Fitbit announces Labs software for Ionic smartwatch

Hardware maker Fitbit has announced Labs, experimental apps and watchfaces for its Ionic smartwatch. With Labs, the company’s Research team wants to test ideas faster, while allowing users to use the new apps and watchfaces.

Fitbit claims that Labs has become possible thanks to the release of the SDK for FitbitOS, the operating system for the Ionic smartwatch. With an update coming this week, Fitbit app users will be able to access the Labs apps and watchfaces.

The company warns that some of those apps and watchfaces may not work stably. In addition, it is possible that the manufacturer does not find the software good enough and deactivates it again, so that it does not work. The intention is to develop ideas with Labs that help FitbitOS further.

The first apps to download are Virtual Pet and Think Fast. Virtual Pet is a pet in a watchface, which gets a treat every time you reach part of the step goal. Users must keep the pet happy, otherwise it will virtually run away. Think Fast is a two-minute game for the watch to keep the brain sharp.

In the coming month, features will be added to map tennis matches, track your mood throughout the day and propel a pirate ship using the pedometer. Fitbit released the Ionic in October. The update that makes Labs possible should also improve the speed of the touchscreen and fix several errors.