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.

[asrose]

My Charge HR has fairly active heart rates. Is there any program that will synch that data also to Apple Health?

[SunsetRunner]

@skooter210

I do use syncsolver, but it misses the heart rate data as it's not currently available in their API's.   Their documentation says it will be available but that's been at least 6 months and stil no api.  The point is that it should be integrated into the fitbit app why must it come from a third party app?

[iwatts]

No one seems to have explained from Fitbit why they have not integrated with healthkit. It seems a no brainer. To say we are watching to see how it develops is ridicolous when you already have integration with Windows health app, which is far newer. It sounds like a marketing thing. I know in response Apple have removed Fitbit devices from their stores, so there seems to be a bit of a war  going on. 1300 votes is a lot to ignore though.

[gutsma]

I can't help but wonder how many of those 1300 votes have already or will leave fitbit due to the company's handling of this.  The lack of transparency coupled with carot dangling have frustrated and angered previously contented and loyal customers.  

A little honesty would have gone a long way.  For me, even if by some miracle fitbit were to sync with HealthKit tomorrow, I would not return.  My reason is because the company has shown its ugly underbelly and I no longer choose to support it.

Before anyone mentions corporate shenanigans in other companies, they've not treated ME as disrespectfully as fitbit.  

It is disrespectful to ask for input through voting and commenting only to disregard both.  It is disrespectful to provide reasons that are inaccurate and/or deceitful.  It is disrespectful to encourage apple customers PURCHASE an app as a partial workaround.  

[kev585]

I'm fairly amazed by the response this still gets. I love my fitbit and would love to see this feature. Was 10/8 the last official response on this? I'm still holding hope

[Mikey1234]

I'm amazed why any apple user would continue to use a Fitbit. I threw mine away so they couldn't collect health data on anyone else.

[kev585]

I would think fitbit would want more data, Health is a two land road. Use Health to collect data from other sources, such as competitor products, at the end of the day everyone wins.

[asrose]

The recent response that I received from Fitbit was that they will see how the development of the Apple Health app proceeds and they ask for input as to what users want. Basically, I just want All my Charge HR data to synch to Health. The impression that the user is left with is that it can be done but Fitbit just doesn't want to for some undisclosed reason.

I ordered an Apple Watch as a solution. I will miss competing with friends that use Fitbit but I expect Health will have something comparable soon.

The risk to Fitbit is that they will become irrelevant.

[deidram]

Thanks!

[deidram]

Good on you! Personally I think that the people posting here are a drop in
the bucket compared to the number of total buyers. Too bad. FB won't be
integrating with Health IMHO. I like what the Charge HR does and don't have
any issues with its data but it sure is ugly and clunky. You have to give
them credit--they haven't shut this discussion down yet. There sure has
been some strong opinions expressed here.

[deidram]

I hadn't considered the importance of having your data in one place. Good
luck with your tracking.

[iwatts]

What alternative trackers do everything that Fitbit does and integrate with health kit. I can't afford an apple I watch.

[gutsma]

Individuals get shut down, not the entire discussion.  The last time a mod popped in we were told they continue monitoring the comments here and share with their upline (developers?).  

I urged many people to go with fitbit over the years.  I've made purchases for extended family to encourage them getting up and moving a little.  I don't regret doing these things because I do believe fitbit had a good product.  Needless to say, those days are long over.  

We'll never know the impact this decision has had on fitbit sales.  They are marketing in many venues now.  IPhone users will become quickly disillusioned once they see their spiffy new purchase won't work with their other spiffy purchase.  Which will go - the phone or the tracker?    

@Bluejay2 - It's nice seeing you again!  I feel TPTB do not comprehend how insulting this has been and how deep the feelings lie.

[SunsetRunner]

So I'm looking at the Activity Pop as an alternative but it does lack the
heart rate monitoring but offers the HealthKit integration via their native
app.

What other viable choices are there? I can't pickup an apple watch as it
won't do sleep monitoring.

What do others recommend?

[Basalt]

I'm using a Jawbone Move UP. It does not do Heart Rate. It's big brothers UP3 and UP4 do. UP4 does a digital wallet with AmEx (release date TBD).

Sent from my  iPhone.

[Basalt]

Jawbones integration is not perfect, but they are at least willing to get into the game. They have an app for those that have no tracker at all so you can see how the app works.

They have the best IFTTT integration so you can port over you Fitbit or Misfit tracker data to Jawbone and see it in the great Jawbone up. Which might give you a backdoor into Health Kit for free.

[Basalt]

The Jawbone UP bands (but not the Move) have an idle alert, that Fitbit has had under consideration for, like, forever.

The Jawbone Smart Coach looks at your activity and if it sees you beating your goal, gives you an option to accept a new daily goal of more steps. They are called Today I Will.

[drtaxsacto]

Here is what FITBIT said a year ago - "At Fitbit, our mission is to help people lead healthier, more active lives, so we’re always looking for ways that our users can use their data to support their fitness goals. For the past few years, we’ve been the leader in developing direct partnerships through our open API with hundreds of the most popular health apps, wellness programs, incentive systems, and other services that have enabled our users to make the most of their Fitbit products and data. Because of this commitment to connect with other applications, HealthKit is really interesting to us. Since its announcement, we’ve been evaluating integration with HealthKit as more of its features and benefits are revealed. "   But it turns out that is not really true..   On 10/8 you said we will not integrate. (We do not currently have plans to integrate with HealthKit.)   And since then you have been silent.  Active consideration means active response.   On this thread someone suggested that the way to get the attention of Fitbit is to quit buying their products.  I've been a Fitbit user for four years. I have recommended it to several members of my family and to lots of friends.   When my Apple Watch arrives I will say goodbye.   The essential health related data of the Apple Healthkit is important and gives me a chance not only to measure my own steps/stairs/and other features but to contribute to medical research and to begin to meaningfully compare myself to others.

I may still use a tracker outside of my phone but I will not use a product which so cavalierly ignores the requests of such a large number of consumers.

[Basalt]

@drtaxsacto

Great job digging up that early statement.

I still have this suspicion that Fitbit's reluctantance to embrace Health Kit, has to do with some incompitibility between Fitbit business/data use plan and Apple's Health Kits TOS.

But Fitbit is not being open and honest with us, so I can't buy or recommend their products any longer.

[Basalt]

Here is an outdated article that still has a good point to make.

http://www.domusweb.it/en/design/2012/11/28/fitness-by-design.html

"Yet as such devices become a part of everyday life, a new challenge emerges: the Balkanisation of health data across multiple platforms."

We want our data to to not be locked into the Fitbit silo, we want it free to play with the data of our other devices.

But I currently doubt we are being paid attention to any more.

[Opivali]

I think it also has to do with that too.

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

[Basalt]

Until Fitbit says why they have not integrated, we are left with one major suspicion: agreeing to Apple's TOS will decrease their ability to profit from our data.

We have heard every stalling tactic, but no honest statements, about why they have not taken steps that many see as a no brainer.

[Basalt]

@zapleahy, until Sync Solver has Partner access to the API, it is half messure fix, to this FitBerry fumble.

https://www.fitbit.com/forums/topic/JP8YZD9SFQZ5G/17

[Iwone]

Just got the new Charge HR and it won't sync with my Health App on iPhone 6+. Would like one place to track all my progress which I prefer to be the health app since it connects to other apps such as MapMyRide. When will Fitbit app be updated? May return it again (returned 1 due to recall and it burning my skin while the other I bought fell off my wrist due to the clasp not staying on tight. Thought I'd give the new Charge HR a try since it has a buckle but now find it doesn't work with the health app) ...very inconvenient...may return and just get the new Apple Watch.

[gutsma]

As of October, there are no plans to sync with HealthKit.  FitBit claims to be monitoring the HealthKit as it "grows", but few consumers believe it.  Supposedly they are also monitoring comments here.  If you believe that, I have some gorgeous ocean front property located in Gary, Indiana I'm willing to part with.....