I suspected Apple may have bought it before now, a failing company that is already established in the way Apple would want it. That is you must buy the equipment that can only be used with Apple's software and services. A Perfect match. They could easily do it themselves but if a company is sitting there at a fire sale price it makes sense.
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Apple Could Acquire Peloton This Year, Fund Manager Forecast Suggests
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
If you apply this very same scrutiny to the Apple model, you might understand the Peloton model. If it works for Apple...
Correct, but easily fixed. Just like Intel to ARM. Will take a bit of time but very doable.
Why would Apple open itself up to product and injury liability of a failing brand and company?
abc13.com
www.cpsc.gov
Porter mom suing Peloton for more than $1M after 2-year-old was pinned by treadmill
The Porter mom is now suing the company for more than $1 million after her 2-year-old got trapped under the machine.
Peloton Recalls Two Million Exercise Bikes Due to Fall and Injury Hazards
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled exercise bikes and contact Peloton for a free repair. Peloton is offering consumers a free seat post that can be self-installed.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
My own take here: I doubt this is true. But...
Think about what Peloton is at the core: well-built stationary bikes (a commodity) paired with a big iPad-like screen and a subscription service that presents workout-driving content through that window-like view (so one can feel like they are riding in Hawaii or Japan or Australia, etc.)
Now think about the big impending release from Apple: Vpro. What if instead of the Peloton user seeing the world(s) on a relatively small 2D screen mounted to the bike, the Vpro Peloton user would have the ability to look all around within each world as if they are actually there. Like this...
Play it and when you have video, click on it to drag the view around so you can look left, up, right, down, etc. Now "think different" that instead of having to click & drag, you just (Vpro) look left, up, right, down, etc- just like you do when riding an actual bicycle. All of those Peloton-treking worlds become much more "immersive," don't they?
If I'm Peloton- whether I'm seeking a buyer or not- I look at Vpro and start developing my content for it, perhaps at a premium. My crowd will probably pay because they've already paid premiums for a stationary bike and a very limited-function iPad-like screen and service.
Assuming it goes well, and why doesn't it since it is mostly just filming video in 360 degrees (abundant examples of this on YouTube for years now), Apple sees where "we're" going with this and recognizes a bigger revenue opportunity for Apple fitness. Would Apple need to acquire Peloton to compete with this? No. But did Apple need to acquire Beats to compete in Headphones/Buds? No. Beats also brought the subscription software but I have to think Apple could have rolled their own there too. Peloton would also bring already-established fitness software.
If Apple believes in Vpro, content especially for it will be crucial to helping it grow. There was already multiple rumors that one good use of Vpro would be in the fitness space. What if this is one way Apple actually turns that rumor into reality?
An issue with the above video example is the 360 degree camera is attached to the bike. If you attempt to look behind you, you'll be looking at the rider's trunk. However, if the camera was positioned differently, one can actually look all around, even further supporting the illusion of being there... such as in this 360 degree VR video of riding around Vegas...
Try it, click and drag it all the way around like you were looking backwards from the bike. I could easily see Apple-ton or Peloton or Apple-Peloton Clone videos being very much shot like this and working with Vpro. And that seems like one appealing use of Vpro technology to me.
To the mass naysaying of what can a Vpro do that a MB, iPad, iPhone can't? Unless one wants to detach the Peloton screen from the bike and swing it around in every direction one wants to look at any given moment, this is very obviously one such thing. Keep them hands on the handlebars but look at whatever you want to see, wherever it happens to be as you virtually ride trails/roads all over the world.
Think about what Peloton is at the core: well-built stationary bikes (a commodity) paired with a big iPad-like screen and a subscription service that presents workout-driving content through that window-like view (so one can feel like they are riding in Hawaii or Japan or Australia, etc.)
Now think about the big impending release from Apple: Vpro. What if instead of the Peloton user seeing the world(s) on a relatively small 2D screen mounted to the bike, the Vpro Peloton user would have the ability to look all around within each world as if they are actually there. Like this...
Play it and when you have video, click on it to drag the view around so you can look left, up, right, down, etc. Now "think different" that instead of having to click & drag, you just (Vpro) look left, up, right, down, etc- just like you do when riding an actual bicycle. All of those Peloton-treking worlds become much more "immersive," don't they?
If I'm Peloton- whether I'm seeking a buyer or not- I look at Vpro and start developing my content for it, perhaps at a premium. My crowd will probably pay because they've already paid premiums for a stationary bike and a very limited-function iPad-like screen and service.
Assuming it goes well, and why doesn't it since it is mostly just filming video in 360 degrees (abundant examples of this on YouTube for years now), Apple sees where "we're" going with this and recognizes a bigger revenue opportunity for Apple fitness. Would Apple need to acquire Peloton to compete with this? No. But did Apple need to acquire Beats to compete in Headphones/Buds? No. Beats also brought the subscription software but I have to think Apple could have rolled their own there too. Peloton would also bring already-established fitness software.
If Apple believes in Vpro, content especially for it will be crucial to helping it grow. There was already multiple rumors that one good use of Vpro would be in the fitness space. What if this is one way Apple actually turns that rumor into reality?
An issue with the above video example is the 360 degree camera is attached to the bike. If you attempt to look behind you, you'll be looking at the rider's trunk. However, if the camera was positioned differently, one can actually look all around, even further supporting the illusion of being there... such as in this 360 degree VR video of riding around Vegas...
Try it, click and drag it all the way around like you were looking backwards from the bike. I could easily see Apple-ton or Peloton or Apple-Peloton Clone videos being very much shot like this and working with Vpro. And that seems like one appealing use of Vpro technology to me.
To the mass naysaying of what can a Vpro do that a MB, iPad, iPhone can't? Unless one wants to detach the Peloton screen from the bike and swing it around in every direction one wants to look at any given moment, this is very obviously one such thing. Keep them hands on the handlebars but look at whatever you want to see, wherever it happens to be as you virtually ride trails/roads all over the world.
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Ahh, I totally just glossed over that somehow
Now that makes all the more sense, especially given that if you're somewhere like a gym or a hotel gym that has a Peloton bike or tread that you're able to sign into that same account no problem.
I think it makes a lot of sense for Apple to get into “smart” exercise equipment. However, buying Peloton doesn’t make much sense unless they can buy it on the cheap. But ”smart” equipment opens Apple Fitness up to a whole new level of fitness data and will make it easier to track improvement using a variety of metrics instead of just what’s offered on the watch.
I get your idea, but that is definitely not what Peloton is at the core. You can do those things, but their bread and butter is the instructor run classes.
This makes a TON of sense and takes the idea of the Vision Pro to a different level. I can imagine Taking a leisurely bike ride on my stationary bike while wearing the Vision Pro where I can stop and look around. Or I can enter a half marathon and compete against other runners who I see on the screen around me. This would take fitness to a really new level.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Yes. Most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are in winter or right on the cusp of it. Outdoor biking is likely much less appealing for the next few months. However, a Vpro concept along these lines would allow even the scientists at each pole (or astronauts on the space station) to take a life-like ride in the tropics... minus the humidity, bugs, etc. With real skies gray/overcast, the VR skies could be blue & sunny. With real roads covered in salt, snow, ice, muck, etc, the virtual roads could be pristine & clear at any time of day or night a user feels like a ride. Does that seem like it would not be a great escape from the wintertime blues???
And nothing limits such rides to the Earth in VR. How about a race around the rings of Saturn? Or a ride through a colorful wormhole, etc? Or a ride at any time in an imagined future or past? Flee from pursuing dinosaurs? Race George Jetson or Fred Flintstone home? Think of all of those racing video games like Mario-Cart and Cro-Mag Rally (and countless variations), where you could hop on the bike and feel like you are more in those races than you could ever feel looking at any size 2D screen. Bigger imaginations could craft bike rides one could not actually have anywhere on Earth and/or in the present.
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
The instructor is leading the videos. I fully imagine that would continue. I didn't write it in as I assumed that was a given.
Interesting idea, and I do like doing scenic rides to cities I've been to before. More immersive/engaging instructor classes, possibly with some sort of social aspect with other rides or your "friends" would be cool as well. I think a few hardware tweaks are needed on the VPro (battery on the headset, waterproof/sweatproof) also need to happen as well.
Next Apple should acquire Parallels so they can provide users a free, integrated Windows solution...since they killed Boot Camp and all.
That's the way Peloton themselves are headed. Not that I think they'd really ditch selling bikes altogether, but that aspect of the business is not really of interest to the types of companies that would be interested in at all. Sort of like the Beats acquisition wasn't really about the headphones, but rather the music subscription service. I'm honestly amazed that the Beats brand still yet lives and doesn't look to be going anywhere any time soon. The difference being the relatively high popularity, low price, and high margins of Beats compared to these very expensive, low volume, and niche laundry racks.
I've used the treadmills that have pretty much exactly this feature, and the novelty wears off VERY quickly. Absolutely not something I would pay thousands of dollars up front for, on top of monthly subscription.
I can't see Apple ever dealing in hardware that you can take to an Apple Store. They would not want the support headache that this would involve.
Apple’s rebranded line of Peloton hardware will have no screen and pair with the Vision Pro headset for VR workouts like the world has never seen… including games that incorporate treadmill and bike motion. All services will be included with a subscription to Apple Fitness+, and a free year will be thrown in with each hardware purchase.
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Obviously, the fund manager holds a sizable hunk of Peloton stock and would like to get out of it.
Perhaps he can explain why Apple would. failing company when they could easily acquire any of their IP when the bankruptcy court auctions off their IP.
It makes no sense at all despite the spin this guy puts on it. I highly doubt Apple wishes to get into the business of selling exercise machines. Software and integration into Apple Fitness and Health is likely the angle Apple would approach if they are looking for acquisitions in this area.
Perhaps he can explain why Apple would. failing company when they could easily acquire any of their IP when the bankruptcy court auctions off their IP.
It makes no sense at all despite the spin this guy puts on it. I highly doubt Apple wishes to get into the business of selling exercise machines. Software and integration into Apple Fitness and Health is likely the angle Apple would approach if they are looking for acquisitions in this area.
Peloton just announced a partnership with TikTok.
www.prnewswire.com
Not sure Apple would want TikTok to harvest their customer info as that's what would happen if Apple bought Peloton.
Then again, Apple's okay with Alphabet harvesting their customer info from Google searches so maybe if TikTok pays Apple enough, Apple will be okay with it. 🤷♂️
TikTok and Peloton Partner to Drive Accessibility of Fitness and Movement with First-of-Its Kind #TikTokFitness Peloton Hub
/PRNewswire/ -- Peloton (NASDAQ: PTON), the leading connected fitness platform, and TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile video, today...
www.prnewswire.com
Not sure Apple would want TikTok to harvest their customer info as that's what would happen if Apple bought Peloton.
Then again, Apple's okay with Alphabet harvesting their customer info from Google searches so maybe if TikTok pays Apple enough, Apple will be okay with it. 🤷♂️