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.

[Unbreaker]

Hi Rogues

I'm not sure that I agree with you.  I think fitbit might have been wise to not link with health kit right away but to hang back and "Wait and see".

Health kit, for starters, is crap... so far.  I downloaded it right away.  I used Argus and linked my fibit to Argus in order to get data into health kit.   I also use Lose it, to track calories.  In addition, I bought a little belt and carried my phone around with me all the time in order to "test" for my own lifestyle what it would be like to use apple watch and to have to be "tethered" to my phone.

The result - for me - and this was only an experiment of 1 - Health kit was useless.  It collects a lot of data but the data is not compliled and displayed in any sort of meaningful way.  And this is one of the huge problems of this age.  We collect all sorts of data from all sorts of places.  But data is only as meaningful as the analysis that's applied to it.  Health kit, so far doesn't do this and in truth, looking at steps or calories consumed - when you press on the data button gets you this totally meaningless laundry list.  It's useless. 

Meanwhile, fitbit is so way out in front with their dashboard.  It's easy to understand, provides really relevant information and also provides easy ways to enter dates and see what data I want to see, complied in ways that I want to see it.  For example, I can look at a whole year of material.  I can look from month to month and see what month I am most sedentary in a year of activity. 

Have a look at this article

http://www.macworld.com/article/2896397/opinion-apples-health-app-really-needs-a-redesign.html

(Sorry, I posted the wrong link to start with - corrected now.)

So, not linking with health kit - so far - I think, was the right decision.  You can always jump on board later.   Fitbit has done better, I think, linking with lose it to provide a really good take on both fitness and activity and food intake and I think both these programs are way out in front of health kit.

Secondly, it's really hard to tell right now how successful apple watch is going to be.  It doesn't have all day heart monitoring.   Won't hold a battery charge long enough to log your sleep, can't, therefore, really gage your resting heart rate.  The darn watch seems to do "all things" and so it actually does nothing well.  Having to be paired with your phone is a huge, huge drawback - I wore a belt and tried to carry my phone with me and it was the worst pain in the ass.   Stand alones are where it's at with data collected and then transfered.   And articles that I'm reading and polls from Reuters are saying that 69% of respondents are not planning on getting an apple watch.

So, I think this might be one of apple's big failures, moving into this health and well being market, whereas fitbit is way out in front at the moment, with devices that always get good reviews, and a dashboard that is truly out in front in its ability to compile that data in really meaningful ways... and that's where the real work is, in my opinon.   So, why give that up?  Wait and see.  You can always share later.   That's only my personal opinon but so far - health kit was/is a bust.... I downloaded right away, used it and it was mostly meaningless within my day to day life from a fitness perspective and from a dietary perspective, too.

If anything, if fitbit needs to expand, it should get more tiles and perhaps link to blood pressure monitors or glucose monitors for people who want/need that.   That would be a better step forward - linking to other health devices that people may use/need.  (The new dashboard with the heart monitoring tile is Primo!!)

[Unbreaker]

This is not a feature suggestion but rather a link/advertising suggestion.

At present, fitbit links with the app "Lose it" and lose it  is way, way out in front in collecting and displaying data for food intake - especially in relation to the fitbit data collected. 

I think fitbit needs to really promote and make people aware of this link because the linking of these two apps provides powerful tools.

I don't think enough people are aware of this relationship and in concert they work really, really well.   Track all your food in Lose it.   Track all your activity/exercise in Fitbit.  Together, you get the whole picture - it complete detail and expressed/displayed really well.

[Unbreaker]

To further this thought just a little bit, although I don't know if I'm placing it in the right place, fitbit is already way out in front in being able to show data and compile heath data in a super meaningful way - way better than health kit.

How does fitbit improve on this and really become the place for your over-all health and well being data.  Continue to improve and expand the wonderful dashboard!!!  Fitbit's dashboard is what genuinely sets is above, in my opinion, and this should be advertised more.  Apple promised this all encompassing way of looking at your health - fitbit, in fact, has already delived it, in my opinion, better than anyone else. 

What is it that really impacts health and well being?

1) Exercise - exercise has the biggest impact on health and well being and fitbit is the leader! It's devices are the best and it's compilation of data also the best.

2) Diet - fitbit links with "Lose it" and this should be highlighted, that relationship strengthened and advertised really well.

3) Drinking and smoking

Reducing your consumption of alcohol and smoking, improves your health.

Argus has tiles to monitor beer and wine intake.  This is a super great feature - fitbit should add it and advertise it.    I haven't seen a health app that incorporates smoking into an over-all health and well being app - maybe no one wants to touch it.

So, I think fibit could add to its dashboard some individual tiles that people can assign anything they want.   You name the tile, and the tile lets you decide the measurement.  ie) glass, oz, number, or item.    There could be several tiles that you add to your own dashboard, tiles that either help you to limit what you are consuming, or tiles that encourge you to consume the item (like the water tile already does)

In this way, Fitbit dashboard would become even more encompassing of your total health picture and is also very individual.  One person might want to meditate every day, or as often as possible.  Another might want to drink only 1 glass of wine per day, or a person who is quitting or reducing smoking might want to limit their number.  And what about soda??  Over half of all Americans drink at least one soda per day.

Being able to add some individual tiles to your board and then have analysis available over time would be great.   How many glasses per month are you drinking?  How many cigarettes are you smoking, per day, per week, per month, per year?  How many sodas?

Reducing intake of any of these things, even just slightly, has huge effect on health, over time - just as steps do.

[roguesfive]

@Unbreaker, you make good points.  Unfortunately the way I see it if these are really the reasons then Fitbit should come out and say it.  My issue with Fitbit is the lack of transparency.  I was under the impression they were a small company with good customer service.  Maybe I just had really high expectations.  However once I got the surge and joined the forum, I noticed their replies were usually vague.  It's the more vocal non-Fitbit member that reply.  And lots of Fanboys touting Fitbit.  But that's what Fanboys do (no negative feelings here)

If Fitbit believes Apple's Health Kit is unreliable and shouldn't be linked then so be it, tell your customers and they then can make an informed decision to keep/buy a Fitbit or return/not buy a Fitbit.  One could argue that by being vague you keep dangling the carrot in front and people hope and purchase.  Again look at the number of requests for this feature.  Fitbit says they are considering it.  Vague.  I'm not holding my breath.  I don't expect Fitbit to link to Apple's Health Kit.  I hope they eventually give a clear statement about it.    I already have a good picture of Fitbit in my head (it may not be accurate but it's based off my experiences).  The Surge is getting returned and I don't plan on buying any Fitbit products in the future for myself or my extended family members.  A couple of months ago, the plan was to buy 6 surges for our family.  We then decided the smartest thing to do was get one and see.  Now, there's only one Surge in the family, 4 other fitness trackers, and one still up in the air.  Sorry I completely digressed.

Also I'm not touting the Apple Watch.  I'm not planning on getting that.  I'm not even comparing the Surge to the Apple Watch.  I don't consider myself an Apple Fanboy.  I just happen to have an iPhone for better or worse so I look for things compatible with the iOS.  I'm simply basing Fitibit on it's own abilities (functions and compatibility). 

Sounds like you are happy with your Fitbit and it links to the apps  you want.  You're lucky.  But what if it didn't link to the apps you want (Lose It)...Still as happy?

Thanks for your response. My Surge is going back, I've made up my mind.

[Basalt]

Well Fitbit, you skipped on HealthKit. Which means you are sitting out ResearchKit.

http://isource.com/2015/03/09/apple-research-kit-apps/

As someone with Diabetes and Asthma, I'm joining these studies.

I have a fitness tracker that will work with these studies, it is not a fitbit, because, you are still waiting for it to mature. Funny how Massachusettes General Hospital and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai are not waiting.

Fitbit has to be concerned with how HealthKit and ResearchKit will effect profits.

Medical organizations have a more complex puzzle to figure out; health, safety, HIPA, malpractice, and some that have not even occured to me.

There are a number of hospitals that have decided to take a chance with HealthKit/ResearchKit.

Fitbit has lost my business, and the business of anyone entering any of these studies that does not have a tracker and will be getting one.

[CraigD]

@Unbreaker I see your points, but the biggest misconception about HealthKit is that it's supposed to be the be-all, end-all fitness/health app.  In reality, it's not supposed to be that at all, but rather an exchange protocol between different apps without having to develop the individual protocols.  For example, I get my steps and exercise from Fitbit, my BP data from iHealth, and my food intake from MFP into Health, and my clinic's EHR app could read that information and transfer it to my medical record.  I wouldn't have to link the Fitbit, iHealth, or MFP to each other or to Healow in any combination - Healthkit is the "clearing house."  In fact, if Fitbit DID participate in HealthKit, then the blood pressure and glucose information that you're advocating would be immediately available for consumption in the Fitbit app, rather than having Fitbit develop new hardware and/or information protocols with the existing devices out there. 

Does HealthKit need a better interface, and better control when two competing data sources are linked?  Yes.  Can Apple make it better?  Yes.  Are there improvements in the latest iOS version?  Yep - Apple is certainly interested in moving the platform forward, slowly but surely.

Will many of the Fitbit users who don't care about Healthkit be inconvenienced if Fitbit were to support integration with Healthkit tomorrow?  Absolutely not - assuming that they don't take away any functionality.  Is Fitbit losing business because they don't integrate with Healthkit?  According to some posts, the answer is yes.  But only Fitbit can decide if the potential for lost business outweights the cost of integrating with Healthkit.

For me, Healthkit integration isn't a make-or-break feature.  I own a couple of different trackers from different companies, and even with Healthkit integration, they're sitting unworn in a drawer because I find Fitbit's software, community, and overall user experience to be superior to Polar, Garmin, and a few others that I've tried and returned.  Fitbit links to my employer's "health promotion" site, and I get credit for the steps and exercise without having to input anything manually.  Overall, I'm very happy with Fitbit.  But in the future, if there's a platform that approaches the current Fitbit standard PLUS offers Healthkit integration, I will seriously consider that for my next replacement/upgrade.

It is also interesting to me that there is already partial integration with Healthkit - you can download the Fitbit app and use the motion tracking capabilities of the iPhone itself in place of a Force or One, which is what I did when my Force bit the dust and my One got lost in the snow.  Implementing the rest of the integration shouldn't, IMHO, be that hard, considering that Healthkit works good enough to get information into the Fitbit app when a tracker goes MIA, or as a "try and see" approach to drive tracker sales.

For what it's worth,

-Craig

[maxdane]

+1 for integration of fitbit data to iOS HealthKit.

[Unbreaker]

@ Rogues - totally personally,  the lack of transparancy doesn't bother me.  All this technology is in its infancy, all the apps to either connect to the technology, collect data, or analyse or display the data is also new.  So, if two companies have had some sort of falling out, the reasons why don't interest me much.  (Very self centered, I know).  What matters to me is my own day to day experience - what devices and apps do I need to get the job done, and can I rely on them over time.  

So much is going to change in the upcoming years, if fitbit doesn't like apple or apple doesn't like fitbit, neither side benefits from making that public, especially if it closes the door to future work that they "might" want or perhaps even "need" to do together.

[Unbreaker]

@ Craig D.  I do hear and undestand what you are saying and I think your points are well considered and carry weight.

That said, I think my main problem is with the apple presentations - which are very good and slick - but promise and offer much more than is actually delivered.

Health kit stands as example of this.  If you back to the September presentation, it was presented as exactly that - "the b-all and end all, app" - the place where all your data would come together in the most meaningful way!  And falling for the promises made in this presentation - I got it right away - went through all the bugs of data being wrong, links entering data twice, math being simply incorrect - and once most of the bugs were worked out, found that it was completely useless to me for compiling or viewing data. The specialized apps I had, like fitbit and lose it, did everything that I needed and wanted and Health Kit served... for me at any rate, zero purpose in my life.

And this is where I think Apple is a bit sneaky - as the potential "repository" of all health data - the hub where apps access data or deposit data - yes, it can serve a purpose - but the real work, the important work (much of which fitbit has already done, in my opinion, and is way ahead of the rest) is with the anaylisis of the data and how that data should be presented in a truly meaningful way.   To me, this is where the real work, creativity and time consuming labour has to go in.  So, this health kit, in my mind, lets Apple sort of ride on the backs of others and cop all the credit without investing or doing much of the work.

2) With regard to apple's great ability to present to the public - look at the launch of the Apple Watch.  The presentation again, makes the watch seem like it's the B-all and end-all of for your health and fitness needs - coupling heart monitoring with acceloremeter to give you this "total and complete" picture of your day.  It "knows when you are standing, sitting, exercising... blah blah.  But the TRUTH is that it is a lessor fitness monitor than others.  It does not have all day heart tracking - yet the presentation completely implies otherwise, in my opinon.   The presentation implies that all of these sensors are "working in concert", ALL the time, to provide a comprehensive picture.  This is simply, not the truth.  It is, in fact, misleading.

 People brand new to trackers will be fooled - I think.  People will think, "Gee, it does everything the Surge, for example, does... and more"... but this is not so.  (It has heart sensors - but they are only engaged when you specifically track a workout - and when they are engaged it's going to completely drain your battery in no time - so, basically, you can hardly use them).  This is no comprehesive picture of you day.  Not at all.

Now that I've slammed Apple, and I actually have no dislike for them, and I own an iphone 6 and think it's great, my complaint is that their health and fitness presentations imply more than their new products and apps deliver - or can deliver - certainly at this moment.   Paradoxically, however, I think Fitbit needs to get more Apple-like in their presentations and advertising!   When you read reviews on fitness devices not enough is made of how ultimately imporant the dashboard is and how it's the dashboard - the place where all this data is displayed - is what genuinely provides meaning, day to day, month to month, and year to year, to the user.   

It was great speaking with you,

[roguesfive]

@ Unbreaker, 

Let me also clarify.  I don't care about the relationship between Apple and Fitbit.  I don't care if they make it public.  That's not the transparency I'm talking about.   I want Fitbit come and say "we plan to implement and we're working on it.  It may take time" or "We don't plan to, (don't hold your breath type of thing)."  Instead, it's "that's interesting let me think about it."  Maybe they are actually thinking about it.  Then let us know something a little more concrete still.

Absolutely, your daily personal experience...which it sounds like for you is positive.  For me not so much.  For example I don't care that it links to the apps you use and you don't care about it not linking to the apps I use.  I'm not saying the Surge isn't for everyone.  It's not for me.  I'm the tech guy in my extended family so it means it's not for my family either.  The lack of linking to apps is just one small reason why I'm unhappy.  There are other reasons.  In the end the hardware was not up to par for me.  I've already exchanged it once.  The lack of transparency to various questions didn't help matters.  But if the hardware was good, I would have made allowances for that.  I've actually really tried to like the Surge.

[roguesfive]

@ Unbreaker,

   Sorry I didn't talk about your other statement.  I agree Apple is misleading.  I also agree that the Apple Watch is not like the Surge.  Again, I've never been comparing the Surge to Apple.  I'm also NOT going to by an Apple Watch.  I'm looking at other fitness trackers.  I'm also realizing that wrist based HR are not that accurate so that's not even one of my reasons for not like the Surge.  It works well sometimes but not all the time.  I also agree that the Fitbit dashboard is great!!  Another reason I tried to like it.  At some one I wanted to get the Fitbit scale as well because the dashboard was so great. 

I've really just become leary of all claims being made by fitness trackers.  I don't agree with you though about how Fitbit should be more like Apple in marketing/misdirection.  Be honest and have a good product.  That's what I wish for

[Opivali]

Good points, but to me it is not a show you meaning app. To me it is a get
your information where you want or need it app. The only problem I see is
data detail is missing. That is were apps like Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, etc.
come into play they are focused on that. Mind you I think they could all do
better. I want to see the correlations between the data. Short, mid, and
long term analysis

Michael D. Kester (U.S.N. Ret.)

[Unbreaker]

@ Rogues. My writing was very poor.  Let me clarify.

I do not think that fitbit should emulate being misleading.  However, Apple is a good promoter.  This is what fitbit should emulate.  (minus the misleading part) LOL.

[Unbreaker]

@ Rogues - 

1) So, what apps do you wish to link with - clearly this has been a problem for you.

2) I'm assuming when you speak of hardware, you are saying the device you have simply does not function well enough for you, or does not do the things you want it to do.  Can you be more specific about this?  (This is probably the wrong place for this discussion - within Health kit linkage - or not - or other app linkage - or not) but you put it out there.

3) Yes, you are correct.  I'm delighted with the Surge.  I think it's a great leap forward and I'm actually very impressed.  And yes, I am also a past fitbit user - for a long time, in fact, because I had an "ultra" which isn't even made now, upgraded to the "One", using it and finding it pretty handy.  Then, I seriously considered switching (when Apple announced Health Kit in September, prompting me to do experiments of my own, even though I now actually have years of data with fibit).  

What is not apparent when you first start using a tracker like fitbit, is how genuinely useful long term data is - because most people are, in fact, focused on what happens and what they do today, this week, this month and next. 

** Note - In addition, quite a long time ago now, I added a really good Garmin watch because I wanted the ability to monitor "more" than just steps and miles.  For me.... wearing a heart strap is a total and complete pain in the ass.   Long term, I have used the watch very little even though it's a technically good piece of equipment.   So, heart monitoring from the wrist, although perhaps not perfected yet, is the way of the future and I believe that fitbit is still the leader in this technology - although I also believe that future generations will see further improvement.

[LMCTheBoss]

+1 It will be great

[Abbey29]

I'm going to add my vote with a short message. PLEASE SUPPORT APPLE'S HEALTH APP! Not doing so is beginning to alienate your current fans (me included) and push me towards other products.

[gutsma]

"10/8: We do not currently have plans to integrate with HealthKit.

It is an interesting new platform and we will watch as it matures, looking for opportunities to improve the Fitbit experience. At the moment, we’re working on other exciting projects that we think will be valuable to users. The question we want you to keep in mind when providing feedback is: What do you imagine a HealthKit integration would entail and what do you expect to get out of it?

Your voices are being heard. We're actively reviewing your responses and providing feedback to our product development team."

Dear FitBit:

We are approaching 6 months since this post.  93 pages of comments and 1270 positive votes requesting your products sync to Apple's HealthKit.  What more do you need?  You think we will find your exciting new products valuable?  The products you are putting out are certainly nice, but they are not all they can be for your apple users.  They are not valuable to apple users.  

It has become clear FitBit's management plan does not include a sincere interest in the thoughts and feelings of your customers.  That is painfully obvious from reading these posts from people disclosing medical issues and how this would benefit them.  Early on a moderator would come forth and thank the poster for sharing.  

We don't even get that any longer.  The last mod comment only came after s/he was baited to comment.  We all saw it for what it was. The moderators were called out and they magically appeared.  We were assured our comments are being read and passed along.  What we weren't told, but can certainly read between the lines is that management doesn't care one iota what we want and request.  Management doesn't care a fig what reasons we have for finding a HealthKit integration wothwhile and beneficial.  

Perhaps what FitBit management is really waiting for is the apple watch release.  I would think it's targeting a different demographic from fitbit, but there will certainly be some overlap.  It will be well worth the $350 to get an apple watch, sync with HealthKit, and write my fitbit years off for what they were.  Fitbit helped get me up and moving.  For that I am grateful.  

For what it is/was fitbit is a very nice product.  It no longer meets my needs.  I keep popping in hoping to see a decision to sync has been made.  I'll continue checking periodically until I get my apple watch.

[drtaxsacto]

Let me be very clear.   I have used a fitbit for the last four years.  I have gone through several models and I have gotten friends and family to purchase Fitbits.   But if Fitbit continues to delay introduction of integration of Fitbit into the health app - I will join several others on this list and change to another product which is integrated.

I understand the couple of delay or dodge comments from the company.   But even without the Apple Watch - the Healthkit promises to be a major part of medical research and medical information for both the health community and individuals.  It is already present on the iPhone. Based on conversations with some on the development team it is likely to extend beyond the iOS.   If you don't think that is important then I will make my decision based on that lack of vision.

[Aalok]

I have been a long time user of Fitbit but have stopped using it since last 6 months as it won't integrate with Apple Health. I use Nike and Noom instead. Hope they will integrate it soon as they are loosing users everyday for such a funny decision. Not sure, what they are thinking as no users crave options.

[Aalok]

Fitbit was a nice tech to track but it seems to be loosing out on the evolution of tech. Hope they ride with the wave.

[Aalok]

They are loosing users everyday. Hope they integrate sooner than later.

[dtherio]

I would guess that Fitbit feels the HealthKit is a competing product and is afraid of what integration would mean. From my perspective, integrating with HealthKit helps their customers better manage their health. However, NOT integrating will be the downfall of Fitbit. All of their major competitors have had HealthKit integration for months. It sounds like all the positive strides Fitbit has made over the past year or so (a far cry from the days of hiding any posts that even hinted at a problem) will be for naught. Get ready for the end of Fitbit if they stay this anti-customer course.

[dtherio]

I agree with PCH (as I'm sure others have posted the same idea), give an honest review of the Fitbit products on the App Store, Amazon, etc. making sure you mention the la k of HealthKit integration and the lack of support from the company. I was looking at purchasing their weight scale. That is not an option anymore for me. I'm going elsewhere for this type of tech.

[tweety22]

I would very much like to see Fitbit integrate with Apple's Health Kit.  I've been using the charge since the end of January, and all my other apps seamlessly integrated (Map My Fitness and My Fitness Pal).  I'm not going to get rid of Fitbit, nor am I going to get rid of my other apps.  Seriously do not understand why it is taking you guys so long to get moving on this.  94 pages of comments really do warrant a response, especially since you have NOT said anything since October!  

[Mikey1234]

Come on people let's get a clue. They're not going to support healthkit until it hits them in their sales. Help that happen fast by supporting products that do want apple users as customers!!!