OVERVIEW: Fitbit Zip - small but udalenky activity tracker

I have long wanted to buy himself a device for monitoring daily activities, but spending $ 200 on a device like Jawbone UP I was sorry. Therefore, seeing in Hamburg Apple Store miniature Fitbit Zip for € 60, I decided that this is what I need.

Appearance

Zip consists of two parts: a small plastic gadget with black-and-white screen, and a rubberized cover with clip in which it should be worn. When assembled, it is comparable to the size of a matchbox. Unlike bracelets which may cling continuously, for example when working edge laptop, Zip It is invisible - it is supposed to cling to a pocket or belt (or, for girls, by the middle of bra). Batareyka- work provides a "pill", and it is enough for long enough - the one that was complete, the village a month later, and purchased in the subway for $ 1 has been running for two. Rubberized case may give the impression that the machine is not afraid of water, but it is not: my friend accidentally has washed your Zip together with jeans and more gadget signs of life does not let on.

Furthermore, there is a complete antenna for synchronizing with the computer. After wiring and installation of firmware (OS X and Windows) needed once "paired" with the antenna zip'om and then all of the collected data will be synchronized automatically, at a time when you will find yourself next to the computer. You can also merge data through the iPhone (4S or 5) and a limited number of smartphones on Android (officially supported by the Galaxy S3 and S4, and Note II).

Functionality

So what are the data collected Zip? Since this is the youngest model of all the company's units (there are also more expensive and more recently, the One Flex bracelet), And the data it collects are not many, but specifically, only three indicators:

• Number of passed steps per day.
• The distance in kilometers.
• calories burned

This data can be viewed both in the mobile and web applications (what I will tell you later), and on the screen. Only one figure can be seen on the screen at one time, and to switch between them, it is easy enough to press the screen with your finger. Steps Zip believes accurately. I tried to go down the street, holding it in his hands, and numbers of steps changed in real time: stopped - the figures froze, went on - and they ran. For a more accurate measurement of the mileage and calories when registering on the site should provide your height and weight.

Mobile application and web service

The functionality of a mobile and web-based applications like enough. Firstly, there can see the statistics of all the indicators taken into account for various periods of time - day, week, month, year. Secondly, they can be used to specify what you ate today, to take into account not only spent, but also consumed to calories. Thirdly, following the currently fashionable trend of gamification, the Fitbit gives you badges for achievements and also can be viewed in the app or on the website. For example, I now have 2 top badges: 20,000 steps per day, and 500 kilometers for all time use of the device.

Also, both online and in the app itself, you can specify the goal for each day (like, "I want to pass through the 15 km every day"), and then you can see percentage of goal achieved today and the mobile app will send you a push-notification like "Before the goal remains to pass 1,368 steps pull devil! "

In general, for me personally web interface seems to be more comfortable, and after a recent redesign - more and more beautiful. In addition, there is a Fitbit ecosystem integration with third-party applications, which allows you to export data from the tracker in these applications. From popular there, for example, Endomondo. I'll check this feature, unfortunately, could not, because the integration is supported only when using the iPhone or Android-powered smartphone, but not the iPod touch, which I use.

results

In general, it seems to me that with the purchase of Fitbit Zip, I began to move a little more. Very nice in the evening after an active day and run to see a five-digit number of steps on the small screen. Conversely, when you see that after a day in the office you have reached only 30% of the set you also own goal, I want to be like to run and to execute this promise to yourself.

Of the drawbacks I would mention only the lack of a normal Russian localization and the consequent inconvenience filling Information about food eaten - my vocabulary is usually not enough to immediately translate any name of the dish on the English.

In addition, the best - the enemy of the good, and now I want to track more data in their daily activities, and I carefully look to the more expensive kind of trackers Fitbit Flex or Jawbone UPWhich are also able to keep track of the duration and quality of sleep, moving up and down stairs, and more. But for my money (and Zip Ukraine can buy a little more than $ 100), I think it's a great device.

Fitbit Zip