Rumored 'Healthbook' App for iOS 8 Suggests Significant Health Component to iWatch

[iChrist]

Fat Phil Schiller should try it out first.

Most people have absolutely ZERO concern about the state of their bodies and what they put into it.

Like Siri, most people will try it for a couple days or so, then completely forget about it. Also, similar to most diets and New Year's resolutions to improve themselves.

 

[Rot'nApple]

So iWatch has a duplicitous meaning... tick tock and 'watching' your health. Cool!
/
/

 

[Paddle1]

Why can't Apple refine the UI and add new features at the same time? One would presume it's not the exact same people working on both. If all we get with iOS 8 is a refinement of iOS 7 that will be pretty disappointing.

There is a pattern, every other year they seem to focus more on software and then hardware, following this pattern iOS 8 will be a simple update like iOS 6, it's not that bad if that happens anyway because iOS 7 needs more refinement and a smaller update makes it easier to do this.

 

[Ahheck01]

this is going to be a very big failure.
There is a subset of people who would care for this (Lululemon people) and its a small population.

 

[Traverse]

How many lazy people are actually going to take advantage of it!?

 

[mozumder]

Talk of an iWatch is ridiculous.

In general, watches are jewelry, not functional products, and Apple isn't going to get into the Jewelry business.

Same with wearables.

Health monitors also have a limited market value. If they were that useful, then everyone would walk around with Polar heart-rate monitors.

 

[Abazigal]

How many lazy people are actually going to take advantage of it!?

Currently, the thing with all fitness apps is that they are opt-in. You want run keeper, you have to download and install it. And the people who do make use of it are likely fitness-buffs to begin with. Less health-conscious people simply won't bother.

But in IOS's case, this is a core app which you will likely see on your home screen. It will be there even if you hide it in a folder. It will be deeply integrated with every aspect of Apple's ecosystem, from notifications to iCloud to Siri.

Apple can't force you to exercise, much less use it. What they can do, however, is make the app integrate so closely and seamlessly into your daily life that eventually, you might be incentivised to "just try exercising".

Think of the iPhone as your wife. It already knows where you are and responds to your touch, now it may one day nag you to finally get rid of that beer belly.

 

[Traverse]

Currently, the thing with all fitness apps is that they are opt-in. You want run keeper, you have to download and install it. And the people who do make use of it are likely fitness-buffs to begin with. Less health-conscious people simply won't bother.

But in IOS's case, this is a core app which you will likely see on your home screen. It will be there even if you hide it in a folder. It will be deeply integrated with every aspect of Apple's ecosystem, from notifications to iCloud to Siri.

Apple can't force you to exercise, much less use it. What they can do, however, is make the app integrate so closely and seamlessly into your daily life that eventually, you might be incentivised to "just try exercising".

Think of the iPhone as your wife. It already knows where you are and responds to your touch, now it may one day nag you to finally get rid of that beer belly.

True. Ease of use is a big factor of usage for the general public.

As a side note, are you the same "Abazigal" from Cnet? I only mention that because you were one of the only poster I remember being nice and knowledgeable there. Cnet was mean, that is why I stopped posting over there.

 

[Abazigal]

True. Ease of use is a big factor of usage for the general public.

As a side note, are you the same "Abazigal" from Cnet? I only mention that because you were one of the only poster I remember being nice and knowledgeable there. Cnet was mean, that is why I stopped posting over there.

Yeah, I am that Abazigal. Nice to meat you. Yup, Cnet was mean, but I was determined to try to make it that bit more hospitable, so I stuck it out.

 

[Traverse]

Yeah, I am that Abazigal. Nice to meat you. Yup, Cnet was mean, but I was determined to try to make it that bit more hospitable, so I stuck it out.

A noble mission indeed. Good luck.

 

[ionjohn]

Image

They said the iphone was gonna be a failure, they said the ipad was gonna be a failure... Haha

 

[HiRez]

You could measure pulse (heart rate), but how would you measure blood pressure with a watch? Is that even possible (and would it be accurate)?

 

[iZac]

I know it won't happen, but it would be great if it was as flexible or more so than wearing the misfit shine, which doesn't necessarily have to be worn on the wrist.

 

[taptic]

I hope there's a bit more to the iWatch than this... maybe it could tell the time too? possibly?

 

[MattInOz]

how many lazy people are actually going to take advantage of it!?

4

 

[hello12]

I can understand these measurements for diabetics or folks with blood pressure issues, etc.

But is this really appealing to folks that don't have any real health issues? Don't get me wrong, this is all pretty cool, especially if iWatch can do all this. But as a normal, healthy adult, I see this more as a novelty than anything. Measurements are all fine and dandy but what do I need them for? Just simple health tracking?? There's already a ton of things that do this.

I can't see iWatch being geared to a niche market. So beyond this, obvious notifications, what else is gonna be used for?

We can all speculate but I anxiously await Apple's move into wearables.

Oh how wrong you are. If you have any grasp on how diabetes and high blood pressure works you might understand.
When type 2 diabetes is early on you can cure it with exersice and eating right. In order for a normal person to get their blood sugar checked they have to go and get a blood test. But.. If your WATCH you wear every day detects you are pre diabetic (before you would ever go to the doctor with symptoms) people would be able to get ahold on their health immediately and before it is too late.
Also, imagine this. Your watch measures your BP, heart rate, glucose levels, etc and saves them into a history chart that you can then literally show a doctor your medical history of the past weeks and months. If this report is true, this could be huge for apple.

 

[iBug2]

You could measure pulse (heart rate), but how would you measure blood pressure with a watch? Is that even possible (and would it be accurate)?

There are blood pressure monitors that take readings from your wrists, so a watch in theory could be able to measure your BP, but to measure your BP generally you need to stand still or the reading might be erroneous. Also, to take a BP reading an iWatch would have to spend a lot of energy, not something you might expect from a product with a tiny battery in it. So I doubt the iWatch will be measuring the BP unless they came up with a much more energy efficient way.

 

[hello12]

this is going to be a very big failure.
There is a subset of people who would care for this (Lululemon people) and its a small population.

You are so wrong. Do you know how prevalent diabetes is in America? With this, people could know they are pre diabetic before they ever would have known before. Also imagine showing a doctor your medical stats from an app on your phone.
This is the future and, if this article is true it'll be here soon.

 

[iBug2]

Oh how wrong you are. If you have any grasp on how diabetes and high blood pressure works you might understand.
When type 2 diabetes is early on you can cure it with exersice and eating right. In order for a normal person to get their blood sugar checked they have to go and get a blood test. But.. If your WATCH you wear every day detects you are pre diabetic (before you would ever go to the doctor with symptoms) people would be able to get ahold on their health immediately and before it is too late.
Also, imagine this. Your watch measures your BP, heart rate, glucose levels, etc and saves them into a history chart that you can then literally show a doctor your medical history of the past weeks and months. If this report is true, this could be huge for apple.

This. If a watch could do all this accurately, it'd be the next big thing. Period.

But I just don't think we are there yet, tech wise. So I'm not keeping my hopes up. But whoever comes up with this tech one day, I'll be the first to buy.

 

[SeaFox]

...and another category of the app store instantly becomes less lucrative. Developers are left looking for something else to write now.

 

[IGregory]

Google Health

I was disappointed when Google eliminated its Google Health App. It was the best health app on the market. I could not understand why more people were not using it.

 

[carjakester]

Personally I can't wait. I love to workout and likes know my output data.

right now I'm using the fitbit force and it is pretty cool, i could only imagine what apple and other third party apps there could be to use.

 

[HiRez]

...and another category of the app store instantly becomes less lucrative. Developers are left looking for something else to write now.

Well the thing is, a lot of people won't even use or know about apps that aren't installed by default. So if Apple wants to create momentum for this technology, it's in their interest to put an app on your home screen that makes use of it. But I wouldn't say it kills the category. iPhones have built in calculator, weather app, calendar, camera, notes, etc. Which is great for people who don't want any fuss, just want to get the phone and start using it. But there is still a thriving market of third party alternative apps, many of which are better than Apple's own. For example, VSCOcam is an outstanding camera/photo app if you want what it offers over the built in apps. But it still relies on the Apple hardware and low-level software to do its job.

 

[blasto2236]

Oh boy, another app I can't delete. Newsstand, meet healthbook.

At least you can banish Newsstand to a folder now.

 

[osaga]

It would be incredible if Apple was the one to revolutionize the healthcare industry...

They'd have to get providers, insurance companies, and patients in the same widely used app/system. Then help insurance companies create some methodology to incentivize patients to price shop for health services. Then help healthcare providers to provide some pricing transparency. Then magically providers/doctors begin to compete for customers and prices go down. Problem solved, good Job Apple, good job invisible hand.