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.

[Clint]

Yep. Just voted.

When you guys were the only company on the market, you had an edge that could allow you this kind of wall building (premium plan to get OUR data, etc).  At this point my corner gas station has it's own smart tech pedometer.  I highly suggest you shift your direction on this (and a few other items) very soon.

[jesseb]

When is the integration with Apple Healthkit scheduled?  If it's not done soon, I will return my product and choose a provider that is more customer focused and determined to meet the needs and wants of the customer.

Healthkit will squarely place the control and access to individual data within the hands of the patient.  There is no more needing to write this information down as it will all be stored in one convenient place, alongside one's exercise history.

[yury]

I am very disappointed with that discussion Fitbit is making to not intrigrate with healthkit. I have the flex and the scale and have enjoyed using them but will give them a month to wake up and make the right discussion before I sell these products on kijij. P.S this is the first time I have ever posted on any product forum. Hope the second time I do it it will be to say Thank you and not Good Bye!

[yury]

Actually in coming to this post thead I've learned about so many other cool products from other companies...

[waltd1]

I will probably switch to another tracker so I can use the Health App.

---

@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!

---

[midnightdavid]

Wow. So many unhappy "Early Adopters" in this thread, myself included.

I started with a Fitbit Ultra (until it finally gave out), I replaced it with a Fitbit One (which is still working but as of yesterday, banished, likely permanently, to a dresser drawer).  A day or so ago I saw Withings updated their iPhone app to support HealthKit.  It was barely 2 hours until I drove to a store to buy their Pulse O2 tracker. It works great; their app is fine. All I really wanted to sync with the Apple Health app was my stepcount and it does that beautifully.

Fitbit: It has been a good run. You have my best wishes but I fear for your future.  It is inconceivable that you are months behind the curve in integrating with HealthKit. Your users will not tolerate this and I think any support you might add now will end up being too little, too late.  Your "Early Adopter" fans are not at all happy and they may not come back.  Ever.

I have a new tracker. Life goes on and I am happy.

[Bluejay]

Hello Fitbit Mods,

In an email today from Meylin P. of Fitbit; 

Thank you for getting back to us.

We would like you to know we have been reading the posts our customers write regarding the HealhKit feature. As mentioned in our previous emails, 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 so our engineering team is already working in some projects that we know you are going to enjoy.

Once again we really appreciate your feedback regarding this matter and please now that any feedback will be appreciated.

Do you want to give us any hint at these exciting projects?

[SunsetRunner]

Hello and goodbye FitBit. 

As a resut of your decision to not support Apple Health, I am now no longer a customer. Am extremely disappointed that you put locking in your customers data above the needs of your customers. The fact that this thread exists is evidence.

And while you were being defensive and trying to ride this out, the other company (which begins with a "J") looked at Apple Health as an opportunity. They released a free Health-compatible app that didn't require their bracelet. I tried it, liked it their software and ecosystem a lot, and so decided to buy their bracelet (begins with a "U").

It's too bad that you think you know better about what your customers need. And maybe one day you will learn, and then include support for Health. But till that happens, I will not wait with bated breath. Life's too short and frankly I don't care so much about the data I have created over the past 18 months - that's not good enough to keep me in your stagnant ecosystem. 

I have voted with my feet and have picked an alternative that's better aligned with my current needs. And I will not be recommending you any more to family and friends - in fact given the opportunity I will dissuade them from buying any of your products.

[Bluejay]

I have a still working fitbit One. I started with the original, before the Ultra.

For fitbit's sake when it is time for me to get a new tracker, that better have gotten this sorted.

[kerrymill]

I just discovered that Fitbit was not planning to sync with the Health app. (I came to the website just to discover when I would be able to see my footsteps reflected in the Health app.) I am stunned. The only thing I can imagine is some impending deal with another company, such as Samsung or Microsoft (see NFL: Surfaces on sidelines).

Fitbit don't be a nitbit, most Apple users are much more devoted to their iOS than to your devices. It's not too late to make a U-turn and announce support for the HealthKit API. If you don't make such an announcement soon, as word of mouth spreads, your sales are about to take a dive. At the very least, you owe your customers a real explanation for your lack of support, not some lame "we're looking into it" nonsense. I've owned three Fitbit devices--do I now own my last? I hope not...but it ain't looking good.

[JP_Bark]

I just realized fitbit does not even have widgets for iOS 8 either, but I am betting that android has them.... I hope fitbit adds HealthKit support soon but if not, it actually gives me a reason to get Apple watch... I bought mine and my wifes Fitbit flex just over a year ago, and both sets of parents the force last Christmas... I ya I have the scale to... I was happy with your ecosystem but now looking for a change.

[zz4cgk]

And with your non commital of ios8 Health integration, I will stop using your products. C'mon! You see it as a competing product! This would reduce your dashboard traffic significantly and you don't like it. That's your choice. Mine, is to stop using my Aria scale and Flex tracker.

[zapleahy]

@SunsetRunner @TDurbin Yes. For further clarification on my earlier comment, in the context of this conversation, the hub or "place" referred to was Apple's Health App.

@Bluejay Thanks for the additional information about where Fitbit currently fits into your daily routine, and for the feedback regarding forum statuses.

@all I'm starting to notice more comments stray off topic. In the spirit of furthering the conversation, specific information about how Fitbit fits into your current program and how you see an integration with HealthKit adding to that experience is insight we would find helpful. If you don't have something constructive to add to the conversation, a vote will do. Thank you for your cooperation.

[jbryant]

Bought a FitBit Flex today and the first thing I did was to try to get it to connect to iOS Health app. Then I found out that FitBit isn't offering that support. So tomorrow I'll be returning my FitBit. 😞

[Alacaeriel]

Alright, @zapleahy I use a Fitbit One, and Aria scales. I wear my One all night on my wrist to measure my sleep, due to a fatigue condition. I wear it all day to measure my steps as well, in an effort to get more fit. I also nap during the day, and measure that sleep, as well. I like that it is so easy to tell the fitbit One when you are going to sleep and when you wake up. So, I don't just use it to measure my steps, but also my sleeps both at night and during the day.

I weight myself with my Aria scales each morning, except when I am not at home. I know that due to my build, I have more body fat than some (I will never be built like a model), and that the BMI is supposed to be average and wasn't supposed to be released to the general public at all in the first place. However, my Aria scales have made it more obvious where my lean/fat line is, considering my weight itself doesn't change that much. It is the body fat percentage that I want to know. 

So, what would I like to see in the HealthKit first?

• Steps
• Sleep
• Weight + body fat percentage

Those are the main things I use. This is the information I want to keep. This is the information that I have provided to you, and I now want to be able to see in HealthKit. Is this possible? And how would the new products you claim Fitbit are working on help me, if you want to provide more attention to those than all the people who are clamouring for HealthKit integration?

[Markmcd]

So after waiting for a year for force update finally released to problems! Recalled by fitbit. So I imagine if they were to release HealthKit update it would be a failure anyways. They Can't seem to get right. Waiting for my new Garmin Vivosmart!!!

[kangaroo]

One does not require a MBA to figure out that the decision to not let Fitbit products talk to Apple's HealthKit will be viewed in history as the silliest corporate decision Fitbit has ever made. Customers who are impressed by your products are actually eagerly returning your products because of your short-sighted business decision.  I cannot believe that you didn't see this coming.

I just bought One and Aria yesterday and I had just assumed they will be able to talk to HealthKit. In fact, the very reason I bought your products NOW was because Apple released HealthKit on their new iOS8 some weeks ago, so I decided to get off the couch and start walking. I had made the incorrect assumption that the worlds most successful pedometer will talk to the worlds most popular smart phone. How ironic to find out that the very driving force of my purchasing decision process was a completely wrong assumption!

I will not return the Fitbit products that I have purchased, in the hope that Fitbit will reverse the decision very shortly. If they do not, then I will most likely move onto the next big thing within a year.

Sadly, the arrogance of Fitbit's company management is out in the open for everyone to see. I personally do not think Fitbit will last long as they have just signed their own death warrant by making this move. Under the current management my prediction is that Fitbit will be cast onto the technological scrap heap along with Palm Pilot, Iomega, Blackberry, Yahoo and countless others who also made short-sighted business decisions along the way to stunt their growth.  

Fitbit’s management really do need to read "Innovator's Dilemma" by Clayton Christiansen and act immediately, otherwise we won’t be using Fitbit products in the future anymore.

[mstfrzv]

I currently enter my weight and BMI info directly into iOS Health. Everyday. By hand. I will continue to do so until my Fitbit devices integrate with it or I offload/junk them (halfway there, returning my Aria). I can't believe why Fitbit refuses to remove this mild annoyance for me given how simple it would be for their app to talk with Healthkit. I'm a developer - trust me, I know.

I read a tweet from a Fitbit developer claiming that Fitbit has multiple meaningful integrations while Healthkit doesn't. Last I checked, Healthkit was in partership with Epic and the Mayo clinic. Various big health apps like Jawbone, Withings, CarrotFit and countless others work with it. Also, Apple's flagship product sold 15 gajillion units. Fitbit's gave their users rashes.

This is stupid. Why can't I be allowed to choose what health platforms work well for me. Why @Allison, why??

[team_vandelay]

I've very much enjoyed my fitbit flex for the last 15 months and have used it religously; however, if fitbit continues choosing not to integrate with Apple's Health Kit I will almost certainly migrate to a competitor's product that does.  Sorry, but Apple's market share is simply too large for fitbit to choose any other path.  I would be thrilled to see fitbit integrate with Health Kit (and quite frankly see it as inevitable for fitbit's survival). 

[NanoSotfr]

HealthKit integration please. People don't want to wait for months. are you kidding when you say that the integration is not in your plans? I think using another service now. While other manufacturers have updated quickly and not you.

[TiggsPanther]

@zapleahy Personsally, I log my steps and sleep. And as HealthKit supports those (and also pulls in different stats from another app I use) it makes sense for health to pull those in.

Although, to be honest, if you have to ask then you're really missing the point.

Anything FitBit can log that HealthKit can support should be an export option from your app to the Health app.

Also, seeing that health can share measurements with other apps, that would make sense, too.

Basically, "share the data".

As to how, who knows? Unless anyone else on this forum is an iOS app developer for a job or hobby, there won't be many people who have easy access to what healthKit can support or how it can be implemented. That's what your devs should be looking into. in fact, that's what your devs should have checked out as soon as healthKit was made avialable.

[SunsetRunner]

@zapleahy  I realize that we are wandering off topic... Blogs do that when people are upset.

I answered Fitbits question on page 29 but I shall repeat myself:

My medical provider uses MyChart (epic)... I am currently blessed with good health but I want my Doctor to be able to be able to see what I am doing... Steps, Sleep, weight, bodyfat, diet, heart rate, and blood pressure ( I don't currently have equipment for the last two) in case something does go wrong...

Real life Example: my roommate has Sleep Apnea , I got her a Fitbit specifically so she could "see" her sleep... Once she saw there was a pattern... She went to the Doctor... The neurologist blew her off because we only had a gadget as proof... Our normal Doctor believed us and kept pushing... Now that neurologist believes... But if we had had HealthKit linked to MyChart at the time we could have saved time and money... Mostly because we would not have had to validate our data source...

@zapleahy , I hope this helps explain my thoughts on the matter.

[kozlow]

I can't believe you haven't supported HealthKit from iOS8 day one. Are you suicidal?!?

[SunsetRunner]

So I love my Aria scale and my Flex.  The Flex actually replaced AppleTV as my go-to "Crap! I don't know what to get this person" gift.  The problem for me is that as great as these physical products are the iOS App...well...isn't.  It's buggy and unreliable.  It lacks features other apps have.  For me, it actually detracts from the overall user experience.  I've got this great device, but the native app I have to use with it kinda sucks.  

So allowing users to have their data shared with HealthKit(and for me I'd be most interested in steps, calories burned, sleep, weight, and body fat.  Maybe active minutes too) would let me have the best of both worlds.  I could have my great Fitbit products, and be able to use them with an app(s) that make up for where the Fitbit app is lacking.  Right now we aren't exactly locked into ONLY using the fitbit app, but it kind of takes a mishmash to get all the benefits of the various apps that Fitbit shares data with.  HealthKit integration would make much of this a lot more streamlined and certainly would make reviewing the information more centralized. 

I also think a side benefit would be that it might prompt Fitbit to improve their native app.  If HealthKit integration leads to a lot of people buying product(as they currently are) but using other apps, Fitbit might try to add some of the features of those other apps(like a functional food database with scanning that actually finds products) or fix exisitng issues(like MobileRun).  Or maybe Fitbit will focus just on making great hardware(which they clearly do well) and we'll use already exisiting software that competitiors and partners have. 

Anyway, that's why I'd like to share that kind of data with HealthKit.  To make it easier to make up for places where I feel like the Fitbit app is, in my opinion, ( annoyingly) lacking.

[yanhay]

I would love to sync my fitbit with Apple Health new app. 

Please make it available.

thank you.