All articles tagged with #fitness tracking
Google lays out a roadmap of 39+ features and fixes for Google Health, covering exercise tracking, sleep, nutrition, and the Google Health Coach, with rolling updates starting this week and continuing through summer to address gaps left by the Fitbit transition and improve overall usability.
Google Health has replaced the Fitbit app with an AI-driven interface, prompting confusion and frustration as users navigate a redesigned Today screen, limited quick access to stats, and an AI health coach. Some users appreciate the coaching features, but many want the old Fitbit app back and complain about scrolling through long AI notes and cluttered data presentation. Google notes that with a connected wearable you’ll see extra tabs for Fitness and Sleep, and third‑party wearables may be supported later, plus the AI coach can be disabled via Privacy Controls. The transition coincides with the launch of the Fitbit Air.
Google's Fitbit Air is a compact, screenless wearable that relies on the redesigned Google Health app and Gemini-powered AI Coach to deliver coaching, auto-logging, and concise health summaries. It competes with Whoop on concepts and price (hardware around $100) and shines with fast charging and flexible bands, but the AI can misinterpret data at times and the app has a few quirks, leaving room for improvement before it becomes a clear winner in the health-tech wearables space.
The piece argues smartwatches offer quick access to notifications and health data, but screenless wearables (Whoop, Oura Ring, Fitbit trackers) and analog watches provide similar fitness metrics with fewer distractions and more style. While smartwatches remain useful for sleep, steps, and workouts and can replace a phone for calls or music in some cases, many users may prefer lighter, less obtrusive devices that track health without the constant connectivity.
A pre-release readout compares Fitbit Air to WHOOP: Fitbit Air appears slimmer and easier to wear, and costs $99 upfront with free ongoing health metrics (optional $9.99/month for Google Health Coach); WHOOP starts at about $200 per year and requires a paid subscription for metrics, making Fitbit Air cheaper in the long run.
Google unveils the $99.99 Fitbit Air, a screenless wearable that uploads data to the Google Health app and uses Gemini-based AI to offer personalized coaching based on your metrics, injuries, nutrition, and even weather. It lasts up to 7 days per charge, supports cross-device sleep data, and offers a Stephen Curry Special Edition. Preorders start May 7 with store shelves on May 26, plus three months of Google Health Premium and a $9.99/month after the trial; bands cost extra. Privacy considerations around health data are noted.
Fresh leaks and public sightings show Fitbit’s upcoming screenless wearable—a thin, band-like device meant for health metrics without a display, with live-data software glimpsed in a Pixel-style UI; its name remains undisclosed as it vies with WHOOP and Oura.
Augusta National bans most electronics at the Masters—phones, laptops, tablets, and cameras are prohibited on tournament days—leaving only smartwatches and fitness bands as permitted devices; courtesy phones are available and can be checked in, while cameras are allowed only for personal use during practice days.
VO2 max measures the body’s maximum oxygen use during intense exercise and serves as a gauge of cardio-respiratory fitness. The piece notes a surge in influencer-led calls to track VO2 max, but argues it should be treated as a guide to training rather than a target: useful for shaping workouts and monitoring progress, yet not a single definitive health metric or goal, especially given variance in lab versus wearable measurements and the influence of many factors on performance.
The article outlines five practical settings you can adjust on your Apple Watch to improve heart-rate measurements, emphasizing a snug wrist fit and proper calibration so readings are more reliable during workouts and everyday wear.
The Rogbid Fusion is a budget $49.99 smart ring that adds heart-rate, blood-oxygen, sleep tracking, and 100+ sports modes, with a 0.49-inch OLED display; it ships with a magnet Milanese strap but can swap in a nylon strap to wear on the wrist, and bets on about five days of battery life (eight on standby).
The Apple Watch Series 11 is on sale for a record-low price of $299, offering a 25% discount, with features like sleep tracking, hypertension notifications, and support for 5G networks, making it a highly recommended buy especially for iPhone users.
Garmin has added food and nutrition logging to its paid platform, Connect+, replacing some features of MyFitnessPal, with integration directly within Garmin devices and app, offering barcode scanning, photo recognition, and customizable meal tracking, making it a compelling option for users already invested in Garmin's ecosystem.
Smart rings are becoming mainstream, with a projected 49% increase in shipments in 2025, offering discreet health and activity tracking with longer battery life and more accurate readings than smartwatches. Leading brands like Oura, Ultrahuman, RingConn, and Samsung are innovating with features like sleep analysis, bloodwork integration, and AI insights, making smart rings a popular choice for continuous health monitoring. Oura remains a top contender due to its accuracy and design, as the category continues to grow and diversify.
The article highlights seven top third-party apps for Apple Watch that enhance its functionality beyond built-in features, including fitness tracking with Strava and Nike Run Club, outdoor navigation with AllTrails, mindfulness with Calm, music with Spotify, and navigation with Google Maps, offering users a versatile smartwatch experience.