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Fitbit, the fitness company behind the Fitbit line of wearable activity tracking devices, today updated its Fitbit iPhone app with a new "MobileTrack" feature, which is designed to offer iPhone 5s users standard Fitbit activity tracking without the need for one of the company's fitness bands.
To track movement and activity, the revamped Fitbit app uses Apple's "M7" motion coprocessor. First introduced with the iPhone 5s, the M7 chip accompanies Apple's standard A7 processor and captures motion data from the phone's compass, accelerometer, and gyroscope, facilitating the continued capture of movement without significant battery drain.
With MobileTrack, the Fitbit app is able to track steps, distance traveled, and calories burned. Fitbit's physical offerings, including its newest Fitbit Force band, track those standard metrics along with active minutes, sleep, and stairs climbed.
Along with MobileTrack, the newly updated Fitbit app also includes redesigned alarm settings, custom water goals, and several other design enhancements.
- The Fitbit app now features MobileTrack which offers basic Fitbit activity tracking directly using your iPhone 5s.
- Redesigned Silent Alarms settings. Set, switch, edit, and remove alarms faster than ever.
- Set your own custom water goal.
- Redesigned profile editor.
- Redesigned tracker settings.
- Redesigned sign-up and sign-in.
- Tap on people in Friend Finder to see their profile.
- Swipe on friends on your leaderboard to Cheer, Taunt, or Message.
- Tap on tabs to auto-scroll to the top.
Earlier this year, Fitbit competitor Nike introduced a similar app, called Nike+ Move, which is also designed to track physical activity. Several other apps have also been engineered to use the M7 coprocessor for measuring movement.
Fitbit can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
So with this update, the app can replicate many of the features due to the M7 chip that you previously needed Fitbit equipment like the Zip or the One?
That's right. The Fitbit app (minus their devices) offers similar functionary as other fitness tracking apps like Nike+ Move, Argus, Steps+, Runkeeper, etc.Undoubtedly their hope is that some people will try out the app and like it enough to buy one of the Fitbit devices for more comprehensive tracking.
You can't have two trackers live at the same time. You have to disable your Fitbit One, and then choose 'MobileTrack' in the app.
Thanks.
That's kind of ridiculous, IMO. It's almost like I'm being penalized for owning the device. Sometimes I'll forget to bring it to work with me and would have liked do just use the phone when I forget, and have them sync up when I get back home.