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Comment by rmrfchik | Hacker News Reader

In next year: Google EOL watch for kids, closes servers rendering watches useless.

It's not like this is a uniquely Google-y model, it's just a fitbit. Based on their past history of dropping support for legacy devices, I'd expect it to remain supported for a minimum of 5 years, but maybe a decade or more. And if this page is up-to-date, then it seems like they've only EOL'd 7 out of ~40ish models in the company's ~15 year history.

https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/legal/legacy-device-policy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Fitbit_products#Fitbit...

They've been making the fitbit ace for kids since 2018 and like the previous fitbit ace's, this is just a fitbit versa 4 with a slightly different UI.

So I wouldn't worry them killing these ala the spotify car thing.

It's not because they did it with Fitbit, and with a lot of Dropcam/Nest products they abandoned that it will happen here... right, Right ?

Right -- why would I risk $229 on this when I know the Apple Watch will be around for many more years?

$229 plus mandatory subscription of $120 per year.

Does this include the cellular plan? Then it's probably fine. But if we'd still have to get an additional cellular plan on top of this, then it's silly.

The $10/mo subscription is the data plan.

Or $60 if you pay annually instead of monthly - though who knows how long that annual discount will last.

[edit] and there's no buying the watch WITHOUT the Fitbit Ace Pass data plan, the watch setup REQUIRES a data plan.

from the Compatability section of Tech Specs page:

"Requires Wi-Fi and Fitbit Ace Pass data plan for setup."

[edit2]

though I guess you could buy just one month of the data plan, just for setting up the watch.

But the watch's WiFi supports only 2.4GHz.

[edit3]

the annual data plan deal is only good until before Aug 31. see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzDpo1t02yA&t=275s

Pretty bold for a company known to EOL their products to even offer an annual plan.

Google EOL or 4G LTE becomes phased out by carriers. Which comes first?

My bet is Google EOL.

Exactly. Anyone in the tech industry who buys this is a fool. But I feel sorry for everyone who doesn't keep up with tech news to know everything Google releases is dead in the water and gets duped by this and the inevitable shutdown.

If this lasts as long as Stadia it will shut down on Thursday the 5th of August 2027.

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