Should I update my Fitbit Versa watch FW

[HanttaW]

Hi,

Currently running:

iPhone SE, IOS 13.3.

App SW: Fitbit 3.14 (921)

Watch SW: Fitbit Versa 32.33.1.30

Fitbit app is suggesting to update my watch FW.

Why should I do it? Any ideas other than wonderful generic answer to us "simple" consumers

"This release includes bug fixes and improvements." Yey!

Pages:

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1372

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2302

Do not give me any clear answers.

Original warranty has expired and now I´m afraid that any FW update might broke this device that is working quite perfectly.

[HanttaW]

Why my thread has been moved under "IOS App"?

How you can interpret my message in way that it is about iOS app?

Any why there is no communication from moderators that this thread has been moved?

[LZeeW]

Hi @HanttaW .  I read your post yesterday and I wanted to think about it before sharing my thoughts.  If you have Versa v 32.33.1.0, then you are more than one update behind.  So I am not sure which update you are being offered.  The biggest change in the most current update has to do with the Exercise App.  In the update, you still have your Exercise Shortcuts listed in your preferred order.  Now you can can scroll to the bottom of the page, tap on More, and get to all the shortcuts without having to change them on your app.  I used to taking Bike off my shortcuts in the winter and replace it with another exercise.  The most current update also has an Agenda app, which I use.  All the features are listed in your linked article, so you might need to weigh the pro and cons before you decide.  Then, of course, there are the mysterious Bug fixes, of which I have no personal knowledge.

When users post experiences about a firmware update bricking their devices, it seems right to be concerned about your device that is out of warranty.  You can always contact Support and ask about what Fitbit will do if an update bricks an out of warranty device.

Finally, I don't think a moderator moved your post.  In my experience, a moderator annotates your post if it is moved or edited.  Anyone can move a post.  When I move a post, I always leave a response before moving.  You clearly have a Versa question.  So I am moving this back to the Versa forum, where it belongs.

[SunsetRunner]

@HanttaW 

While many original Versa users reported not having issues with the latest firmware other users weren't so lucky.  Some of the issues reported were bricked devices, excessive battery draining, devices not working like before the firmware update. 

Like you, my Versa is out of warranty but working just fine and the chat I had through Twitter with support was to offer 25% off a device if the device became unresponsive after the update.

In my case, I opted not to do the firmware update.  The enhancements are nice but not nice enough to update and risk my Versa becoming unresponsive.

I would contact support and see what they tell you and decide on whether or not you want to update.

[Rich_Laue]

@HanttaW I can't say why it was moved, but the default settings should have sent a notification email. Also @LZeeW tagging you was enough to get you to follow the move. They, not a moderator may have been the one who moved your post. 

[LZeeW]

@HanttaW   Did you buy an extended warranty when you bought your Versa?

[HanttaW]

Hi,

Thank you all for the replies.

@LZeeW 

Thanks for the info. I wonder if notification functionality has been changed somehow? To me all notifications can be easily reviewed by swiping downwards on clock face. 

I have not bought extended warranty. Not sure if it is provided here in Finland. To my understanding some shops here at Finland try to sell 3rd party warranty extensions that in the end are pretty much same as our consumer protection act.

Been pondering on how consumer protection laws (naturally differ between countries) see firmware updates? I think warranty should be extended automatically if FW is changed. Moreover what if product changes in way that it is not functioning as it was at the moment of purchase? How to reverse?

IOS App does not tell which FW it is trying to convince me to install. Likely latest?

Version 32.33.1.30, Currently running

Version 32.68.9.12

Version 32.68.9.15

Version 32.70.7.14, Latest?

"Anyone can move a post."

Really? I wonder why anyone in charge of this forum would think it is good functionality to have 😐

.edit

Does newest fw have auto-sleep-detection for notifications?  Does watch automatically turn vibration&notifications off when I’m sleeping? (”all day sync” is off and stays off, if it matters here.)

@SunsetRunner 

Thanks.

I have been looking how features have been changed/removed and new added (sleep score wtf?) with rather obscure communication from fitbit and I´m not very convinced on updating device that is right now working just fine. Likely I will be waiting until some IOS system update breaks things up or Fitbits own IOS app break things up...:|

[SunsetRunner]

@HanttaW 

I personally would stay on the version you're currently on.  I actually preferred the layout of that version over the the one on I'm on Version 32.68.9.15.   The notification drop down is annoying but I've had no issues with this version so that's a plus.

Version 32.70.7.14 is the latest version and the one I opted not to do and feel like I'm not really missing out on any true enhancements.  That plus that uncertainty of whether or not I would be in the unlucky group was enough for me to stay put on Version 32.68.9.15.

[LZeeW]

@HanttaW   I am in the US, where Fitbit's warranty is one year.  It is my understanding that the warranty is two years in EU countries.  At the bottom of every page there is a link to Returns and Warranty.  The link should be specific to your geographic area.  You still might be under warranty.

The swipe down to see notifications hasn't changed.

I have no way of knowing which update you are being offered.

There is a Sleep Mode and a Do Not Disturb Mode that block notifications.  You can set a schedule for your Sleep Mode.  DND is manual.  You can also set Sleep Mode manually, but I use and like the schedule.

With respect to moving posts, this site is a moderated peer-to-peer help site.  The moderators are Fitbit employees.  Community Council Members are knowledgeable volunteers.  I guess anyone can move a post because it is peer-to-peer.  I suspect that someone saw that your post started with iOS information and didn't read the entire post before moving it.

[HanttaW]

If I understood you correctly.

After Version 32.33.1.30

1\ Automatic sleep mode detection feature (notifications & vibration suppressed) had been removed.

2\  Swipe down notification list/layout has changed. .edit (e.g. Reddit)

(Gif animations would probably explain more than words)

About item 2 I haven´t so far seen any positive comments.

If I have correctly understood the versioning is:

(why this info is not in help pages?):

Fitbit OS 4.1 - Firmware Release (70.7.14) (link) .edit In this message I think there is more effort to explain things but still just too much "marketing" speak.

Fitbit OS 4.0.2 - Firmware Release (68.9.15) (link)

Fitbit OS 4.0.1 - Firmware Release (68.9.12) (link) Ha, vague summary info. Changes to UI without any heads-up to customers...Great job! Same level of vagueness seems to be chosen practice in all release messages. Why?

Fitbit OS 3.0 - Firmware Release (33.1.30)

Number "32." is dropped from beginning. Makes help pages even easier to read & understand.

To whom this vagueness and hassle serves? Short term marketing?

.edit

@LZeeWThanks for the warranty point. Will check.

[MarkMM]

I have 70.7.14. I always leave mine on. After browsing the forums and reading about power button issues after a firmware update, I shut mine off out of curiosity. Lo and behold, it wouldn't come back on!

Pressing all three buttons as suggested in threads wasn't working either. Started switching between all three and left/bottom right. It popped back on. 

I wonder if many of them aren't truly bricked, the user just didn't fuss with them enough?

[Rich_Laue]

Holding all three buttons in is the firstz step when doing a factory reset. 

A normal restart only requires the left abs bottom right. 

I haven't tried shutting off but my we'd battery has died to the pint the tracker shut down. Placing it in its charger, as expected, did turn the unit on. 

@HanttaW mine still has the option to suppress notifications while sleeping. Impossible for me to test, I sleep to soundly sometimes the phone won't disturb me. 

This thread is not about the Versa 2 whose latest release is in RT heart rate detection.