Lock Touchscreen to Clockface

[Thob86]

I'm finding over the course of the day and while sleeping my Surge's touchscreen becomes switched from the watch face to one of the other screens. It would be very helpful if there was an ability to hold down one of the physical buttons to lock the touchscreen on the watch face and repeat to unlock. This would prevent accidental navigation away from the watch face. Please consider adding this functionality in a future firmware update. Thank you.

Moderator Edit: 

The latest Surge firmware update added a function which reverts Surge to its clock screen after 15 seconds. Some users would prefer to continuously view another data tile, such as Steps, Heart Rate, or Distance. This is no longer possible for more than 15 seconds outside of starting an Exercise log.

This existing Feature Request represents a good solution to the issue, and I encourage anyone who might be interested in this new feature to vote or comment in this thread.

[demon803]

the FB post can disappear pretty quick when others are posting, but I am tweeting daily and posting daily, I want my screens back the way they were.

I also posted a review on target as that is where I purchased my surge

[AZEducator]

I am really getting tired of getting the email from my computer saying the battery is low but not getting an indicator on the watch screen.  You can make everything go back to the watch but you can't put a battery indicator there.  I have had it with this piece of junk.  Have mentioned this in fb, tweeted and on amazon where I purchased it.  So what did I pay $250, a GPS that kills the battery in 5 hours????

[Michael]

@AZEducator If you don't like the battery low email notifications, why don't you turn them off?

There is a battery low indicator with the current firmware on the Surge, the mostly empty battery will appear on the clock screen when the battery is low. (But I think that indicates ~1 day of non-GPS battery life remaining which should be about 1 hour of GPS usage.) I think Fitbit has the battery low email set to be sent earlier than the notification on the Surge itself since the email can only be sent after a sync and some people only sync once a day, if even that often. (So the email goes out very early, when there is ~2 days of non-GPS battery life left to give people plenty of time to plan for when they are going to charge their Surge.)

And from everything I have read the battery lasts closer to 8 hours with GPS mode on, which is very good for a small wrist worn GPS device. (I have never used the GPS for more than an hour at a time.)

[AZEducator]

I do like the battery low indicator, it is the only way I know the battery is low without constantly pushing the left button, but I want it to show on the clock.  If I am getting an email saying it is low, then the clock should say it is low.  They should use the same low indicator set point.  I see the watch face all the time I am not always on my email.  Also their estimates are not right, at least not will all the stuff I use as I am always having to switch off the clock face to monitor something. There is no exercise mode for monitoring flights.   I have the back light set on everytime you touch it since I can't read the face unless the backlight is on.  It is WAY too dark.  So without using GPS I only get about 3 days of battery life.  I have actually had the battery die about 6 hours after the email.  So really, how much time will I have if I actually get the indicator on the clock face?  The two indicators should be in sync.  GPS for 8 hours, really, when I use it  for 4 hours, I am getting the low email.  My morning walks about about 1.5  to 2 hours, then if I do an afternoon walk... 

[feehowell]

My battery low shows up on the watch after the email warning. 

I use the GPS about 1 to 2 hours every day and my watch can last up to 6 days. One thing I do is put it on charge when I have a shower. It still shows a progress on the calories burned. Must be based on an average. This helps the battery last just a little bit longer.

[twatson4936]

I would love to be able to lock the screen. I am trying to train my body to beat white coat syndrome. I lilke to watch my heartrate as I try different ideas to relax my body. Its annoying when the screen keeps going back to the watch. 

[Desh]

An intermediate solution would be to allow the user to see their favourite fitness stat (steps, HR, etc) right on the home screen. Here is one example:

If you like the idea, please vote here: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Requests/Steps-amp-Heart-Rate-on-Home-Screen/idi-p/850416

[mwkimmel]

I hate, I hate, I hate that they changed it. I used to be able to monitor my hr closely; now I monitor the time. At least ask us if we want it changed and not force it on us.

[mwkimmel]

I bought the chargeHR for the clock and HR functionality. But, fitbit thought it would be a good idea to have the display timeout and turn off and require action to turn it back on like clicking a button or double tapping the screen. I returned it immediately. Then, I paid a lot extra for the Surge. I got my clock and my HR functionality. Yay! But then, fitbit thought it would be a good idea to implement a timeout for all functions and reset the screen to the clock (after my return period is over). What? No! I bought it so I can monitor my HR while I exercise. Not to swipe every time I want to see my HR. I paid for a function and fitbit took it away without asking if I wanted it gone. Fix this now, or I want a refund.

[ralucam]

Hey Fitbit, is it possible to organize a hackathon where we could use come and prototype different versions? The lack of a setting to see lock the HR (or any screen) is very annoying and I don't know how to get around it.

[Aardon]

I still get notifications for this thread and it still drives me crazy. Not the change, I love the change. It was my Number 1 requested feature. I DO really agree that there should be a way to choose the screen or click a button to lock it. I am deeply dissapointed in Fitbit for not implimenting something so simple yet. But what drive me crazy is posts like mwkimmels. "I bought it so I can monitor my HR while I exercise." This hasn't changed! Start logging an exercise and it will keep your Heart Rate on screen the whole time. I feel like a whole bunch of people don't know the exercise logging feature is even there.

[Scottysize]

@Aardon 

You don't get it, because you use yours differently.  Most of us who are complaining, did not want the change.  It was thrust upon us by FitBit and we are not happy.  To make a change for a few people is maddening, when the majority are happy with how it functions.  It’s funny how a few people made them change the functionality of the watch, but way more than a few can't get them to put it back.  Shouldn't majority rule in this instance?  I think so!

As for the problem, sometimes we don't want to start an exercise.  Sometimes we just want to see our heart rate while we walk.  Or maybe we forgot to start an exercise. 

Also, if you are in exercise mode, you cannot see the other functions without swiping, but you have to swipe the bottom section of the screen and most of the time, that doesn’t work, so you have to swipe again and again before it’ll change the bottom of the display.  In this case, it’s easier to swipe the entire display.  

One more point that you obviously not see is; this is at the bottom of the display and is very difficult to see without glasses for some people.  Whereas the normal screen size is much larger.  It's entirely possible that someone cannot see the small section at the bottom of the display and want the entire display to view heartrate, steps, calories, etc.

Since we’ve had this problem for this long, new users have no idea what we’re talking about now, and I doubt very seriously if FitBit will ever put it back.  That’s why some are upset because it’s past the money back period, so now they are stuck with the device and cannot return it for another device.

I understand what you’re saying, but sometimes we just want a work out device that is hands free.  I do not always want to have to start a workout, and if you look back through the 11 pages of this complaint, you’ll see I’m not alone.  I'm glad you are happy.  You seem to be the only one I know who is.

[Aardon]

@Scottysize

So just to be clear, I do think there should be a 1 click screen lock on the main screen.

But to counter your points. (Because I can't help myself)  You don't actually have to log an exercise to view the heart rate with it locked in on the exercise screen.  You can to do that screen without actually starting the exercise recording.  And you can get there in 3 clicks.  And before you new knew what screen you were going to be on because it would just move around randomly as you brushed it so its not that much harder to get there.

Second,  the font for the numbers on that screen is actually exactly the same size as it is on the main screen.  It feels like they should be smaller since they are in the corner and not in the middle.  But they are the same size.  I had to measure it to be sure.  🙂  I will definetly concede that sometimes because of the viewing angle it is harder to see because its obscured by the band itself.

Third, you don't have to swipe in the corner to change between the time and heartrate mode.  Swipe anywhere on the screen just like normal and it will change to the other display and stay there. 

So hopefully this helps at least someone get it into a mode they want.  If you want to see your heart rate 100% of the time you can just leave it on that screen.  The problem before ( at least for me) was you never knew what screen it was going to be on.  It was ALWAYS random and rarely on the one you wanted at the moment.  And of all the features requested this seems to be such a miniscule change to the function of the watch to make it so everyone can be happy I'm flabergasted they haven't fixed it.  But please improve it and don't just switch it back to the way it was.

[AZEducator]

@Aardon  A bunch of us do know about the exercise mode but 

1.  It just makes the battery life already worse than italready is.  After over an hour of GPS on my walk and have to keeping the back light in the worse possible mode as I can't see the screen without the backlight, one more thing to limit the battery is just not an option

2.  I want to monitor flights of stairs as I live in a ranch style house and have to walk at least a half a mile one way to hills that will put on flights or drive over a mile  just to get to a building with stairs (yes I could walk but these building are not open during morning walks and way too hot to walk to once they do open).  I could do on morning walk but they are very gradual and a 4 mile walk would turn into about 8 just to get 10 flights of stairs.  I want to monitor when at a public building so I know when I reach 10 but sorry, can't do 10 flights in 15 seconds.

So I ask you Aardon, which exercise mode would I go to to monitor flights of stairs????

[MookMoses]

Please change this so we can keep it on the heart rate display again. This is the primary feature I use my fitbit for. Not realizing this had changed, I recently ran a 10k, in the rain, everytime I looked I was back to the clock. In the rain it is next to impossible to swipe the screens. I would finally get it back to the HR screen and then gone again. As it stands, the fitbit Surge that I really used to like is another annoying electronic that does not fit my needs. Please give me the option to have the product I purchased back.

[murrishmo]

I've been a loyal Fitbit customer for several years. I invensted in the Surge because a huge part of me trusted the customer service that Fitbit has always given me. 

This issue has changed my mind completely. I've never felt so betrayed by a company. First they told us to complain on this thread, now they're saying they are working on it but have no plans in the immediate future to change the firmware. This is just them running PR on unhappy customers. They have no intention of fixing it, they do not care about us. Yes, I can have the HR feature when I'm in excercise mode, but I do not want to be running exercise mode all day. 

I can't return the Surge, but as soon as the new Apple watch comes out, I'm getting it. You can dock your heartrate on the main screen. Exactly what I used to be able to do with Surge, what I cannot do anymore, and what I have been requesting for months now. I will never buy another Fitbit product again. 

I guess I've been really lucky that in all my life I've never had a company I once trusted betray me this badly. I can't wait to get rid of this ugly, glorified, worthless watch. 

[Aardon]

@AZEducator 1. The GPS does use a lot of extra power. But it isn't used when on a Workout screen. It is only enabled when doing a Free Run or Lap Run. So being on a workout screen won't cause any more power usage than being on the Heartrate screen. 2. That is true, it won't show flights of stairs on that screen. But that is the first time I've heard that mentioned on this forum. The vast majority of people posting they are unhappy with the change are looking for it to stay on Heartrate. Which does have a simple solution. I'm curious how long most of the people experienced it with the old mode. It sounds like most people expected to put it on heart rate and have it stay there all day, but in my experience that just wasn't reality. I wear long sleeve almost all the time so maybe it was unique to that scenario. But if I could have just set it to watch and left it all day except during my workout that would be great. During 90% of my day when I look at it I need it to be a watch. But it wouldn't stay there. It was always on some random screen, every time. Then I'd have to swipe to find the one I want. Every time. At least now I know if I want to see my HR I can swipe left two times and there it is, without looking. I am quite fortunate that they chose the default to be the same face I would have chosen. No matter which they chose there would be people upset. That is why I don't get why they only half way fixed it. It was bad before, this is better, but it should have been a no brainer to make it right so everyone was happy.

[murrishmo]

"So being on a workout screen won't cause any more power usage than being on the Heartrate screen."

This has not been my experience. During the 12 hour days that I work, my Surge needs a charge by the end of the day if I enter in workout mode. It needs a charge after about 5-7 days otherwise. Also, I want to be able to quickly see the stairs I have climbed because this is part of my walking routine when I take breaks from my desk.

Going into workout mode daily is not a good workaround for me because it messes up my data. I have several long, not true workouts, then my hour free runs. It's messy and it's a cobbled together workaround that puts the programming work on to the end user, not on the company. 

No one will be happy with every change, which is why in development you give the end user more customization options, not less. Before, we more options because the default screen was what we left it on. Now we have no options but the clock. 

This feature works for some people, but for many of us (as evidenced by this thread) it's horrible. Good developers listen to their end users and try to provide more options, not less. 

[Aardon]

@murrishmo One of the nice things about the workout screen is you don't have to actually start a workout. You can just go to that screen and leave it there all day without ever starting the timer and it will constantly show you your heart rate without messing up any data. I done this several times for several hours when I did want to see my heart rate but not for a full day. I'll try it tomorrow and leave it on all day and see what it does to the power. Now I'm curious.

[murrishmo]

I wasn't aware that you could just go to the screen and not start a
workout. I'll try that out!

However, as a user, I shouldn't be expected to do multi-step workarounds in
order to get the product to function as it was originally advertised. The
way that Fitbit has handled this issue is so poor, I will not be a customer
as soon as the new Apple watch is released. I have been very disappointed
in Fitbit due to this issue and their handling of customer complaints.
They've officially lost a customer once I get a replacement for this fancy
watch.

[SandyRhee]

I agree as well. Using the Surge during obstacle course races where you are flexing your wrists often can push the pause button when you don't intend. Would very much like to start a run and lock it so that you must unlock before pausing/stopping the event.

[AZEducator]

@Aardon but if you have already done a workout and ended it, if you start it again, steps and such are zeroed up so you can't see your step from beginning of day only since you started the exercise mode.  Of course when you get out of the mode you do.  I want to see my steps from beginning of day (I sometimes have a GPS walk and a weight workout before I start monitoring to see how far I am from my goal.)  When I purchased this item, I could monitor anything I wanted and the number I saw was from the beginning of the day, and like I said before, I was able to monitor flights.

 I got some type of upgrade on my Surge today but whatever it was, wasn't the clock display.  It still does that after 15 seconds.  Anyone know what the upgrade was??? I was an earlier adopter, was on the waiting list when they first came. I told all my friends.  Now I am telling them all to get something else.  Fitbit is not a helpful company anymore like they used to be.  If I didn't have a 4s iPhone, I would be going to the Apple watch.

[Scottysize]

As I said, FitBit isn't going to change the settings now.  I got an update today.  Guess what.  It still defaults back to clock after 15 seconds.  I've lived with it this long.  Guess I'll keep on living with it.  I'm unsubscribing from this thread.  Good Luck all!

[demon803]

I am so mad at fitbit, a second surge update since the disastrous change of returning to the clock. They still have not fixed our issue. How hard can it be to out something back to the way it was. **ahem** I wish I wasn't past my return date!

[Gooner21]

Looks like they might finally be listening thankfully !