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.

[zapleahy]

@streetyking @johndawson @dochjm Thanks for adding your voice and sharing your story.

@trbob @SunsetRunner @TeRRyZx @D702 @brkrunner Appreciate the input.

@amgaffen @a3photo Thanks for stopping by to add your vote.

@Bluejay We're tuned in. Thanks for sharing your wishlist. I've never seen that water balloon trick before; does the One register steps from bouncing around inside the balloon? 

[Bluejay]

@zapleahy The One's accelrometers still work. The altimeter doesn't work right when in the balloon. The balloon fits so tight it doesn't bounce around and it still fits in the clip. Since water balloon are supposed to keep water in, they also keep water out.

[brkrunner]

I'm a devoted Apple user. I hope they adopt this technology.

John

[bbarrera]

I reluctantly tried Wristband Manager today, really didn't want to insert another 3rd party between Fitbit and Health but no real choice. I am successfully feeding Aria weigh-ins to MyFitnessPal (MFP), and MFP sends weight to Health app.

Wristband Manager worked great, loved seeing all those hard earned steps over last year show up in Health, integrated with bike rides and other cardio tracked in apps that work with heart rate monitor (real weakness of Fitbit at this time).

So happy I almost re-enabled Fitbit app using iPhone 5s as tracker (sigh, my Force was sent back 6 weeks ago). But I didn't do it, no more Fitbit tracking for me until the day HealthKit is supported. Until then I'll keep using Argus for feeding step counts to Health app. Will probably give the new Jawbone Up app (iPhone 5s tracker version) a try soon and see how it stacks up to Argus. 

Sad really, Fitbit app and web dashboard are nice. I'd prefer to continue using Fitbit for basic movement, and have it integrate into Health so I have a single view of all activities (biking, swimming, etc).

[WikidlyInapt]

I totally vote for healthkit integration. I make sure healthkit is up to date with all my other apps and I completely support fit bits integration.  If fitbit wanted to be at the forefront of fitness they should definitely implement this

[mgwebb]

I am not surprised at Apple putting FitBit aside.  It hasn't been very impressive, at least with the Flex.  If you believe my Flex, this sedentary old guy racks up over 20,000 steps a day, even though I spend most of my time typing on my laptop.  Apple surely has higher standards than that!

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@scottnwdw wrote:

I totally agree with the original post.  I too use several other apps, all of which have integrated with the Apple Health App.  I have been a loyal Fitbit user since the Ultra, having gone through 2 of them and have been with the Fitbit One for almost 2 years now.  I also got the Aria scale when it first came out. I also use MyFitnessPal, and iHealth Blood Pressure Monitor, all of which integrate with the Apple Health. 

I recently saw the Withings Pulse O2 at a Best Buy and was intrigued by it, and after looking into their app I see even it integrates with Apple Health.  I was putting off getting the PulseO2, but now that I hear Fitbit won't be supporting Apple Health I may just have to jump the fitbit ship and move on to another product.  The Apple Watch may be pretty , but I can't justify the cost.  

I would rather have devices that sync with a dashboard type app like Apple Health without having to do a lot of manual entries.  I was almost there with Tactio Health, which fitbit does integrate well with, but that app does not work with nutrition. On top of that everytime they update their app (frequently) it seems that the syncing capability breaks down.  

Aside from entering my fitbit data manually I have been very happy with the Apple Health App. Although I love my fitbit, it may be time to move on to a product that will work in conjunction and play nicely with other apps.  I know several other people that were also looking forward to their fitbits syncing to the Health App. The idea of having your fitness, nutrition, vitals etc all in one place was pretty cool. These people are also upset at this decision.  

Whomever is steering this decision to not support Apple's Health app, looks to me like you should remember the Titanic, because your steering straight into the iceberg and this decision could possibly sink your ship.  

Please reconsider this decision before I go out and spend the money on the Withings device(s). 

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[Craig]

@Fitbit   have we just closed the door on healthvault? Please you folks should work for secret service or CIA as no one tells anything and really you started a great thing with Healthvault then appear to have abandoned it.  @EmilyEL , @EmersonFitbit or @zapleahy anyone please. Everytime it is brought up it is like fitbit prays we will forget and go away. 😞

[Mleposky]

Integrate! Anything to better support good health habits is positive!

[Billberryjuice]

is anyone else having an issue where Health is continuing to chalk up M7/M8 steps on top of those synced by Wristband Manager, effectively double counting? I've changed step input priority to WM but it's still doing it, I'm having to repeatedly delete all my phone's step data just to get Health to show my steps accurately.

[AlbDusty]

Yeah, I have that issue. The developer should read the Health App steps before syncing and add just the difference.

[Mikey1234]

@Billberryjuice @AlbDusty I don't have wrist manager but this is what I had to do with withings.

Assuming you have the new 8.1 update

Go into privacy settings and turn off all programs in the Motion Activity.

go into health steps and click on share data.  Make sure Wrist Manager is listed first.  If it is not click on each item that is above it and hit the edit key, and then clear all data.  Do the same thing with walking and running distance.

Wrist manager should then only report what is being reported directly from fitbit.  On withings this procedure gets rid of all data except that posted by withings.  The data from the phone is actually still being posted, but it is not counted!!

Hope this works for you.

[AlbDusty]

Mikey1234: thanks! I didn't even notice the clear all button on the top left after pressing edit. Clearing the data gets rid of the iPhone entry in share data.

[AlbDusty]

The iPhone steps still show up. So I have to clear them every time. This is also Apple's fault, because they do not allow disabling the iPhone as a step counter. So devs have to make a bit of math to figure out how many steps to push to the Health app.

[Mikey1234]

@AlbDusty I mentioned that it would continue to record steps, but on the withings each time it syncs it will only show the withings steps on the graph.

[BlazeEBlake]

I've been seeing several articles saying Fitbit won't integrate because 

1) HealthKit would make their software/mobile ecosystem fall apart 

2) The new Surge device would be in direct competition with the Apple Watch. 

The thing is, in terms of the first reason, I see Healthkit as a way to collect everything in one place. That doesn't mean the end of Fitbit's app and desktop, it just means that it would help to feed into the larger picture. At this very moment, I still have to log my food into MFP, and I still go to the standalone UP app I've been using to look at helpful tips, how close I am to my current step and sleep goals, and to see how my food choices are rated. If Fitbit continues to have a great and usefull app (or improves upon what is already great), then people won't just toss it aside.

As far as the Surge goes, I wouldn't throw Fitbit over just to have an Apple Watch. For one thing, Apple's device will have a shorter charge and be more fragile than a Fitbit device because it is a smartwatch whereas Fitbit is made for fitness and would probably handle that kind of activity better. And then there's the issue of price. I might be in the majority, but $350 is pretty steep for me, so if fitbit can offer what I need at a lesser price, then that's where I'm headed/staying.

Bottom line, none of these reasons seem good enough to pass up on HealthKit. 

Come on Fitbit! You guys were looking real good and now this has made things look so ugly. I mean, 63 pages, 803 votes and nothing? Not even a final "Declined" status? Stop all the dangling and tell us what you're going to do. You can't be all that indecisive. Are you just waiting for the release of your new device in the hopes that people will buy some more stuff before you lower the boom and give the final word on (not) integrating? 

[Karell]

@albdusty:
"The iPhone steps still show up. So I have to clear them every time. This is also Apple's fault, because they do not allow disabling the iPhone as a step counter. So devs have to make a bit of math to figure out how many steps to push to the Health app."

That's actually not true. In the Health app, you have the ability to re-order your data sources. Tap 'Edit' and drag your iPhone source below your preferred data source, then tap 'Done'. It won't keep the iPhone data unless the sources above it fail or lack data.

Hope this helps!

[TechGeek]

I'd also really like to see my Fitbit integrated into HealthKit. I carry my iPhone in my purse. Unlike my Fitbit, it's not in my hand or pocket for every step I take, and I expect the Apple watch to be too big for me. I want to continue wearing my Fitbit and have its data (steps, stairs, exercise, calories burned, calories eaten, etc.) imported into HealthKit. (The FitBit app can remain on my iPhone too.) There could be a HealthKit preference setting to choose Fitbit data over iPhone data for steps, stairs, etc. Then HealthKit app can also store data about my meds, my allergies, my family history and more. To some degree, I just like having it all in one place, but the possibilities for integrating Fitbit data with other information are fairly limitless. Imagine a cross training workout where my exercise bike overrides my steps during the period of time I'm on it, automatically entering my cying data instead, but when I jump off and move to the treadmill, my Fitbit steps start counting again. If I were diabetic and using an iPhone accessory to monitor my blood sugar, I might want a chart tracking the correlation between my activity, my weight and my blood sugar. Since the Fitbit knows what time I'm taking steps, maybe Healthkit might use that info to indicate when I've been sitting too long so that it might (with a preference setting) suggest I get up and walk around. I'm sure there will be many ideas.  I just think it makes sense to have a single app collecting health info. Fitbit is a great product and should be on board.

[yomikie]

You asked what I want out of HealthKit integration. What I want is one repository where I can get an easy view of all of my health statistics... which is exactly what it is. LoseIt was the closest that I've come so far since I use it for calorie tracking (which ties to FitBit) but it does a poor job at tracking other exercise statistics which I have to manually enter. Having my daily steps missing from HealtKit is a massive piece. I've loved my fitbit but HealthKit is something I've been looking for for a while now and if you aren't on board, then it's time for me to move on. Both the Pulse O2 and the Vivo fit support it. 

And if you think that whatever watch you are planning is going to be the game changer, I have ZERO plans on getting any watches, not yours, not apple's, not any.

[Northbuddy]

@BlazeEBlake: Well said.

The concept of Apple Health is exactly the "great picture" while the apps can use the data to make health consultancy. Fitbit could be both. Deliver the good tracking + health consultation. For my use case Apple Health is not against Fitbit but together. If Fitbit refuses this - so Withings does not and they offer similar trackers and scales..... (sorry to say that). And as I use the Withings Blood Pressure device already.....

The FitBit Surge is of no use for me. If I wanted a sports watch I would have bought one already. I love my tracker weared in my pants and not at my wrist. I love to have a nice chronograph at my wrist so, but hate the "sport watch" look the surge will have. I might look out for the Apple Watch due to hearthrate tracking and MUCH more possiblities to come beside sport functionality. But the FitBit Surge.... no option for me.

So for me, I would love to go on with my FitBit tracker and scale. But if Fitbit doesn't like to integrate with Apple Health....

[DeeDub22]

Let people use your products however they want to use it. You're not selling the FitBit app, you're selling devices. Health is simply an aggregator of data.

[RedHeadedTexan]

Fitbit needs to add integration with Apple's Healthkit and not wait around. I have used Fitbit for several years and like it. I would hate to be forced into choosing a different product or approach in order to ensure that I can have integration with Apple's Healthkit. But there are other solutions out there that are adding integration with Apple's Healthkit and are good trackers as well for steps, sleep, weight, etc. Each of the various apps and devices have their strengths so many of us use more than one.

If My Fitness Pal can do it (which I also use), then FitBit can do it. And My Fitness Pal works on different mobile device platforms as well. It is not a purely Apple mobile device application. 

[BlazeEBlake]

@Northbuddy  Thanks

I just wish we would hear from someone. I know some people are giving them until the holiday season but I don't want to wait that long. I'm looking to buy at month's end (if not sooner) and by the way things are moving it appears that we'll still be nowhere with integration. That said, there's a (sad? naive? stupid?) part of me that hopes that the new devices will be released soon and they'll finally get with the program. I've even considered caving and buying Wristband Manager along with a Fitbit device but who's to say that Fitbit won't shut that down? Also, it really sucks to have to buy a work-around app when integration isn't a difficult or crazy concept for this company to get on board with.

@zapleahy @RickyFitbit any changes? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

*Sigh* This feels a little like shouting into a pillow....

[Mikey1234]

The only way fitbit will ever learn from this mistake is for everyone to move on to another product.  I've already had them delete all of my information, and they were kind enough to do so.

[kleeberg]

I also want this to integrate with HealthKit.  I am a patient at Mayo Clinic and I want my weight, exercise and sleep information to be shared with my providers.  (I will also be looking for a bluetooth BP monitor to sync as well)  If fitbit does not do it, I will be dumping it for one that does.  I am an active 61 year old who will soon need a kidney transplantation.  Having them aware of my health is imperitive.

[SunsetRunner]

Can we please have a definitive reply from FitBit regarding integration, yes or no.