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

[Merfit]

Consumers & health  prof have been suggesting this since at least Oct.; if Fitbit truly wants to listen to community, please do this. If concern is degradation of batterly life statistic, Fitbit can use a disclaimer. 

[Bwoosley]

as a volleyball official and HS teacher that has to time quizzes, timeout etc.... the longer screen time would be a great benefit.  It is frustrating for the short screen time.

Danny

[MLBinVA]

On that same front bring back the raise to wake function...

#FitbitFail

[PressingOn]

I have that the raise to wake functioning on mine.  Press in on the "stem" and select "Screen Wake". That aught to do it for you!

[ThornBully]

Obviously, the software team is limited by stakeholder's decisions and/or hardware limitations. Could there be concerns of overheating the battery with extended screen times? Or, could there be other hardware issues related to extended current draw? Perhaps insufficient available storage for the proposed functionalities' implementation is the issue? If any of these questions bear out, as consumers (i.e. paying customers, loyalists) aren't they things we should be advised of?

If we need to move on to another product by virtue of such a hardware limitation, it wouldn't be sensible to leave us waiting indefinitely hoping the powers that be take our feature request seriously. On the other hand, if the decision not to provide reasonably expected and essential functionality is a stakeholder decision based on cost benefit analysis by said stakeholders, the whole world needs to know fitbit thinks they're as big as Google and doesn't respond to their user base. Mine cost $150 - way more than I've ever gave Google for Anything.

I'm partially blinded by corneal scars, not to mention bad eyesight. No matter how hard I try I can't read the time on my watch, or my heart rate, or anything else for that matter. My fitbit's only usefulness is sleep tracking, and if it weren't for that I'd have already returned it. I doubt many, if any, of those requesting this essential and expected functionality suffer narcoleptic somnolence, but I know they're just as frustrated when they can't tell what time it is with their smart watch with lighted dial. I wish everyone else the best of luck with this Charge 3 charade, as I'm not feeling lucky with fitbit.

[Dreamvelvet]

Creators,

Honestly trying hard to decide if want to keep this brand new purchase (a birthday gift)  or not.  I am a vet and like many other of the medical people on this thread, I need longer screen timeouts.  I spend at least 10-15 seconds if not longer just getting my patient to hold still let alone have time to take a heart rate with your 5 sec timeout.   And often i'm lucky if I have an extra hand that can touch the screen or turn my wrist just right to enable the screen without losing the cat i'm trying to hold.  Hopefully someone gets on the ball soon with this before I decide to return the watch and go back to my trusty timex or spend my money elsewhere.   First time I've had anything like this and honestly at this point, prefer my old stand by timex.  Would have returned it already if it hadn't been a gift picked out by my young daughter. 

Thanks for your consideration. 

[7West]

2-second timeout? Went with Fitbit as my first-ever tracker because of the brand name. Just received it today in the mail and this is supposedly one of the best that's out there?? Can't adjust screen timeout or even do a screen rotate so the button is on the opposite side? When these came out a few years ago I figured I'd wait till all the bugs/grievances were ironed out. Took the plunge a few days ago but apparently, it needs a few more years to mature. I guess I'll keep it for now as I got it for free with my Airmiles but this new world of 'trackers' is becoming quite comical.

[Kevinm1]

Display time-out too short. We told you. You know it.

When are you going to do something about it? Every tech company has whiz kids who can make this happen. Why are you persisting on not satisfying your customer?

[shodan]

This has been going on for months and has elicited nothing but a stony silence.

This is totally disrespectful of the customer base, and no matter how good the product is I know for sure my next training watch will not be a Fitbit! 

[Einhornfinkle]

Then back light needs to be at least 15 seconds when tapped on. I was hoping to use this to assess heart rates in patients. I am in the veterinary field and have to get heart rates often. I'm happy there is a watch feature with a second hand but I cant count if i cant see the watch longer then 2 seconds. Please fix this.

[toolworker]

Just bought this for my wife.  The screen goes off almost immediately.  If I hadn't found this thread, we would have returned it as defective.  We might still.

[GunGuy]

It's not just the screen time that's bad.  Your's is not defective it's just the way they made it.  Also,  the Charge 3 is only usable indoors as you cannot see the screen outdoors in sunlight or bright overcast.  It needs to have a max brightness setting as other Fitbit's do, example, my Surge and Blaze.  Since most of my exercises are performed outdoors this thing is useless. In addition, the step count is not accurate when compared to a quality device.  Customer service, rather lack thereof has never responded.  I took mine back after 4 weeks of frustration.  Get rid of it while you can.  Since Apple came out with the iWatch series 4, the iWatch series 3 with GPS and Cellular is still available for a lot less than what I paid when the series 3 was the latest version.  The only thing good about Fitbit is the app that allows you to track your exercises and log food, etc.  There is a huge database of food and if it's not there you can add it or use the scan feature to scan barcodes.  If I would have seen this thread I would not have bought it.  Again, your's is not defective, they didn't include the features they should have.

[JenniferRN]

I went with this as the versa and Apple watch are so big on my tiny wrist. I have had mine about 5 weeks and ready to ditch it. Bought the special edition plus 3 extra bands and a stand charger so I'm out lots of $$$. I am also questioning accuracy of steps sleep and heart rate. My Fitbit had me in a deep sleep while walking down 2 flights if stairs and awake for over 30 mins. Also no SPO2 is annoying. The short screen time is useless. FRUSTRATED

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

[Aimeelou]

Any updates on this? I just got the c3 and can’t believe the short wake time. Definitely a deal killer and going back.

[shodan]

Well I have had enough of the deafening silence from Fitbit on the various
shortcomings with the C3. Not even an acknowledgment that "we hear you and
are working on it". I have dumped my C3 and bought something with support -
Polar.

Goodbyae Fitbit, you will not see me again

[Shea1969]

Thousands of people are unhappy and no word from Fitbit on the topic.  Any lawyers on this thread? 

[whybenorm]

"Do continue to vote for this feature suggestion whilst it’s under consideration." ?!?!?  Whilst it is under consideration?!?!?  It was listed as being included on our product when we bought it, why is it still under consideration?!?!?!? Someone had already considered it whilst we were thinking of buying our Charge 3 and they decided to put that feature on our product.  What happened?  If you think we will buy another Fitbit product or recommend it to a friend after the resounding silence from you over the last 18 months, think again.  After 18 months and 1105 (as of today) different customers who happen to find this website (by looking for a solution to a problem you created by leaving the listed feature out) we have nothing from you but "we're still thinking on it". 

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EdsonFitbit 

 

Moderator

‎02-20-2019 11:36 

Status changed to: Under Consideration

Hi @narrowminded and all the Community members, thanks for sharing this suggestion.

This is being discussed although I do not have a firm commitment or timeline at the moment. Do continue to vote for this feature suggestion whilst it’s under consideration. Please note that if something is under consideration and chosen for development, it can be a while until it's released or until I have any news to share.

Please watch this space for any updates! Thanks for your patience

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[whybenorm]

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EdsonFitbit 

 

Moderator

‎02-20-2019 11:36 

Status changed to: Under Consideration

Hi @narrowminded and all the Community members, thanks for sharing this suggestion.

This is being discussed although I do not have a firm commitment or timeline at the moment. Do continue to vote for this feature suggestion whilst it’s under consideration. Please note that if something is under consideration and chosen for development, it can be a while until it's released or until I have any news to share.

Please watch this space for any updates! Thanks for your patience

---

[whybenorm]

Hi @narrowminded and all the Community members, thanks for sharing this suggestion.

This is being discussed although I do not have a firm commitment or timeline at the moment. Do continue to vote for this feature suggestion whilst it’s under consideration. Please note that if something is under consideration and chosen for development, it can be a while until it's released or until I have any news to share.

Please watch this space for any updates! Thanks for your patience

[Jester990]

Fitibit is obviously not listening to their customers. Does anyone know of another good fitness tracker where you can set things like the screen timeout?

[RandomReg]

This is just one thing that the Charge 3 does badly

I am looking for a better product - looks like polar is a popular choice - any other suggestions?

We may as well use this thread to discuss alternatives to the FitBit as they donb't seem to give a crap

[Sammie1966]

I am all for Polar now that fitbit has let us down so hard !! I also heard from fellow trainers that garmin is also very good !! I am going to do some updating myself about other brands and wil let you know what i find out !!
For me no more fitbit

[GunGuy]

I wore a Polar for years.  Polar, Garmin and a few others are much more accurate than Fitbit.  I have an Apple watch series 3 with GPS and cellular that beats a Fitbit hands down and is very accurate.  I only bought the Charge 3 on a whim and within a month took it back.  I've had the Surge and the Blaze.  They all had the same issues regarding steps and heart rate accuracy however, my previous Fitbit's had a "max" brightness setting so it was visible outdoors.  With the Charge 3 you cannot see the screen outdoors or on bright overcast days.  So, the Charge 3 fails on several functions or lack thereof.  I'll never purchase a Fitbit again.  Pay the extra money and get quality.  Since the Apple watch series 4 is out you can still purchase a series 3 for less money.

[SunsetRunner]

Yes I agree, I've been looking at the mi fit

[Garyk10]

No reason an update can't solve this issue.  Breathing exercise has the screen on during the whole two minutes.  My old fitbit ultra was easier to read than the Charge 3.  It just doesn't stay on long enough.

[Fleet69]

Seriously, how is screen timeout not a simple setting for the Charge 3?   Ok had for a few hours and already a nuisance for only a few seconds to read all the data.   U have my voye for this type of enhancement

[dvorak]

My first time using a fitbit and its missing what I thought was a standard feature.

Longer is not enough if its just 60 seconds, I need to be able to have the screen on for the whole workout, rowing doesn't allow for breaking your stride and tapping the screen.

Give it a few days but considering handing this brithday present back with the display being so annoying.