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Fitbit Versa and Ionic are getting new smartwatch features, partner apps in Fitbit OS 3 update
If you own a Fitbit smartwatch, you’re in for a treat — Fitbit has announced a new software update for the Versa, Ionic, and Ionic: Adidas Edition that brings handy new workout features to the smartwatches. The Fitbit OS 3.0 update is rolling out to all three devices later today.
First, Fitbit is bringing an expanded on-device dashboard to its smartwatches. Now you’ll be able to check a more detailed sleep and exercise view, as well as heart rate and hourly activity right from your watch. You can also now log water and food intake from your watch.
The feature I’m most excited about is the addition of goal-based exercises, which first debuted on the Fitbit Charge 3. Instead of recording an exercise and stopping when you reach a certain point, your Fitbit will now let you set a goal and notify you when you reach it. For instance, you can set a goal for calories burned, distance, or time for more than 15 exercises.
Fitbit has also announced ten new partner apps are being added to the Fitbit App Gallery. Four of them — Couch to 5K, achu health, MySwimPro, and Genius Wrist — will be added today. The other six — Charity Miles, FitBark, Gold’s Gym, TRX, Mindbody, and Noonlight — will be added sometime early 2019.
Also coming in 2019 are female health tracking trends. These new trends insights will give women a better view of menstrual cycle information, such as symptom trends, over time.
Finally, Fitbit is giving developers access to two new APIs today. The Fitbit Exercise API will allow developers to more easily create complex and higher-quality applications. There’s also a new Scientific API which will enable developers and researchers to use advanced data processing through more efficient processing functions.
Thanks to these APIs, we should start seeing more smartwatch apps that can track more complex activities like snowboarding, skiing, and skateboarding. As an example, Fitbit is launching two new developer-created apps using these new APIs. The new Alpine Snow app will be able to record your number of runs and speed/altitude while skiing, while the Skateboarding app will track your speed, heart rate and calorie burn data while you skateboard.
As has been the case since their introduction, the Ionic and Versa are continuing to become better smartwatches by the month. Fitbit is clearly going all in on smartwatch development, and it seems like these new APIs will make them even better over time.