Add Airplane mode to Versa series

[Ionic]

I recommend adding an airplane mode to the first firmware update.

I have seen several posts wondering about turning off bluetooth or WiFi on the new Ionic.  Several people have stated an interest based on small amounts of radiation, others have considered FAA regulations for devices.  This feature would also benefit people who work in government, tech, and security industries who work in places where transmitting devices of any kind are not allowed.  I am interested because being able to control how often my device transmits and whether or not it is able to sync provides me the ability to extend battery life because I don't always want a smart watch. Sometimes I just want a pedometer, but I don't want to switch between two different devices.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[Szuja]

Sorry I was being sarcastic. I should not have used Apple as the example.

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Anonimo]

How about one single post from the company stating whether or not this is even being looked at... or the feasibility of it happening? A lot of your users are intelligent and can understand why it may or may not happen. WE PAID FOR THESE DEVICES. Act like you care.

[HQuick60]

@Rich_Laue Many watchfaces uses a companion to fetch weather data or do others things which are currently not possible on the device. Every request to the companion must be transfererd via bluetooth. A badly programmed watchface may cause permanent bluetooth transmissions.

But the main point is: I want the option to control what my device do. I have radio alarm clock. I can switch on/off radio, on/off light. My router has wifi. I can swich on/off. But my ionic have bluetooth on and no option to control this. I dont know any smartwatch which lacks this option Please enable such an option.

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[beermatt]

I'm curious what the advice is for people that enter areas where devices that transmit/receive (bluetooth, wifi etc) are forbidden - often allowed if radios can be disabled (airplane mode or similar), eg:-

• tell the employer/representative that the policy is stupid 🤔
• tell the employer/representative that Bluetooth most of the time is only listening (somehow I suspect that may not suffice) 🤐
• accept that you won't ever be able to use a fitbit while in these areas 😠
• switch to another smart watch (as it seems that most others seem to have an airplane mode) 😲
• carry on hoping that fitbit will eventually add this capability

any other thoughts/suggestions gratefully received..

[dalyshas]

Maybe tie in the airplane mode option with a "Nighttime" option to also turn off automatic screen wake up for certain hours while you normally are sleeping.

[Cam125]

Please implement Aeroplane mode. This is standard fare on phones, why not on a watch that has some of the same wireless transmitters.

I don't need my device to sync every second, I don't use the notifications or tether my phone to the watch.

I also don't want bluetooth pinging out every few seconds.

I contacted customer care and was directed to the suggestion forum.

I find the mantra of if the community votes on something then maybe we will fix it disconcerting.

Lets vote this post up and make them take notice.

[Alicecm]

@LizFitbit @LanuzaFitbit Moderators, please consider that this feature (alowing to disable the bluetooth and wifi) will add a few hours on Battery duration. Hope you do implement it. The watch still uses battery "pulsing" bluetooth and wifi even when it's not connected.

[Rich_Laue]

Moderators are simply here to moderate. and do not make any final decision on what gets implemented. 

This feature board is where we as users can bring our case in front of the developers. 

Think of yourself as a lawyer and the develioers as the jury. Now present your pros and cons for a request. 

[Alicecm]

@Rich_Laue Thanks for the notice. Although I think I've stated very well the pros, I'll rephrase them in here, just so it can be even more clear:  please consider that this feature (alowing to disable the bluetooth and wifi) will add a few hours on Battery duration. Hope you do implement it. The watch still uses battery "pulsing" bluetooth and wifi even when it's not connected

[Cam125]

@Alicecm

I appriciate the good will in this thread, but I find the whole voting system on ideas lazy on fitbits side of things.

I currently have a limited edition Versa sitting idle while I hope for this to be implemented.

I feel that $350 I paid for my device would be more than enough motivation for a company as large as FitBit to try to satisfy a customers request.

[Torqemada]

Could you please implement offline mode to Ionic? I am always puting my electronic devices into flight mode/offline mode for my health and for battery save. 

[Torqemada]

 I bought Ionic 2 days ago and will return it as no offline mode/plane mode available. What a shame!

[Peszka]

There is only lack of the Offline mode in 

Fitbit. Constant exposure to radiation don't make us healthier. Is any moderator is reading this?

[Cam125]

Oh there was a moderator who read the post sometime last year, and has set this to seen.

FitBit don't really care what the users want, unless there is enough noise made. So I am going to keep making noise.

The more people that see this thread and more people are commenting this, the more likely they are to implement this.

[Torqemada]

Hello Cam125,
I wont be waiting for their move as I think it's not going to happen.
Going to return it and get Garmin Vivactive3 or Samsung gear sport.
By the way 'offline mode' is quite basic feature and is present in most of
sport smartwatches.
Good luck

[Torqemada]

Yes do it!

[Cam125]

I find it Ironic (or is it Ionic?) that the tagline for the Versa is: 

'The health and fitness smartwatch that helps you live your best life'

This is not true, I don't always want or need constant connectivity. Sometimes a dumb (smart) watch is what is best.

I don't need my hand held for syncing, I don't need updates from my phone pinging me every time someone shoots a new selfie. I want a reliable, good looking watch that tracks heart rate, steps and calories.

In addition to the Versa sending out bluetooth pulses every 1 or so seconds, allowing the radios in the watch to be disabled would do one of two things.

1: Stop unneeded bluetooth radio waves (This cannot be good for you)

2. Save battery life.

In addition to point 2, even though I run my Versa at minimal brightness and rarely check it throughout the day, I would like to be able to irk some more battery performance out of my device, disabling bluetooth would allow me to make greater power savings and also appease my concerns about constant body exposure to bluetooth radiation.

FitBit, WE are calling you out, WE need a moderator to come and see these messages and answer our calls for something to be done about this.
Pass it on to your superiors, get this moving or things are going to get a lot more noisy. 

[Cam125]

Feel like sending your concerns or suggestions in writing?
Maybe they will notice that more than these forums.

Interational:

Fitbit International Limited

76 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2, Ireland

US Residents:
Fitbit, Inc.
199 Fremont Street, 14th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
USA

[DouglasPenna]

I've bought Ionic two days ago, and I was impressed it didn't have an airplane mode.

Since I am in the 5% of humanity that have difficulties with Bluetooth/WiFi (I cannot use Bluetooth headphones, for example, without getting a headache), I cannot wear Fitbit.

Even with that condition, I did try to use, since it emits just 1% of cell phone radiation according to the info I got here (which sounded interesting to me, so I could use the watch and get the notifications, while the cell is away. Today I cannot be near the cellphone for a long leriod).

Besides that, I woke up with my wirst hurting, and unfortunately I'll have to stop using FitBit.

Don't get me wrong, the stats are very good, and I really wanted that. It can count the laps in my swimming activity!

But the radiation or whatever is too high for me.

Since this issue is going on for years, I think it is a design choice to not enable Airplane Mode. We have weather information on the watch (!!!), but not an airplane mode. FitBit seems to see themselves as a competitor of iWatch, but seriously, they are not. Those are two completely separate products. Fitbit is a great gadget to measure body activity, and should improve that, instead of adding music control to their devices, or the weather channel, imho.

This post is not for the developers, I think they don't care. It is more about people that will land here, looking for information, and that cannot wear Bluetooth devices, like I do.

Do not buy FitBit. It is great... But... You cannot use it without hurting yourself.

[Cam125]

Can a moderator please weigh in on this? A developer? Anyone from Fitbit AT ALL!?

Has the concerns of everyone here been passed on to anyone?

[Cam125]

There is another thread here that links to another user that has mentioned that he will write an app that may turn the versa in to a low power mode.

Head over there and help boost the thread votes up

[Rimman321]

@Cam125Don't hold you breath man, I see threads about Airplane mode going back all the way to 2012 asking for this. The answers are usually: 

1.) You are stupid you don't need this feature

2.) It doesn't save any battery

3.) Bluetooth radiation is not harmful so don't worry about it even though it is the same frequency as your microwave and is on your body 24/7

So a lot of us that started here switched to Garmin at least their devices you can still turn of all wireless communications. 

[Rimman321]

@Cam125on and about the app, don't bother we have already looked they do not expose API for Airplane mode, so even if you wanted to write the app you will not be able to.

[Monaco]

Agree with previous comments/requests.

Airplane-mode would be most welcome on the Versa, for example added as long-press option on the left button  (I'd gratefully swap music control with airplane-mode control!).

As also suggested elsewhere, if there was also the ability to set automated night-time range for similar would be fantastic.

Cheers.

[07FuadMaalim]

Hi Fitbit,

i would strongly agree with everyone as this is very important for people who travel a lot. I personally think this is also a good idea as you don't have to be told to turn your watch off during flights. This would be excellent for fitbit devices such as the ionic,versa, charge 3 etc. 

Thanks Everyone,

Fuad Maalim