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Fitbit app changes, Google launches Coach Ai with Gemini and a screen-less tracker

Revolution at Google: the Fitbit app becomes 'Google Health'

by Luca Tremolada

4' min read

Translated by AI
Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI
Versione italiana

Revolution at Google: the Fitbit app will officially change its name and face to become the new 'Google Health' app. The move aims to solve the problem of data fragmentation between different platforms at the root. Until now, users have often found themselves juggling the Fitbit app, Google Fit, Health Connect and a myriad of other apps, losing sight of the big picture. With the new Google Health platform, available for both iOS and Android and functioning even without owning a wearable, the aim, they explained to Sole 24 Ore at an event, is to bring everything together in a single hub. The app will make it possible to synchronise and reconcile data from not only Fitbit or Pixel smartwatches, but hundreds of favourite apps and devices, such as Peloton, MyFitnessPal and glucose monitors from Dexcom or Abbott, into a single stream. This broad compatibility will be ensured by integration with Health Connect, Apple Health and the new Google Health API.

Lean interface and integrated medical records

To avoid overwhelming the user with an incomprehensible 'wall of metrics', the interface has been redesigned around four main tabs: Today, Fitness, Sleep and Health. One of the most interesting new features announced is the integration of medical records directly into the app, but only for the US. Users will be able to connect to their healthcare provider's portal to download, securely store and quickly view lab results, vital signs and medication. In the future, it will also be possible to generate Smart Health Links to easily and securely share this information with their doctors or family members. There will also be social functions, such as extended leaderboards to challenge friends on steps and cardio load, confirming that health can also be 'a team sport'.The new hardware ecosystem: Google Fitbit Air arrives.

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And now Google Fitbti Air

This major software evolution is accompanied by the launch of a new wearable: the Google Fitbit Air. Designed specifically to interface with the new Google Health Coach, the Fitbit Air is a 'screenless' activity tracker, designed to allow users to stay focused in the present moment, only consulting data on their phone when they want to. This device packs advanced health and fitness features into an extremely thin and light miniature format: it weighs just 5.2 grams without a strap (12 grams with a strap) and measures only 34.9 x 17 x 8.3 millimetres. Rated by consumers as more comfortable than competing devices on the market, it provides a fit that can be worn all day and while sleeping without discomfort. It offers a battery life of up to 7 days and is equipped with bi-directional fast magnetic charging: it takes only 5 minutes to obtain enough energy for a whole day, while charging from 0 to 100 per cent takes approximately 90 minutes.

 

How Google Health Coach works.

The real killer feature for Premium users (the service formerly known as Fitbit Premium) is the official arrival of the Google Health Coach, which finally exits the public preview phase after being tested by over 500,000 users. Powered by the Gemini artificial intelligence, this coach acts simultaneously as a personal trainer, doctor, nutritionist and sleep expert, providing personalised insights around the clock to help the user make sense of the huge amount of data collected.

The device is equipped with an optical heart rate monitor, red and infrared sensors to monitor blood oxygenation (SpO2), a skin temperature sensor and a 3-axis accelerometer. In addition to monitoring cardio workloads, it tracks heart rate 24 hours a day to detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) and measure heart rate variability (HRV). Sleep monitoring boasts new advanced machine learning models that are 15% more accurate than previous models, and includes smart alarms (Smart Wake) that wake the user at the optimal time in their sleep cycle.

What does Fitbit Air look like?

Water-resistant to a depth of 50 metres, the Fitbit Air is constructed from recycled polycarbonate and PBT plastics. It offers maximum style flexibility with its interchangeable straps, quickly switching between a sporty and stylish look. Users can opt for the Performance Loop Band or the silicone Active Band (in Obsidian, Fog, Lavender and Berry colours), through to the sought-after Elevated Modern Band. Those who already own a Google Pixel Watch will also be able to pair and wear both devices comfortably, as the data will synchronise automatically and transparently on the Google Health app.

Italy debut and prices.

The Fitbit Air is compatible with Android and iOS and is available for pre-order from the Google Store and Amazon starting today for €99.99. The purchase also includes a three-month no-cost trial of Google Health Premium, after the three months the price should be EUR 9.99.

And finally privacy.

In an era of heightened sensitivity towards personal data, Google has emphatically reiterated that health and wellness information will not be used for advertisements, remaining protected by multi-layered encryption. The use of data for training artificial intelligence models is disabled by default and will require explicit consent (opt-in) from the user.The release of the new software platform will take place in the coming weeks in the form of an update for Fitbit's current apps on iOS, Android and Wear OS. Fitbit users will not have to download a different app: their data will automatically transfer and they will start to see the new Google Health logo. Later in the year, even long-standing Google Fit users will be able to migrate all their past data into the new, all-encompassing Google Health app.

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