Apple Developing Fitness App for iOS 14 That Lets You Download Guided Workout Videos

[MacRumors]

Apple appears to be working on a new fitness app for iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple TV that is designed to let users download guided fitness-related videos that will walk them through various workouts.

Icons representing some of the exercises that will be available in the fitness app​

The app, which is codenamed "Seymour," may be named Fit or Fitness when it is released. Apple appears to be aiming to release the app in iOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14, and it seems to be a standalone app that will be available alongside the existing Activity app.

With the fitness app, users may be able to download fitness videos that cover a range of different workout options and activities, getting guidance on completing those activities on the Apple Watch. Apple provides a gallery of different workout routines that can be downloaded and synced to the Apple Watch, with the videos themselves shown on the iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.

The Apple Watch appears to be used to track your progress through each workout routine, similar to how the Apple Watch can track existing fitness activities through the Activity app.

Apple appears to be providing the workouts through its fitness app for free, as there are no in-app purchases or costs associated with the content at this time.

It looks like Apple is working on a wide variety of activity types, including indoor running, cycling, rowing, stretching, core training, strength training, outdoor walking, dance, and yoga.

While Apple seems to be working on these features for the next software updates expected this fall, there is no guarantee that this functionality will make it into the finalized versions of iOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14.

We're going to be sharing a lot more details on new features that are coming to iOS 14 and Apple's other software updates in the coming days, so stay tuned to MacRumors for more.

Article Link: Apple Developing Fitness App for iOS 14 That Lets You Download Guided Workout Videos

 

[Skeith]

If this allows us to create routines and log exercises (plus calculate calories burnt), that will be great.

But I wonder if this is going have a subscription model, most apps that are doing the abovementioned functions comes with a subscription model in order create unlimited routine or log unlimited history.

 

[cuencap]

A few random comments:

As a user of Aaptiv and Peloton, I really hope this comes with an audio-only feature. Working out to an instructor led music-filled session is super motivating. Aaptiv instructors explain the movements verbally clearly.

There isn't much of a barrier to entry to these types of apps other than music licensing and a handful of fun personalities as trainers. The music portion Apple should have no problem with, and the energetic trainers are probably easy to come by.

It will be interesting to watch this unfold, as providing this for free would be a game changer to the aforementioned apps. It would hurt Aaptiv much harder as Peloton's great experience lies on their hardware.

 

[ipedro]

This has been the biggest missing link for at home workouts with Apple Watch. Sure, you could track a workout on your Watch but most people don’t get the form and the sequence of a workout right, which is why personal trainers are so popular and so effective for those who use them.

Having a guided video on Apple TV with the Watch in sync and capturing activity data, will be the perfect combination to working out at home.

 

[mariusignorello]

A few random comments:

As a user of Aaptiv and Peloton, I really hope this comes with an audio-only feature. Working out to an instructor led music-filled session is super motivating. Aaptiv instructors explain the movements verbally clearly.

There isn't much of a barrier to entry to these types of apps other than music licensing and a handful of fun personalities as trainers. The music portion Apple should have no problem with, and the energetic trainers are probably easy to come by.

It will be interesting to watch this unfold, as providing this for free would be a game changer to the aforementioned apps. It would hurt Aaptiv much harder as Peloton's great experience lies on their hardware.

I have to disagree. As a trainer, it is already hard enough to generate revenue and to offer this for free will further ruin the industry for us. In my own experience, offering training for free or low-cost results in commitment issues on the client's part because they can literally walk away at any time after the trainer has spent time developing programming for said client. It's very frustrating.
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This has been the biggest missing link for at home workouts with Apple Watch. Sure, you could track a workout on your Watch but most people don’t get the form and the sequence of a workout right, which is why personal trainers are so popular and so effective for those who use them.

Having a guided video on Apple TV with the Watch in sync and capturing activity data, will be the perfect combination to working out at home.

I think if they had a stripped-down version with just a library of videos (but not routines) they could offer that for free. Once you start curating routines and programming then a fee should apply for the reasons in my other comment. I'm not convinced that Apple wants to get into the personal/online training business though.

 

[cuencap]

I have to disagree. As a trainer, it is already hard enough to generate revenue and to offer this for free will further ruin the industry for us. In my own experience, offering training for free or low-cost results in commitment issues on the client's part because they can literally walk away at any time after the trainer has spent time developing programming for said client. It's very frustrating.

When I said gamechanger, I meant in a hurtful way (especially to Aaptiv.) I didn't mean free would be the best thing for the industry.

I understand what you are talking about after following a number of trainers on Instagram. Their posts and the struggles they endure seem to revolve around finding a way to make money teaching people.

Once you enter the app space, you run into the issues that I mentioned earlier...there are very few barriers to entry. The method of going for teaching as many people as possible online or creating apps aren't don't seem as effective as being a quality live instructor for people in your area at your own gym.

 

[ipedro]

I have to disagree. As a trainer, it is already hard enough to generate revenue and to offer this for free will further ruin the industry for us. In my own experience, offering training for free or low-cost results in commitment issues on the client's part because they can literally walk away at any time after the trainer has spent time developing programming for said client. It's very frustrating.
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I think if they had a stripped-down version with just a library of videos (but not routines) they could offer that for free. Once you start curating routines and programming then a fee should apply for the reasons in my other comment. I'm not convinced that Apple wants to get into the personal/online training business though.

Personalized training will always keep personal trainers in business. When I work with a personal trainer, they know exactly what I have to work on before I do.

For example, my trainer focused on my back for weeks even though it never crossed my mind to work those muscles at all. What he saw was that my slumped posture could be corrected. People noticed this. Some said I looked taller. Women told me I looked more confident. An app would never have guessed that.

What I see in this are routines to keep you active. I’m most interested in the yoga. But classes with real people will never be replaceable. It’s a social thing.

 

[incoherent_1]

If I know Apple under Tim Cook, these won’t be free. Recent history shows they are pushing hard for monetizing content through subscriptions.

 

[nicho]

If this allows us to create routines and log exercises (plus calculate calories burnt), that will be great.

But I wonder if this is going have a subscription model, most apps that are doing the abovementioned functions comes with a subscription model in order create unlimited routine or log unlimited history.

They could call it AppleGym+

 

[krfr]

Hopefully it stays free. Kinda tired of all the subscription content.

 

[techpr]

Like the John Travolta style 😄

 

[Schranke]

Guess this will have to be pretty basic exercises. I don’t think Apple will get close to potential lawsuits from people getting hurt “following” their instructions.

personal trainers and other professionals will always be needed by those of us taking training serious, an app will not be able to spot and correct wrongs technique (yet).
We could hope that this would get more people to think about the state of their body and use the app as an intro into exercising which would lead them to the professionals for more personal guidance.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

I like this idea purely on the grounds that all of my Watch exercises will be nicely siloed away from a tab in the activity app and given its own interface

 

[Solomani]

They could call it AppleGym+

AppleFit+

 

[Soddamarre]

All this before they add basic interval functionality to the apple watch app. Or even just auto pause for cycling workout, or any other gps based workout for that matter... They could surely have spared a programmer or two to fix that!

 

[nicho]

AppleFit+

They might get screwed if they go down that route name wise - very dicey ground if they go with a FitKit API.

 

[martyjmclean]

AppleFit+

iAppleFit Pro Plus Max+

 

[henryngan2006]

So Apple is trying to compete with Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure? ... Kinda? If Apple could make a game out of this I would be down, but I doubt they could since Apple watch's tracking is pretty limited, compared to Ring Fit Adventure's exercise ring + leg tracking. And Nintendo is just good at making games (actual games that are fun to play instead of gasified apps) especially motion based games.

 

[Skeith]

So Apple is trying to compete with Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure? ... Kinda? If Apple could make a game out of this I would be down, but I doubt they could since Apple watch's tracking is pretty limited, compared to Ring Fit Adventure's exercise ring + leg tracking. And Nintendo is just good at making games (actual games that are fun to play instead of gasified apps) especially motion based games.

But those rings. those damn rings. i need to close those damn rings.

 

[somethingelsefl]

once Siri can announce my pace, duration, HR, etc...I can drop about half of my workout apps/complications/widgets

 

[Neytron]

If you interested in something similar to Kinect apps or Nintendo you can try Zenia on iOS. It's yoga app but with motion tracking.

 

[CharlieBrandt09]

A few random comments:

As a user of Aaptiv and Peloton, I really hope this comes with an audio-only feature. Working out to an instructor led music-filled session is super motivating. Aaptiv instructors explain the movements verbally clearly.

There isn't much of a barrier to entry to these types of apps other than music licensing and a handful of fun personalities as trainers. The music portion Apple should have no problem with, and the energetic trainers are probably easy to come by.

It will be interesting to watch this unfold, as providing this for free would be a game changer to the aforementioned apps. It would hurt Aaptiv much harder as Peloton's great experience lies on their hardware.

I have to disagree that Peloton's great experience lies with their hardware. Don't get me wrong, their hardware is excellent. The thing that keeps me going every single day is their community. Both the online user community and their trainers is really what shines. I work out with Peloton every single day, and not always on the bike.

 

[Rogifan]

This has been the biggest missing link for at home workouts with Apple Watch. Sure, you could track a workout on your Watch but most people don’t get the form and the sequence of a workout right, which is why personal trainers are so popular and so effective for those who use them.

Having a guided video on Apple TV with the Watch in sync and capturing activity data, will be the perfect combination to working out at home.

Another subscription which is right up Tim Cook’s goal of growing services revenues.

 

[GermanSuplex]

Sounds like an ok idea if free.. but why would it need a separate app? Some people enjoy having the apps broken up like that, but I'm very much a fan of apps that unify similar functions. Its the main reason I miss the iPod app on iPhone/iPad.

 

[macduke]

Yeah, they should just roll this into the activity app. I'm tired of so many different apps for everything.