Please make the app sync without WiFi

[Bryan_MZ]

I know there is another post about this, but it is marked as 'Solved' based on the answer "That's just the way it works."

     Requiring Wifi to sync is less than ideal. We're paired to our mobile device already through Bluetooth. If we're using the mobile app, we don't necessarily care if the web-based dashboard is continually updated. Many people turn off WiFi on our mobile phone when we are out and about to save battery power. This design means we won't see any of our fitbit progress until we get home for the day and reconnect to WiFi.

     Ideally, the phone app would sync in real-time (or even on a user changeable time interval) over the Bluetooth connection, and it would update the online dashboard whenever Internet connectivity is restored.  

     Fitbit is a cool idea, let's help make it better through feedback.

Fitbit: Please consider this a feature change suggestion for the mobile app development cycle.

         - Paying customer

[DrBlake]

You can return it. If the laws in your country permits. example:
The laws in New Zealand (the consumer guarantee's act) allows you to return
the product if the product is not fit for purpose.
We also have a law. "14 day right of return no questions asked",
or this could be noted, the instructions didn't clearly state the WiFi or
internet with blue is required to allow the watch to function correctly and
so the product was sold on false pretense.

Suggest to check your countries & state laws to see what laws protect the
consumer in your country and return under the laws, if possible.

If more products get returned with a reason why, the manufacturer might
think of building a better product to better fit the consumers
requirements. Or even set the consumers expectations before a sale.

Good luck

[Mike_N]

@Pernie3 Probably a good move. By coincidence I'm heading to Alaska today. Still 50/50 on whether this thing is going with me. There might be some internet available here and there. Not sure. 

[Mike_N]

@DrBlake Thanks very much. I agree wholeheartedly that bad products should bounce back to the manufacturers. That's probably the only thing they understand. 

This particular defect is, in my opinion, huge. There's no solid technical reason why the user's mobile device couldn't do all necessary processing to give a decent display. Things that need internet like aggregation of workout and sleep statistics can easily wait until a connection becomes available. 

Cheers!

[Petiot]

And still no feedback, or reply from Fitbit. They probably don't spend much time on their forum ....

And the thread is still marked as "solved" (I guess it looks better that way).

I agree that returning the product would be the best message. 

I think the word of mouth and the better competition will eventually do the job.

I surely advertised against Fitbit products whenever I am involved in a discussions on fitness tracker.

[Petiot]

oh that was useful ! Thanks FitBit

I know, sarcasm is not helpful either, but at this point this is the only thing Fitbit customers in this post have left.

My suspicion is that, despite the blabla about data ownership/privacy on their website, Fitbit doesn't want users of their product to be able to hold data solely on their phone/computer. It has to go through their servers. If this is the case, it raises the question: Why would Fitbit want that? Possible answer, they anonymise the data (or maybe they don't ...) and then sell it. 

This is a stretch? Data is the new currency, Empires (e.g. Google) have been built on this.

Fitbit, please prove me wrong: can Fitbit implement a mode in the app that allows devices to be used without an online Fitbit user account? ... 

[Rich_Laue]

Sorry but when you setup your Fitbit account, you agreed to Firbit terms of service.

These terms mentioned that all daya will be stored on the Fitbit server. This actually makes sense in that many users use an app to sync their fitbit then want to use a second decice or a qeb page to view. If data was synced to one device, a second decice ir web page will not have access. Ok a second device could sync the daya but only any activity since the last sync will be transferred. 

Not to mention the leader board will become useless.

[Mike_N]

@Rich_Laue Thanks, but not sure of the relevance of your post. Terms of service and other legalisms do not enter into this discussion. We're merely discussing the utility of the product, which is diminished by this technical failure, due largely to lazy engineering, failed competency, or lack of resources. 

You will see from at least one earlier post of mine that syncing locally to the mobile device does not preclude later syncing the mobile device to the cloud at such time connectivity becomes available.

I have stressed that the Fitbit community is  generally likely to be traveling or recreating off the grid, and they'll want their Fitbit to work in that environment. It doesn't. I just got back from an Alaska trip and proved my own point. The Fitbit could have stayed home. 

I've been writing software for over 30 years and know what's feasible and what's not. Syncing locally without a dependence on internet access is both feasible and desirable. I doubt anyone else reading this thread will dispute that. 

This issue should *not* be marked solved. It'll be solved when they properly upgrade their deficient software. 

How're others feeling about this?

[Rich_Laue]

@Mike_N, please read my last part after my comment on the TOS.

I explain why having a local sync would cause problems for many users, including me. Many times i will want to sync the tracker on my phone, but then want to view the data on a web page. Even though the web browser is on the same phone. Since the data has only been synced to the phone, not the server, the web will not have access.

I wont bring up sleep or aut detected exercises, these are not computed on the tracker, or the app but are computed in the cloud after a sync.

Shall i mention the Fitbit social aspect with the leader boards, challenges, encouragements, etc. This would not be possible with a local sync to the phone.

No the developers are not being lazy, they simply realize that having daya sync locally to the phone, would not be conducive to the direction Fitbit wamts to head in.

As for as being solved, this simply means that a thread was answered to the satisfaction of the OP. In this case the OP marked their on post as a solution. This thread was marked solved in December 2016, you jumped on board in July of 2017 you knew it was marked solved before you posted,

[Petiot]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

@Mike_N, please read my last part after my comment on the TOS.

I explain why having a local sync would cause problems for many users, including me. Many times i will want to sync the tracker on my phone, but then want to view the data on a web page. Even though the web browser is on the same phone. Since the data has only been synced to the phone, not the server, the web will not have access.

I wont bring up sleep or aut detected exercises, these are not computed on the tracker, or the app but are computed in the cloud after a sync.

Shall i mention the Fitbit social aspect with the leader boards, challenges, encouragements, etc. This would not be possible with a local sync to the phone.

No the developers are not being lazy, they simply realize that having daya sync locally to the phone, would not be conducive to the direction Fitbit wamts to head in.

As for as being solved, this simply means that a thread was answered to the satisfaction of the OP. In this case the OP marked their on post as a solution. This thread was marked solved in December 2016, you jumped on board in July of 2017 you knew it was marked solved before you posted,

---

"Many times i will want to sync the tracker on my phone, but then want to view the data on a web page."

What is the FitBit app used for then? If the data is on my phone I want to see the data on the Fitbit app.

If by web page you mean from another device, then yes of course the data needs to be synced. But that does not prevent it from being cached locally on the phone which connect to the device.

"No the developers are not being lazy, they simply realize that having daya sync locally to the phone, would not be conducive to the direction Fitbit wamts to head in"

This is I think the point: The direction FitBit is taking is their, not their customers'. And I still think FitBit benefits from forcing their user to upload their data.

Shall i mention the Fitbit social aspect with the leader boards, challenges, encouragements, etc.

Never ever used this. Mostly because their are far better alternatives. FitBit is just trying to catch up with a market, but does it very badly. I would also be curious how many (amongst the people who requested off line data storage) do. 

In this case the OP marked their on post as a solution. This thread was marked solved in December 2016, you jumped on board in July of 2017 you knew it was marked solved before you posted,

Fair enough, however it seems the thread is very much alive and that many users would still like to see the offline feature implemented. But probably, the "solved" tag means we should just all shut up and not voice our requests.

[Mike_N]

@Rich_Laue Yes, I did see that. 

But my second paragraph bears repeating:

==

You will see from at least one earlier post of mine that syncing locally to the mobile device does not preclude later syncing the mobile device to the cloud at such time connectivity becomes available.

==

In other words, having a local sync / display and cloud based access (such as web page view or multiple mobile devices) are *not* mutually exclusive.

The transfer process can be broken down into two basic phases: 1) transfer of heart rate and accelerometer data from the wristband to the mobile device via Bluetooth and 2) transfer of this same data to the Fitbit servers via cellular data or wifi. 

After 2) the data is processed by the servers and sent back to the mobile device for display. But this processing can also take place on the mobile device, thus providing a useful display even when the servers cannot be contacted.

The problem is Fitbit has designed the mobile app to refuse to do even phase 1) if it detects phase 2) is impossible due to lack of internet connectivity. The app needs to handle local display *and* cloud sync. This is not difficult.

Basically, you get what you want and we travelers / backpackers / boaters get what we want.

Simple examples are the iPhone camera and notepad. If you're off the grid, say camping, you can still take all the pictures and make all the notes you want, they just have to wait till you get back to civilization to enter the cloud. But you still have them available locally to view, edit, and even share locally with your companions. Imagine your camera refusing to take pictures just because you don't have iCloud available. Nobody would stand for that.

[Rich_Laue]

I never said it was difficult. I did say that if it is mot in line with the direction Fotbit and James Parks view the developers may not pursue this.

I have noticed that the feature suggestion for off line syncing has not been denied,  which is a good sign.

[Mike_N]

@Rich_Laue I’m not sure why fixing this deficiency is not in line with Fitbit’s direction. Under my (and other users’) suggestion the Fitbit device and mobile app work just as they do now for people with constant reliable internet connectivity. They won’t see anything different.

I’m just suggesting that the utility of the Fitbit device and app be extended to folks who may be off in the mountains, at sea, or traveling somewhere in the world where internet is difficult or impossible to obtain. Currently Fitbit is near useless in those environments.

[Rich_Laue]

Did i say wnything about it being in line/not inline with the direction of fitbit?

The board we are on is where user may ask questions that they need help with, to be answered by their fellow fitbit users. We are not the ones in charge of where fitvit is going, and have no say.

[Mike_N]

@Rich_Laue It certainly sounded implied:
==
I did say that if it is mot in line with the direction Fotbit and James Parks view the developers may not pursue this.
==

And again I ask why this would be “not in line”? I’m just trying to do what you’re doing; make the product better and share information with the user community.

As constituted, the product has a significant but fixable flaw that I believe may affect substantial numbers of Fitbit users. I’m guessing most or all of them knew nothing of this flaw when they made their purchases. I only discovered it, one month into ownership, by going on a camping trip where there was no cell service.

If you search other posts, not necessarily in this thread, you’ll see some frustration out there on this very issue.

[DrBlake]

>From your answer you have obviously misunderstood the feedback, maybe check
all the feedback before commenting,

[Mike_N]

@DrBlake Excuse me?

What did I misunderstand?

[Petiot]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

Did i say wnything about it being in line/not inline with the direction of fitbit?

The board we are on is where user may ask questions that they need help with, to be answered by their fellow fitbit users. We are not the ones in charge of where fitvit is going, and have no say.

---

Well, yes you clearly did Rich_Laue.

And sorry to say but I do wonder why you are even posting on this thread if your belief is that customer don't have a say or should not have any critical feedback.

It does make me wonder what your incentive is in posting here? I honestly don't find your comments are constructive at all, not even within the scope you think those forum should be limited to. 

[Rich_Laue]

If you look at thr Feature Suggestion Board you will see tyat customers do have a say. Some are more watch faces, a quick start stop watch that stays on, a face with both analog and digital readout. https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/idb-p/features/status-key/implemented

Please remember we are in the board where Fi5bit users help each other with Fotbit problems. This request is bey9nd the ability of most fitbit users to help wi5h.

[Petiot]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

If you look at thr Feature Suggestion Board you will see tyat customers do have a say. Some are more watch faces, a quick start stop watch that stays on, a face with both analog and digital readout. https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/idb-p/features/status-key/implemented

Please remember we are in the board where Fi5bit users help each other with Fotbit problems. This request is bey9nd the ability of most fitbit users to help wi5h.

---

So ... if that is beyond what users can do, then maybe FitBit should step in. or step up I should say.

[Mike_N]

@Rich_Laue Thanks. I have used it. This forum is probably the third channel I’ve used to raise this issue. Sadly, the closest I’ve come to an answer is something like “that’s just the way it works” (that was in a direct email from Fitbit support, and was so ambiguously worded I suspected that the support person didn’t understand the issue very well).

I do realize that the users themselves can’t fix this, but presumably Fitbit folks sort of monitor this stuff and occasionally implement actual fixes and improvements. After all, somebody marked it solved. So I’m trying to get a message to Fitbit and more importantly a warning to users who can raise the issue themselves.

This problem is floating around in other threads as well, some of which have non-obvious titles. When my app screen went blank and froze (trying to sync) while on a camping trip I had no idea why. That was my first search topic at Fitbit, and it led me to the problem we are discussing here. They have since fixed the freeze, but the real problem has yet to be addressed.

This issue remains an issue as long as people buying the product believe (as I did, reasonably) that only the Fitbit wristband, working Bluetooth, and a compatible mobile device with the app are needed to track their activities.