Fitbit

Fitbit Surge gains bike-tracking, multi device support announced

Monday, fitness tracker maker Fitbit took pre-emptive steps ahead of Apple Watch launch next month, giving its fitness bands new features.

The company announced a new outdoor bike-tracking feature on its $249 Surge fitness tracker. In addition, it rolled out multi-tracker support allowing users to easily switch between multiple Fitbit models throughout the day. Multi-band support allows Fitbit fans to register up to six fitness trackers in their Fitbit account, one of each model.

The system then automatically pings the user when she or he switches trackers.

Fitbit Charge HR, Surge now available for $149/$249

Can't wait for the Apple Watch to track your health? Fitbit announced the availability of the Charge HR and Surge on Tuesday, after unveiling the products last October.

The Charge HR, available from Fitbit's website for $149, is a heart rate tracker on the wrist, with an OLED screen, an exercise mode, Caller ID, automatic sleep detection, and a water resistant design with 5 days of battery life. It's available in plum, black, blue, or tangerine.

New ‘Sync Solver’ app sends Fitbit data to Apple’s Health app

In October, Fitbit announced that it had no plans of integrating its activity trackers or software with Apple's Health app. This means that if you have a Fitbit Flex or other device, the data it gathers will not be shared with Health, crippling its attempt to be your fitness data dashboard.

But a new app launched this week in the App Store that aims to change this. It's called Sync Solver, and it allows Fitbit wearers to track all of the important data collected by their wearables within the Health app, without ever having to use the standalone, dedicated Fitbit application.

Apple removes Fitbit products from online store

Apple has followed through with plans to stop selling Fitbit devices. As noted by MacRumors, the company has pulled all Fitbit products from its online store and has begun removing them from the shelves of its retail stores as well.

Previously, Apple carried the Fitbit Flex fitness band and the classic Fitbit one, both of which connected to iOS devices. The reason behind the removals is unknown, but there does appear to be tension brewing between the two firms.

FitBit unveils next-generation activity trackers and a $250 fitness superwatch

After recalling its rash-inducing Force wristband back in February, FitBit on Monday launched a new family of activity trackers, the FitBit Charge and Charge HR, while making its first foray into the smart watch space with the FitBit Surge fitness accessory.

The water-resistant Fitbit Charge, billed as “the Force reinvented”, is an improved version of the activity tracker with an OLED screen and a seven-day battery. The Fitbit Charge HR is an improved version of the Charge wristband with FitBit's PurePulse heart rate sensors and a five-day battery.

As for the Fitbit Surge, this $250 fitness watch packs in a total of eight sensors for more detailed logging of activities such as running and working out. Jump past the fold for more details.

Apple to stop selling Fitbit products in stores

Apple may soon stop selling Fitbit device in its retail stores, according to Recode. The outlet says that its source gave no meaningful reason for why it's decided to pull the products, but it may have something to do with its upcoming Apple Watch.

Introduced at last month's media event, the Apple Watch is billed as a device capable of handling a number of smartphone tasks, as well as tracking and analyzing various health and fitness data. This would put it in direct competition with Fitbit.

Fitbit currently has no plans to integrate with iOS 8 Health app

It looks like Fitbit won't be sharing data with the new iOS 8 Health app anytime soon. Responding to a question in support forums, a representative for the company said that it "currently has no plans to integrate with HealthKit."

The rep adds that HealthKit is an interesting new platform that Fitbit will be watching as it matures, as it looks for opportunities to improve the user experience. "But at the moment," he says, it's working on "other exciting projects."

Fitibt recalls Force fitness band over skin irritation, offers refunds

Here's a little wake-up call for companies jumping on the wearable devices bandwagon like there's no tomorrow. You don't get to ever think about skin irritation in regard to computers, digital cameras, smartphones, tablets and other gadgets. But fitness trackers and health bands are quite a different story: this kind of technology gets worn on one's person and is in direct contact with skin more or less 24/7.

Case in point: accessory maker Fitbit on Friday announced a voluntary recall of its Force fitness tracker due to complaints of skin irritation. The company has stopped sales of the rash-inducing wristband and will be offering refunds, according to Consumerist...

Fitbit Force’s iPhone-exclusive Caller ID integration shown off on video, coming February

FitBit released its Force fitness tracker last October, but not all of the planned software features were ready for the launch, namely notifications for incoming calls. According to a company representative, Called ID functionality is currently being worked on and is scheduled for delivery in February 2014 via a free software update.

They've also shared a video showing Caller ID integration on the Force and I've included it below the fold for your viewing pleasure...

Fitbit updated with MobileTrack feature via iPhone 5s’s M7 motion coprocessor

The list of apps enabled for Apple's power-efficient motion tracking chip, the M7, just keeps on growing. Fitbit, one of the finest fitness apps in the App Store, has been bumped up to version 2.1, now available in the App Store, and can now use the iPhone 5s's motion tracking chip to monitor your activity without draining your device's battery or having the app active for that matter.

M7 support has also made possible a new MobileTrack feature that allows you to use some of Fitbit's tracking features, but without buying the company's wearable tracking accessories. More on that and other changes in this Fitbit update right below...

Argus picks up support for Fitbit imports, Bluetooth heart rate monitor for activities and more

Azumio's Argus fitness software was the first App Store app to gain low-power motion tracking via support for the dedicated M7 motion coprocessor inside the iPhone 5s.

Today, the developer has refreshed the app with a bunch of fixes and a couple new features, including the new Close Friends social capability, the ability to import Fitbit data, support for Bluetooth heart rate monitor for activities and other goodies.

The updated item is now live in the App Store and free for everyone who've previously purchased the program...

Fitbit launches Force fitness tracker with Bluetooth 4.0 and call notifications

Fitbit's health and fitness trackers are well regarded by fans of wearables. The San Francisco startup has managed to win over the active types with its Flex wristband, Zip and Fitbit One activity trackers and today they're adding another gadget to its lineup: the Force fitness tracker.

Slap it on your wrist and the Force will dutifully record the steps taken, distance traveled, stairs climbed, calories burned and active minutes. It also measures the quality of your sleep (how many times you wake up) and has a nice built-in OLED display to show time and, soon, incoming call notifications...