Longer Screen Time for Charge Trackers

[SunsetRunner]

I purchased my charge 3 after seeing it would have a Screen Time out Option.  It shipped without one.  Moderator Kate says it’s not available at this time.  The manual is now being changed to reflect that.

I really, really want/need that option.  It was the reason I chose the Charge.  That and my 50’s year old eyes.  The current screen only stays on for 3-4 seconds.  That is a very short amount of time.  I have to repeated tap the screen to read a text that comes in.  IF we are going to have the ability to get notifications, we need the ability to read them.

Please Fitbit, give us the option that was originally in the manual to change the screen time out.  The Versa has it, so I know it can be done.

Moderator edit: Title

[chris279]

Ridiculous and disrespectful to the end user that this isn't given as an option. All the moo replies are just platitudes without an actual answer. Not good enough for an issue that has been requested for years.

[chris279]

Obviously I meant 'mod' replies. See how quickly something can be corrected when you want it to be, Fitbit?

[eveningsong]

I would really appreciate the option of having the screen last longer.  Thank you and I hope to see this soon

[Mikekro]

Charge 3 screen timeout needs to have options. Lifting weights can not quickly view progress. Charge 2 better.

[Ristrem2018]

I work in Veterinary Medicine and use a watch on a daily basis! It has to have a longer screen timeout option, or this isnt going to be an option for me! All the other features are nice but a watch with a longer screen time is a must!

[Kf216]

A screen timeout option would be ideal for the charge 3. As a medical professional I need to calculate patient vitals, and the clock or stopwatch needs to have an option to stay on longer. This feature was added to other Fitbit models, and it would be great for you to include the charge series as well. 

[fitover40]

i'd like the screen time to be longer to 15or 20 sec so that i can use the second hand feature on my watch. ( for checking pulses and respirations at work!)

[Sf325]

Please add options to increase screen timeout lengths. It makes the stopwatch setting almost unusable when the screen shuts off every 4 seconds. It may decrease the battery life but at least people can use more of the charge 3 features if they can select the amount of time they need for screen display.

[Psywiz]

Here’s the letter I sent to Mr. Park who was listed as CEO of Fitbit on December 27. Still no reply.

Dear Mr. Park:

I am writing to you because you are listed as the CEO of Fitbit and I am certain that you would be interested in a current situation involving customer disillusionment.  

I am not attempting to get anything out of this Email, other than perhaps an acknowledgment of receipt and the satisfaction of knowing that you have been informed of a problematic situation.  I ultimately hope that you and your team come up with an improved product or modify software if possible to accommodate the requests of multiple--over 500--customers.

I, like many other consumers, purchased a Fitbit Charge 3.  I am a physician and am health conscious.  I had hoped to be able to use my Fitbit for my personal use and to be able to recommend the device to patients and friends.  I believe in helping people change their health through logging their habits --increasing their self-awareness--and then getting positive feedback when they make changes. 

Fitbit evidently endorses participation in a Fitbit Community.  In the online community there is tremendous unrest concerning the timeout feature on the screen.  The screen stays on for 3 seconds or less---a minimal amount of time--not enough to meaningfully track rates in connection with activities.  Most relevant to your attention, however, is the total lack of response to the complaints from Fitbit and the sense that Fitbit does not care for its customers.  Please, for your benefit, look at the multiple posts regarding the disappointment and the angry sentiment.  Many people are opting to return their devices and all of us have told people not to buy this Fitbit.  Many people think that the Fitbit response to the complaints --or complete lack of response--warrants never buying a Fitbit again.   I hope that the lack of response has been a massive oversight.

I hope this Email has been helpful and I look forward to a response.  

With admiration for your company's contribution to the healthcare industry, 

(My name)

Assistant Clinical Professor Psychiatry-GW University

Assistant Clinical Professor Psychiatry-VCU College of Medicine

Instructor-Georgetown University Hospital

[Lovelivewell]

Excellent letter; thank-you for contributing. Perhaps the CEO will listen
to another professional.

--

Live Well, Laugh Much, Love More!

[UserSD]

Thanks for sending the letter to the head of the company. Now, he should take action, get the problem fixed, communicate with the users and also fire the employees who ignored our comments.These are damaging his company's reputation and in the long term Fitbit will be gone.

[GunGuy]

I'm waiting for a moderator to post that this change is in development.  If it does not become a reality I will never purchase another FitBit and I will not recommend FitBit to any of my friends.  There is no reason why this cannot be accomplshed in a timely fashion.

[trevormed]

The Charge 3 needs a screen timeout setting. OK battery life might not be as good, but I need a watch that shows the time for a longer period. A BIG Omission in the software at this point!

[Kmmrn1997]

Sadly, I returned mine.

[k_craigo]

I would also really like this feature. Being in the medical field makes it very hard for me to wear this watch because I need to see a second hand longer than 4 seconds. 

[FrisMc5796]

I bought this Fitbit for several reasons, one being I HAVE to be able to check heartrate of patients. Need at LEAST 15 second viewing option!

[runrabbit1]

Please, pretty pretty please?

[solarflare]

Looks like this has been an issue for a long time with no software fix. I don't see any reason why I cannot make the decision to sacrifice some battery life to actually view my charge 3... 

I will return my watch within my 45 day window if this is not added as a feature.

[christinelank]

PLEASE add this in the next update. I was so excited to receive my Fitbit and like everything else about it, but one of the main reasons I got it was so I could use it to do my patient's vital signs (HR and RR) using the stopwatch. This is not possible when the screen shuts off. If the update does not come soon, I will have to return this watch and look elsewhere. 

[Unojohn]

Darn it! I was hoping the update today would be to fix this issue!! 😔 guess we’ll have to keep waiting.

[Karine.L]

Being a nurse, I need to see the seconds on the watch face for a longer period to take my patients heart and respiratory rates. I specifically chose the charge 3 over the Alta HR because it had a watch face showing seconds.

[UserSD]

Hi everybody,

after 2 weeks of waiting for an answer from Fitbit, I am giving up and my Charger3 is going back to the store tomorrow. I cannot give my money to a company ignoring its customers. I tried to hear from them through this forum and Twitter and at the end no message from the company that a fix is underway. This is not acceptable and Fitbit is dead to me.

Couple of friends looking for a fitness tracker asked me about the Charge 3 and it was easy to convince them not to buy one. Next step is using social media and my blog to nicely describe my negative experience with Fitbit.

Good luck everybody, Apple Watch is my next option. Cheers.

PS: wait, now I have been asked to fill a survey on my Fitbit experience: Is that sarcasm?

[Jajlo]

Agreed, used to the raise wrist option and longer screen time on the Blaze.. just received my Charge 3.. and immediately not happy about the very short screen time.

[GunGuy]

Agreed however, my Blaze was not always accurate on steps, distance and heart rate.  Tmw I'll compare the Charge 3 with my Apple watch series 3.  I really want to like the Charge 3.  I'll give FitBit a while longer to give a positive response before I return it.  In the meantime I will not give a favorable review to any of my friends.

[SunsetRunner]

Please make this happen. Configurable options for how long to leave the screen on, including "until I hit the back button".