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.

[WebeeLLC]

Not you. That's not what I was meaning.


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[alcarcalimo2364]

I have to say, I was shocked when I got my Charge HR this week and there was no HealthKit integration. I would have never have bought it had I realized this. So far, I really love the Fitbit app, but I want to see all of my health information in one place. I have a ton of health related apps all integrating with iOS Health, and I don't understand why Fitbit would not be one of them. I really don't understand the business logic behind it. If it is because you are worried about competition from Apple because of the Apple Watch, this is a poor decision. I still bought a Charge HR in spite of the Apple Watch. Basically, you are hurting your consumer for nothing. How is adding a feature to your product going to hurt your business? Integrate with the kit, or I'll be moving on to a new company next time I make a tracker purchase.

[PKDaba]

@alcarcalimo2364, I was in your same shoes when I purchased my ChargeHR back in January. We'll never know the truth why Fitbit has taken the path it's chosen as it's not a very transparent company. When the first Fitbit products came out, Apple Stores happily sold their products. The iOS user base (me included) was quite happy with Fitbit's hardware and app. Once Fitbit decided not to play along with HealthKit, Apple stopped selling all Fitbit products from their stores. Fitbit in all likelihood entered a contractual agreement with (I'm guessing) Microsoft as those two seem to be playing along nicely (i.e. Microsoft's health vault does get updated).

What's troublesome is that Fitbit doesn't have the integrity to let iOS users know what their plans are. Even the current packaging of their products deceitfully claim to be compatible with iOS. Yet, HealthKit is an integral and important part of iOS that does not get updated. It's not a technical issue as many other fitness tracking companies are able to work with HealthKit.

It's a little comical that this critical iOS feature request of integrating with Apple HealthKit has been "under consideration" for the last 16 months and counting. Yet, you still hear responses from Fitbit to the effect of 'Hey, that's a great idea! Let me pass it on to our engineers and see what they have to say!' when clients contact Fitbit's support line about this issue. Are they acting dumb? Or do they think that iOS users are?

Does Fitbit have good hardware? Yes. Does it have a good app? Fairly decent, although recently they've removed key logging features that users have been used to in their web app. Does Fitbit respect its customer base, the iOS one in particular? Flat out NO! A company that does not serve its user base does not deserve the same respect in return. 

I've abandoned the Fitbit ship back in June when I got my Apple Watch. My own personal experience with the Apple Watch is quite a good one. It's motivated me to run more often and for longer distances than I've envisioned myself doing. I may not know 1000 users who may or may not be happy with it. But, of the people whom I know own one, their experience with the Apple Watch has been a positive one. We actually have fun comparing our motivation goal rings (only Apple Watch users will understand this one).

For those users missing the logging capabilities of Fitbit's web app, you should check out the comprehensive data that iOS Health App tracks, all in the palm of your hand. It's a shame that Fitbit won't play along. Now that Apple Watch OS2 is out, it'll just be a matter of time when more innovative fitness and health tracking apps are available (including sleep tracking), running natively on the watch itself. You would not be able to do this with a ChargeHR.

If you're an iOS user, I'd recommend investing in products that do play along with HealthKit. There are more and more available in this highly competitive market. As it stands, with no movement on Fitbit's end, Fitbit products are pretty much in a dead end (iOS wise) as far as I'm concerned.

If you're reading this because you recently purchased a Fitbit product expecting it to update HealthKit, I would return it while you can. They've had a looooooong time to consider this feature request. Other than empty words and empty shows of concern, not much has happened to satisfy iOS users. Fitbit will not be open to tell you why this is so. Of course they could prove me wrong on this. But, even if they do, I would not be coming back onboard. I'm very happy with my Apple Watch.

[Darss]

Return it while you can.

[deidram]

Bravo! Well said. I also abandoned FitBit. I gave away my Fitbit Charge
when I got an Apple Watch. Too bad I loved the Fitbit web integration but
the Apple Watch goal rings are better personal feedback.

Deidra

[Joped]

You have lost me as a user.  I was a long time user and supporter of Fitbit but that is now over.  

HealthKit has been around for over a year and many apps now integrate with it.  By saying you have no plans to support it, is keeping your head in the sand.

I am an iOS developer who has added integration with it.  I am hear to tell you that it is ridicilously simple to add.

Looking at the vast number of people asking for support, it's very clear you aren't looking out for your customers interests.

I am moving on to other products that do support HealthKit.  There is strong competition out there, fitbit isn't the only game in town.  You will be left in the dust if you don't deliver what your customers want.

[WebeeLLC]

I totally agree.


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[iwatts]

I actually feel sorry for the moderators on this forum. Genuinely. They are caught between a rock and a hard place. They have obviously been gagged, knowing that any official "No" would see people leave in droves, so they have to keep it "under consideration" when we all know it isn't. They are caught between a rock and a hard place. Us and their bosses. It's a typical management top down approach that stinks for the customers who don't get the best and the moderators who can't tell us the truth. Fitbit management should be ashamed of themselves.

[Hirvox]

Given how long you have decided to not to make a decision on this feature
request, I've ordered a competitor's product. When it arrives next week I
doubt that my Fitbit will see any use afterwards.

[Victoriamomsy]

I've been following this thread for months and months and nothing has
changed. Fitbit is playing us and I resent it. I bought the Surge
specifically so that I could download to HealthKit and even asked the
person at Best Buy if it was compatible. Because the box said it was iOS
friendly, he said yes. I should have taken it back when I discovered it
wasn't but liked it a lot. Now, because of significant health issues, not
being able to download to HealthKit is a definite issue. Since Fitbit is
not budging, I will... to one of its competitors and I tell everyone I know
about this saga. Very disappointing that it doesn't work with HealthKit and
even more so that this company has been so dishonest with its customers.

[LMCTheBoss]

I can't wait more. I buy an Apple Watch and now i'm going to sell my Fitbit HR.

Enviado desde mi iPhone

[Tripps]

Someone else said this before and I think they had it right. I don't think they're not adding the HealthKit because they flat out refuse. I think they're not adding the HealthKit because they're contractually obligated not to. They won't come out and say it because they don't want to lose customers from the mass exodus. They would rather keep us hoping the money flowing in. They make money on current customers by selling your health data. They do this after scrubbing it for personally identifiable information (PII) so it can't be tracked back to you. It's in their privacy agreement.

So for me the question is: Is their contractual obligation indefinite or just for a (hopefully short) period of time?

[barryuk]

I have an iPhone 6 Plus and an Apple Watch, which I am now using a great deal, and particularly the Health App. I have used Fitbit and the Aria scales for several years and would like to continue using both devices, but I am puzzled as to why the data cannot be absorbed  from Fitbit into the Health App. I ask that this be placed under consideration since the data of users' is their own and if they wish it to be used with another device this should be possible. Thank you

[PKDaba]

@barryuk, this feature has been under consideration for 16+ months. How much longer do you think Fitbit needs to decide on implementing it, continuing to deceive iOS users while they keep considering it?

Also, Fitbit does not believe that you own your data. This is evident from their unwillingness to update HealthKit.

@Victoriamomsy and other iOS users who felt deceived by Fitbit. I'd recommend writing a truthful review on sites like Amazon, Bestbuy, etc. Hopefully, doing this will help future iOS users know how Fitbit treats its customers.

[barryuk]

In reply to PKDaba

I was only aware that the Fitbit application would not integrate with Heathkit yesterday, so I was unaware of the 16 month+ issue.

I feel that Fitbit should be given the chance to rectify the issue because, as I said earlier, it is our data. It is hardly rocket science to link and, as I am sure you know, there are several apps available to get around this issue anyway.

This issue not that important and the remedy will be quite simply. I will simply cease to buy and use Fitbit products and only purchase items that will link into Healthkit. I will certainly take Victoria's advice and include this deficiency in reviews on Amazon etc.

---

@so-rich wrote:

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!

---

[netdog]

They aren’t going to rectify it. Apple, who surely knows what FitBit’s thinking is, removed them from the Apple Store. I am sure that wasn’t a decision taken lightly, but let’s be frank: FitBit’s claim to be iOS compatible is misleading if seen in the best of light.

[gutsma]

FitBit believes they HAVE rectified the situation.  They just lack the INTESTINAL FORTITUDE to provide an honest answer.  

It is clear there was a decision months ago (or should I say over a YEAR AGO) they had no intention of integrating with HealthKit.  

I suspect this business decision has a financial bottom line, which is of course fine and dandy.  I further suspect it has something to do with generated data.  

I could agree to disagree with corporate decisions, IF they had been forthcoming at any juncture.  They have chosen a route of dishonesty.  

I am now a happy Apple Watch owner who stops in here periodically to check if FitBit is still as transparent as mud on this issue.

[ineedamac]

This is not likely to happen. Fitbit either does not want to integrate or can't integrate based on contractual reasons. It is not a technical issue. Alas, I still have my Fitbit. I wear it everyday. I wish they would integrate. For now I will have to wait until I'm able to buy the Apple Watch.

[WebeeLLC]

Pretty much. I am just waiting for Apple Watch version two. Then I'll just
move
on.


Justin Weathersbee Owner WeathersbeeConsulting.net
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[earth2jo]

Over 1 year & 1,600 votes later and still no Healthkit integration, it's obvious Fitbit doesn't care about what their users actually want here.

I've been using Syncsolver as a workaround as it links some of the data and today that stopped working. According to Syncsolver's twitter:

"Fitbit made a change to their API, which currently does not allow Syncsolver to sync data. We will have the issue corrected ASAP."

If Fitbit doesn't want to deal with Healthkit themselves, at least they can approve a partner API for Syncsolver and let them do this for the users instead!

[xtremetoonz]

I'm happy to announce I will probably unsubscribe from this thread as my wife solved my Fitbit Healthkit "problem"! She got me an Apple Watch for my birthday! So now (listen up here, Fitbit) instead of paying Fitbit for their product and leveraging the HealthKit, I'm using the HealthKit with my Apple Watch and simply sending my data to the Fitbit app to socialize with my Fitbit friends.

Fitbit 0

Apple 1

Goodbye Fitbit

[PKDaba]

As much as people would like to think that we own the data we generate, as soon as you let Fitbit have it, they can pretty much do whatever they want with it. Seeing that it's not a very transparent company, I would not trust Fitbit with MY data. Fitbit is basically corralling your data to monetize it for their own benefit. It's evident that they don't care about YOU.

For those iOS users who have felt totally deceived and abandoned by Fitbit, I'd recommend not only stop purchasing their products but also stop sending them your valued health data. Remember, Fitbit will continue to make money from your data. Yet they continue to ignore your requests for HealthKit integration.

[Joped]

Wow breaking syncsolver is really bad news.  I am very happy that I made the decision last week to switch away from all Fitbit products.

I have already convinced 2 people to buy a different scale and I will continue to do so.  It's very clear Fitbit wants to dictate what you do with your personal data.

Fitbit is not considering anything, they have made an internal decision to not allow 3rd party apps to access a users data.  They don't care what users want, they won't change their mind.  They are just stringing users along with the hope it will be one day added.

There is a lot of speculation they won't allow it because the data is being sold.  I have a huge problem with that theory.  Refusing to support HealthKit is evidence of that.  Apple would never tolerate it.

Vote with your wallet, don't purchase anything from them ever again.  There is a lot of competition in this space, Fitbit is very short sighted on this decision.

[gmair99]

One more user who would like to see integration to apples health app. It could not be that hard when the $50.00 lifetrak watch actully writes data to the apple step count which is agreat feature for those times that you do not have your phone when walking or running.

And stop with the asinine excuses about evaluating etc. Your user community is not that stupid !!

[Tripps]

At this point, I think that if they could they would. I think they're contractually obligated not to. Anything else would just be cutting off their nose to spite their face.