Apple Watch and Fitbit

[BlackbookGuy]

I like my fitbit flex and am considering either a newer fitbit bracelet (possibly named Charge or Surge) or an Apple Watch.

I think that since the price difference won't be too bad (maybe $100?), so my decision will be based on other criteria.

I think it will depend on whether or not the battery reduces functionality too severely on the Apple Watch and how well the pulse tracking works on the fitbit. I suspect it will work well on the Apple Watch.


Anyone else looking at these two products?

 

[leenak]

You might look into the Basis Peak as another option.

Since Fitbit has said they will not support the Apple Healthkit, I'm a bit disappointed. I was looking at the next generation of Fitbits but I don't think I'm going to go that way anymore. I am watching the Basis Peak though which seems promising.

 

[foolishfocus]

I've been throwing around the idea of getting a Fitbit Flex or One over the last few weeks but then heard about the Surge yesterday. After thinking about how cool that would be I realized that I'd rather spend another $100 and get a fitness watch/smart watch instead of a fitness band only or fitness band with minimal smart features.

 

[Cashmonee]

I would be surprised if the Apple Watch wasn't as good of a fitness tracker as a simple Fitbit. However, the penalty will be battery life. The Fitbit should get around a week, I believe. Others, like the Garmin Vivofit get an entire year. Everyone is hoping that the Apple Watch can make it a full day.

As a side note, after seeing Health in action, I am wholly unimpressed. It is way too basic to do much of anything with. HealthKit is similarly not really been relevant to me yet. I use two apps, Garmin Connect and Strava, that already sync seamlessly. I see no benefit yet to Apple's health app or syncing.

 

[srshaw]

I'm more in the Garmin camp, and currently my Garmin vivofit appears to sync with apple health.

I'm not that bothered about apple health, but I'm wondering if an Apple watch will sync into garmin connect. If it does that will mean I will definitely buy it (provided it works ok worn on my right wrist).

 

[Julien]

...I'm not that bothered about apple health, but I'm wondering if an Apple watch will sync into garmin connect. If it does that will mean I will definitely buy it (provided it works ok worn on my right wrist).

It's all but curtain that Apple Watch data/app won't sync to Connect (or any other 3ed party App). Connect is proprietary and doesn't provide any 3ed party APIs. Even if Garmin did Apple would never use. However Connect allows importing of standard GPX or TCX data files.

We still need to see what Apple's fitness aWatch Apps do. Do they just simply track and pass the recorded data to Health or do they have editing, storing and viewing features on their own too?

If the former we could be *screwed at first. If the latter it should be relatively easy to export or extract a GPX or TCX file that could be imported into Connect or almost any other fitness tracking App.

*Even if Apple does limit the functionality of it's Apps it a sure bet we will see 3ed party tracking Apps that will allow GPX and TCX files to be exported.

 

[Corsig]

I absolutely love my fitbit force but I will not buy a new one because I want my fitness band to incorporate with apple health. I get why fitbit chose not to incorporate it but it's now alienating a whole group of users as a result.

I agree that the Basis looks promising so I'm waiting for "November" to see if it really comes out then. Otherwise early 2015 isn't all that far away.

I can't justify buying a new $200 watch before the iwatch comes out and then shell out another $350. I'm a geek and want the 1st gen.