Fitbit

Following the completion of Google’s buyout of Fitbit, the company’s own storefront made it pretty clear what was coming. Fitbit watches and trackers would be sold right alongside Pixels and Nest gear. Now, that’s official. Fitbit smartwatches and fitness trackers are now available for purchase directly from the Google Store.

Fitbit started the year by becoming a part of Google’s hardware division and is today making a sizable update by rolling out blood glucose tracking to its Android and iOS app. The Fitbit Sense’s ECG feature is also coming to more places, while there are also a handful of other in-app and hardware changes.

Google and Fitbit proudly announced yesterday that their $2.1 billion acquisition had been completed after months of regulatory scrutiny. Unfortunately for that deal, though, it may still face legal trouble as Google didn’t wait on approval from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) or Australian regulatory authorities before completing the Fitbit buyout.

In late 2019, Google announced a deal with Fitbit to acquire the company for over $2 billion, but in the time since, the deal has had to get the approval of multiple regulatory authorities. After getting a thumbs-up from the EU last month, Google has officially completed its acquisition of Fitbit today.

The state of smartwatches on Android has been relatively unimpressive. Google’s Wear OS platform has a decent foundation but lacks any strength when it comes to health features. That’s why Google in the process of buying Fitbit. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been wearing the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3, the brand’s latest smartwatches, to learn what all the hype is about. While, personally, I still wish the operating system on these watches was closer to Wear OS, I finally see what all the hype is about in the health department. Here’s what you need to know about Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Sense.

Fitbit already offers one of the most powerful ways to keep track of your physical health, and the company is continuing to push further. After debuting ECG support in the Fitbit Sense earlier this year, Fitbit is now preparing PPG support, a tech that essentially delivers automatic, constant ECG readings.

After over a year in the works, Google has finally won EU approval for its acquisition of Fitbit that was originally announced in late 2019, on just one major condition.

Smartwatches are an awesome gift to friends, family, or yourself with useful features and the ability to help you improve your health in some cases. If you’re looking for a smartwatch to go with Android smartphones, these are the best options you can get around the 2020 holiday season.

The Fitbit Sense is the company’s most advanced smartwatch to date, also being its first with ECG support. However, an issue with the ECG sensors on Fitbit Sense has some users in need of a complete hardware replacement.

Google Assistant is a powerful tool, but it’s only ever been available on the wrist via the company’s own Wear OS. Now, Google Assistant has arrived on Fitbit, and somewhat annoyingly, it works incredibly well.

Fitbit yesterday started rolling out Google Assistant to the Versa 3 and Sense. As part of that, users can now link their Fitbit accounts to Google Assistant for basic sleep and wellness data.

The latest Fitbit smartwatches offer a lot more when it comes to hardware, but on the software, they shipped a few of those features without taking full advantage of them. Starting today, Fitbit is rolling out a new software update to Sense and Versa 3 which delivers Google Assistant, improved blood oxygen readings, and more.

The Fitbit Sense is the company’s first smartwatch with ECG support, and after gaining clearance last month, that app is now available to users.

Google announced nearly a year ago that it would purchase Fitbit to strengthen its wearable catalog, but the deal has been subject to scrutiny by regulatory authorities. As the investigation continues, a new report from Reuters claims that Google will be given the green light in its deal to purchase Fitbit by the EU.

Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 start shipping today to customers, and as promised, they’re arriving with a new software experience on board. Fitbit OS 5.0 is pre-loaded on the new hardware with some big UI and navigation updates in tow. Here’s what you need to know.

Set to release in just a couple of weeks, the Fitbit Sense’s best feature is the ability to take an ECG reading. However, that feature was subject to approval in most regions. Now, Fitbit Sense has received approval for ECG in the US and Europe.