Fitbit gets major update
Google has made a big announcement with the announcement of a rebranding of the Google Health app. Google is also coming out with a refined Health Coach and today we are introduced to the Google Fitbit Air, hardware previously announced.
Fitbit app becomes Google Health app
The Fitbit app will cease to exist and make way for the new Google Health app. This app will give you comprehensive insight into your health, workouts and other things. The service will also replace things like Google Fit, for example. All health data, from both your Pixel Watch and Fitbit products can be accessed in the app, where you can also share your data and activities with others. For example, you can rank steps with friends, but also in other areas. The app will be available for Apple iOS, Wear OS and Android.
In the new Google Health app, you get access to four tabs: today, fitness, sleep and health. All the different data is collected in these screens, with, for example, a quick overview of the current day, fitness activities, sleep data and data such as your weight and health progress. Here, you can arrange the home screen yourself, with the information you think is important. Following step-by-step workouts is also made easier with the new app. You can also track meals via the app, for instance.
The service can work with more than 100 favourite apps, such as AllTrails, Apple Health, as well as other services. Unfortunately, no support for Garmin yet. Linking other services makes all the information even more complete. It is also possible to share medical data with the app, if you wish. Google lets you know that your personal privacy is a priority, and that you can choose how it can be used. The data will not be used for Google Ads.
Later this year, an option will become available to migrate current Fitbit data to the Google Health app. Those with the app, will automatically get the new application via the update for the Fitbit app, which should become available.
Health Coach
Another improvement can be found in the Google Health Coach, which you can find in the Google Health app with a premium subscription. The AI service is personalised, proactive and adaptive, where it klan help you sleep better, gives advice for your health and fitness tips. In the new app, the service is even better, giving you even better advice. Coach is included for those who have Google One Pro and Google One Ultra, in more than 30 countries.
Google Fitbit Air
Today, we are also introduced to a new product from Google and Fitbit's hardware division. The Fitbit Air is a new fitness tracker, a band you can wear on your wrist, with no screen. The band is comfortable because of its nylon strap. According to Google, it is so comfortable, you would forget you have it on. It is designed to have it as comfortable as possible while you sleep. Other materials are also available for the bands, such as silicone.
It is perfectly possible to track your health through both the Pixel Watch and the Fitbit Air, ideal if you don't want to sleep with a smartwatch. Google promises a battery life of up to 7 days. The new magnetic charger lets you charge the battery in 90 minutes.
Activities can be started manually, or the band can automatically recognise and log your workouts. The device itself does not have GPS on board, but uses location tracking from the connected device. On the Fitbit Air is an LED light that lights up when pairing and provides battery information; the device can also vibrate, for example for a set alarm.
The Fitbit Air costs 99.99 euros and will be released 26 May. The Fitbit Air works with both Android and Apple iOS.
