Feedback about the Fitbit app.

[walkgorilla]

I have used some version of a fitbit for nearly five years. After a couple of years of not using a fitbit, I just decided to get a Charge3. Now that I have used the device for over a month now, I'm disappointed in some things that haven't changed much in the last couple of years since I stopped using fitbit. 

First, the app hasn't really changed much. It still the same basic user interface. I'm surprised that the exercise functionality hasn't improved. I also used a Wahoo TCKR to measure heart rate. Their app had some nice features to it. When working out on a treadmill or doing weights or some other aerobic exercise, I could place my phone off to the side, but keep it on the exercise screen. It would not only show me my heart rate, in really big bold font, but it would change colors based on what heart rate zone I was in. It would give me two items in really big type face that I wanted to see, my heart rate and calorie burn. Next it would show me how long I had been in this activity. And if I were running it would show me my pace. The app also allowed me to control my music during exercise. I'm pointing this out, because of all the things that should be the easiest to develop is the fitbit app, but it still feels like the basic fitbit app from yesteryear. I haven't seen a huge improvement this area. I also posted that it would be nice to change the settings and change the background color of the app. There just seems like there would be so much more to do on this front, that I'm surprised these changes haven't been made. 

Now, on a different topic. I have noticed that my fitbit charge 3 is good a monitoring exercise in motion, meaning walking or running outside, cycling, and using the GPS on my phone to provide some other statistics on speed, pace, etc. However, sometimes I workout on a treadmill and this is where the fitbit charge 3 falls apart. I have never been comfortable running for a longtime on a treadmill without grabbing one of the arms on the side. The moment I do that, however, the fitbit stops recognizing my steps and mileage. The only way I can get an accurate steps and mileage reading on my fitbit is by taking it off and throwing it in my shorts pocket. So I basically get a more accurate pedometer, but lose the heart rate functionality once I remove the watch. I almost wish I could detach a pedometer like the original fitbit flex throw it in my pocket and keep wearing the watch for the heart rate monitoring. I would much rather be outside working out, but during the cold winter months, I spend a lot of time on a treadmill and this is where I don't think the fitbit has improved its device. This is why I switched to a Wahoo TCKR for awhile. I really like that device, but I kept forgetting it when I went to the gym. So I was hoping my Charge 3 would give me all this functionality, but unfortunately it has come up short. 

I really think fitbit can make a much better device that captures these improvements. I'm not complaining, it is still a good value product. But it could be a much better exercise device that it currently is not. 

Moderator Edit: Clarified Subject.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @walkgorilla, I hope you're doing well, it's nice to see you around the Fitbit Community. 

I appreciate your participation in the Forums and for sharing your experience with us. We really appreciate our members's input and feedback and I would like to thank you for yours. Our team is always looking to improve the Fitbit experience and I would like to encourage you to check our Feature Suggestion board where you can find that several of your ideas have been added already. If an idea doesn't fit your vision, please submit your insight as a suggested idea, where members of the Community can comment and vote for it so it can be implemented in the future.

Feel free to share your suggestion with your friends and family to add more votes and comments, this is the best way to make your voice heard and get the attention from our development team.

Now, when it comes to the situation you're reporting about Treadmill exercises, please note that Fitbit devices have a finely tuned algorithm for step counting. The algorithm is designed to look for motion patterns that are most indicative of people walking. The algorithm determines whether a motion's size is large enough by setting a threshold. If the motion and its subsequent acceleration measurement meet the threshold, the motion will be counted as a step. If the threshold is not met, the motion won’t be counted as a step, which is why when you grab on the sides of the treadmill your steps stop getting tracked.

I hope this can be helpful, if there's anything else I can do for you, please feel free to reply.