Tag: Fitbit

  • Fitbit Co-founders Exit Google During Hardware Division Restructuring

    Fitbit Co-founders Exit Google During Hardware Division Restructuring

    Shifts in Google’s Hardware Strategy Highlighted by Exiting Executives, Reorganization, and Workforce Reductions

    Founders of Fitbit, James Park and Eric Friedman, along with several team members, are leaving Google, marking a significant development for the tech giant post its acquisition of Fitbit three years ago. The departures, as disclosed by 9to5Google, signify a pivotal transition within the company.

    Google is not only bidding farewell to some personnel but also streamlining its operations by implementing job cuts across various crucial divisions. The company, as confirmed to 9to5Google, is set to eliminate "a few hundred roles," with a primary focus on its augmented reality (AR) sector.

    Consolidation of Hardware Teams and Implementation of a New Organizational Framework

    Alongside these departures and workforce adjustments, Google is amalgamating its Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit hardware divisions into a unified organizational structure. Rather than maintaining separate engineering teams for each product line, Google is establishing a singular hardware group led by a unified leader.

    This restructured setup adopts a "functional" model where teams are structured based on expertise rather than product lines. For example, there will be a dedicated hardware engineering team overseeing all Google devices. The objective behind this restructuring is to achieve a more cohesive product design across Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit product offerings.

    Emulating Apple’s Organizational Approach

    Google’s shift towards a functional organizational model draws parallels with Apple’s team organization strategy, indicating a potential emulation of its competitor’s successful approach.

    Emphasis on AR Hardware Endeavors

    Despite the recent downsizing and restructuring initiatives, Google continues to play a crucial role in the realm of augmented reality (AR) hardware projects. Qualcomm’s recent introduction of a new AR/VR chip at CES 2024, expected to power Samsung’s forthcoming AR headset featuring Google-designed software, underscores Google’s ongoing involvement in the AR domain, with the headset’s launch slated for later this year.

    Opportunities for Impacted Employees

    Google has assured those affected by the job cuts of the possibility to apply for other available positions within the company, offering a glimmer of hope to individuals impacted by the restructuring.

    Shifting Hardware Strategy

    The transformations in Google’s hardware strategy reflect its evolving nature. While the departure of Fitbit’s founders may signal a change, their technological contributions will persist within the unified hardware group. Furthermore, the downsizing within the AR team hints at a potential pivot towards software and collaborative ventures for Google’s AR aspirations, shifting the focus from solely hardware development.

    Looking Forward

    The upcoming months will uncover how these strategic alterations reshape Google’s hardware landscape. The launch of Samsung’s AR headset powered by Google technology could provide early insight into the company’s new trajectory. As Google continues to adapt its hardware initiatives, the impact on future products and partnerships remains a topic of interest.

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  • Consumer Raises Concern Over Fitbit’s Ongoing Server Outage Issue

    Consumer Raises Concern Over Fitbit’s Ongoing Server Outage Issue

    Fitbit Experiences Another Server Outage, Disrupting Data Syncing

    Just over a month after its last significant outage, Fitbit users are once again facing problems with synchronizing their devices. It seems that another server failure has occurred, hindering Fitbit's ability to sync data from various devices.

    App Offline, Data Unavailable

    As of 11 a.m. ET on November 16, 2023, a widespread outage took the Fitbit app offline. This means that users are currently unable to check data from devices such as the Pixel Watch 2 and Fitbit Charge 6, among others, using the Fitbit app.

    User Complaints on Social Media

    Many users have taken to social media platforms, including Reddit, to express their frustrations. They have reported that although they can open the app and initiate a manual sync, the data from their Fitbit Charge 6 does not appear within the app itself.

    Impacted Accounts and Resolving the Issue

    The outage is affecting a significant number of accounts on both the US East and West coasts. DownDetector users have extensively reported the problem.

    Shortly after acknowledging the issue, Google, the parent company of Fitbit, stated that they had resolved the problem. A Google representative advised users who are still experiencing issues to reach out to customer care for further assistance.

    It is crucial to note that if you have not manually synced your device in the past few hours, the app may not display any data at all due to the outage. Additionally, the outage prevents the app from showing any current data.

    Fitbit users affected by this server outage can find support by contacting Fitbit's customer care.

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  • Fitbit withdraws from international market, halts sales in almost 30 countries

    Fitbit withdraws from international market, halts sales in almost 30 countries

    Fitbit Product Sales Discontinued in Multiple Countries

    In a strategic decision that has largely flown under the radar, Google, the parent company of Fitbit, has announced the discontinuation of Fitbit product sales in 29 countries across the globe. This move has affected regions in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

    European Countries Affected

    The European countries that will no longer be able to purchase Fitbit products include Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia. Fitbit premium has already been discontinued in these countries, effective October 24, 2023. However, the Fitbit Charge 6 is still available for purchase in Portugal through the Google Store (via 9to5Google).

    Latin America and Mexico

    The discontinuation of Fitbit sales has also extended to Mexico and all Latin American countries. The specific dates for these removals have not been disclosed, but Fitbit products are no longer available for purchase in these regions.

    Asian Countries

    Earlier in August, Google also discontinued the renewal of Fitbit Premium memberships and product sales in a few Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

    Impact on Fitbit Market Presence

    As a result of these market withdrawals, Fitbit is now only selling products in 23 countries.

    Google’s Statement

    In a statement to Android Authority, Google says, “We communicated that we will stop selling Fitbit products in select countries to align our hardware portfolio to map closer to Pixel’s regional availability.”

    Assurances for Existing Customers

    Despite this retreat from certain markets, Fitbit has assured existing customers that their devices will continue to receive software and security updates, and customer support will remain unaffected.

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