I find the tech really cool, especially it being so thin. It’s also not that expensive.
Buuuut it’s google so I fear this thing is a privacy nightmare.
Google = Nope
The concept is very cool. I think it began with chinese rings? I wish the market goes towards that model. This way I can get actually good watches without distractions and still get health data.
I think the whole health/fitness tech world is a great example of what’s wrong with capitalism. A lot of this stuff is genuinely really helpful and can extend lives, but you can only use it if you’re willing to let them sell incredibly detailed and personal data to whoever that want.
Hail Gadgetbridge! Works quite well with my Garmin
Oh thank you! I’ve wanted something like this for ages.
In addition to the privacy stuff, there’s also the inevitable rug pull: https://killedbygoogle.com/
What will probably happen is that Google will finish incorporating Fitbit to the Android/Google ecosystem and kill the independent brand. The Fitbit app has already been rebranded to Google and Google has stopped selling high end Fitbit watches while incorporating the tech to new Google watches.
Just fyi, the Fitbit app was completely killed a couple months ago. It’s now fully migrated to Google health
Google switched a lot of free things to a monthly subscription, and their remake of Google health is indicative of more to come. It’s enshittifying fast, I wouldn’t.
I would look at Garmin. The cirqa has the same aesthetics, and it looks like the fitbit air has a subscription for some functionality. While the Garmin is more expensive, everything else is included.
I prefer the built in GPS for running so I don’t have to take my phone with me. Maybe you’d like the vivo active or lily 2?
The Garmin Cirqa doesn’t have GPS
Oh right. The larger point being anything from Garmin is probably better than anything else on the market. Theyll last years with no additional fees, and they apparently dont sell any of your data. Anything with them is opt in, and all part of why the devices seem so expensive. Seems they aren’t making money on shady business practices.
I don’t like wearing things on my wrist
I do like the simple aesthetic of the Air (also the Flex 2 from years ago) but nowadays I just avoid wearable tech. Get a nice wristwatch instead :)
I already wear an apple watch and I love it.
If it wasn’t Google I’d probably have got one. I got a Polar Loop instead. It’s got quite a few negative reviews because when it first came out it had loads of problems but it’s fine now. It’s not as cheap but from a reputable EU company.
Interesting! I wear a Garmin instinct, but I get more and more annoyed by it. Way to often when I want to check the time I see some notification instead.
Using a band like this and a normal watch could solve that 🤔
