Fitbit dashboard on the web might be going away

Image: 9to5Google

Fitbit users have been encountering blank dashboards on the web app (fitbit.com) recently. (When we tap on the link, it redirects to a support page.) This has sparked speculation that Google, which now owns Fitbit, might be phasing out the web version in favor of a mobile-app-only experience.

The Fitbit web dashboard, which has been around since the days of syncing trackers with USB dongles, hasn't received a visual update in a while. While some users appreciate its familiarity, others might prefer the more modern design of the Fitbit app.

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Fitbit removes support for Deezer, Pandora

If you picked up an older Fitbit for music playback, unfortunately, you're losing that option. The Google-owned brand will no longer support Deezer and Pandora on the Sense, Versa 2, and Versa 3. You won't be able to download Pandora stations or add Deezer playlists to your smartwatches. That means after March 31, Fitbit smartwatches lose the support for onboard music. 

Controlling media from your phone is still possible. But this move does further cripple Fitbit's offerings. As The Verge pointed out, it looks like Google wants users to turn to the Pixel Watch as their smartwatch of choice. 

Fitbit is reportedly working on a wearable for preteens

Fitbit Ace 3 (Source: Fitbit)

Fitbit is supposedly working on a new wearable device that's targeting preteens. The goal is to "help older kids form healthy relationships with their phones and social media" and "encourage physical activity." This device is internally code-named Project Eleven and Google's Australian Fitbit team is heading the initiative. We're expected to see this device sometime in 2024. But an employee mentioned in a report that there's still a lot of work to be done to complete this device. Fitbit is looking to court a new segment to use its devices and this is one way to do that.

The wearable will supposedly have GPS and cellular connectivity, which are more features than the current kid-centric Fitbit devices like the Ace 3. This rumoured device will also offer location tracking and the ability to call an adult with a touch of a button. You won't need a smartphone for it to work on the go. Project Eleven will also "encourage physical activity" similar to the Ace 3. That device enables activity tracking and buzzes every 50 minutes to remind kids to get up and move.

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Review: Fitbit Charge 5 for fitness and mindfulness on the go

I've been housebound with a dog who's recovering from leg surgery and know that it will be a few months before I can head back to any sort of "normal" routine. I knew that sleep, exercise, stress levels, and eating would be out of whack for a couple of months. (I’ve been through this before earlier this year). It so happened that the latest Fitbit Charge 5 had recently launched here in Canada and it would be an ideal time to check it out and see if it could help give me incentive to get back on track. I swapped out my previous Fitbit Luxe easily and my Fitbit Premium subscription continued. 

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