When Fitness + went down a few weeks ago, we were very impressed with the launch, but the service is not perfect. One of our complaints was that you could only filter your workouts by music, duration and trainer – those of us who expected to navigate by goal (ie, run 5 km, work until you reach the pull-up, etc.) or the intensity was out of luck. That is why, when I opened the Fitness + app today to examine the new exercises that fall every Monday, I was pleasantly surprised.
AN video message from HIIT trainer Kim Ngo greeted me at the top of the app, with a description that read: “Goal setting training and new limited edition award.” My eyebrows flew to the stratosphere. Obviously, Fitness + is still being developed, but that had to be record speed for a fitness app that implements initial user feedback. In the video, Kim – who despite his cheerful personality is a cardio killing machine – pointed out two workouts this week that are part of a “goal setting series”. There is one new limited edition challenge for Apple Watch owners in the New Year (closing all three rings by seven consecutive days sometime in January.)
I was amazed. I did the two highlighted exercises – a 20-minute strength workout and a 10-minute HIIT workout. I sweated enough. What I didn’t realize is that what Apple meant by “goal setting” was not a type of fitness program … as much as the instructors encouraging me to start running my fitness goals for the new year. . Why, did you hear? Iapparently it’s a new year.
In strength training, Coach Gregg talked mainly about how I should early warning what are my weaknesses and strengths, and what should I focus on the areas I want to strengthen next year. Well, yes. But receiving very obvious advice and stimulating talks was not exactly what I meant when I said that Fitness + should include goal-oriented programs.
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Other fitness apps usually include some programs that allow you to work on something. In running applications, they are often structured classes like a Couch for 5K or improving your pace for a specific distance over 8-32 weeks. At Aaptiv, there are programs with the theme “getting stronger,“ which is a collection of classes that range from goals like “muscle gain,“ learn how to use kettlebells or improve your flexion. Although Fitness + has an Absolute Beginner program to help make it easier for beginners to get into various types of exercise, that’s all.
This does not mean that Fitness + is bad – it just highlights that this platform was built around the idea of connecting it even more to the Apple ecosystem. A stupid part of my lizard brain definitely said, “Ooh! Limited edition badge that ultimately means nothing? Register me! What a cool integration! ”Do I feel more encouraged to do Fitness + exercises with every notification I get on my wrist, saying that a friend just did a Fitness + exercise? Sadly yes. I’m a fitness lemmings. Taking a look at Apple Music, some time after launch, there is now an Apple Fitness + Studio Series – a group of playlists that are selected by instructors for various genres and types of exercises. If you browse the accessories in the Apple online store, you will now find links to products instructors use in the videos, including a $ 120 Manduka yoga mat.
What Apple is doing with Fitness + is basically taking a page from the Marvel manual and building a universe of products, services and personalities. It is no different than what Peloton has done, but it has a lower entry cost, because even if you bought an Apple Watch, iPad and Apple TV, you can still get everything for less than the price of a Peloton bike. (But unlike Peloton, Fitness + requires at least some hardware – you can subscribe to the Peloton app without spending money to buy a bicycle.)
Cynically speaking, you could present a compelling case that Fitness + is first an Apple ad and then a fitness app. This is a bit harsh, considering thathere are some things that Fitness + does very well. The service is really designed and inclusive. But much of that consideration is how it relates to Apple hardware and services. Just ask the dozens of people complaining on forums that Fitness + is not compatible with AirPlay 2 to stream exercises to a bigger screen. It is not something that was built to be alone or to play well with other ecosystems. If it were, I don’t think I would be sitting here longing for some missing features, like more goal-oriented programs, options for varied equipment, focus on intensity and difficulty, and the ability to launch a workout from my phone to my apple– Free TV