Release Notes

Periodic updates about Backpack Health and changes that have been made to it.

Allison Goldman avatar
Written by Allison Goldman
Updated over a week ago

Version 6.1.1 – April 22, 2021

All Platforms

Easily export all the health info, notes, contacts, and files for a Backpack profile.


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Previous Versions

Version 6.1 – February 28, 2021

Android

  • You can now set reminders to track symptoms!

  • Other small enhancements and bug fixes.

iOS

Small enhancements, bug fixes, and code cleanup.

Version 6.0 – December 23, 2020

All Platforms

Introducing symptom tracking! Record how often symptoms occur, how severe they are, how long they last, and more. Get a better sense of how you’re doing over time, share with your doctor using Share Cards, and make more informed choices about your care.

Version 5.18.1 – October 19, 2020

All Platforms

We fixed a big bug that kept you from writing Notes. Now you can go back to writing as many as you need.

Version 5.18 – September 28, 2020

All Platforms

We added UI enhancements, bug fixes, and other neat stuff.

Version 5.17 – August 31, 2020

All Platforms

We fixed some bugs and touched up the UI in a few places. We’d love to hear from you – leave us a review!

Version 5.16 – July 24, 2020

Android

  • Introducing graphs for measurements and labs! You can now see your data charted over time.

  • UI enhancements, bug fixes, and some other awesome stuff.

iOS

  • Introducing graphs for measurements and labs! You can now see your data charted over time.

  • We added the ability to import the contacts saved on your device directly to Backpack – when you select Share Contact in the iOS Contacts app, you’ll see Backpack as an option for receiving it.

  • UI enhancements, bug fixes, and some other awesome stuff.

Version 5.15 – June 20, 2020

Android

We added UI enhancements, bug fixes, and some other awesome stuff.

iOS

  • We added haptic feedback to give you a subtle high five when you perform certain actions in the app.

  • You might have run into a crash if you tried to upload a video. That’s been fixed, along with a bunch of other bugs and UI enhancements.

Version 5.14 – May 12th, 2020

Android
It just got even easier to make sure your critical health info is available in an emergency: You can now create a wallpaper image with a scannable QR code that goes directly to your Emergency Share Card from your phone’s lock screen.

All Platforms

  • We added new options for picking and choosing the individual health records you want to accept or reject from your Data Connections.

  • UI enhancements, bug fixes, and some other awesome stuff.

Version 5.13 – April 8th, 2020

You can now store and share contact information for family, friends, caregivers, and more along with your health info.

Version 5.12 – February 27th, 2020

We fixed a bunch of bugs and enhanced all things Backpack groups.


Version 5.11 – January 22nd, 2020

This release contains UI improvements and bug fixes. 


Version 5.10 – January 3rd, 2020

This release contains UI improvements and bug fixes. 


Version 5.9 – November 15th, 2019

All Platforms
This release contains UI enhancements, bug fixes and other improvements to all platforms.

iOS

On iPhones, it just got even easier to make sure your critical health info is available in an emergency. You can now create a wallpaper with a scannable QR code to give first responders instant access to your Emergency Share Card from your phone’s lock screen.


Version 5.8 – October 10th, 2019

  • Labs and Measurements just got smarter! We added some logic to make default unit options make more sense, so hopefully, you won’t have to search for the right ones anymore.

  • Bug fixes and general improvements.


Version 5.7 – August 9th, 2019

The way you organize and share your health info just got better.

Health Info Comments (new): Before, the notes you wrote on specific health entries were added to one big list in your Backpack. That also meant they were bunched together at the bottom of your Share Cards, independent from the health info they were about. Now the comments you write on health entries will stay where they belong – with their health entries. 

Backpack Notes (improved): Things are much more organized now that Backpack Notes have their own pocket. The standalone notes you write will be the only ones listed, without any attached comments without context in the mix. 


Version 5.6 – June 19th, 2019

All Platforms

You can now add healthcare provider contacts to your Backpack. Add as many contacts as you want, attach the right provider to related health entries, and share these contacts through Share Cards. 


Version 5.5 – May 20th, 2019

All Platforms

This release is all about small-but-handy tweaks to make Backpack better: 

  • You can now change a Share Card’s URL Access Code to any 4 digits you want. 

  • Check out our new dedicated list of Resources to expand what you can do with your Backpack.


Version 5.4 – March 28th, 2019

All Platforms

You can now share access with another user who has their own Backpack Health account (for example, spouses or partners). You can also invite someone in your Backpack (like a teenager) to have access to their account, too. Whenever you add someone to your Backpack we’ll also ask you to confirm that you’re authorized to manage their health info.

Finally, we’ve expanded the information that you can enter for genetic results (including type of mutation). 


Version 5.3 – February 7th, 2019

All Platforms

We’ve also done a lot of behind the scenes work to make Backpack better and to help you use Backpack more efficiently in case of emergency (more on that soon!). 

iOS
Backpack Health is now optimized for your iPad!


Version 5.2 – December 20th, 2018

All Platforms

Ciao, Italia! Backpack Health is now available in Italian!

iOS

We’ve updated how you view Share Cards so that you can keep things organized and have even more information to help you get the most out of them.

This will be our last release that supports iOS 9.  If you are still using iOS 9 we suggest you upgrade to iOS 10 or greater, or access Backpack using Safari on your iPhone.


Version 5.1 – November 27th, 2018

All Platforms

We’re also asking all of our users to verify their email addresses, which helps us ensure data security and privacy. 

Android & Web 

We’ve updated the Share Card screens so that you can keep things organized and have even more information to help you get the most out of Share Cards. iOS changes will be coming soon!


Version 5.0 – October 29th, 2018

All Platforms

We’re introducing Smart Surveys in Backpack Health to make it even easier to share your data for research. Smart Surveys allow for your answers to stay with you in your Backpack as well as being de-identified and shared for research. You can use that info to manage your health journey or that of your loved ones – and even reuse your answers in future Surveys! 

Right now Surveys are just geared toward specific groups, but over time we’ll have more coming. 

Along with Surveys we’ve also incorporated a simple informed consent process that ensures you fully understand the impact of research on yourself and your rights as a study participant. 


Version 4.9 – September 26th, 2018

All Platforms

New navigation: You’ll have a fresh and simple new way of navigating the app when you next visit. Now everything you need (Health Info, Profiles, Share Cards, Settings, Groups, etc.) can be accessed from the main menu, by tapping or clicking on your profile picture/initials. The new navigation also makes room for a better experience on desktop. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Privacy: We always care about your privacy. We’ve now added more details in the app to explain what data is being collected and why. That way, you’ll always know, and you can stay in control of your data.

We’re on a journey to make Backpack Health accessible to everyone, and that means making changes in the way the type displays depending on your device settings. We’re just starting out, and you won’t notice much at first, but stay tuned, there’s more on the way.


Version 4.8 – August 1st, 2018

All Platforms

PRO users: viewing Share Cards is now quicker, easier and more device-responsive. This is especially helpful in an emergency setting when you need to view info in a fast, user-friendly way.


Version 4.7 – June 28th, 2018

All Platforms

You can now add Genetic Results to you or your loved one’s Backpack as well as the ability to specify if Conditions are suspected or confirmed.

We’ve also made some design tweaks such as showing which health entries your Notes and Files are attached to. See what you think!


Version 4.6 – May 15th, 2018

All Platforms

Now you have yet another way to share the health info you need with the ones who need to know. Introducing Share Card URLs! This one’s just for PRO users, but it’s easy to upgrade in the Account Subscription section of the app.

  • Each Share Card in your Backpack has a unique, secure URL + access code that you can choose to enable or not.

  • Tap or click the enabled URL to share live info from your Backpack. Then, when you’re finished sharing, just disable the URL or change your access code. Easy.

  • Put your Emergency Share Card URL on your driver’s license, add it to your medical jewelry or your phone’s Medical ID – the most up-to-date info is now there for you when you need it most

You can also see what’s incomplete in your Profile information and fill out the missing details for yourself and your loved ones.


Version 4.5 – April 25th, 2018

All Platforms

This release is all about making Share Cards even more awesome:

  • Add files and notes to Share Cards. This makes it super easy to send a report ahead of time to a new provider, a vaccination record to school, etc. 

  • Create and share a complete Health History in a snap – all of the info in your Backpack gets included on the Health History Share Card (don’t worry you can turn off the things you don’t want to share)

  • Put a Food Allergy Card in your Backpack and translate it (as well as all of your Share Cards) into any of our five supported languages

  • We’ve also updated the design to make Backpack even more beautiful and worked out bug fixes to make it more functional.


Version 4.4 – March 21st, 2018

All Platforms

  • Add more profile information to your Backpack, like your blood type and your race and ethnicity. Great for your Emergency Share Card!

  • We've fixed a bunch of stuff that may go unnoticed, but it all makes the app run more smoothly so that you can get the most out of Backpack. 


Version 4.3 – January 18th, 2018

All Platforms

  • We’ve changed our subscription plans. Now you can choose between a Basic plan and a PRO plan in the Account Subscription section of the app.


Version 4.2 – December 13th, 2017

All Platforms

  • You can now add Labs and Tests (such as cholesterol, Z-score, glucose, etc.)

  • You can now add Measurements (vital signs like blood pressure, or biometrics like height and weight)

  • Anatomy has been added to Treatments & Therapies, so when you’re adding a treatment like physical therapy, you can say if it was for your shoulder, back, etc.

  • Other bug fixes and improvements

iOS

  • Everything above plus:

  • VoiceOver support: hint text was missing from some of the buttons in the app, they’ve been added now


Version 4.1.1 – November 9th, 2017

All Platforms
This release brings bug fixes and miscellaneous improvements to all platforms. Here are the most notable ones:

Android

  • Share Cards can now be shared from the app (previously could only be downloaded)

  • Share Cards were downloading with bad filenames, they’re fixed now

  • Resolved an issue where the app would crash if you took a new video from within the app, before granting permission to your camera

iOS

  • VoiceOver support: hint text was missing from some of the buttons in the app, they’ve been added now

Web

  • Fixed the way dates and durations were being calculated on Health entries

We also have a new help center, full of articles to help you make the most of your Backpack! Find it in the main app menu (displayed when you select your picture/initials) or at help.backpackhealth.com


Version 4.1 – October 12th, 2017

All Platforms

4.1 brings support for Español and some other exciting language options!

  • Set your global language choice to Spanish and all system text, medical terms, emails and messaging will be in Spanish. We’ve removed the language switcher from the Health view, and you can find this new setting in your Profile Settings. We’ll let you know when more languages are added, too!

  • Have a medication or only know a condition name in another language? You can now change the language you’re searching in on the fly, so you can find what you need without having to search around on the internet for a translation first.

  • Want to send one of your Share Cards to someone who speaks a different language? Each Share Card now has a button so you can quickly translate it for them when you send it out.

  • Sometimes when we translate medical terms, the libraries we use don’t have every last detail (sigh). When that happens, we’ll use our new Indirect Translation capability to translate as much as we can for you, and we’ll keep working to make translations as specific as possible.

We also have a new help center, full of articles to help you make the most of your Backpack! Find it in the main app menu (displayed when you select your picture/initials) or at help.backpackhealth.com

Web

  • Web pages will display in the language set on your browser, until you’re logged in and we see your global language setting.iOS

iOS

  • Fixed: Files attached to health entries weren’t showing up correctly, now they update right away so you see them attached and can remove them without navigating away from the health entry and back


Version 4.0 – September 14th, 2017

Android & iOS

WHAT'S NEW

  • There's a new profile button that makes it easier to find and edit your profile and account settings (located in the bottom toolbar)

  • You can now invite others to access and co-manage any of the profiles in your Backpack (found under the Access section of their profile)

  • If you have any notifications (like an invitation to co-manage a profile) those will now display on your Backpack view

  • iOS Fixed: sometimes the app crashed when trying to take a new video, they’re uploading smoothly now


Version 3.7 – September 6th, 2017

Android
What's new? We are! This is the first version of Backpack Health for Android, and we're excited to be here. We'll be updating the app regularly, and we'll keep you posted along the way. We also look forward to hearing from you, so let us know how we can make Backpack Health more useful for you.


Version 3.7 – August 31st, 2017

iOS

Manage your Account Subscription:

  • Subscribe to Backpack Health

  • Update your payment method

  • Change your subscription (yearly subscriptions get two months free!)

We also took care of some pesky bugs. See any new ones? Email us at help@backpackhealth.com and we’ll get right on it!


Version 3.5 – June 23rd, 2017

iOS

Replaced a zipper and sewed on a new patch... aka, bug fixes and performance improvements

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