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.

[RickyFitbit]

I like @EmersonFitbit 's response to this. 

I would like to remind everyone that the community is here so you can share your thoughts and ideas. We want to make sure that everyone can share them without offending other users, so let's keep it respectful yeah? 

I know this is a hot topic for some users and I hope that everyone knows that those who make these really big decisions are thinking this through. Once we have more information, we'll definitely make sure it is shared with everyone.  

Thanks for all of the feedback! 

[Bluejay]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsU48t48ueY

[SunsetRunner]

I am an iOS8 user and would like the FitBit inegrated with Apple's new Health App.  I am a huge FitBit fas, as well as iOS Health fan - it would be great if these could be integrated.

[Eibi]

Problem solved....

Wristband!!!!

[rshim]

Does waistband require your Fitbit credentials to pull the data?

[rshim]

Err, sorry, does wristband require your Fitbit credentials?

[JP_Bark]

Yes, email and password

[SunriseRun220]

Geez incredibly lame name post set up You need to get with the program and connect w iPhone health. Yourfitbit has too many flaws and keeps getting worse

[r1200gsa]

In the nearly 2 weeks that you posted  "10/8: We do not currently have plans to integrate with HealthKit."

Have y'all come to decision?  

Please provide for intergartion to HealthKit.

[hagarpun]

Why Fitbit doesn't want to team up with Apple? Fitbit isn't eager to team up with Apple, because many popular apps -- including MyFitnessPal, MapMyRun, Walgreen's Balance Rewards, and Microsoft's HealthVault -- already pull data from its trackers. Fitbit's main app is a full-featured dashboard for tracking daily activity and connecting with friends. In other words, the company has already constructed a mobile health ecosystem on its own, which would fall apart if HealthKit lures away those allies. Fitbit's app would also seem redundant if all of its health data appeared on Apple's Health app. If that happens, Fitbit could be reduced to a single fitness tracker without a mobile health ecosystem. Moreover, it would fragment its user base among iOS, Android, and Windows Phone users, since HealthKit only runs on iOS 8. Apple's upcoming Apple Watch, which is due to arrive next year, is also a dangerous competitor. The $350 device will offer the same health tracking features as the Fitbit Flex, plus a heart rate monitor -- a critical next-generation feature that Fitbit's bands lack. Meanwhile, the cost for manufacturing a fitness band such as the Flex is plunging -- Xiaomi recently released its $13 Mi Band in China, which offers similar features to a $100 Fitbit Flex. Faced with competition at both ends of the market, Fitbit needs to either launch more smartwatch-like trackers to compete against the Apple Watch or drop its price to counter the rise of cheaper fitness bands. Neither scenario suggests the company should join forces with Apple.

[Richardgb]

I have been using a fitbit force since it was released. I also use Apple products from an iPhone to macs. One of the great things about fitbit was the ability to use that on iOS. The news that you are refusing to update to HealthKit is astounding to me. I am ready to upgrade my device to what looks like the fitbit charge hr or the surge from what the blogs state will be released soon. My decision is all pending on whether you will integrate with HealthKit or not. If not then I will simply get the Apple watch or jawbone up24. I really cannot understand why you would not update this as to me this would only be a greater incentive to use your devices. I work as a personal trainer and we are all shocked that you won't be integrating fitbit. I hope you change your minds or I guess I will shop elsewhere. I am a very loyal consumer but this really does not make sense thank you for reading this

[JP_Bark]

@hagarpun So it is better to piss off 1/3-1/2 of you current users and not support any new features in the new version of that OS. It is already segmented with no challenges on windows and widgets on android. You make the argument that the market is getting crowded, but when 1/3-1/2 of your iOS users change to a new tracker because you do not support the new devices (iPhone 6 is not supported to sync with a tracker) and OS (no HealthKit no widgets) how does that help you fight off everyone? No one is saying they join forces just coexist

[Wasabibutler]

Bought a flex specifically to integrate with HealthKit and now fitbit says they're not going to integrate. Going to return the fitbit soon if they do not get it integrated and then rather buy a jawbone. Very disappointed.

[Dizlem]

While the lack of HealthKit integration is I agree not great there is a super simple fix ....

Connect Fitbit to MyFitnessPal which is integrated to healthkit and simply passes the steps and and other data from Fitbit straight through to Healthkit.

As an added bonus the food logging capabilities and database (including UK database) of MyFitnessPal are a world above anything that FitBit's app offers anyway.

[Alacaeriel]

Does MyFitnessPal really put your steps into HealthKit? I haven't found that, despite me having MyFitnessPal linked with HealthKit, and my Fitbit linked with MyFitnessPal. 

Oh, and Fitbit food database hasn't covered Australia yet, either. How shortsighted of them, hey?

[SunsetRunner]

Please integrate the aria scales with HealthKit otherwise they are not of do much use to me. It is painful to have to try and sync through intermediates that support health kit.

[Bluejay]

MFP does not add you steps. Wrist Manager will do it. But not % body, flights, or sleep. But they said they will look into adding it.

[jeremyj]

OK Fitbit - I purchased the Wristband Manager for my iPhone and it pulled in my Flex steps, and Aria scale data into Health.  I had to pay $1.99 to get this needed functionality.  Your decision to not integrate into the Health app drives me to the conclusion that I will probably not purchase another fitbit product when looking for new health hardware.

This is my last entry for this thread, and I will now close this page and move on with my life - good luck fitbit I think your going to need it....

[rshim]

@hagarpun 

Those might be valid reasons for not wanting to integrate with Health, but the fact is that Health is here and many apps and companies are integrating with it. To avoid doing so in order to Health becoming the defacto dashboard is exactly as effective as sticking one's head in the sand to avoid danger....it's not effective. The environment has changed. HealthKit is here. Pretending it doesn't exist is not going to counter any threats that it may or may not pose.

Instead, a savy business would find a way to ride that wave. Maybe by ensuring their app(s) stay better than what Health can provide. Health is a very high level view of aggredate data. Fitbit can provide much better and more detailed infomation in their apps, whether the integrate or not. Avoiding integration does not help them at all in that regard. In fact it can be to their detriment, as Fitbit would also lose the data they could pull in from Health that would allow them to provide even better detailed views. Further, they can continue to provide premium reporting that Health does not offer and, again, they can make their existing premium reports even more robust and complete by pulling in data from Health.

Another possible tactic would be to offer a la carte add-ons instead of only the single annual Premium service. Perhaps just reports for $2/month, or just data exports for $1/month or $10/year. Maybe extra logs for $3/month or $30/year. These are all ways to perhaps bring in extra recurring revenue, regardless of Health integration. 

There are ways Fitbit can thrive in a world with Heath App, Google Fit and MS HeathVault. In fact Fitbit must find ways to thrive in this world. The current strategy or pretending they don't exist is not a viable long term strategy and has in fact now alienated and upset a large portion of their userbase and a major partner.

[Dizlem]

UPDATE:  As has been pointed out below it seems that MFP does not update steps but rather the iPhone itself has been secretly (didn't realise it was enabled) counting them and they've been very similar to the FitBit step numbers.

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I use a Fitbit Flex which syncs to Fitbit and the latest MFP app (it shows steps on home bar as 'Fitbit steps' under summary above nutrient details).  MFP is then linked to the HealthKit app

You then tell MFP to share with Healthkit.  Then you have to go to Healthkit into sources and allow MFP to write to Healthkit (somewhat laborious process from Apple).  I enabled them all but I think the one it is being written through is 'Workouts' at the bottom.  You then have to go to health data and find steps and enable it to appear on your dashboard.  I have 'Steps', 'Walking + Running Distance' and 'Active Calories' populatedon through and on my dashboard.

MFP is free so no additional money spent whatsoever.  Note - healthkit doesn't appear to backdate so only new data is pulled.

Screenshot of steps and other info from my FitBit Flex displayed in Healthkit:

   

[Dizlem]

@SleepingBarber - My Aria Scales weight does come through to Healthkit when linked through MyFitnessPal.

[Dizlem]

@Bluejay Looks like MFP does not actually do steps and distance but it does do weight from Fitbit into healthkit but no % body fat or sleep as I don't think MFP pulls that data across from Fitbit.

[Mikey1234]

@Dizlem MyFitnessPal is NOT bringing over your fitbit steps.  It is bringing over your Iphone's steps.  Don't believe me?  Leave your phone on a table and go walking with your fitbit.

[Dizlem]

@Mikey1234  - Gah .... it seems you are indeed correct they are so similar to the Fitbit steps I hadn't even noticed and because I didn't think the iPhone 5S was capable of the step counting.

However I can confirm the step count is slightly lower as I do put my phone down from time to time evidently.  I can also see in the steps source - no MFP in there

I can get back to being mildly annoyed about lack of Healthkit integration now ...

[Mikey1234]

@Dizlem LOL at going back to being mildly ignored.  It was easier for me to notice because I never workout with my iphone on me.  I would go walk for for 5 miles, and the MyFitnessPal sync would show less than 100 steps on apple health.