- Google rolled out its first Google Health upgrades following user backlash
- It includes improvements to food logging and activity accuracy.
- Despite 14 new updates, it still hasn’t scratched the surface for users
Since Google Health became the new app for Fitbit users, it’s faced a tidal wave of criticism for its clunkiness and lack of vital features – but Google has rolled out a huge update after promising to make improvements a few weeks ago.
Yesterday (June 4), Google unveiled version 5.01 of the Google Health app, marking what the company says is “the first of many improvements to come.” The update will continue to roll out over the next week in stages and will depend on your carrier and device type, Google says.
The new upgrades are designed to address a number of issues users reported when they first switched from the Fitbit app. In total, there are 14 new improvements spread across four different categories, starting with nutrition.
Building on negative feedback about its food logging features, Google has upgraded this tool allowing you to view and save previously created custom foods, as well as improved management when transferring food logs from third-party apps like MyFitnessPal. Additionally, Google has added more explanations and tips for setting your personal macronutrient goals, which also come with more accurate nutritional and calorie tables.
Exercise tracking is another persistent problem for Google Health users, especially when it comes to tracking and tagging runs. Google says this issue is now fixed and new and previous workouts will now be labeled correctly. It also fixed an issue where users were reporting missing splits in their runs, and Google says those have been restored, as has the Sleep Score tab, which a handful of users reported missing.
Google has not only updated its fitness tracking tools, but is also rolling out general improvements to its apps, including one for your Today tab on Android, where users have reported seeing outdated metrics. You can see the full list of new Google Health updates on Google’s support page.
Is it enough to please the public?
Given the level of ferocity expressed by users who were forced to abandon the Fitbit app for Google’s new fitness platform, it’s a good thing that Google is recognizing these issues, especially for those who just purchased the new Google Fitbit Air. However, it turns out that the 14 new upgrades only scratch the surface.
Since Google announced version 5.01, users have once again taken to Reddit to voice their thoughts – one user called the app a “total downgrade from Fitbit.” At the same time, others have pointed out more features that Google Health is still missing.
One user in particular expressed his dislike of Google Health’s thumbs up/down icons that he says appear on every item on the home screen. It’s understandable, it’s not supposed to be like Strava where fitness meets social media. On top of that, another user reported that when they log activity in Google Health, they can’t use any other part of the app, which seems surprisingly restrictive.
As Google said, version 5.01 is just the first step in its plan to overhaul the Google Health app, but we don’t know how long it will be before the next step arrives. That said, if Google doesn’t want Fitbit users to switch to competitors like Garmin, it needs to make these changes sooner rather than later.
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