Sport, parks and leisure - Apple targets health and fitness – ramps up cycling functionality and reveals world's first spatial operating system...
05 May 2024 Sport, parks, & leisure: daily news and jobs
 
 
HOME
JOBS
NEWS
FEATURES
PRODUCTS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
PRINT SUBSCRIPTION
ADVERTISE
CONTACT US
Sign up for FREE ezine
Latest news

06 Jun 2023

Apple targets health and fitness – ramps up cycling functionality and reveals world's first spatial operating system
BY Liz Terry

Apple has launched a raft of new health and fitness functionality

Apple has launched a raft of new health and fitness functionality
photo: Apple

Big news today from Apple’s WWDC2023 event in Cupertino, where the company revealed plans to focus on cycling, with new Apple Watch functionality that can deliver similar results to specialised cycling computers.

The Apple watch can now connect to Bluetooth-enabled accessories such as speed and cadence sensors, meaning cycling workouts can take over the entire watch face, making it more effective as a handlebar display.

The Watch and iPhone can both now also estimate Functional Threshold Power (FTP) – the highest average power output that can be sustained over a one hour time frame on a bike.

Other health and fitness functionality was also announced and users can now receive insights into their health data with the Trends and Highlights option, while health and fitness developers can use HealthKit on iPad, opening up new opportunities to create health and fitness experiences that incorporate data that users choose to share from the Health app, with privacy and data security protocols in place.


The new version of Apple Fitness+ comes with Custom Plans workout functionality on board. This is a new way for consumers to receive a custom workout or meditation schedule based on the day, the duration of exercise and the workout type.

There’s also a feature called Stacks, which enables users to select multiple workouts and meditations to do back to back and ‘Audio Focus’, which gives users the ability to prioritise the volume of the music or the trainers’ voice during on-demand workouts from the Custom Plans system.

In addition to ramping up its cycling and group exercise functionality, the company also announced new health features for its operating systems and Apple Watch.

A mental health feature on the Apple Watch enables users to log their emotions and moods through journaling, to gain insights, while also accessing assessments and resources.

New vision health features encourage healthy behaviours that can reduce the risk of eye strain and Apple has added its Health app to the iPad, giving users access to their health data.

“Our goal is to empower people to take charge of their own health journey,” said Sumbul Desai, MD, Apple’s VP of Health. “With these features, we’re expanding the range of health and wellness tools we offer users across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

“Mental health and vision health are important, but often overlooked and we’re excited to introduce features that offer valuable new insights to provide users with an even better understanding of their health,” he continued. “These insights help support users in their daily decisions and offer more informed conversations with their doctors.”

Other Health features announced today enable consumers to view their available health records from multiple institutions and share data stored in the Health app with loved ones or medical professionals using Health Sharing.

The company also launched Apple Vision Pro, a spatial computer that blends digital content with the physical world, while “allowing users to stay present and connected to others”.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, so Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing.

“Built on decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before — with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations. It unlocks incredible experiences for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers.”

Cook says Vision Pro creates an “infinite canvas for apps that scales beyond the boundaries of a traditional display and introduces a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by the most natural and intuitive inputs possible — a user’s eyes, hands, and voice”.

Featuring visionOS, the first spatial operating system, Vision Pro lets users interact with digital content in a way that makes it feel physically present in their space.

Vision Pro has an ultra-high-resolution display system with 23 million pixels across two displays. “VisionOS is the world’s first spatial operating system that blends digital content with the physical world,” said Cook.

Apple also revealed that developers generated US$1.1Tr of value in the Apple Store ecosystem in 2022.



Connect with
Sport Parks Leisure
Magazine:
View issue contents
Sign up:
Instant Alerts/zines

Print edition
 

News headlines
Active Oxfordshire secures £1.3 million to tackle shocking levels of inequality
Active Oxfordshire secures £1.3 million to tackle shocking levels of inequality
  02 May 2024

Active Oxfordshire has received £1.3 million to tackle inactivity and inequality and launch a new programme for children. The funding has come from .... more>>
Mark Tweedie joins Miova to lead on pivot to active wellbeing
Mark Tweedie joins Miova to lead on pivot to active wellbeing   02 May 2024

Consultancy and change architects, Miova, have welcomed industry veteran Mark Tweedie on board. Tweedie had most recently headed up Brimham’s .... more>>
Sport England’s Active Lives insight finds record activity levels, but enduring health inequalities
Sport England’s Active Lives insight finds record activity levels, but enduring health inequalities   26 Apr 2024

While British adults are the most active they’ve been in a decade, health inequalities remain with the same groups missing out, according to Sport .... more>>
Immediate rewards can motivate people to exercise, finds new research
Immediate rewards can motivate people to exercise, finds new research   24 Apr 2024

Short-term incentives to exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead to sustained increases in activity, according to new .... more>>
Mytime Active calls a halt to dumping 432,000 pairs of plastic overshoes into landfill each year
Mytime Active calls a halt to dumping 432,000 pairs of plastic overshoes into landfill each year   21 Apr 2024

Charitable trust, Mytime Active, has removed all single-use plastic overshoes from its swimming pools and leisure centres, as part of ongoing .... more>>
Company profile


Rubb Buildings Ltd

Rubb was founded in 1977 and has a proud history of delivering innovative and quality structures to a wide range of clients.

View full profile>>

Catalogue gallery


Featured Supplier

W3Fit EMEA’s innovative programme sets sail for Sardinia, Italy

W3Fit EMEA’s innovative programme sets sail for Sardinia, Italy

Following a hugely successful event last year in Split, Croatia, W3Fit EMEA, is heading to the Chia Laguna resort in Sardinia from 8-11 October. More>>




in this issue

• Virgin gets right to wipe out rent arrears
• Fitness industry mourns passing of Jan Spaticchia
• STA offers mindfulness resources



Latest jobs

Jobs Search



Duty Manager
Salary: Competitive
Location: Middlesbrough
Company: Everyone Active
Duty Manager Golf and Athletics
Salary: £30,027pa + non-contrib pension + benefits
Location: Stockwood Park Golf Club, London Road, Luton, UK
Company: Active Luton
Leisure Centre Duty Manager
Salary: £24,687.57pa + pension + health care + benefits
Location: Uppingham, Oakham, UK
Company: Uppingham School
Diary dates
Powered by leisurediary.com

08-08 May 2024

Hospitality Design Conference

Hotel Melià , Milano , Italy







Published by Leisure Media Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385 | Contact us | About us | © Cybertrek Ltd