I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
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Tag Archives: Fitbit
Fitbit Ace LTE Kids Activity Tracker Announced: Initial Thoughts
Google/Fitbit has just announced the new Fitbit Ace LTE kids activity tracker. This new model takes their existing inexpensive $79 Fitbit Ace 3 activity tracker, up to a full-blown smartwatch-level device, based entirely on the Google Pixel Watch 2. Aside … Read More Here
Fitbit Charge 6 In-Depth Review
The Fitbit Charge 6 is an incremental update to the existing Charge 5, focusing on a blend of physical usability enhancements (bringing back the side button), while also increasing day-to-day usability (letting you access all the sport/exercise modes on … Read More Here
Fitbit Announces New Charge 6: What’s New and Different?
Fitbit has just announced an update to their most popular fitness tracker series, with the new Fitbit Charge 6 (obviously, replacing the existing Fitbit Charge 5, from September 2021). The Fitbit Charge 6 has much the same form factor as … Read More Here
Fitbit Makes Some Premium Subscription Features Free
Fitbit has announced that they’ll be making a set of their Fitbit Premium subscription features free to all Fitbit users – including for Pixel Watch users which leverage the Fitbit features. These features are mostly historical data access features (versus … Read More Here
Google Pixel Watch In-Depth Review: A Promising Start
After many years of rumors, hints, acquisitions, and probably a few false starts – the Pixel watch is finally here. The end resultant is largely what you’d expect in a first-generation watch from a major company: Something that appeals as … Read More Here
Google’s Pixel Watch Hands-On: Here’s What You Need to Know
Today Google finally launched its long-awaited Pixel Watch. No wearable device has been rumored to “happen soon” as many years as the Pixel Watch. But this past spring Google confirmed it’d be coming this fall, and here we are. The … Read More Here
Fitbit Recalls Fitbit Ionic Smartwatches Due to Burn-Hazard, Offers Refund
Fitbit has announced a recall of their older Ionic GPS smartwatch, due to situations where the battery can overheat and cause burn injuries. The Ionic was introduced back in 2017, which was really their first smartwatch to support a 3rd … Read More Here
Fitbit Daily Readiness Score Review: Here’s How it Works
Today Fitbit announced that they are rolling out their new Daily Readiness Score to Fitbit Premium users. This covers the Sense, Versa 3, Versa 2, Charge 5, Luxe, and Inspire 2. As long as you have one of those … Read More Here
Fitbit Charge 5 In-Depth Review
Fitbit’s new Charge 5 aims to take their most well-known wearable series and catapult it forward with a revamped AMOLED display that doesn’t feel like a TI-82 graphing calculator that previous Fitbit Charge units have had, while still trying to … Read More Here
Fitbit’s New Charge 5 Details: Starts To Go After Whoop
At Fitbit’s annual end of summer announcement event, the company did not announce a Wear OS device (of any type). Though, they did (re)-commit to building one sometime in the future. Instead, they announced the Charge 5. The company says … Read More Here
Google Completes Acquisition of Fitbit: Analysis of What It Means
More than a year after Google first announced their planned acquisition of Fitbit, it’s finally complete. Or at least, complete from the legal standpoint. The real work actually begins now, of figuring out how to integrate the two companies and … Read More Here
Fitbit Versa 3 In-Depth Review
The Fitbit Versa 3 is the first Fitbit Versa series watch to include GPS built-in, along with a slate of new health metrics. But are these metrics accurate, or even useful at all? It’s time to dig in. Read More Here
How to Get Fitbit Non-GPS Activities to Strava
This post is going to be incredibly niche. And I’m OK with that. Heck, this post might just be more for me remembering this site than you. Sometimes I use this blog as a personal notepad. Like when I take … Read More Here
Fitbit Sense In-Depth Review: All the Data Without the Clarity
The Fitbit Sense is both a departure from the norm and not, for Fitbit. On one hand, it’s vastly more expensive than any recent Fitbit smartwatch with vastly more sensors. Yet on the other end, the interface and day to … Read More Here
Fitbit Announces Fitbit Sense Smartwatch: Dives far deeper towards health metrics
When the winds of change bring you a pandemic, you respond with the most health and almost-but-not-medical focused Fitbit you’ve ever seen. Which is essentially the gist of today’s sweeping pile of new feature and hardware announcements. In a virtual … Read More Here
Fitbit Charge 4 with GPS In-Depth Review
The Fitbit Charge 4 includes key new features like built-in GPS & contactless payments. But is the new GPS accurate? And what does it do to battery life? Plus, I detail the sleep score and related new metrics. Read More Here
Google Acquires Fitbit: What it actually means to wearables and the industry
Google has just announced the acquisition of Fitbit for a cool $2.1 billion (USD). The move will undoubtedly drive change in the industry, though, not as much as one might think – at least initially. Don’t worry, I’ll explain in … Read More Here
Fitbit Versa 2 with Amazon Alexa: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
This new device includes Amazon Alexa, new sleep metrics, plus Spotify support. Not to mention hosting Fitbit’s new premium platform. Read More Here
Fitbit Inspire HR Activity Tracker In-Depth Review
Here’s everything you need to know about the Fitbit Inspire lineup, including what’s new, what’s unique, what works, and what doesn’t. I dive into all the details. Read More Here
The Fitbit Versa Lite Hands-On: Everything you ever wanted to know
Today Fitbit launched their least expensive smartwatch to date – the Fitbit Versa Lite. This newish watch essentially takes the existing Fitbit Versa smartwatch and removes the music playback, along with a handful of smaller features like stair counting (and … Read More Here
First Look: Fitbit Charge 3 Activity Tracker with SpO2 Sensor & Sleep Disturbance Tracking
***UPDATE: Fitbit has since released the Fitbit Charge 4, check out the in-depth review here!*** No matter how you slice it, the Fitbit Charge series is Fitbit’s leading line to date. Having sold over 35 million units amongst the various … Read More Here
Fitbit Versa In-Depth Review
*** UPDATE: The Versa 3 is out! Check out the in-depth review here!*** Do you know what happens when you remove GPS and style from the Fitbit Ionic? You end up with a Fitbit Versa. Which is probably the easiest … Read More Here
Fitbit rolls out slew of apps to Ionic…and…umm…virtual cats
It’s been just over three months since Fitbit announced their Ionic GPS smartwatch, and about two months since they started shipping it out into the wild. The watch is generally seen (by themselves and others) as critical to Fitbit’s revival … Read More Here
Fitbit Ionic GPS Smartwatch In-Depth Review
Last month Fitbit announced their latest device – the Fitbit Ionic. This would be a significant step forward for the company, as it would represent them stepping into a slightly different (and higher end) market. While it was previously difficult … Read More Here
The Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch: Everything you need to know
Today Fitbit launched their first legit smartwatch with 3rd party apps, wireless payments, and music support onboard. That’s all in addition to a revamped optical heart rate sensor, refreshed GPS platform, new coaching services, and a boatload of smaller features … Read More Here