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.

[yomikie]

I posted on here previously as to why I wanted integration, was thanked but nothing changed. I've been using Fitbit daily for years and you know what, I'm done! I mentioned that having a closed system when they have been so open to working with other apps is a bad sign for me. So I just got myself a vivofit. I already use Garmin for GPS tracking while running, now I'm using them for steps as well. They do integration with myfitness pal and HealthKit so that's a solution for me. 

I know I'm just one customer but I've also been an advocate for years and you have lost my business. I suggest anyone vote with your wallet, they clearly don't care about our opinions. The pocketbook is the only way they'll listen. So that said, goodbye Fitbit, it was good while it lasted. 

[charmag]

HealthKit integration is a critical link for us Mac users.   Please make Fitbit work the way IOS intends for health data tools to work.  

[ChrisCA]

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by charmag 56m ago

HealthKit integration is a critical link for us Mac users. Please make Fitbit work the way IOS intends for health data tools to work.

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Why?

Healthkit has nothing to do with Mac/PCs. It is iOS 8 only.

[Jeff_59]

I would like to vote for iOS 8 Health APP integration well.  Face it, I would bet that a significan portion of your user base is Apple centric.  Blending the IOS App with HealthKit would make you stand out in that market. 

[StationeryX]

I have a Fitbit Flex which is connected to Endomondo for activity and MyFitnessPal for diet; both of those link to the Apple Health app and each other which leads to a duplication data. If Fitbit connected to Health it would allow me to track everything because I could disconnect the other two and just let them talk to each other. I think. I've confused myself now, but at the moment I'm having to either delete entries or enter them manually. 

[tnova]

This is by FAR the most requested feature.  Why is fitbit anti-apple?  major limit to it's usefulness, who want to have ANOTHER app to deal with.  The less integrated the less likely it will get used and a more robust option will replace it.  People want ease and integration that's what the iPhone is all about.  Fitbit is being stubborn,  87 pages of support for a feature others have and they ignore their users!!  Clear sign they are not about the users.  Other companies would jump all over such support otherwise it's lost. 

[missnancy123]

When will I be able to link the fitbit flex to iOS 8 healthkit???????? I am seriously considering switching to the jawbone because it is already integrated. I have also had issues with battery charging and functions with my fitbit 2x and I've only had it since Aug. 2014. Sooooo you will probably lose me soon if you do not make fitbit flex more iOS friendly.

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[mrchristianwebb]

Definitely think Fitbit should incporate with HealthKit. Allows for a smoother transition between health and fitness apps for a smoother and better integration.

[TheNycci]

People who manage the apps for Fitbit. Please support intigration with Apple's Health App. I think this would be a very smart move for Fitbit.

[kazshak]

I find the dashboard in the Apple Health App very useful, and would really like to see integration with my fitbit app.  I use the following dashoard items: calories burned, steps walked, flights climbed, weight, carbohydrates consumed, dietary calories consumed, protein consumed, total fat consumed, deitary cholesterol consumed, active calories, and walking and running distance.

[ras0710]

I think Fitbit should integrate with Healthkit or improve their own mobile app to keep pace with the metrics and insights offered in Basis and Jawbone's apps.

[Joedak76]

I am adding my vote for a Fitbit fixfit with the Apple Health App. I love the Charge I got for Christmas and this is a logical step on a long-term strategy for your company.

[maurice74]

I would like to see steps, miles etc transfered to the ios health app

[Basalt]

I've can't even remember the last time one of the Moderators graced us with their presence on this topic.

Just an observation.

[Basalt]

Actually looked for it. Alison was the last Mod to comment, back on 12-11-2014, in five days it will be a month.

[zapleahy]

We are continuing to evaluate the platform and have not made any final decisions yet. Certainly understand how frustrating this might be--especially to those who have had this topic top of mind for a good long time now--but there are other areas of product development that our teams are focusing on at the moment. Rest assured, there is a lot of interest in this feature internally and we are continuing to parse out the most helpful customer commentary to guide our decisions.

@MommaZak0814 @vseltd @simon_mc @LKW_DVM2010 @frapilu @Youlunda1 

@kristina3150  @mrchristianwebb @kazshak @Joedak76 @maurice74 Thanks for voicing your support for an integration with HealthKit, and for the additional detail you've included in your commentary.

@r1200gsa @Boomer_22 No substantial updates to share with you at this time. Please do subscribe to the thread to receive the latest news. Any announcements related to this feature would be prominent enough to be posted to our blog, as well.

@jgorter @Eagledragon921 @Maraphoto @missnancy123 Appreciate your feedback! As new participants in the discussion, I did want to point out that some community members have brought to our attention 3 new iOS apps that can sync Fitbit data to Apple's health app: Sync Solver, Wristband Manager, RunGap. I know this isn't exactly what you're looking for, but it might be a suitable interim solution for you.

@Basalt Sounds like you missed me?! I've been tagging along, but a little quiet for the holidays. Sorry I couldn't bring you better news today. Regarding the mobile community experience, you may be happy to know that while we're a bit limited by the platform today, we are looking forward to improvements in 2015, and will take the visibility of the Vote button into consideration. Certain features and functionality do not translate well to mobile and will not be replicated in all instances, but voting is a core feature of the Ideas boards, so you can always expect it to be an option for mobile visitors.

@lovebugswtp Glad you followed the pointer from @FitbitSupport. Thanks for joining the community to vote and share opinions on the subject. This is the best forum for making your opinions visible to our product development teams.

@3rdCoast Thanks for the tip! For anyone who missed it, one of the 3rd party apps linking Fitbit to Apple Health is Sync Solver, and they have created a Fitbit group for users of their product to provide input on their experience.

Edit: fixed formatting

[ChrisCA]

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by Basalt 6 hours ago
I've can't even remember the last time one of the Moderators graced us with their presence on this topic.

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So they can simply get beat up by posting, "Nothing to see here folks. Post your comments and move along please"?

If there was any news, likely they would post something.

[Basalt]

@ChrisCA I actually appreciate @zapleahy 's summaries.

I think users who got fitbits for the holidaies might want to see that they are not talking to thin air. They just joined this fray after getting a new device and they are asking for integration and seeing no response, it does not make a good first impression.

Saying nothing in this case is not the best idea. 

[macjunkie]

Here's another vote for HealthKit integration!  

[TiggsPanther]

The hell with it. I have now ordered a Withings Pulse Ox. Between a low price and Christmas vouchers, I am paying £40 after discounts. And I get something that works with my choice of personal setup.

I've been a happy FitBit user for a couple of years up until now. But I have an iPhone and like the Health App and don't want to be forced to have to rely on a third-party sync solution that doesn't support all of the device's APIs when the official app really should do all of that and should have integrated it last year.

My loyalty is to my own equipment and doing this my own way. FitBit's "other areas of product development" don't interest me in the slightest. Right now, the only extra feature I need from any health gadget it to feed into my phone's health data repository.

And a company too shortsighted to offer that to it's users is no longer worth supporting. And only being short of money at the end of last year stopped me doing this long ago.

[Philmike]

My Family Doctors currently use an online booking system called "PatientAccess" this not only allows you book appointments but request repeat prescriptions etc.

The other great feature is it allows (if you give permission) the Apple Health App to connect to it.. This allows your Doctor or Consultant to view you progress and records. It also allows information the other way, (needs to be setup with your Doctor etc.).

My Doctor explained this is the way the NHS are going forward. Although they will allow some companies like Apple to connect the number of companies will be limited.

I have unfortunately have been unwell over the last few months and this has helped both my Doctor / Consultant and I no end.

Currently I have to use another app “Sync Solver” to get FitBit to connect to the Apple App which is a little backwards.

So come on Fitbit please sort out access to Apple’s health App,

[spitf1r3]

Ok, so what are you "considering" now?

Isn't it clear enough for you that people want to own their data and use HealthKit?

If you business model is to keep your customers away from their data, their next choice will probably be a product from someone who won't be cutting them off from their data for their own money.

I've bought the Aria scale, but won't buy anything else from you, until you let me re-use the data from the product I paid for.

[TiggsPanther]

Dear Fitbit,

I have a suggestion of how best to evaluate possible HealthKit integration.

1. Buy a Withings Pulse Ox
2. Set up Withings HealthMate on your iPhone
3. Pair your Pulse with your iPhone
4. Get HealthMate to share with health app
5. See how it syncs
6. Do likewise

Seriously. In less than an hour, iIhave discovered that it syncs data exactly how I wanted it to, and exactly how I would expect any iOS heath-based app to share data with HealthKit

Integrate or lose more users, as they (like me) realise that there are alternatives out there that aready do exactly what they (we) want. You do not have any other options. Fully integrated devices already exist.

Regards,

An ex-Fitbit user

[Jeremy-j]

Please support integration with Apple's Health Kit. For people who have iOS devices, this integration is key to making the purchase of a FitBit a smart decision. As I am evaluating activity trackers, if it doesn't have this feature it's going to be ruled out. Make a smart business decision and give the people what they want.

[Krea_Frobro747]

I've owned a Fitbit product for almost a year and have been mostly pleased with the experience and benefits.  The controversial decision by Fitbit to not integrate with Apple's HealthKit did not come to my attention until recently when I purchased Fitbits for family members only to find out they were disappointed and frustrated with it. I ended up having to return the trackers.  I feel the same frustration with the lack of integration now that I am using iOS 8.  And, while I am willing to use a third-party app (such as Sync Solver) in the short-term, the family members I bought the trackers for would not.  Upon reading the announcement yesterday that the Surge and ChargeHR are now available, I thought that maybe the company would have also released HealthKit integration.  Reaching out via Twitter, I found out that is not the case.  Admittedly, I've concluded that the Fitbit device is no longer for me and am looking to select a different tracker.

The lack of HealthKit integration in the user experience is enough to make me look for different product, but after reading more about the issue it's clear to me that Fitbit has made a critical error.  Their stance of 'we're consider it / watching HealthKit carefully' might have been acceptable for not releasing the integration concurrent with the iOS 8 release, but to maintain the stance now is remarkable.  They should have long reversed course, admitted they were wrong, released an apology to Fitbit users who have iPhones, and provided users with HealthKit integration.  These responses would have won loyalty from customers.  They would demonstrate that Fitbit is an agile, responsive company worthy of the support of customers. 

I do not know what happened behind the scenes with Apple, but Fitbit's inaction for months on this is not in the best interest of Fitbit users who have iOS devices.  And, it's defintely not what those users want.  

Yes, without HealthKit integration I would (and am) be looking for another device, but discovering more how this has been handled and Fitbit's continued stubborn posture, I will likely actively promote that friends, family and colleagues not choose Fitbit.

No longer a Fitbit fan,

Joseph in Korea