Technology

As a longtime Fitbit user, the writing is on the wall. The Google buyout has been horrible, features disappearing, support sucking, no more web dashboard, payment issues, calorie goals no longer customizable, etc.

They bought the company for user data and patents. Merge what they want into their watches and discontinue the rest. Absolutely minimize maintenance costs by dropping features and firing employees. They'll keep the Fitbit name, maybe roll that into a watch sub-series, but the buyout was definitely a gut-and-dump deal.

Too bad the antitrust suit won't save what used to be a great product and company in time.

Yeah, and Google Stadia had great new games coming and they were totally committed to it until woops, never mind, it's dead.

Google has a hell of a credibility problem at this point.

Either Google continually buys companies for far more than they should or they really suck at buisness. How many times have they aquired healthy companies then absolutely destroyed them? It's hard for me to believe they're not actively trying to at this point.

It's what Google does, launch products -> cancel them, buy products -> cancel them. I have been burned enough times by them that I don't use anything they make anymore out of the certainty that it'll get canceled just as soon as I've grown to depend on it.

Rip Fitbit. They had a good run.

Same thing happened to Nest. The cameras and thermostats were great when they were a private company then sh*t the bed when Google took them over.

Google stopped support of their app almost immediately in support of ‘Google Home’ which was to control the thermostat and Camera - which is terrible and requires you to constantly log into it with your email and password if you want to access anything.

I literally just bought a Fitbit because I really needed a watch and it has the features I cared about and was way less expensive than a Garmin.

Honestly I think Google will cancel them because they compete with Android Wear or whatever which can't hold a charge worth a damn. 24 hours for a Pixel Watch? Fuck right off.

Glad I moved to Garmin a while back. I preferred Fitbit's Dashboard over Garmin
When I heard Google's buying it, I got a Garmin for my next smartwatch just to check the UI. I was thinking of moving back, but I guess I won't.
Garmin seems to be embracing smartwatches with a number of different series

They don't need to, the day the acquisition was announced my Fitbit went in the bin.

Fuck google, the greedy rent seeking parasites.

The year is 2039.

After successful launch of AILook replacement NextAI, Google is discontinuing traditional Google Search.

FYI for those thinking of migrating to pixel watch: Big oof: The Google Pixel Watch 3 can't be repaired, only replaced

Of course they aren't killing ~~fotbit~~ fitbit. This week.

It's like when you stop hanging out with your girlfriend in hopes she breaks up with you. Technically you didn't break up with her.

Lots of Garmin love in here! Anything affordable that handles GPS well?

Alright, where's my replacement once my current Fitbit dies? What company makes a watch that tracks steps, heart rate, sleep, spO2, notifications, is generally water resistant (light swimming) and has a battery that lasts ~5+ days? Bonus points for open firmware/hardware that doesn't require me to design my own apps/systems for each of those items. I don't even use most of what my Versa 3 can do, but I know it won't last forever and I'd at least like an idea of where to go if/when it breaks down.