Notifications, Alarms, Clock Faces and Apps

[Wisemo]

The Fitbit has, from I can tell, the best hardware when compared to other watches and "Superwatches", but there software leaves something to be desired when compared to competitors like Garmin Vivoactive, Basis Peak, Pebble Time and the new Apple Sport Watch. 

Improvements:

Notifications:

The first improvement that should be made is the intergration of other apps for notifications. Not many people use messages as their main form of texting anymore and leaving this out limits Fitbit compared to other brands. Adding notificaations support can be achieved as it is with all of the competeitors. Use the https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/CoreBluetooth/Reference/AppleNotificationCente...

Although it should also be noted that there are some notifications you don't want to recieve on your watch which is why a switch should be made in the app to say which apps are allowed, something like this. 

Stronger Alarm:

The second improvement has to do with the alarm. I think it should be stronger or at least repeat itself untill stopped. Usually the vibrations do no wake me up forcing me to return to a tradtional alarm instead.

New Features: (Endless Opportunities)

SDK - Clock Faces:

A new feature that should be introduced is the watch faces customisation. Competitors allow the watch face to be created and be customised, for exmaple pebble and Garmin. The watch face should be personalised and allow people to get what they want on the watch screen. For example the seconds and the date on the Flare clock face. Allow a community to be created where people can share their clock faces with eachother, similar to other brands.

SDK - Apps:

The other feature is the introduction of apps. This is a major part of the new fitness trackers and smartwatches, with things like Garmin's ConnectIQ and Pebble Time's app. Allow people to create third party apps for the Surge and make it a proper competitor in today's market. Open a community of developers to Fitbit and make it a competiative brand. It is endless what things could be done if the watch could be used with a simple app like a compass or stopwatch like these.

(The stopwatch wouldn't include the GPS or the distant)

Or could go to something complex as with Garmin, Apple and Pebble's apps.

Links of Ideas:

https://www.reddit.com/r/fitbit/comments/2uf6ql/hackjailbreakroot_fitbit_charge/

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Requests/3rd-Party-apps-that-can-be-developed-by-anyone/idi-...

https://developer.getpebble.com/

https://developer.getpebble.com/smartstraps/

http://www.wareable.com/apps/the-best-apps-for-pebble-and-pebble-steel

http://help.getpebble.com/customer/portal/articles/1701779-pebble-appstore

https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/

Moderator Edit: Added Labels/Title for Clarity

[Thwart]

Text notifications

[SunsetRunner]

How about a Fitbit that is solar powered? Has a reminder battery needs charged. Or a band that is clear in color.

[Kirbyrun]

Has anyone heard from Fitbit about any of the suggestions or are we just dreaming?

[Pclophus]

You just summed up EXACTLY what I want to happen to my surge!!! Especially the custom watch faces

[IRON_PTA]

I completely agree with all of your ideas. I want to know how you have these on your surge already (as in apps screen and compass).

[AnaS]

I'll be the odd ball that requests an alarm for max HR. I love pushing my body but noticed at times I push it OVER the safe HR limit (insert here worried smiley). I would LOVE to be able to set my own upper HR limit and get a buzz once I get over it to know to slow down a bit! Please!!!! 🙂

[V8]

+1 for social media notifications, day clock face, updated alarm applications. Cheers Fitbit!

[Roy13]

I like the idea of custom clock faces but really just want the seconds on all all faces. A simle stopwatch feature would be great

[Gaunty]

Notifications for 3rd party apps such as what's app is what we're all waiting for!!

[RBaileyRN]

Awesome ideas! I agree with Becca, people in the medical field rely on second hand display for taking vitals. It shouldn't be too hard to make this happen! Come on fitbit!

[JoeHk]

Good ideas.

[Ninet4]

Calendar notifications is the missing feature that is holding me back from buying a Surge or a Charge HR.  The tracker is already connected to mobile phone and able to take notifications (calls and text), add Calendar Notifications (perhaps even allow for the user to selected which calendars and which notifications get sent to the phone).

[JohnThunder]

Fitbit Surge would be the best watch out there if that added even SOME of these features! With a lot of other companies coming out with smartwatches, Fitbit will need to do something to keep up!

[Bush_Monster]

I'd certainly like to see notifications such as Twitter direct messages and iCal entries, I'm new to my Fitbit but from what I can tell Android users can get text / SMS messages which I can't get on iOS. The Charge HR I'm sure is quite capable to have this, just needs some 'simple' app changes?

[Nalese]

These need to be broken into separate request so people can vote on them and we get each item moved up the list!  Great ideas but they are all in one big bucket!

[Tehkuh]

I really don't get the way the alarms are set up. Why is not possible to implement a snooze function or at least repeat the alam until stopped? Is there a technical constraint for the Charge HR that does not allow vibrating more than a couple of times or what is the deal? I would love to see a snooze function implemented.

[Lucy_L]

It is disappointing in this day and age that the Surge and Blaze will only show texts - in this day and age, surely they should have the capacity to show Whatsapp, Telegraph and other more popular messaging apps.

[Sniffle774]

Roll out support for 3rd party notification and I'm buying a Surge (or maybe a blaze) PDQ - until then I will need to hold onto my Pebble / Flex combo - after all, one only has space for so much on ones wrists  🙂

[DSchweiger]

Definitely would be nice to be able to change alarms on the clock face instead of having to use the phone. Would also really be nice to have clock face with the seconds.

[Vicvek]

Will the Charge HR ever get text message notifications?  the call notification is great but would love to get text message notifications as well

[AlexHk]

Hi All, are there any updates on it? I wanna the Whatsapp message can be shown on the Blaze 

[Wisemo]

Still no update for this, except with the addition of the stopwatch/timer. No news on notifications or any other features.

[Firstknight]

Yes more app notification integration...

[AlexHk]

At lease, I heard that Whatsapp and Skype notification can be shown on the Android device, I Hope that it can be done on IOS deice also

[keslering]

Excellent ideas...looking at other devices because of this...trying to stay with my surge but the options out there are intriguing