“Apple currently plans to release a new version of the iPhone operating system this year with health and fitness tracking integration as its headline feature, according to sources briefed on the plans,” Mark Gurman reports for 9to5Mac. “Apple’s work on such an operating system likely indicates that Apple is nearing the introduction of its long-awaited, sensor-laden ‘iWatch,’ which sources say is well into development.”
“Apple plans for iOS 8 to include an application codenamed ‘Healthbook,'” Gurman reports. “The software will be capable of monitoring and storing fitness statistics such as steps taken, calories burned, and miles walked. Furthermore, the app will have the ability to manage and track weight loss. The software will be a pre-installed challenger to offerings such as those from Nike and Fitbit, making it all the more intriguing that Apple CEO Tim Cook still sits on Nike’s Board of Directors.”
“Last month, Apple executives Jeff Williams and Bud Tribble met with F.D.A. officials in the United States regarding health applications, as noted earlier today by the New York Times,” Gurman reports. “However, actual details about what was discussed were not shared.”
Read more in the full article here.
This is one feature that has been obvious for any iWatch, in particular since the new chip for this purpose is in the 5S. There is a lot of room to transform this space, since the software for the fitness trackers thus far is lacking. They work well for some functions, but in my experience, ultimately do not provide the overall ease of use or range of data that would help the trackers past the novelty phase. Here, if Apple can get developers to write apps to support this function, there is a good chance it will be a winner.
There are no trackers yet that do everything (i.e. movement, pulse, blood sugar, blood oxygen, blood pressure, sleep patterns, notifications, etc.), and the barrier to entry is high. Apple has probably had teams working on these sensors for years, and it will be difficult for others to copy, just as it was with the iPod.
I hope Apple can make a classic round version that isn’t gigantic like some of the newer watches on the market.
One thing you can be sure of — Apple will not produce anything remotely like the craptastic behemoth made by Samsung.
Apple will design something so cool for this.
Think about it… How about a very thin band that can change colour depending on your activity level that talks to your iPhone or iPad.
It will be siri controlled and will fit any wrist size 🙂
Excellent idea! Let’s keep the brainstorm going…then samedung can be inspired!
Interesting, the features that will define iWatch are the biometrics capabilities rather than the watch functionality. A thin band thats you can easily slide on and is not too obtrusive would be very appealing. Maybe call it iMetric, iMonitor?
A good name for this, at lest for me, is iWant.
Please Apple, bring back a more subtle interface. iOS7 has got to go. I’m not going to upgrade my 4s to it unless it looks less like it was designed by pre-teen girls for pre-teen girls. Seriously, the ugly icons and the psychedelic colors aren’t for professional adults.
Oh my god! Have you even tried it? Adjust the fonts a bit.
Yeah I have installed on my iPhone & iPad. It sucks big time.
Kramer, you are completely entitled to your opinion about iOS 7.
However, I’m also completely entitled to my opinion that you are posting useless crap to this thread. Seriously, what does your post have to do with the “iWatch?”
You really need to either just let this one go… or if you’re that bothered about it, pick a different vendor for your next phone. I mean heck, you could even perhaps do more good by simply posting your rants to Apple’s submission page.
But what do you really hope to accomplish posting your iOS 7 vitriol in the comments section of an article about something unrelated to iOS 7?
Because on a chance that that son of a bitch Ive reads the comments on here and realises that he sucks at software design.
Oh, for fuck’s sake! Stop behaving like a whiney little girl, quit the snivelling and grow up!
I know ten year olds with more maturity than the weepy little bitches going on about the colours and fonts on iOS 7.
Make the fonts bolder in settings, then shut the fuck up already.
…and breath!
Damn complainers if iOS 7. Get over it. Go get your self a flip phone already. iOS 7 is a fine update to 6.
iOS 7 looks like a half finished construction site that hasn’t had time to put up the walls so all you’re left with is 2-D wire frames. It’s so bad it makes me puke.
Pass the man a bucket, preferably so he can stick his head in it. Then I’d like to kick it repeatedly.
Please can I help too?