Integrate with iOS Health

[so-rich]

Hi there,

I'm really excited about Apple's announcement of the Health App in iOS 8 to be release this fall.  I'm looking forward to seeing a product announcement by Fitbit for a successor to the recalled Fitbit Force, and I'm really hoping to hear some exciting news about Fitbits intigration with Apple's new Health App to be released alongside iOS 8 this fall.  

This is a huge oportunity to make your devices even smarter and more integrated - Please support these APIs!  Thanks!

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity and labels.

[kenlpeters]

So Fitbit is looking for reason for integrating.  The answer is simple.  The Healthkit is larger than Fitbit.  It is going to integrate with my health care provider and other non-fitness monitors.  Healthkit is not a replacement for the FitBit app or any of its kind.  It is a holistic view of things related to the owner's health.  I find it curious that Apple gave Fitbit a shameless plug in the Healthkit annoucement and they refuse to integrate with them while its competitors are scrambling to integrate.  Additionally in reviewing the things Fitbit is compatable with I found it integrates into the Microsoft Health Vault.  I wonder if Fitbit and Microsoft have some binding contract that prohibits them from integrating with other "health information consolidation platforms".  Anyway.  I am somewhat disheartened because I made the switch from Jawbone to Fitbit just weeks ago.  The other contenter in my decision was the Garmin.  Now I wondering if I made the wrong choice.  I wonder how many customers are thinking the same thing to themselves.  If Fitbit continues to neglect the Apple Community they will find themselves losing customers, fanbase, and supporters.  If I were the executive of Fitbit I would have been on the front Line priasing the integration and integration into the iPhone 6 and then reaping the benfits of the exposure and starting in front of the competition.  Instead Fitbit is still digging out of the Fitbit Rash Scandal and burying their heads in the sand, while Jawbone, Garmin, Nike, and other surge past it. In one swift move Fitbit when from the leader to follower.  In the etch industry (which I am part of, and have been for 20+ years) this spells doom. I truly hope that the Fitbit executives get their heads screwed on right and start making good consumer and company decisions.

[ChrisCA]

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by LK411 14m ago - last edited 14m ago

"We do not currently have plans to integrate with HealthKit."

Thanks for the update, with this news I no longer have plans to support Fitbit any longer.

Misfits Shine here I come (Which has already been updated for Healthkit)

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The new Misfit Flash is half the price.

[ChrisCA]

"We do not currently have plans to integrate with HealthKit."

Thanks for the update, with this news I no longer have plans to support Fitbit any longer.

Misfits Shine here I come (Which has already been updated for Healthkit)

[Bluejay]

I have tried linking DigiFit to both MFP and Fitbit. It works either way, but don't link to both or you'll get doubled activites in fitbit.

[joestencowwife]

As much as I have enjoyed my Fitbit One, I am starting to look for a replacement due to this issue... and I haven't had my One a month... but I bought it specifically for use with Apple's Health app... and since that isn't happening...

I really appreciate those of you who have mentioned alternative products... I've seen Garmin mentioned, Jawbone's Up app (but most seem to prefer Fitbit products rather than Jawbone), and most recently Fitbit's Shine...

Anything else those of you who are bailing are looking at? I like the various ways to carry my One - discrete, not primarily a bracelet approach except when sleeping, etc...

[MoleStrangler]

This news also sadens me.  But with 32 pages of comments on FitBit watching and not acting on Apple HealthKit must go a long way to change their minds.

Of course is a business decision, and the decision may  be driven by FitBit not wanting to share user data with Apple.  So this would mean the revenue generated by the analyitics they have on its customers must out-weigh the advantage of sharing the data with Apple.

Think about it, they have companies who will pay for the information they get from the data created by FitBit users. If FitBit were to share this data with Apple HeathKit these paying customers may be able to get the same information from HealtKit at a cheaper rate or not at all (I've not read the EULA for the Apple HealthKit).

I also need to read the FitBit EULA on how they use the data we all create for them.

But like others, I've been using FitBit since early 2012 and have teh weigh scale.  I use both every day (apart from a few expections).

1) But with Google also working on their own Health API, how long can FitBit hold out?

2) Both iOS & Android users will increasingly look for HealthKit compatiable hardware as time marches on, so FitBit have to consider their decision carefully

3) The only constant in business is change, FitBit re-invented the market they are in.  This does not gurantee continued survival.

Just my thoughts.

[TedTschopp]

Two things: 

1.  To answer your questions: What do you imagine a HealthKit integration would entail and what do you expect to get out of it?

I do not own a fitbit, but I am in the market for a health monitoring tool like the One or Flex.  I need it to sync my data into Healthkit.  I would also expect the software that you develop to read the data collected by my WiThings Scale into your system via Healthkit.

2.  As I said, now that I know you are not planning this integration, I will remove your product from my spreadsheet and my birthday list.  Thanks for being so open and honest.

[CruJones83]

I have been waiting anxiously for, what I thought, was an inevitable update to integrate with HealthKit.  It blows my mind that anyone at your company thinks its a good idea to NOT integrate with the app (given all of the other app partnerships you have).

I'd like to encourage you to re-evaluate your decision.  The HealthKit app isn't going anywhere and if you're late to the party on this integration I think it will severely affect your overall marketshare.  Just think about how much the market is opening up now that people see that big Health app on their homescreen in their newly purchased (or upgraded) iPhones.  People who are curious about the Health app are going to start actively seeking out devices that support it.  When they do their research and see that Fitbit does NOT support it, they aren't going to look for workarounds to this problem, they are going to look for products that support the app that Apple has created. (EDIT: It's funny that in the time it took me to write this comment, a user posted directly above me validating what I said in the previous sentence).

I believe that you're being shortsighted and it would be foolish to dismiss the Health app until it has "matured."  You are going to lose your first movers advantage in this industry and you will very quickly find yourself playing catch up to those companies who were early adopters and were able to refine the experience while you were working on your "other exciting projects."

[Red974]

Add me to the list of disappointed ones. Been a fitbit user for years.

Guess it's time to go check Jawbone or Garmin, or just wait for the Apple watch.

Bad decision from your part, fitbit.

[Havenocents]

@ joestencowwife

The withings pulse has promised to integrate in the next few days with healthkit.

It has a better sleep analysis.  It is more versatile than than the one as they let you clip it on just like the fitbit one, and they supply a strap so you can wear it on your wrist.

[rafper]

If all the above answers does not satisfy fitbit on why you should integrate with Health App, maybe this one would: I will be looking for a fitness tracking device that integrates with heath App and ditch my fitbit. Would not recommend it as I have currently been doing. Please listen to your userbase. We will still use the dashboard, we will still support your app and buy your hardware, but integration of all our fitness/excercise/diet apps is fundamental.

[Alan-D]

Normally I wouldn't post to just echo what everyone else is saying, but...

I upgraded from a Fitbit Ultra to a One because I wanted more integration with my iPhone. I bought a Fitbit Aria because it integrated well (as does the One) with MyFitnessPal, which is the app I am currently using as a "dashboard".

However, I am going to be using Apple's Health app as my dashboard, very soon now.  If Fitbit supports it, I will be happy and will continue using and recommending (widely) the company and its products.  If Fitbit does not integrate with HealthKit, I will find another product that will. It's really that simple.

All I/we want is to be able to export the information tracked in the Fitbit app with HealthKit. I have a feeling that there are enough software developers using your products that if you want help with that, we'd be happy to assist... But we're also the ones using and recommending your products, generally happy with them, and want to stay that way!

[kenlpeters]

Want to make change....  tweet your complaints to the CEO @parkjames and @boomer the product manager.  

[RyanFarley]

Wow. This is a bad move Fitbit. I guess I'll be moving to Garmin.

[jasonaz]

Would be great to have my fitbit data integrated into healthkit for the sheer efficiency and a nice user experience.

[theloneatom]

Here is a good reason for asking for Fitbit integration with iOS Health App: So that I can actually get to view my stats without losing them often on your Fitbit App that has NEVER worked reliably, ever, to sync and store data. I have lost almost 80% of my data over the last few years thanks to bugs on your side. So anyway thanks for letting us know that you find Health App "interesting" but not enough to get you integerate Fitbit into it. Now you have made my decision to look elsewhewhere like the Jawbone Up or Misfit Shine for a better worthy replacement. By a really disgruntled customer! 

[ajmath]

This is ridiculous.  I track food with MFP, steps/sleep with FitBit, and runs/bikes with RunKeepr.  All of which integrate with HealthKit except FitBit.

I've been waiting for the HealthKit upgrade since iOS 8 was released and now that they say it's not coming I will probably not be purchasing any more FitBit products.  I was planning on buying an Aria and the Force successor but will probably be looking at another companies products now.

[plysat]

I'll just add my voice to the chorus. Integrate with Health. Love your product, great customer service, but this decision is asinine. 

[scottsha]

We have three Fitbits in my family.  We all have iPhones with IOS 8.  The lack of support that Fitbit is providing for IOS8 (namely providing the Health data to the Health Kit framework) is unacceptable.  I did not spend all this money and devote all this time to not expect world-class support.  This is VERY upsetting.  

Companies make decisions, but consumers make spending choices.  When it comes down to it, we will have to communicate via commerce.  I guess you figured you already have our money, so what's the difference? But social media will have something to say about all of this.  Let's take this viral!!

Jawbone UP has a fine product that DOES support the IOS 8 framework.  You make your own inference.

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[Hanineal]

I'm sorry to hear that Fitbit is taking this position. I was eagerly waiting for the release of the redesigned Force. But if HealthKit will not be supported, it will be a much less attractive product to me.

I hope Fitbit will change their mind and support Healthkit.

[SunsetRunner]

Add me to the list of users who will be moving to other platforms. I have been a Fitbit user from the beginning, now currently wearing the Fitbit Flex (as is my wife) and using the Aria scale. I have been not only a user, but a product champion. Today that ends.

I predict Fitbit will either reverse this decision or become the Blackberry of wearables.

[SunsetRunner]

Healthkit integration should be a given. Customers should not have to beg for new advancements. Fitbit email says it wants to see you HealthKit matures. Why not mature with it. +1 for integration on all fronts or it will need to be replaced by another device.

[SunsetRunner]

 FitBit is the last health app on my phone not to support HealthKit. I hate having to go to individual apps/dashboards to see my data. Was going to buy the scales but will look for something else. Will give it until Christmas otherwise I see new (read NOT FitBit) health data devices under the tree.

[ChuckEye]

How many customers do you think you'd lose by adding HealthKit support?

How many customers will you lose by not adding HealthKit support?

Seems like the latter will far outweigh the former. (But what do I know? I have to enter my weight manually in 2 different apps because they won't sync with HealthKit…)

[SunsetRunner]

What does everyone prefer as a replacement to Fitbit? Jawbone or Garmin? Or other?  Those both integrate with HealthKit. 

[peenoid]

The question is why wouldn't Fitbit take advantage of using a catch-all data dump where we (the end user) can see all the apps and devices we use, being integrated in an easy to see timeline/chart. 

I find that some of these tech startups focusing on health want to try and go it on your own, but at the cost of the user. The experience is the key. You guys are just messing up. 

To answer you question in another way, I think a HeathKit integration would involve seeing how all our health apps collelate and summerize our data in one app/spot (you guys do understand that a lot of users have more than one health-related app on their device -- we all don't just have Fitbits and run only your app... tho I can see why you would ideally want that).

No longer will I have to open each indidvidual app track my water intake in your app, track my steps in Breeze/RunKeeper, and track my sleep in SleepCycle. 

Ease of use.

You guys all frustrate me. I am deleting your app.