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Yeah. Not ever hearing back is what's making people most annoyed. But I don't think that they are going to use it as a "get the new Fitbit " feature. They recently added new features to old Flex's. ....like the ability for it to automatically sleep track. They didn't develop a " new and improved flex with auto sleep tracking" Sent from my iPhone
I dislike what Fitbit is doing so much I think I'm going to pay to promote posts on Facebook and Twitter to let others know so they can avoid their products.
I'm still sticking with whoever came up with the original theory that the feature must be patented by someone other than Fitbit. That is the only possible explanation why it wouldn't have been implemented by now, nor commented on by Fitbit to any extent deeper than "We hear you! We're listening! Thanks for the feedback!"
It's not technically hard to implement, and it's also not hard to put a toggle in the settings to turn it off for anybody who doesn't want to be bothered by alerts.
The planned obsolesence angle is a possiblity, but I think the patent/license issue makes more sense because Fitbit *has* made a handful of other more complicated feature updates to the Charge HR since I've had mine.
Right, but maybe Apple actually owns that patent and others who have it are paying them a license. Those are the sorts of reasons they're the richest company in the world! Everybody in tech patents everything they can these days...it's disgusting.
It just doesn't make any sense that Fitbit has added other features if they're planning to drop their current devices soon. I don't think the idle alert is the kind of "game changer" that would entice people to upgrade...it's more of a no-brainer that every activity tracker should automatically offer.
It's also ironic that Fitbit hasn't added an idle alert feature since they're pushing for corporate customers lately, based on a handful of stories I've seen where they're striking deals with well known companies like Target to offer Fitbits to their employees to encourage them to be healthier. Maybe extended sitting isn't as much of a problem for Target employees since they're walking the floor more than a typical office employee, but regardless, reducing periods of inactivity is a huge factor when you're trying to improve employees' overall health. It's much better to get 1,000 steps an hour than to sit all day and then get 8,000 steps after work to meet your daily goal when you realize your step count is too low from sitting all day and losing track of time.
Third party software companies programming AppleWatch apps are not paying patent fees for idle alert. And even if it were, this is such a basic feature that it should be expected.
I don't think so because not only Up, Garmin, Microsoft and a ton of others have this but many cheap no names do also.... And they are not paying for a license fee Helene Sent from my iPhone
I would love this feature on the Fitbit. I am a health coach and often suggest Fitbit to my clients. I wish that I could tell them that idle alert was a feature of Fitbit. Please upgrade the fitbits.
BTW, I love the new sleep tracker. I always would forget to set mine before.
I have a great reminder to move.. every time I get an email saying someone posted in these threads I get up and move around 😉
I cannot even imagine that there aren't more important ways to spend extra money than to pay to bad mouth what is actually a pretty great product, that is helping so many people work on fitness.
It's a product with substandard software and people should know. Fitbit has a system where they give away product to resellers and bloggers so that they mention what a great product it is, when really, it's not. Considering the $150 for an HR and then another $100 annually for access to their online database and you're in AppleWatch territory which is a superior product because of its versatility and ability to be customized. Money isn't the issue, poor product and service is. So I'd much rather spend some money helping the public avoid a bad product than give it to them for access to their grotesquely overpriced database. So yes, I'm doing you the favor of reminding you to get up and do 50 push-ups. See? Win-win.
I've never paid a cent for online database, any of the watches are way too big for my very small wrists and somehow I've managed to figure out when I need to exercise to the tune of losing over 50 pounds and moving from obese through overweight to normal weight. And nary a push up has been done and all without an idle alert (which I would use if I had it.) Apple products and simply not on my radar and I prefer a product that syncs not just with my tablet, and my smart phone but with my computer as well.
I still see other issues in life as far more worthy of attention and angst, but that's just me.
Maybe with every facebook post or text, people could get up and do 50 pushups... that would be effective! You just need the stimulous to elicit the response.
I'm glad your device has helped you. I really am. And just as your device has helped you for what you needed, mine did not. I needed something to tell me to get up and move and track my sleep as well a large a heart rate monitor while I'm exercising. The false advertising and reviews that the HR has these features or simply ignoring this lack of feature in review hinders others from having a device that helps them. Perhaps you view helping others as a bitter waste of time and money, but I disagree. It is exactly the opposite. The facts are, the device has a processor and sensors that can process this information. There are no patents hindering the addition of this feature and thus the only conclusion I can see is planned obsolescence. I think it's helpful for people to know that this vitally important feature is no on this device and that there is no mention of plans to include it.
Well the Apple Watch really isn't a fitness tracker. It doesn't track sleep, needs to be charged nightly, takes more steps to check on current step totals, doesn't monitor HR or GPS functionality like the Surge does. The Apple Watch looked fun to me. But I was looking for something more fitness based. And I use the free data base which has plenty of info. So I couldn't justify spending 200$ plus tax more for a Apple Watch compared to the HR Sent from my iPhone
Not liking the form factor is one thing but to claim the AppleWatch is missing feature is a little misguided considering it's an app based system that allows for nearly any functionality. And no, the Fitbit HR does not have gps, nor is the HR monitor any better. They both use similar technology for HR and are equally rated. The Fitbit HR is smaller, less versatile, less expensive but also lacking a key feature.... Idle alert.
I will also add that ever since the last firmware update on my Charge HR (the one that added the exercise tracking), the battery life has been just about as bad as an Apple Watch. I barely get two days out of a full charge now, even if I'm not very active.
Point being, I didn't ask for that update, it doesn't work all that well so far in my experience, and I don't think there's a way to turn it off.
Not sure if battery life is one of the concerns Fitbit has about not adding an idle alert -- since they won't communicate with us, I have no idea what their reasons are -- but whatever this last update did, it has killed my battery life.
Yes, same here. I like the fact that it tracks walking etc automatic since the last update. Dont like the fact that my battery only lasts 36 hours. But I see, still no idle alert. Very annoying.
Add me to the list of people keen to see this option added to my Fitbit. I'm new to fitbit. I normally run high end Suunto watches. Keen to see how the a tivity tracker compares for the basics. An idle alert/alarm would really add to the fitbit.
Add one more to the list. Seems rudimentary. If it is a "planned obsolescence" thing, you can count me out of purchasing a new device. Far from a feature that would entice me into spending more money. As one that would make me search elsewhere though, I'd say it's a safe bet.
Seconded, thirded, etc. An idle alert is desperately needed. The fitbit already has the alram feature, so this should be a firmware, not a hardware issue (still not simple, but not impossible).
I returned my Fitbit Charge HR today because it does not have an idle alert. I think it is very bad customer service to not have fixed this after 2 years of customers asking for this feature.
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