Apple Fitness+ Launches Today: Worthy Alternative to Peloton for Apple Watch Users

[mikosk]

I'm interested in this as well. I have an old Garmin 310XT with speed and cadence sensors, but it's old ANT+ instead of Bluetooth tech so it doesn't connect to my Apple Watch during workouts.

I've been looking at Bluetooth Wahoo-style speed / cadence sensors, but they're all really confusing, I think some you have to buy two to get both speed AND cadence, another one it's "flip the battery over" for speed OR cadence, etc. I'd like to know which one would work with Apple Watch, particularly for Fitness+.

I've just been doing "indoor cycling" on Apple Watch which gives me heart rate and time, and then letting Garmin track the speed/cadence during my workout so I can look down and see how fast I'm going, especially in the big boy gears.

I did a DIY Peloton with a much cheaper Sunny spin bike and have to say it's pretty flawless. Heart rate via the apple watch and cadence via the Wahoo sensor are both displayed on screen during the workout in the Peloton app.

My hope is that Apple can offer the same experience and not get cute. I remember the days when copy/paste wasn't a thing on the iPhone, let's not go back to those days.

 

[pilotpat]

Funny. The third gen was fine for me and is still working, and I never saw the need to upgrade until last year when Disney+ was released and I couldn't use it on my AppleTV. If you recall, Apple hasn't had a refresh since 2017 for AppleTV. So pardon me for waiting in November 2019, thinking it was overdue for a refresh.

With Apple Arcade and heartier games such as The Pathless, I have been expecting a refresh with a new chip for quite some time. That's why I'm holding out. My Fire Stick does just fine for things that need apps, but I'm a little annoyed with Apple not refreshing the AppleTV for 3.5 years at this point.

Could I go buy one brand new right now? Of course. I just feel a little cheapened by the fact that it's already old tech with an old chip, and it seems like the second I buy one, the refresh I've been waiting on will come out.

The apple tv 4k did have a new chip. The HD had the A8 and the 4k had the A10X. Anyways, I didn't mean that to sound critical, I just feel like waiting for them to refresh to something that will be outdated the day it releases is chasing after something that will never come.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Connect with our bluetooth equipment please. If the Peloton app can connect to my Schwinn IC4 to display cadence and account for it accordingly, so should this.

I expect this to be the another 1.1, 1.5 or 2.0 feature (along with multi-user/group support).

 

[richpjr]

I usually work out in a room that doesnt have a TV in it, but does have a PC and while an iPad is okay, it would be nice if you could access the content from a web browser.

 

[pilotpat]

I expect this to be the another 1.1, 1.5 or 2.0 feature (along with multi-user/group support).

Could also be a new tier to the service. For $5 - 10 more per month you can get group and bluetooth support and maybe even personalized workouts. But most likely just like you said, features to be added later.

 

[qpid360]

Connect with our bluetooth equipment please. If the Peloton app can connect to my Schwinn IC4 to display cadence and account for it accordingly, so should this.

This is why I haven't cancelled my Peloton subscription yet. Hopefully this is supported in the future.

 

[kupkakez]

I'll try it as it's included in my Apple One subscription. I can't see it pulling me away from Peloton as I have the bike and the treadmill and I've really come to love the instructors the last year + I've used Peloton.

 

[routine_analyst]

Really a shame they diluted the peloton brand by calling the flipty-dipty videos the same.
Apple Fitness+ will never compare to these home workouts as long as they don't have hardware like the bike, treadmill, or pully system of Tonal. Ya'll will not get buff by lunges and jumping jacks in front of your TV followed by your soy milkshakes.

 

[LeeW]

Ya'll will not get buff by lunges and jumping jacks in front of your TV followed by your soy milkshakes.

You assume people are trying to get 'buff' when in fact they are simply trying to be more active, this will do exactly that, no need for any fancy equipment or the cost of Peleton.

 

[yaxomoxay]

I am really looking forward to this service. I am curious to see how it develops.

 

[NightFox]

Now just give us ANT+ in iOS devices please Apple!

 

[peneaux]

As an overweight gay man, I think exercise is overrated. We should change the notion that toned bodies are attractive. I'm sick and tired of not receiving compliments (your mom does not count!).

 

[ajguckian]

Asinine that it requires an apple watch for use. I get the iOS gate, but then gating it further....

 

[jonnyb098]

Oh Joy I cant wait to hear iJustine squealing about how wonderrrrfulllll it is while showing slow mo yoga poses with generic dub-step playing in the background.

 

[Alan Wynn]

I'm interested in this as well. I have an old Garmin 310XT with speed and cadence sensors, but it's old ANT+ instead of Bluetooth tech so it doesn't connect to my Apple Watch during workouts.

Get a Wahoo Tickr (or Tickr+) which can act as a Bluetooth to Ant+ bridge for some things.

I've been looking at Bluetooth Wahoo-style speed / cadence sensors, but they're all really confusing, I think some you have to buy two to get both speed AND cadence, another one it's "flip the battery over" for speed OR cadence, etc. I'd like to know which one would work with Apple Watch, particularly for Fitness+.

They have a speed sensor, a cadence sensor and the BlueSC which is speed and cadence together.

I've just been doing "indoor cycling" on Apple Watch which gives me heart rate and time, and then letting Garmin track the speed/cadence during my workout so I can look down and see how fast I'm going, especially in the big boy gears.

The 4iiii bridge might also solve your Ant+ issue.

 

[4jasontv]

Does anyone know if there will be xbox app or chromecast support? Buying an Apple TV makes very little sense for us, but exercising using an iphone in a tripod would also not be great...

Gosh, I hope not. How do you securely sync health data on an advertising platform?

 

[nottooshabby]

I did a DIY Peloton with a much cheaper Sunny spin bike and have to say it's pretty flawless. Heart rate via the apple watch and cadence via the Wahoo sensor are both displayed on screen during the workout in the Peloton app.

My hope is that Apple can offer the same experience and not get cute. I remember the days when copy/paste wasn't a thing on the iPhone, let's not go back to those days.

Yeah, did the same with a Schwinn IC4. It would be nice not to have to translate Peloton resistance numbers to the bike I have. I wonder if Apple will create some kind of output measurement device, or call our resistance numbers for other bikes on the screen.

 

[4jasontv]

Asinine that it requires an apple watch for use. I get the iOS gate, but then gating it further....

/s? I can't tell if you are being serious.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Funny. The third gen was fine for me and is still working, and I never saw the need to upgrade until last year when Disney+ was released and I couldn't use it on my AppleTV. If you recall, Apple hasn't had a refresh since 2017 for AppleTV. So pardon me for waiting in November 2019, thinking it was overdue for a refresh.

Yup, that is the problem with waiting. The longer one waits, the more obvious it is that one should wait.

With Apple Arcade and heartier games such as The Pathless, I have been expecting a refresh with a new chip for quite some time. That's why I'm holding out. My Fire Stick does just fine for things that need apps, but I'm a little annoyed with Apple not refreshing the AppleTV for 3.5 years at this point.

I would expect something by (around) March.

Could I go buy one brand new right now? Of course. I just feel a little cheapened by the fact that it's already old tech with an old chip, and it seems like the second I buy one, the refresh I've been waiting on will come out.

I would appreciate it if you went and bought one today. I really want a new one and if your purchase will get them to release it, that would be great!

 

[bigchrisfgb]

Curious what is Apple's long-term strategy here. Will they eventually move on to integrate this with GymKit equipment, which would really take it to next level? If so, would they make a universal interface (like CarPlay) make available to GymKit manufacturers? This could be a viable future strategy.

I would be highly surprised if they weren’t planning on doing this and are working on something with Nike who seems to be their fitness partner.

 

[pilotpat]

Yup, that is the problem with waiting. The longer one waits, the more obvious it is that one should wait.

I would expect something by (around) March.

I would appreciate it if you went and bought one today. I really want a new one and if your purchase will get them to release it, that would be great!

If it helps any, i did finally give in a bought a 4k.

 

[dumastudetto]

I truly believe what we're witnessing here is the future of health and fitness. I can't wait to get started.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Now just give us ANT+ in iOS devices please Apple!

Not likely.

 

[4jasontv]

Really a shame they diluted the peloton brand by calling the flipty-dipty videos the same.
Apple Fitness+ will never compare to these home workouts as long as they don't have hardware like the bike, treadmill, or pully system of Tonal. Ya'll will not get buff by lunges and jumping jacks in front of your TV followed by your soy milkshakes.

I spent most of my year looking for a reasonably priced treadmill, designed for adult humans, that doesn't have a built in subscription. I don't need a screen between me and my TV.

 

[Alan Wynn]

If it helps any, i did finally give in a bought a 4k.

Thank you for your service. (I am trying to hold out on my next 4K until the new one ships, but I might not make it).