3 new Fitbit models coming soon with heart rate and GPS capabilities
lacroyx
Posts: 5,754 Member
http://gizmodo.com/fitbit-charge-charge-hr-and-surge-leak-again-in-sport-1649086938 and http://gdgtarena.com/2014/10/22/exclusive-fitbit-details/
pics and info
[img]http://cdn.androidcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Fitbit_Surge™_Fitness_Super_Watch_at_Brookstone—Buy_Now_-332x480-290x420.jpg[/img]
[img]http://cdn.androidcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Fitbit_Surge™_Fitness_Super_Watch_at_Brookstone—Buy_Now_-2.jpg[/img]
details from the links
"A source placed at a major retailer told us that the Fitbit Charge will cost $129.95 and the Fitbit Charge HR will be available for $149.95. Alongside the Fitbit Charge and Charge HR, the company will also reveal the Fitbit Surge — the company’s first smartwatch. The Fitbit Surge will also be unveiled on October 27th and will be available for $250.
The Fitbit Charge and Charge HR will be a ‘replacement’ for the Fitbit Force. The wearables will be able to track steps, distance, calories burned, floors climbed, & active minutes. Both of the Fitbit Charge and Charge HR will be water-resistant as well. However, the Fitbit Charge HR will come with wrist-based heart rate for better calorie tracking & cardio training.
Our source also tells us that the company will start shipping the Fitbit Charge, Charge HR and Surge from mid-November."
pics and info
[img]http://cdn.androidcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Fitbit_Surge™_Fitness_Super_Watch_at_Brookstone—Buy_Now_-332x480-290x420.jpg[/img]
[img]http://cdn.androidcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Fitbit_Surge™_Fitness_Super_Watch_at_Brookstone—Buy_Now_-2.jpg[/img]
details from the links
"A source placed at a major retailer told us that the Fitbit Charge will cost $129.95 and the Fitbit Charge HR will be available for $149.95. Alongside the Fitbit Charge and Charge HR, the company will also reveal the Fitbit Surge — the company’s first smartwatch. The Fitbit Surge will also be unveiled on October 27th and will be available for $250.
The Fitbit Charge and Charge HR will be a ‘replacement’ for the Fitbit Force. The wearables will be able to track steps, distance, calories burned, floors climbed, & active minutes. Both of the Fitbit Charge and Charge HR will be water-resistant as well. However, the Fitbit Charge HR will come with wrist-based heart rate for better calorie tracking & cardio training.
Our source also tells us that the company will start shipping the Fitbit Charge, Charge HR and Surge from mid-November."
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Replies
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Cool, thanks for posting
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What about those that can't wear anything on their wrists at work
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Ooh interesting. I see adidas have also brought out an HRM for the wrist. Might wait a while for the reviews on their accuracy though - last research I did there was still some way for things to come before your HR could be accurately read from your wrist. Looking forward to progress in this area though - I love me some fitness gadgets!0
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stuffinmuffin wrote: »Ooh interesting. I see adidas have also brought out an HRM for the wrist. Might wait a while for the reviews on their accuracy though - last research I did there was still some way for things to come before your HR could be accurately read from your wrist. Looking forward to progress in this area though - I love me some fitness gadgets!
Yeah, definitely want to wait to see the accuracy, especially since Fitbit can sync automatically with MFP - I don't want to be sabotaging myself. However I am still excited about a new Fitbit device that isn't going to burn people's wrists.0 -
stuffinmuffin wrote: »Ooh interesting. I see adidas have also brought out an HRM for the wrist. Might wait a while for the reviews on their accuracy though - last research I did there was still some way for things to come before your HR could be accurately read from your wrist. Looking forward to progress in this area though - I love me some fitness gadgets!
I'm curious about accuracy too. My current fitbit is accurate for me (it's actually a little low but that works out perfectly, as the occasional days I go over are covered) so I'm not in a huge hurry to trade it in for something "better" that may turn out to be worse. But, on the other hand, new gadgets. :laugh:0 -
http://www.wired.com/2014/10/fitbit-charge-surge-wearables/ official news now
from link:
"Fitbit, one of the dominant players in today’s increasingly saturated fitness tracking space, today announced a trio of wearables of the wrist-worn variety.
While the wearable space already has an overwhelming number of offerings, like the Garmin Vivosmart, the Misfit Flash, and Polar’s smart fitness watches, wearing something on your watch is, as Apple emphasized in its Apple Watch hype, very personal. What works for one individual will not necessarily work for another. So, while the options for fitness-interested folks are intimidatingly limitless, it also means that you can find the device, and corresponding software platform, that does exactly what you want, fits the way you want, and looks the way you want. Fitbit, again, aims its particular offerings at those who have pretty basic fitness tracking and notification needs.
The new wristbands are the Fitbit Charge, the Charge HR, and the Surge. They will sell at prices ranging between $130 and $250, with the more expensive models having functions that will appeal to people who take fitness-tracking more seriously.
The Fitbit Charge ($130) is basically a next generation Fitbit Force (which, you may recall, got the axe in February for causing skin rashes). It tracks activity and sleep through popular metrics like steps, calories burned, floors climbed, and movement-based sleep quality. Unlike FitBit’s previous wrist offerings, the Charge is also able to show call notifications on its petite OLED display over Bluetooth LE. It also has a new exercise mode that provides onscreen workout summaries following an activity. It has a wider band than the Fitbit Flex, made of pleasantly textured plastic. The company claims it gets seven to ten days of battery life.
The Charge HR ($150) is a lot like the Charge, but it also offers continuous heart rate monitoring for better estimates of your daily caloric burn and workout intensity. It has a slightly different design with a more watch-like clasp. Fitbit claims a five day battery life on the Charge HR.
Fitbit’s third new piece of hardware is the $250 Surge, which the company dubs a “super watch”—something between a fitness tracker and a full-on smartwatch. I’d say it’s a basic sports watch with light smartwatch capabilities. The Surge includes GPS, heart rate monitoring, and Bluetooth LE-based call and text notifications, and also supports different workout modes like runs, weight training, or elliptical use. It’s bigger, so it gets a claimed seven days of battery life.
The Charge goes on sale in early November, while the Charge HR and Surge will go on sale early next year. (next year? boo)
Fitbit also made a few updates its mobile app. It now includes challenges, so you can compete with other Fitbit users for extra motivation. The app gives you some simple fitness coaching, too. It can automatically calculate your heart rate zones and divide them into three basic areas (fat burn, cardio, and peak performance) rather than the more complex five to seven zones elite athletes tend to go by. For Windows Phone users, the app also gains Cortana integration. So if you’re using Fitbit’s app to track what you eat, you can now tell Cortana what you had for lunch, and it will be automatically added."
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Want.0
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I think its great that Fitbit is coming out with a new line. But I like my One because it doesn't need to be worn on the wrist. If I had to go with a watch-style, I think I'd choose Polar Loop.0
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These are now on Fitbit's website. You can buy the Charge now or preorder the Charge HR and the Surge. I've got mine on preorder!!
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Cool new features. Wish they made a One styled one with these updated features, or at least the GPS feature, because I would never wear something on my wrist.0
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OMG I am so excited you posted this! THANK YOU! I had the Fitbit Force and LOVED it but had knee surgery in May, took it off for a few days, and now it is lost. I have been looking to replace it but havent found anything, even close, that I like or am excited about so I have been holding off and now I am so happy I did. I can wait a little longer for the Charge HR! Squee! Thanks again!0
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I jumped at the chance to get the Force when it first came out. Got the rash/burn that lasted months on my wrist like thousands of other people. Never again will I be so quick to purchase a new product. Nor will I ever buy another Fitbit product because of that whole situation. Good luck to you all, hopefully you don't have any weird reactions to this new product.0
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I SOOOOO want the Surge! It wouldn't let me preorder, though. It just said they would notify me when it is available.0
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According to PC World, the Charge goes on sale today, but I haven't found it anywhere. [ETA: Only checked on Fitbit site and Target, though.]
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2838937/fitbit-gets-fancier-with-charge-fitness-trackers-surge-super-watch.html
"However, only the Fitbit Charge is launching today. Fitbit says the Charge HR and Surge will launch early next year, but the company hasn't given a specific release date. All three devices will come in three sizes, and can pair with an iPhone, Android phone, or Windows Phone."
Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll come earlier than next year?0 -
MyNameIsCaffeine wrote: »According to PC World, the Charge goes on sale today, but I haven't found it anywhere. [ETA: Only checked on Fitbit site and Target, though.]
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2838937/fitbit-gets-fancier-with-charge-fitness-trackers-surge-super-watch.html
"However, only the Fitbit Charge is launching today. Fitbit says the Charge HR and Surge will launch early next year, but the company hasn't given a specific release date. All three devices will come in three sizes, and can pair with an iPhone, Android phone, or Windows Phone."
Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll come earlier than next year?
That's what I'm hoping. Why would they miss out on holiday season sales? I'm hoping maybe it's a worse case scenario.
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well damnit, I was all set and ready to buy a fitbit flex....now do I wait? Assuming these don't have chest straps so they can't be that accurate right? Guess I'll just stick with my HRM and then get the flex?
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veganbettie wrote: »well damnit, I was all set and ready to buy a fitbit flex....now do I wait? Assuming these don't have chest straps so they can't be that accurate right? Guess I'll just stick with my HRM and then get the flex?
choices...
No chest strap. It instead will have a optical heart sensor.
Sounds like it's similar to the technology that Mio uses.
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rawr.... i wish they would release them sooner... the charge HR sounds pretty nifty...0
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Rubbish just brought the flex! However that is only a temp measure until the iwatch comes out. Will have to wait too see the reviews0
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I'm not sure I'd be so swift to pre-order the Charge HR.
Clearly when this project started the goal would have been to launch all these products around now in order to benefit from the holiday season sales.
Since the Charge HR only really differs in the addition of an HRM, which is based on existing technology, it is a wee bit suspicious that the product is not ready to go.
I'm wondering if the form factor of the HR model is causing problems? Generally the optical HRM's that work well are quite wide, providing an 'overhang' that prevents incident light from reaching the sensors and causing false readings. Look at the MIO, it's as wide as a sweatband. The Charge HR is nice and narrow but could that be problematic?
The Surge model looks quite interesting though.0 -
lauraripson wrote: »I jumped at the chance to get the Force when it first came out. Got the rash/burn that lasted months on my wrist like thousands of other people. Never again will I be so quick to purchase a new product. Nor will I ever buy another Fitbit product because of that whole situation. Good luck to you all, hopefully you don't have any weird reactions to this new product.
I was forunate enough to not get a rash from the Force so I am hoping I will be good with the Charge.0 -
Fitbit is such a great company! I can't wait to put a Charge HR or a Surge on my wrist!!!!0
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The Charge is the Force, try two ... with the year between devices, they've lost market share and allowed quality competition to make inroads. The HR models are interesting, but how well the optical HR sensors work in reality remains to be seen. The Surge is an attempt to compete with devices like the Garmin Forerunner 15 ... GPS, all day activity monitor, HR capable. The release date is also troublesome. They come out after the holiday season .. maybe into the beginning of spring training season .... and that is the time when the electronics shows highlight all of the next generation toys.
The slide from the days when fitbit was THE activity tracker to them serving as just another tracker continues.0 -
I heard Microsoft is releasing one anytime as well. It supposed to work across all platforms, including iPhone and Android. It's rumored to have a built in heart rate monitor that doesn't require a strap
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