Fitbit today announced software updates for its Surge and Charge HR fitness trackers that now receive new features, they will enable the fitness trackers to automatically detect when the user has started a new session or workout activity and log it as such. This eliminates the need for users to swipe through the activity menu or press a button prior to starting a workout.
The automatic detection feature is called SmartTrack and Fitbit says that it will detect activities like walking, outdoor cycling and running on its own aside from elliptical workouts, soccer, tennis, basketball. Even high impact cardio workouts including dance classes and kickboxing will be picked up on automatically.
SmartTrack is quite like the auto detection feature built into Jawbone’s UP fitness trackers which can also automatically pick up on activities and workouts. The Fitbit mobile app receives an update today as well, it now lets users set weekly workout goals instead of simply logging daily workouts once they have been finished.
Fitbit has rolled out these updates just before the holiday shopping picks up, with the absence of any truly new products on the market right now, this is a nice move by the company to get its fitness trackers in the news cycle and perhaps be convincing enough for new customers who are out in the market for a fitness tracker.
Filed in . Read more about Fitbit and Wearable Tech.