I spent ten years using Fitbit, including a few after the acquisition. I even interviewed with them back in ~2015 and really wanted the role. The writing was on the wall after the failure of...
I spent ten years using Fitbit, including a few after the acquisition. I even interviewed with them back in ~2015 and really wanted the role.
The writing was on the wall after the failure of wearOS and the subsequent acquisition of the company by Google.
I had already grown tired of the planned obsolescence of Fitbit's hardware, right from the Ultra on through the final I owned, the Sense.
I left the platform, having diligently checked my steps and flights daily for more than ten years.
I'm still salty about it a decade later. I tried the Apple Watch for a few years after my Pebble and Pebble Time Steel broke, but it just felt like a completely different category of device. The...
I'm still salty about it a decade later. I tried the Apple Watch for a few years after my Pebble and Pebble Time Steel broke, but it just felt like a completely different category of device. The Pebble felt like a watch with smart features whereas the Apple Watch felt like a smart device with watch features.
Strong disagree on your first point. Pebble was going bankrupt regardless; Fitbit's buyout saved many of their jobs, and they not only tolerated the unofficial "Rebble" project but helped it out...
Strong disagree on your first point. Pebble was going bankrupt regardless; Fitbit's buyout saved many of their jobs, and they not only tolerated the unofficial "Rebble" project but helped it out by updating the defunct Pebble app and keeping it available in the app stores for years. They could have bricked the devices or sent a C&D to the Rebble folks -- instead, I've got a Time on my wrist right now that's still ticking.
I'd agree with you if Fitbit ever released another e-ink / Pebble-like device after the acquisition. I think Pebble could've survived independently - just smaller and with less growth. The company...
I'd agree with you if Fitbit ever released another e-ink / Pebble-like device after the acquisition. I think Pebble could've survived independently - just smaller and with less growth. The company was largely crowded-funded and well liked by it's userbase.
They raised over ~$45m from various crowdfunding campaigns during the life of the company. I think it was a mistake for Pebble to pursue Venture Capital (Charles River Ventures) and focus too heavily on growth.
The acquisition was what did them in for me as well. I kept my last Fitbit, the Charge something or other, until it wouldn't hold a charge, and then switched to the Apple Watch. Is it better? Not...
The acquisition was what did them in for me as well. I kept my last Fitbit, the Charge something or other, until it wouldn't hold a charge, and then switched to the Apple Watch. Is it better? Not exactly, there's some functionality that I miss from the Fitbit that the Apple Watch doesn't have, but I've gotten used to it.
It felt from the moment that Google bought Fitbit that it was already going downhill.
I'm much happier with the Apple Watch. Notifications are much better, for one. It's great to screen notifications without taking my phone out of my pocket, approve 2FA prompts (which I do several...
I'm much happier with the Apple Watch. Notifications are much better, for one. It's great to screen notifications without taking my phone out of my pocket, approve 2FA prompts (which I do several times per day) and to be able to answer a phone call and automatically be able to talk through AirPods.
The biggest thing that didn't work as well out of the box was sleep tracking, but the third party Autosleep app fixes that by adding proper automatic sleep tracking instead of the half-baked implementation Apple includes.
That's good to know. EDIT: I just installed the app. I LOVE that it's a pay once app, the price is reasonable, there's customization, and there's NO subscription model. It's all just right there....
That's good to know.
EDIT: I just installed the app. I LOVE that it's a pay once app, the price is reasonable, there's customization, and there's NO subscription model. It's all just right there. Thank you for the recommendation!
I spent ten years using Fitbit, including a few after the acquisition. I even interviewed with them back in ~2015 and really wanted the role.
The writing was on the wall after the failure of wearOS and the subsequent acquisition of the company by Google.
I had already grown tired of the planned obsolescence of Fitbit's hardware, right from the Ultra on through the final I owned, the Sense.
I left the platform, having diligently checked my steps and flights daily for more than ten years.
Shrug.
The biggest sin of Fitbit is the acquisition and shutdown of Pebble. Pebble was an amazing device.
I'm still salty about it a decade later. I tried the Apple Watch for a few years after my Pebble and Pebble Time Steel broke, but it just felt like a completely different category of device. The Pebble felt like a watch with smart features whereas the Apple Watch felt like a smart device with watch features.
Strong disagree on your first point. Pebble was going bankrupt regardless; Fitbit's buyout saved many of their jobs, and they not only tolerated the unofficial "Rebble" project but helped it out by updating the defunct Pebble app and keeping it available in the app stores for years. They could have bricked the devices or sent a C&D to the Rebble folks -- instead, I've got a Time on my wrist right now that's still ticking.
I'd agree with you if Fitbit ever released another e-ink / Pebble-like device after the acquisition. I think Pebble could've survived independently - just smaller and with less growth. The company was largely crowded-funded and well liked by it's userbase.
They raised over ~$45m from various crowdfunding campaigns during the life of the company. I think it was a mistake for Pebble to pursue Venture Capital (Charles River Ventures) and focus too heavily on growth.
The acquisition was what did them in for me as well. I kept my last Fitbit, the Charge something or other, until it wouldn't hold a charge, and then switched to the Apple Watch. Is it better? Not exactly, there's some functionality that I miss from the Fitbit that the Apple Watch doesn't have, but I've gotten used to it.
It felt from the moment that Google bought Fitbit that it was already going downhill.
I'm much happier with the Apple Watch. Notifications are much better, for one. It's great to screen notifications without taking my phone out of my pocket, approve 2FA prompts (which I do several times per day) and to be able to answer a phone call and automatically be able to talk through AirPods.
The biggest thing that didn't work as well out of the box was sleep tracking, but the third party Autosleep app fixes that by adding proper automatic sleep tracking instead of the half-baked implementation Apple includes.
That's good to know.
EDIT: I just installed the app. I LOVE that it's a pay once app, the price is reasonable, there's customization, and there's NO subscription model. It's all just right there. Thank you for the recommendation!