Also please add the ability to set a KM or mile goal for running. The audio ques should then help you get to your goal with motivation messages. Nike and Apple had this 5 years ago.

[merijo]

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Also please add the ability to set a KM or mile goal for running. The audio ques should then help you get to your goal with motivation messages. Nike and Apple had this 5 years ago.

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Coming from a way cheaper TomTom Spark Music, this is what I miss the most. The Ionic's running settings feel so stripped-down 😐

[Alzer]

Hi. I am researching the same thing. I have loaded music to my watch and listened to music during my run but did not get verbal queues, despite selecting verbal cues in the app via my phone. It seems crazy if the watch can transmit music to wireless headphones via Bluetooth that it can’t also transmit verbal cues. I thought I must be missing something. Please let me know if you find a solution. Thanks 

[Rich_Laue]

Hello @Alzer when you chose verbal cues in the app you set it up for when using the Fitbit app to record the event. and not for the ionic.. 

I'm not sure wha type of solution your looking for. I can find no setting for verbal cues, at lest for now, on the ionic. This could easily change and would require the addition of some type if speech generator. 

Then maybe we could also get a text to speech

[Alzer]

Thanks Rich. I’ll try starting an event in the app on my phone and connect my wireless headphones to my phone and see if verbal cues work that way around. If so then some progress but I’ll still need to take my phone running which I was hoping to avoid. From searching around, Fitbit advise that the functionality to have verbal cues direct from the watch to headphones via Bluetooth is not there an unlikely to be added.  Very disappointing, as this would allow runners to run with just the watch and Bluetooth headphones, leaving their phones at home. I added a vote to the request for this functionally registered by Rich. It’s up to 144 votes now. Thanks