The Best Android Apps for 2024
I Wish Google Would Open Up Fitbit To Other Smartwatches
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Google Pixel Watch 2
Rita El Khoury
Opinion Post
Every time a new Wear OS watch is announced, I am intrigued. I have been using the platform for almost a decade now, and I like to try new watches to see what they offer in terms of features, comfort, battery life, and more. The OnePlus Watch 2, for example, really caught my eye with its excellent dual OS and dual-processor-enabled battery life.
But there's one thing that holds me back from switching to OnePlus's latest or Samsung's excellent Galaxy Watch 6 series, and that's Fitbit. See, I've been using Fitbit trackers for more than a decade now. All my stats are in there, all my patterns, my ups and downs, and my best and worst days. I'm used to the platform, I know how to interpret any day's data because I know what my historical data is like. So I stick with my Pixel Watch 2, because it offers me the best of Fitbit inside a Wear OS watch. But what if — hear me out — Fitbit wasn't a Pixel Watch exclusive anymore?
Would you like to see Fitbit on non-Google Wear OS watches?258 votes
Yes.
73%
No.
12%
I don't care.
15%
Fitbit app or API? Either, please
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
I would love to be able to use Fitbit on other Wear OS smartwatches, and Google could go about it in two ways:
App or API, just give me Fitbit so I can switch watches without switching health platforms.
Because, honestly, users like me don't need more health platforms that barely talk to each other. Yes, I know Health Connect exists, but every health service provider can still restrict what gets exported from or imported into their app, which limits the service's utility. For example, I can't sync my menstruation from Oura to Fitbit or vice versa, and that's important historical data to me and my body that I can't leave behind if I migrate.
Andy Walker / Android Authority
When things are this confusing — and let's not forget that Google Fit exists, too — I can't convince myself to rely on Health Connect to keep my stats in sync across multiple services. Nor can I rely on it if I choose to switch platforms every year or two. So I'd rather stick with the Pixel Watch 2 and its Fitbit stats instead of jumping between different health platforms.
This conviction is strengthened every time I or my Android Authority colleagues test other health platforms. OnePlus' watch can track a lot of data, but the OHealth app is pretty basic compared to the Fitbit app. Samsung Health, on the other hand, still falls behind Fitbit's sleep tracking and algorithms. And let's not talk about other solutions from Mobvoi, Xiaomi, and more.
I have yet to come across a health platform I'd rather use more than Fitbit.
Besides Garmin's and Apple's apps, which are only compatible with their respective watches, I've yet to come across a health platform I'd rather use more than Fitbit.
More health platforms = more problems
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Google is currently pushing smartwatch makers towards health platform fragmentation instead of unity. It owns Fitbit and it could easily decide to make Fitbit the de-facto health tracking software on Android.
Google could unite health on Android under one platform; instead, it's pushing watchmakers to build more services from scratch.
Instead, any smartwatch maker who wants to ship a new Wear OS watch has a huge barrier to clear. They have to build a companion app from scratch and a health service from scratch. That is not easy.
Gathering data for different exercise types, studying sleep stages, and understanding heart rate zones — all of that is not a given for a hardware company. OnePlus had to establish three health labs, employ more than 100 people, set up university partnerships, and build some in-house algorithms to offer exercise and health tracking in its OHealth app. It's no wonder that Fossil exited the smartwatch business when this is the barrier to entry!
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Google Pixel Watch
If Google offered Fitbit's algorithm and expertise out of the box with Wear OS, it would reduce the investment needed for any watchmaker to build a new watch. It would also collect a lot more user data than if it kept its algorithms exclusive to the Pixel Watch line-up. And data, as we all know, is money.
By offering Fitbit on all Wear OS watches, Google could gather more user data. And data is money.
And for anyone wondering about exclusivity and competition, I say this: If Samsung making Android phones is not a threat to Pixel phones, I don't see why making Fitbit available on a Galaxy Watch 6 would be a threat to the Pixel Watch.
Look, I don't know if this is ever going to happen, but it just makes sense to me. So I'm throwing this wish out there now and hoping it materializes at some point. Then I'll say, "Ah, see, I told you Google should do that!"
Until then, this is me hoping I can, at some point in the future, switch to a OnePlus Watch or Galaxy Watch without losing access to my Fitbit data. And without double-wristing with a Fitbit tracker on the other hand.
CommentsGTA 5 Modding Community Eyes Expansion To Nintendo Switch, Linux, And Android: What To Expect
Following the leakage of GTA 5's source code in December 2023, a team of passionate modders is on the verge of achieving the long-awaited feat of making the iconic game playable on Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Android devices. This breakthrough has sparked a surge of excitement within the gaming community, as fans eagerly anticipate the prospect of experiencing the beloved title on new platforms.
Even though Rockstar Games has brought titles like Red Dead Redemption and the Definitive Edition GTA Trilogy to the Switch, notably absent is GTA 5 on the handheld console. However, seizing this opportunity, a team of modders has stepped up to tackle the challenge of porting the game themselves, according to reports from Sportskeeda.
Recent online videos teasing glimpses of GTA 5's loading screen on Android devices have further fueled excitement, although the authenticity of these videos and their connection to the modding group remain uncertain.
This has stirred a blend of excitement and doubt among enthusiasts, with some amusingly acknowledging the abundance of counterfeit GTA 5 mobile advertisements, while others voice concerns regarding the game's suitability for the Nintendo Switch platform.
Nevertheless, the Switch's capabilities make it a viable platform for hosting GTA 5, considering the game's original release on hardware of similar specifications. Rockstar's history of bringing titles to the Switch only adds to the anticipation for GTA 5's potential arrival on the platform.
The consequences of the source code leak stretch beyond just the Switch, as modders are also delving into the idea of creating a mobile version for Android devices. This advancement brings hopeful opportunities for gamers across different platforms, though worries remain regarding possible interference from Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of GTA 5.
As fans eagerly await further updates, the impending release of GTA 5 on Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Android devices underscores the creativity and determination of the modding community to redefine the gaming landscape.
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Topics You May Be Interested InGTA 5 May Be Soon Available On Android, Nintendo Switch And Linux; Thanks To Modders
Modders are close to bringing GTA 5 to Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Android, thanks to recent breakthroughs. (rockstargames.Com)
A team of modders is on the brink of making GTA 5 playable on Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Android devices, following a leak of the game's source code in December 2023. This breakthrough has unleashed a wave of possibilities in the modding community, with fans eagerly anticipating the prospect of enjoying the iconic title on new platforms.
Despite Rockstar Games having already introduced Red Dead Redemption and the Definitive Edition GTA Trilogy to the Switch, GTA 5 has remained absent from the handheld console. Now, a dedicated group of modders is seizing the opportunity to fill this gap by porting the game themselves, Sportskeeda reported.
Also read: GTA V PC Cheats: List of all GTA V PC Cheat Codes
Recent videos circulating online tease glimpses of GTA 5's loading screen on Android devices, hinting at progress in the modding endeavour. However, the authenticity of these videos and their connection to the modding group remains uncertain, sparking both excitement and scepticism among fans.
Doubts Surface Amidst ExcitementWhile some humorously point out the prevalence of fake GTA 5 mobile ads, others express doubts about the game's compatibility with the Nintendo Switch. Nevertheless, the Switch's capabilities make it a feasible platform for hosting GTA 5, given the game's original release on relatively weaker hardware.
Also read: Top 5 must-try high graphics Android games: Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Rally Horizon and more
Rockstar's track record of bringing titles to the Switch further fuels anticipation for GTA 5's potential arrival on the platform. With the leak of the game's source code unlocking new avenues for modders, hopes are high for an official announcement in the near future.
Modding Community Drives InnovationThe implications of the source code leak extend beyond the Switch, as modders are also exploring the possibility of a mobile port for Android devices. This development promises exciting prospects for gamers across various platforms, although concerns linger about potential intervention from Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of GTA 5.
Also read: Red Dead Redemption Is Now Free For PS5, Xbox: All Details
As fans eagerly await future upgrades, the forthcoming release of GTA 5 on Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Android shows the modding community's creativity and drive to redefine the gaming world.
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