After years of fitness-focused devices, Fitbit has unveiled its first true smartwatch to mark the 10th anniversary of its first tracker.
The company announced the Fitbit Iconic, a $300 (£299) wrist wearable that is more similar to devices such as the Apple Watch than to the fitness trackers it has offered in the past.
The Ionic runs new software, Fitbit OS, and we be available in October in silver, grey, and orange.
Today, the company announced the Fitbit Iconic, a $300 wrist wearable that is more similar to devices such as the Apple Watch than to the fitness trackers it has offered in the past
The main feature that makes Ionic more than just a slightly improved Fitbit -such as the Fitbit Blaze – is its new operating system and ability to support watch faces and third-party apps that will live in a new Fitbit App Gallery, starting with Starbucks, Accuweather, Pandora, and cycling app Strava.
More apps including Adidas All Day, Flipboard, GAME GOLF, Nest and Surfline are expected to be released for Ionic in the fall.
Ionic will boast four days of battery life, which reduces to about 10 hours with GPS and music usage.
‘Consumers have not yet seen in a smartwatch – a health and fitness first platform that combines the power of personalization and deeper insights with our most advanced technology to date, unlocking opportunities for unprecedented health tracking capabilities in the future.’ Fitbit co-founder and CEO James Park said.
The firm was able to implement app capabilities after acquiring Pebble, the defunct smartwatch manufacturer, last December.
Fitbit also released Flyer, bluetooth headphones made for workouts that are sweatproof, feature music controls and six hours of playtime.
After years of fitness-focused devices, Fitbit has unveiled its first true smartwatch for the 10th anniversary of its first tracker. The Ionic runs new software, Fitbit OS, and we be available in October in silver, grey, and orange
More apps including Adidas All Day (left), Flipboard, GAME GOLF, Nest and Surfline are expected to be released for Ionic in the fall. The device comes preloaded wioth
‘Ionic runs on Fitbit OS, the company’s new operating system for smartwatches that will be regularly updated to add new user experiences,’ the company said.
‘This includes the launch of the Fitbit App Gallery, where you can select the apps and clock faces that appeal to you so you’re always armed with the information you want most, in a way that reflects your own personal needs and style.’
FITBIT’S $300 IONIC WATCH
Ionic will support third party apps, starting with Starbucks, Accuweather, Pandora, and cycling app Strava
– Fitbit coach for personalized workouts
– Store and play 300+ songs
– Built in GPS with real-time pace and distance tracking
– Four days of battery life, which reduces to about 10 hours with GPS and music usage
– Support for third party apps, starting with Starbucks, Accuweather, Pandora, and cycling app Strava
– Developers have access to a SDK and all sensors to make more apps
– Smart notifications
– Water resistant up to 50 meters
– Fitbit pay
– PurePulse advanced hear tracker
– Sleep tracker
Fitbit is encouraging developers to create more applications for the device and has made the process pretty easy with an with a Javascript software development kit and full access to the device’s sensors.
The device will also allow users to receive calls, text and calendar alerts as well as host notifications from apps on your smartphone like Gmail, Instagram, Slack, Snapchat, and more; however, users will only be able to view, not interact, with the notifications.
The device – which will be available in October – will sell for $299.95, which is slightly more than the $269 Apple Watch Series 1 and less than many watched on the Android Wear line. It will be available in October in silver, grey, and orange.
Other smartphone-like features include the ability to store and play music – the device can hold over 300 songs (2.5GB) and also connect to Pandora without the use of a smartphone.
Ionic will boast 4 days of battery life, which reduces to about 10 hours with GPS and music usage.
Fitbit Coach (a revamped version of FitStar) is described as a personal trainer on your wrist that offers workouts based on feedback you provide as well as walking Audio Coaching sessions to increase endurance, speed and form on your schedule
Smartphone-like features include the ability to store and play music – the device can hold over 300 songs (2.5GB) and also connect to Pandora without the use of a smartphone
After acquiring all-in-one credit card maker Coin, the company is introducing Fitbit Pay to allow users to leave their wallets at home as well and pay for items with the device wherever contactless payments such as Apple Pay are accepted.
Over the coming months you will be able to add eligible American Express, Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards to the device from top issuing banks in over 10 markets across the globe, including ANZ, Banco Santander, Bank of America, Capital One, HSBc, KBC Bank Ireland, OCBC Bank, Royal Back of Canda, UOB and US Bank, with more countries and banks planned soon.
On the fitness front, Fitbit Ionic boasts an array of new and improved features.
Fitbit Coach (a revamped version of FitStar) is described as a personal trainer on your wrist that offers workouts based on feedback you provide as well as walking Audio Coaching sessions to increase endurance, speed and form on your schedule.
Ionic will boast 4 days of battery life, which reduces to about 10 hours with GPS and music usage
With water resistance up to 50 meters, the Fitbit Ionic is also useful for swim workouts and can show your real-time laps and track exercise duration and calories burned for pool swims
Run Detect, the new running companion, uses GPS tracking to track your pace, distance, elevation climbed, split times and create a map of your run all on Iconic with no smartphone required.
The device’s unique design and integrated antenna provide a stronger connection to GPS and GLONASS satellites, delivering ‘industry-leading GPS performance’ that also includes auto-pause, so you can take a rest without worrying about the device.
With water resistance up to 50 meters, the Fitbit Ionic is also useful for swim workouts and can show your real-time laps and track exercise duration and calories burned for pool swims.
Run Detect, the new running companion, uses GPS tracking to track your pace, distance, elevation climbed, split times and create a map of your run all on Iconic with no smartphone required
The new device boasts new sensors such as the SpO2, which can estimate blood oxygen levels to open the potential for tracking important new indicators about your health, such as sleep apnea.
It also has enhanced PurePulse heart rate tracking with greater accuracy during exercises – it can better measure calorie burn, see real-time heart rate zones to optimize intensity, and track resting heart rate 24/7.
Ionic is the first Fitbit device to be designed fully in-house.
While the firm released few specs, it said the device ‘features new processes and materials that improve weight, fit, durability, breathability, and daily wear.’
Engadget reports it has a 1.42-inch, 348 x 250 screen.
The device’s unique design and integrated antenna provide a stronger connection to GPS and GLONASS satellites, delivering ‘industry-leading GPS performance’ that also includes auto-pause, so you can take a rest without worrying about the device
The device will also allow users to receive calls, text and calendar alerts as well as host notifications from apps on your smartphone like Gmail, Instagram, Slack, Snapchat, and more; however, users will only be able to view, not interact, with the notifications
Ionic used nano-molding technology to allow the unibody watchcase to double as the Bluetooth and GPS antenna – this technique is commonly used in smatphones, but not wearables.
‘This construction creates a stronger GPS signal that works in busy cities or on remote trails,’ the company said.
The color display is slightly curved and features a glass touchscreen with amplified brightness of up to 1,000 nits lets you read your stats wherever you are.
Two hardware buttons live on the right of the display, with a third on the left side as well.
Ionic will be available for presale on Fitbit.com today and with select online retailers tomorrow.
The device – which will be available in October – will sell for $299.95, which is slightly more than the $269 Apple Watch Series 1 and less than many watched on the Android Wear line.
The color display is slightly curved and features a glass touchscreen with amplified brightness of up to 1,000 nits lets you read your stats wherever you are. Two hardware buttons live on the right of the display, with a third on the left side as well
The launch follows months of delays and technical difficulties.
In April, Yahoo reported issues with the GPS caused the company to redesign the entire device from scratch.
The firm was also having trouble making the device water resistant, the sources said.
In late June, Bloomberg reported the project lost several people who were working on the smartwatch and that technical challanges were delaying the App Gallery.
It was also said Fitbit was having trouble closing a deal with Spotify – a hurdle it’s now clear the firm was never able to overcome.
But even with app supporting and other new features, Ionic is still fitness-first and feels late to the game in some ways.
Apple and Google smartwatches have allowed third-party apps for years and lets you interact with more of them, while Ionic is only allowing viewing for some notifications.
Ionic will be available for presale on Fitbit.com today and with select online retailers tomorrow. The device – which will be available in October – will sell for $299.95, which is slightly more than the $269 Apple Watch Series 1 and less than many watched on the Android Wear line
After testing it for a few days, Chaim Gartenberg of The Verge said it’s ‘the best Fitbit [he’s] ever used’ but that he isn’t yet sold on it as a smartwatch.
‘I’ve had a few days to try out the Ionic, and while the software isn’t quite finished yet, I found myself with some mixed feelings about the device,’ he said.
‘Wearing it is comfortable, the battery life lasts multiple days, even with a few runs thrown in, and the software is clean and simple to use – But I still have some misgivings about how well it will fare as a smartwatch.’
Fitbit needs Ionic to take off to continue competing in this industry.
Earlier this month, the company reported a 40 percent drop in revenue, its third straight quarterly decline.
The company reported a net loss of $58.2 million, or 25 cents per share, in the second quarter, compared with a profit of $6.3 million, or 3 cents per share, a year earlier.
The fitness-band maker’s revenue fell to $353.3 million from $586.5 million.
Fitbit, which has called 2017 ‘a transition year’ and is taking steps to reduce operating costs, cut 6 percent of its workforce in January.