Fitbit Versa 2 brings Amazon Alexa into the smartwatch

After getting leaked, the Fitbit Versa 2 is now official. It still looks similar to its predecessor, but it comes with some new useful features. This smartwatch/fitness tracker gets an on-device microphone for the first time, allowing you to use Amazon's Alexa voice-activated assistant. Alexa on the Versa 2 will respond to your voice commands via text-based messages, which you'll see on the display. If you were worried about it talking back loudly to you, it wouldn't happen since this device has no speakers. You can ask Alexa to do things like set alarms and timers, check local weather, news, and control smart home devices. On Android, it can even transcribe voice responses to messages. But it can't control music, or control fitness tracker options until later this year.

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Leak spills details on new Fitbit Versa 2

The Fitbit Versa 2 is coming. And if we believe the shared photos from prolific leaker @evleaks, we have an idea of what's coming. The photos show the product box of the rumoured smartwatch and highlight what we can expect. The Versa 2 is tipped to be getting Alexa built into it, putting it up against the upcoming Apple Watch and Galaxy Active2. Alexa on the Versa 2 will help with things like weather reports based on your location, being a guide for your fitness regime, control your smart home items, and answer general knowledge questions, which is pretty much what you can do with Amazon Echo speakers.

It's said to be getting over 18 exercise modes, sleep tracking, and contactless payments with Fitbit Pay support. Sleep scores and heart-rate monitoring are also included. And Fitbit promises a 4+ day battery life, which is roughly the same as its predecessor. Its built-in storage can support over 300 songs to listen to offline. Rumours suggest that Fitbit has plans to release this smartwatch on September 15, with the company making the official announcement on August 25.

Source: T3

Fitbit's latest fitness trackers and smartwatches are more affordable than ever

FItbit is the no. 2 smartphone maker in the world and the leading fitness tracker maker. The company just upped the ante big-time today with a slew of affordable fitness trackers to entice users who may have found earlier models too expensive to consider. 

Fitbit released today Fitbit Versa Lite Edition ($199.95), Fitbit Inspire ($ 99.95) and Inspire HR ($129.95), the company says these are the most accessible devices to date. They also released an updated version of the Fitbit Ace ($99.95), a fitness tracker designed for children. Some of these trackers receive fewer features and functons than older, more expensive models, but they still aim to give users the tracking features they want most.

The new Fitbit devices are available for preorder. Fitbit will soon launch a major redesign to its mobile app, allowing users to further personalize their dashboard, better understand their data, discover new content and more easily connect with others on Fitbit’s social community.

Fitbit OS 3.0 update for Ionic and Versa smartwatches expands on-device options for health tracking

Fitbit announced its latest Fitbit OS 3.0 update for its Ionic and Versa smartwatches. A huge update for existing users, Fitbit OS 3.0 adds more features including an extended on-device dashboard, on-device quick logging for weight and water intake, and the addition of goal-based exercise modes, which debuted on Charge 3 this past October.

 Fitbit is also introducing 10 new partner apps coming soon to the Fitbit App Gallery including popular brands like Couch to 5K, Gold’s Gym, MINDBODY and TRX. Additionally, we are bringing more to our global developer community with a new exercise API and other developer tools. The update should be rolling out to the devices Soon.