Blaze Firmware Release - 17.8.301.4 [Closed]

[AndrewFitbit]

9/23 Update:

See the new firmware thread here

---

9/22 Update:

For those that have the firmware update already, new clock faces have been re-enabled.

We've continued the rollout process. If you don't yet have the update, please be patient. We'll post updates about the rollout when we have more information.

---

9/19 Update:

Hey everyone - it seems like we're struggling to maintain civil conversation on this topic, so I'm going to go ahead and lock the thread. We'll open a new thread once the firmware update goes into wider distribution. Until then, here are answers to the questions that keep getting asked here:

When will I be able to download the latest update?

The update is on hold while our team addresses an issue found at the beginning of the release. Once their work is complete, we will start rolling it out again. We generally don't announce specific dates or timeframes, but you will see the update on your dashboard as soon as it is available. The only thing you need to do right now is wait patiently.

Why did you release the latest update to only a small percentage of users?

We've done tons of testing on this new firmware, but there can still be unexpected issues when we release it. If every Blaze customer updated at once, those surprises would affect everyone. Instead, we use an incremental release to observe and address issues on a relatively small scale. We definitely want the best experience possible for our Blaze customers, and a slow, cautious release helps accomplish that goal.

If only 5% of Blaze users have the update now, does that mean 10% will have it next week and 15% will have it the week after? Won't that take forever?

Nope! We aren't moving in 5% increments. We started the release at 5% and will increase it in much larger increments once we are confident that it's good to go. You should receive it soon.

Why haven't you communicated this information to customers?

All this information was previously posted in this thread, and also added to the lead post. Any time you find a discussion of an emerging issue or a newly-released update, make sure to check the first post for the latest information. We aim for clear, concise, transparent, and frequent communication - you should always find what you need in the lead post.

---

9/15 Update:

The new Blaze update is currently available only to a very small percentage of users, as we are troubleshooting some emerging issues. It will be released more widely soon. Once it is available, you will see a banner at the top of your website or mobile app dashboard. Thanks for your patience!

---

Hey everyone! 

We're rolling out a new update for Blaze, release notes below: 

• In addition to call, text, and calendar event notifications, you can receive notifications from email and other third-party apps on your tracker.Common emojis also appear. Keep in mind all notifications currently on your tracker will be deleted after the update.
• You can receive reminders to move throughout the day.
• Five new clock faces are available. Navigate to your device settings and check them out!

This release also resolves the following issue:

• Some users reported that auto-brightness was too dim or delayed.

Important to note: A sync is required after a manual shutdown or a battery drain in order to show the correct time on Blaze. This is especially important for your activity tracked by Blaze because you'll want to make sure it's associated with the current date and time.

The initial wave of users will receive the update starting September 12th, 2016, and will eventually be rolled out to everyone within a few days. If the update to the latest firmware version is not yet available for your Blaze, just hang tight!

[racertempo]

---

@Sanchez wrote:

Do we have any updated time frame when the update will be available for everyone else? This post is now a few days old. Thanks!

---

Keep an eye on the first post of this thread, all updates will be provided through there, as far as forum updates go.  No new news since 9/15.

[oBoy]

Maybe he wouldn't feel obligated to respond if he wasn't called insane. Every time.

Of course, scrolling back, he's called more names to others than basically anyone else...

Whatever. I forgot to shut up. All I'll say is that it's possible to make a point without even addressing the person who made it. Except, apparently, on the internet.

MAN I feel old.

[gherman22]

Andrew.  It would help a little if you would post this update and continous updates on status of the firmware upgrade on the  More Watch Faces For Blaze thread.  You've got a lot of pissed off people on that thread including me!

The last we heard form Fitbit after 6 months of begging for new watch faces was a statement the new firmware was coming out in September, then a statement on I think it was the 11th that it had been released and prople would be getting it within a few days.  OK we are waiting. And waiting, and waiing.  And and hearing not a bloody thing from Fitbit.  

In reading your update I now see what I have suspected the last few days, that there are issues with the release so it has been pulled until the issues have been resolved.  I understand that and most people do when they are told.  I have been on software/firmware teams before myself as a testor and I realize the problems, most don't.  I see you constantly being compared to Apple who have thousands of programmers working on each of their updates and I am sure Fitbit has only a small shop.  But instead of picking an entire month as your target you should have said "By September 30" tehn if you make it earlier you overperform, but if it needs to slip due to issues you can say so and give a new target. 

The lack of information pisses us off a heck of a lot more than anything else.  

[MikeF]

---

@Sanchez wrote:

Do we have any updated time frame when the update will be available for everyone else? This post is now a few days old. Thanks!

---

No. The company updates (and will update) the first post in this thread when they have news. There is no other information.

[Scott2hotty]

Any chance I can be one of the small percentage. I've been debating for a couple of weeks now regarding the blaze vs iwatch2. Part of me says I don't need the Iwatch but the other part of me says I really need more to be updated daily. Whatsapp and emails are the biggest thing for me.
Happy to be a Guinea pig and also send reviews of that helps?
Thanks
Scott

[The_Lion]

Well, the new version is a new information. But it seems that we have to wait again.

[EFTC]

To fitbit team: Please take your time to test the firmware before releasing.  I don't need the newest and greatest and I don't need to be the first one to have it. I do, however, want something that works as described.  As I mentioned in other posts, updating firmware takes a long time and I don't want to be doing this often.

As for the individuals who are complaining and arguging, please stand on the side line and stay quiet.  We don't need any of that here.

P.S. When is the Japanese version going to be released?

[geauxnola]

Try choosing an original clock face from your desktop Fitbit Dashboard through settings and sync again.

[The_Lion]

They told that it is independent from the country.

[MikeF]

---

@Scott2hotty wrote:
Any chance I can be one of the small percentage. I've been debating for a couple of weeks now regarding the blaze vs iwatch2. Part of me says I don't need the Iwatch but the other part of me says I really need more to be updated daily. Whatsapp and emails are the biggest thing for me.
Happy to be a Guinea pig and also send reviews of that helps?

---

It's already been stated as being fully random.

[MikeF]

---

@EFTC wrote:

P.S. When is the Japanese version going to be released?

---

There is no Japanese version. There is just one software version for all Blazes worldwide as far as we know.

[SpaceToast]

---

@SanFit wrote:
@iwoe. >>>Still no new release here.

Please be careful in expressing your demand for a new release. Your post might IRRITAGE fitbit loyalists here.

---

You're looking far to into this. Sure, I love fitbit, it's a great device. I also realize that bugs happen in software development, and if you uncover a major one during a software rollout. It's much better if they halt the rollout and fix the bug instead of releasing it to everyone and risking further issues. But with your mentality of a 5 year throwing a tantrum, screaming "I want it now, gimme gimme gimme", you obviously don't comprehend basic logic so have fun with that.

[SpaceToast]

---

@Sanchez wrote:

Do we have any updated time frame when the update will be available for everyone else? This post is now a few days old. Thanks!

---

They ran into a bug where the new clock faces weren't showing up and they're trying to fix it, it'l be out soon! 🙂

[jmattwood]

---

@The_Lion wrote:

They told that it is independent from the country.

---

Indeed.

I tired connecting from various international IP addresses in the vain hope of being able to update (quite glad I was unsuccessful in hindsight)

[Scott2hotty]

Interesting that I don't think you read my thread. I'm offering to help if they need users to test. My understanding of the process is actually quite intensive but I don't work for Fitbit. I just want to see their products succeed. 'Have fun with that'

Sent from my iPhone

[AnitaI]

We have been asked to be patient but I'm starting to loose my patience. It's been a week since all this craziness started and from what I have read it was going to take few days. So what is going on? When will the update be released???

[MatthewFitbit]

Hey everyone - it seems like we're struggling to maintain civil conversation on this topic, so I'm going to go ahead and lock the thread. Please take a quick read through the Community Guidelines, since it seems some participants were unfamiliar with those expectations.

We'll open a new thread once the firmware update goes into wider distribution. Until then, here are answers to the questions that keep getting asked here:

When will I be able to download the latest update?

The update is on hold while our team addresses an issue found at the beginning of the release. Once their work is complete, we will start rolling it out again. We generally don't announce specific dates or timeframes, but you will see the update on your dashboard as soon as it is available. The only thing you need to do right now is wait patiently.

Why did you release the latest update to only a small percentage of users?

We've done tons of testing on this new firmware, but there can still be unexpected issues when we release it. If every Blaze customer updated at once, those surprises would affect everyone. Instead, we use an incremental release to observe and address issues on a relatively small scale. We definitely want the best experience possible for our Blaze customers, and a slow, cautious release helps accomplish that goal.

If only 5% of Blaze users have the update now, does that mean 10% will have it next week and 15% will have it the week after? Won't that take forever?

Nope! We aren't moving in 5% increments. We started the release at 5% and will increase it in much larger increments once we are confident that it's good to go. You should receive it soon.

I downloaded the new update - where are my new clock faces?

The new clock faces have been universally disabled. They will return soon.

Why haven't you communicated this information to customers?

All this information was previously posted in this thread, and also added to the lead post. Any time you find a discussion of an emerging issue or a newly-released update, make sure to check the first post for the latest information. We aim for clear, concise, transparent, and frequent communication - you should always find what you need in the lead post.