Why is required a Pandora or Spotify Premium subscription to listen music with Fitbit Sense?

[TeasieTee]

1. Why are we required to purchase a Premium subscription to Pandora or Spotify in order to listen to their music on your device if we don’t have it?

I think that’‘s absurd after having one spend a few hundred of dollars on your product to purchase.
We should be able to download an app of our choice to listen to our music.and There should be no stipulations!

2. Your company is limiting the quick response via texting feature to Android customers only and not allowing iPhone users to have the ability to use this function, per Apple that I read.

So why have it, if both users (Android & Apple) customer’s who purchase this device can’t utilize it? A simple update can be written by your software developers to allow iPhone users to utilize this feature as well.  Negotiate this with Apple!

3. Also, you can view a text, but not the attachment, why?

4. Another thing, there are very limited clock faces to select from for free!

This watch has some good health features, however due to limitations I will not be keeping it!

I read that this watch has a close comparison with the iWatch, however it is far from it. IMO

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity and format. 

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @TeasieTee I'll start this off. 

• Because it is their music and they get to say what their requirements are. Both Pandora and Spotify require a paid subscription to off line storage and to store music on the tracker requires off line storage.
• Why does fitbit only allow text message response on android? Because Apple,in their wisdom to control the users experience has blocked all third party apps from responding to email and text. Sorry but fitbit can not get around this block out there by apple. 
• Why attachments can't be opened.. As your fellow user, I don't know, but could take a guess. 
• As for clock faces, fitbit has allowed anyone to design and market clock faces. It is up to the developer to decide if they want to get paid for their time. 

[t.parker]

@TeasieTee just to add to what @Rich_Laue already pointed out:

3. Attachments are files, usually large. To view them on the watch you would need to a) transfer vast amount of data to the watch (problems like bandwidth and storage) and b) support viewing different type of files which isn't simple and on the watch pretty much not possible. That's why watches are limited to show you plain text only.

4. In here there is a bit of right. I think this is where Fitbit drops the ball by not releasing more official Fitbit watchfaces. I don't install thirdparty ones (even free) and selection of official watchfaces is rather poor. I don't think it's impossible for Fitbit to develop 1-2 official clocks a month just to please customers and keep standard of watchfaces high. Usually, Fitbit forgets about it after releasing a device and leaves it in hands of users (who are allowed to charge you for their work, nothing bad about that). But I agree with slightly modified point - there should be more Fitbit official faces and Fitbit should kind of streamline development so we could get at least one new clockface a month. That would be nice.

[TeasieTee]

I get it’s their music clearly!

My point is why charge a fee. 🤷🏼‍:female_sign:
i am able to use my Amazon Music on other devices.

Let us, the User decide which music apps that we want to use instead of dictating what we should use and pay for after spending money for their product!.

Basically, I’m glad with finding out that this watch does not work for me, so I will be returning it!

[t.parker]

@TeasieTee to get Fitbit and any music service working together they probably have to get to the agreement. Those services require premium accounts, not Fitbit. The Pandora and Deezer apps are official apps and it's not like Fitbit can provide any streaming service on their platform. Not every music streaming company will want to work with Fitbit. They got Deezer and Pandora, that's something. Spotify is different story as the Spotify app on Fitbit is only a remote control. So why does it require Spotify Premium account? It's because it uses one of Premium features to control the music (I can't recall now what that feature is but it allows you controlling Spotify on multiple devices, for example I listen to music on my PC using web Spotify player but can use controls from my phone - this requires Spotify Premium). Would be nice to see other music providers but it may be that Fitbit doesn't pursue them or they just don't see themselves on Fitbit. Either way, it is what it is.

I find it kinda unfair blaming Fitbit for that. As much as taking away offline music storage is something that I understand all the rage but the way Deezer and Pandora or Spotify work - well, that's hardly Fitbit fault. Maybe they could have negotiated better deal but let's not forget there is agreement of two sides needed to cut a deal.

[t.parker]

@TeasieTee just to add, on Garmin and Samsung watches I also need Spotify Premium account to use Spotify. It isn't only Fitbit. Considering that those watches support proper (not just remote control ) Spotify (including offline playback, no mobile phone needed) then it also shows that with Deezer and Pandora it isn't so unusual to follow same rules on Fitbit. I'm probably first person to be pointed out when it comes to...well... pointing out Fitbit faults and dirty practices but I really don't think this is the case here.

[TeasieTee]

Okay, Thanks for explaining.

i get it.

which one are you using and why if you don’t mind me asking?

thanks!

[t.parker]

@TeasieTee on Fitbit I use neither as this isn't my primary watch (and I'm from the UK and we are ~90% Spotify people here 🙂). On Garmin, I used to use Spotify (so I need premium for that, too). Why past tense? Because at some point I started using metronome for running and now I need to have two audio sources (one for metronome, one for Spotify) and no watch can provide that feature (dual audio, 2 apps talking to BT headphones at same time). Well, we can't have everything but we can always shop for the watch that matches our needs closest 🙂

[TeasieTee]

Thanks, so much!

[Guy_]

Hi @TeasieTee - As long as you have music of any sort on your phone, normally you can control it with Music Controls for free.

There are a large number of great free clock faces in the Gallery, you only need search for them . [excluding paid ones is a bit difficult though]

@t.parker  - This also has the advantage of allowing other Apps or Clock faces to be active at the same time.

See Alternative to Spotify

[TeasieTee]

Hi @Guy_ My question is I do have Pandora for free, so how do I use the Music Controls on the Fitbit? Is it a Music app that I have to download?

[Guy_]

@TeasieTee- In the watch Settings, Shortcuts, you can configure 4 double press shortcuts, it may be by default that Music Controls is configured to one of the 4, if not you can set it to one of them.

Then when you need Music Controls, double press the button and choose it.

If you can't find Music Controls to assign to a shortcut, there may be an issue or you're not on the latest firmware version perhaps, as it's part of the firmware and not an App you download.

[TeasieTee]

So once I figure that part out will I be able to use the free Pandora?

[Guy_]

@TeasieTee- on principle.

Example of the 4 shortcuts with Music Controls bottom right. [Bottom left is SimpleCheckUp app to check when last synced or how well watch is connected].

[TeasieTee]

I am in the music control settings, Apple Music popped up, however I clicked Don’t Allow, because I listen to my music via Amazon Music.  How do I get that to sync with the watch or grt the Apple Music back?

[TeasieTee]

I am able to control the Amazon music on my phone and it’s displaying on the watch, but the sound is only coming from the phone and not on the watch.

What am I doing wrong?

help!

[t.parker]

@TeasieTee you do nothing wrong. The music controls on watch are just remote controls. The music still will be played from your phone. Only Deezer and Pandora are supported for on-watch playback if you pair headset with the watch. @Guy_  gave you kind of workaround that allows you to use watch for remote control of any music app you can use on your phone (which is useful and probably won't require any Premium type account) but that's all it is - remote control for the music played on the phone.

[Guy_]

@TeasieTee- @t.parker - has put it exactly right.

There is one additional option, that is if you have head phones connected to your phone or watch, it enables the sound to come out of them and not the phone speaker. The watch has no ability to play sounds through its speaker which can only be used for a call conversations.

Music Controls can control volume too.

Note: there is an option in the watch Settings, Vibration & audio, Music controls & on-wrist calls. Everything seems to work with it off but if there is a problem it is good to know it's there.

Enjoy your music!

[TeasieTee]

Thanks @Guy_  & @t.parker for the information. 😄

i’m able to listen to my Amazon music via the bluetooth! 
Later I will think about getting Deezer if I want to download music onto the Sense.

[deiG]

3. Blame stupid Apple, not Fitbit! Frankly, I don't understand why Apple's products are so popular.