“Shortly after introducing HealthKit at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, Apple released a fitness themed ad to the tune of “Chicken Fat,” the JFK-era ode to phys ed sung by Robert Preston,” Anthony Wing Kosner writes for Forbes. “In a brisk minute, the ad manages to show six fitness devices made by other companies: the Misfit Shine, Fitbit Aria Scale, Wahoo Fitness Blue SC Speed/Cadence Sensor, Withings Health Mate, Zepp Golf Sensor, and Adidas miCoach Smart Ball.”
“In addition it features a dozen third-party fitness-related apps: Wemo, Misfit Shine, Argus, Withings, Zepp Golf, Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout App, Strong Lifts, TRX Force, Sprinttimer, miCoach Smart Ball, Wahoo Fitness, and Nike+ Running,” Kosner writes. “So here’s the question: would Apple really be putting a spotlight on a bunch of devices that it intends to put out of business with its forthcoming iWatch?”
“I don’t think so,” Kosner writes. “Instead, I think that Apple’s emphasis on the number and variety of these third-party fitness-related devices and apps is a way of foregrounding the iWatch’s role as a companion device to all of the products featured. HealthKit itself is meant as a central, secure database for all of a user’s health and fitness-related data. The more different data sources a HealthKit enabled device can integrated with, the higher the potential value of the device to a user.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
How Apple is leading the healthcare wearables revolution – June 8, 2014
Apple’s HealthKit aims to unite wearables and fitness apps – June 2, 2014
Apple releases iOS 8 SDK with over 4,000 new APIs – June 2, 2014
Apple unveils iOS 8, the biggest release since the launch of the App Store – June 2, 2014
Apple announces OS X Yosemite for Macintosh – June 2, 2014
The theme tune of the film ‘The Great escape’ comes to mind after reading that feature.
All those disparate Apps being corralled by an iWatch plotting a great escape after theApple Ecosystem barn doors have been shut!
No current Apple ad would ever “suggest” anything about a future product.
I don’t know if Jobs would have approached this strategy as Cook and his inner circle have. Jobs was not comfortable with outside partners (Apple/Motorola iPod phone, Mac clones etc). Steve rarely played well with others.
This is no bad thing in some ways. Apple have always been marginalised as being “closed vs open” i.e.: Android, Windows, particularly by the IT knobs. (By profession I’m a Cisco / checkpoint guy)
I like the way apple has built these frameworks for 3rd party’s can build for their hardware
Healthkit, Homekit, Carplay are about enhancing the gadget/sensor manufacturers can tie their devices into Apple’s ecosystem. Hence adding more value and reason to get an iOS device.
I have no clue to what the iWatch will be nor does anyone outside Apple. Seriously, over the last year apple has released. 64bit iOS and hardware, deals with China Mobile and Japan as well as the WWDC announcements of Swift, iOS 8, Carplay, OSX Yosemite and the home/health kits.
Cook has done what Jobs said in his resignation to the board ” I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. ”
Let the “Fire Tim Cook” bullshit begin.
I like the “chicken fat” ad! I’ll pick up a iWatch (I typed a lower case “w” and it autocorrected to “W”) on day one. Go Appke and AAPL!!
Tried “iwatch”. Autocompleted “iwa” to “iwatch”, no capital “W” and no “I w”. Curious, iThink.
Because silverhawk1 had corrected “iwatch” to “iWatch” at least once and therefore taught his AutoCorrect which you had not.
iThank you for that tidbit. Always nice to get a peek at the magic.
That song has joined ‘It’s a Small World’ in my personal circle of audio hell.
All this talk about fitness makes me want to eat a twinkie. I’ll buy an iWatch and put it with the treadmill at the next rummage sale.