Sense 2 Technology roadmap

[katdaddi]

Does anyone have some insight to a technology roadmap for the Sense2? The only logic, as a technologist, I could imagine, is Google/Fitbit is testing the sense 2 with some new apps, like the ECG and mindfulness app on the general population. In order to do this, they have to hold all other variables at a baseline value. I hope this testing phase is 6 months or less. I could have spent $300 on a much better watch had I known there would be no other apps available. not to mention the hundreds to thousand other negative comments about the watch.

[t.parker]

Nobody knows anything (it's a community forum and we all are just users) and Fitbit never reveals anything either but I would be very surprised if there was a grand scheme to suddenly make Sense 2/Versa 4 better. Google doesn't seem to be invested in the Fitbit hardware and its focus is Pixel Watch (which, unlike Sense 2 and Versa 4, receives regular updates). If there is any plan then (now I'm just guessing) it's rather closing the hardware side of Fitbit and leaving it as a service for the Pixel Watch line. This is what comes to my head when observing a current situation.

[ofankhau]

What Google does not seem to realize is that people frustrated by the way they handled the transition with Fitbit, might not be inclined to buy a Pixel Watch. I know I won't. 

[Guy_]

Hi @katdaddi  - there doesn't seem to be any logic as to why the Sense 2 & Versa 4 were released with features missing that were on previous watches nor the removal of on board music from all watches which was already working.

Those actions will not encourage people to buy Pixel especially as the Pixel, with a one day battery life, is not even a competitor to Fitbits with much superior battery life.

Understandably without a roadmap you may be unhappy with the watch, if so Fitbit have a 45 day refund policy or possibly authorised dealers too, some stores provide 14 to 30 day refunds.

[t.parker]

@Guy_ I don't think Google ever planned to migrate Fitbit's user base but rather acquire new users for its watch. Some Fitbit users would switch and that's a bonus but apparently not a goal. Pixel Watch is a different device and Google must have seen it while designing it (just battery life wouldn't be appealing for Fitbit users). If migration of users was indeed a goal Google wouldn't be antagonizing them. We may think that people in charge don't know what they're doing but it's quite opposite - they know exactly what they are doing and they have planned steps for this and probably next year already. Moreover, I expect the Fitbit will be replaced by something else on Pixel Watch. Newcomers, with no prior experience with Fitbit, have a not-that-great first impression of the Fitbit platform (seems too simple, unfinished and very limited, definitely not even close to where competitors are). With problems, they are being sent back and forth between Fitbit and Google help forums. This can't work. The recent news about pulling some features out of Premium also seems to be done for Pixel Watch users (who probably don't want to pay a subscription, a big surprise for some who came from other platforms).

As for a roadmap, I guess the whole roadmap was laid out by showing all "coming soon" features. The only missing feature is the iOS version of Google Maps and both watches will have delivered all that was promised. I can hardly think that there are more plans to improve Sense 2 and Versa 4. No one needs a roadmap when already at the end of road.