Tag: Sleep tracking

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Fitbit users report inaccurate sleep tracking following time change

Several people with Fitbit smartwatches and trackers reported getting inaccurate sleep-tracking results over the weekend due to Daylight Savings Time.

As spotted by PiunikaWeb (via 9to5Google), users have taken to both Fitbit’s forums and Reddit posts to complain about issues with Fitbit sleep tracking. In most cases, the time in sleep reports within the Fitbit app are wrong, typically off by about an hour or so.

Although most of the reports appear to be U.S. based, I was able to confirm similar behaviour with the Fitbit-powered sleep tracking on my Pixel Watch. For example, the Fitbit app lists my bedtime as 12:18am despite my going to be around 11pm on Saturday. It also lists a 6:41am wakeup, but I know I got up at 7:40am.

Some users noted in response to complaints that this happens every year with the Daylight Savings Time switch, while Fitbit confirmed it was aware of the problem on Twitter, writing that it “usually resolves itself when your Fitbit resets next midnight.”

You’d think by now Fitbit might have figured out the problem, but maybe they’re holding out hope we’ll finally ditch Daylight Savings Time.

The good news for anyone with a Fitbit is that the issue should be resolved now, and sleep-tracking stats should be accurate going forward. At least, it should be until the next change to Daylight Savings Time.

Source: Fitbit, (2), Reddit, (2) Via: PiunikaWeb, 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Amazon’s Halo Rise tracks sleep patterns by observing you breathe

At its fall hardware event, Amazon announced a new sleep tracking gadget that doesn’t even need to be in direct contact with you overnight.

The new Halo Rise is designed to sit on the side table adjacent to your bed and track your sleep cycles with its low-energy sensors and machine learning to detect micro-movements that you make while breathing. The data is analyzed and converted into sleep stages, and will reflect in the Halo application. The company says it “trained and validated the device’s sleep algorithm against the clinical gold standard for sleep analysis,” called overnight polysomnography, which is essentially a test doctors perform to track and observe sleep patterns.

It’s worth noting that Halo Rise doesn’t feature a built-in camera or microphone.

In addition to sleep, the Halo Rise also tracks environmental conditions in your room, like the temperature and humidity, that could be influencing your sleep. The data Halo Rise collects goes straight to the cloud, in an enrypted manner, and stays encrypted, until it is deleted in 10 days. The company also said that it won’t be selling any of the data for marketing or ads.

Further, the device also acts as an alarm clock and a SAD light to simulate sunlight, and can be paired with your Echo device to gather verbal information about your sleep.

The Halo Rise costs $139.99 USD (roughy $190 CAD) and starts shipping later this year in the United States. MobileSyrup has reached out to Amazon regarding Canadian pricing and availability.

Image credit: Amazon News

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Fitbit Sleep Profiles aim to help you better understand your sleep

Fitbit Premium users will soon get a new way to analyze their rest through ‘Sleep Profiles.’

The new Sleep Profiles feature offers up what Fitbit calls a “longitudinal analysis of your sleep patterns.” It leverages 10 metrics and once a month provides analysis and compares users’ trends with what’s typical for sleep at their age and gender.

These metrics include details like sleep schedule variability, sleep duration, how long it takes people to fall asleep, and more.

Image credit: Fitbit

Fitbit says its “research team studied 1,000 different sleep features during its analysis before distilling it down to the key metrics we include in your profile.”

Additionally, to make this information easier to digest, Fitbit gives users a ‘Sleep Animal.’ The company describes these as a “fun way to understand your sleeping style.” There are six animal archetypes that correspond to sleeping behaviours, which you can see below:

Fitbit stresses that none of the Sleep Animals are better than the others and that they can change over time. Instead, people should view the animals as a way to better understand their sleep patterns. Similarly, Fitbit says Sleep Profiles aren’t intended for medical purposes.

To use Sleep Profiles, Fitbit says users need to wear their Fitbit for at least 14 nights of each calendar month. The more users wear their devices while sleeping, the better the analysis will be. Sleep Profiles is rolling out in the Fitbit app to Premium users with supported devices, with the first Sleep Profile expected to show up on July 4. After that, Fitbit Premium subscribers can expect to see their new Sleep Profile information on the first of each month. Supported devices include:

Source: Fitbit

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Mobile Syrup

Fitbit’s ‘Snore & Noise Detect’ feature rolling out to Sense, Versa 3 watches

Fitbit’s Sense and Versa 3 smartwatches are getting a new ‘Snore & Noise Detect’ sleep tracking capability.

As reported by 9to5Google, the feature works exactly as it sounds. When enabled, the Sense or Versa 3 wearable will use the built-in microphone to detect and analyze noise and volume.

According to the Fitbit app, Snore & Noise Detect will use the microphone once it detects the wearer is asleep. It uses the microphone to “sample, measure and collect information about the noise in your environment.” The sampling occurs every few seconds and collects information about noise level and how loud the wearer’s environment is, as well as snoring events and how often it detects snores.

In the morning, users will receive a ‘snore report’ in the Sleep section of the Fitbit app.

Fitbit Snore & Noise Detect

The feature reportedly hits the battery fairly hard, with Fitbit recommending smartwatches have at least 40 percent charge before going to bed. Some commenters on 9to5 noted the battery life dropped quite significantly with the feature enabled.

It’s also worth noting you’ll need a Fitbit Premium subscription to access Snore & Noise Detect. If you are a subscriber, you can turn on the feature by going to the Sleep section in the Fitbit app and looking for a ‘Check for snoring’ card. Tap ‘Learn more’ then read through the instructions and privacy notice — you’ll need to agree to the privacy details before you can turn on the feature.

Screenshot credit: 9to5Google

Source: 9to5Google