Samsung has launched an update for its S Health app adding new features for the Gear Fit2, but it's also quietly added support for third party activity tracking apps that effectively turns it into a Google Fit style central hub for all of your data.
The Korean company has apparently been adding support since May and with the latest version 4.8.1 update, you can now connect S Health with Fitbit, Jawbone, Misfit and Microsoft Health. It's also now integrates Runkeeper and Strava data.
Read this: Samsung Gear S2 tips and tricks
It's not perfect. While the majority of apps will let you share exercise and sleep data, Fitbit integration will only allow you to share sleep data. Strava will also only let you share exercise data. Adding the integration is also not the most straightforward and requires hunting out the Connected Services option, which lives under the More Button inside the S Health app.
S Health had previously only been available to Samsung smartphone owners and works with its family of wearables including the Gear S2 smartwatch. Since then, full Android support has been added last year although there's still no love for iPhone users.
Along with the third party support, Samsung is also introducing new features to coincide with the launch of the Gear Fit2, notably adding a new Steps challenge to take on friends in a race to score the most steps.
The decision to loosen the shackles on third party activity tracking support is the real story here though and should make the health and fitness app a whole lot more useful.
How we test
By Michael Sawh
Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.
He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.
Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech.
Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.