Following a row with O2, Withings has had to slightly alter the name of its latest fitness tracker - which now goes by the name Withings Pulse Ox.
Whatever it's called, the French company has created a great bit of gadgetry with the Pulse, cramming in a pedometer, heart rate monitor and blood oxygen reader into one tiny piece of tech.
Worn on the waist or your wrist, the Pulse Ox packs in a range of features that make it one of the most complete fitness trackers on the market, especially when it comes to pairing with other devices and pulling in stats from other apps.
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To help you get your Pulse racing, we’ve rounded up the best tips, tricks and hidden features of your Withings fitness tracker....
Pair all your Withings devices
The Withings Pulse can connect to a roster of other Withings devices out there, including the Smart Body Analyzer smart scales and blood pressure monitor.
To connect them, go into My Devices on the main menu and then select ‘Install a new device’. Once that’s done, your data will be pulled from those devices and into the companion app. Information like your weight will then be used to increase the accuracy of your Pulse calorie counter.
Share your achievements with the world
Fancy bragging about hitting your latest goal? With a recent update, you now can. If you swipe an item in your Withings app timeline you can now share it with the world along with a picture taken just for that moment.
Hammered 25,000 steps today? It’s time that everyone knows.
Measure your heart rate… with a camera
The Withings Pulse comes with a built-in heart rate monitor but there’s another nifty way of getting a pulse, and it can be done solely from the smartphone app. When you’re on the dashboard, tap the plus sign at the top right of the screen and while you’re in the ‘Heart’ section tap Start to take a reading using your phone’s camera.
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By using the phone’s flash on your finger, Withings is able to get a reading without even resorting to the Pulse’s green heart rate rays.
Pair it with other health apps
Head into Profile and you’ll find a list of third party apps that your Withings Pulse can connect to. For example, you can connect it to RunKeeper by heading into your profile page and then select RunKeeper under the Health/Fitness apps section.
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All of your data will then be collected by RunKeeper, including the info taken when you step onto your Withings scales, making it easier to monitor the impact of your exercise on your weight and body fat, for example.
Share this information with your GP
Not only can you share your Withings dashboard with the world, but you can specifically send your dashboard information to your doctor. To do this, head to your profile and then tap on the Withings button under ‘Share My Dashboard’. From here you can add their email address and have Withings send your activity information to them.
As the app states, this can be for a doctor, a coach, a nutritionist or simply a close relative who’s keeping a close eye on your health. Below ‘Share My Dashboard’ is also an option to send your blood pressure data to your doctor over a specified time period.
Integrate with Apple Health
Withings is the latest lifestyle tech brand to get on board with Apple's HealthKit platform. The French company has announced compatibility across its range of connected devices.
The quantified self data from the likes of the Withings Pulse, the Withings Smart Body Analyzer and the recently launched Withings Aura can now be integrated right into the iOS Health app.
Lock up your data
There are plenty of options that let you shout about your progress, but you might prefer to keep things to yourself. If you’re worried about anyone snooping on your information, set up a passcode by heading into Settings, scrolling down to the bottom and toggling the lock.
Punch in a pin and you’re good to go.
Use reminders with Withings
One particularly nice feature of the Withings companion app is the Reminders feature, which lets you give yourself an extra nudge when needed. This could be to eat some fruit, go for a run, or to watch how much alcohol you’re drinking. You can also set yourself reminders to weigh yourself or check your blood pressure.
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Assuming you’re collecting that data with a separate Withings product, the information will then flow nicely onto your dashboard.
Pocket it
The Pulse can be detached from the wristband and placed just about anywhere - one option is to clip it to a belt. While this means your data is just a glance away, it also runs the risk of you losing the small device should it fall out of the clip.
However, the good news is that you’ll get accurate readings even if the Pulse is in your pocket. It means you’ll have to fish it out if you want to check the display, but it’s a little extra effort that could save you a fair bit of money.
Add activities using your phone
You’ve just got to work and you’ve realised that there’s a suspicious space on your wrist - you forgot to strap on your Pulse. But that doesn’t mean you get a free ride: you can still track activity through the companion app itself.
To switch over to the phone, head over to your timeline, tap the big orange box at the top, then tap the three dots at the top right of the screen. There you can toggle “I forgot my Pulse” to start tracking with your phone.
Organise your dashboard to remove the clutter
The dashboard can be a tad overwhelming when you first see it - there are colours and shapes everywhere - but you can tailor it so it’s more specific to your needs. After all, you might only be looking to track one or two biometrics at one time. Scroll down to the bottom of the dashboard and you’ll see a small blue button - tap it and you’ll be able to organise which metrics appear and in which order.
Furthermore, tap on the butterfly at the top and you’ll be able to add specific apps from different section. At the end of it you should have a dashboard that provides only the info that means something to you, all organised exactly how you want it.
Share your Withings Pulse tips
Got a Withings Pulse? Share a trick that’s changed the way you use your new Pulse fitness tracker.
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By Kieran Alger
Kieran is a world record-setting runner and one of the UK's most experienced running journalists.
A constant tester of the latest fitness technology, he's always hunting for innovations that can make him run faster, further and generally be in better shape.
Kieran is often found wearing four GPS running watches at once. And to date he's tracked more than 50 marathons, 13 ultras and countless half marathons - including the Marathon Des Sables.
In 2022, he became the first person to run the river Danube from sea to source, a measly 1,830 miles in 66 days. And still had time to test running gear.
Kieran regularly takes running tech to the extremes for Wareable and the likes of Runner's World, Mens Health and Wired.