Apple's Upcoming Fitness+ Service Planned Long Before Pandemic

Apple on Tuesday introduced a new Fitness+ home workout service that offers guided training videos that can be watched on iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV and monitored with the Apple Watch.

applefitness
Given that Fitness+ provides videos that are ideal for people who are unable to visit gyms and other facilities, it has been seen as a logical response to the ongoing health crisis, but Apple's Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams today told Reuters that it was planned long ago.

MacRumors in March discovered signs of the new Fitness+ service in a leaked version of iOS 14, confirming that Apple was working on it well before people began working and learning from home.

Work on Fitness+ started "quite a while ago" as a "natural extension goal of Apple Watch, which is to help people live a better day." Apple has long had a focus on encouraging people to be more active with the Apple Watch, offering an Activity app with daily movement goals.

"At least pre-Covid, if you could write one prescription for the world from physicians, it would have been to be more active. It's so powerful," Williams said in a press briefing. "So anything we do in that realm that helps people be more active is something we're excited about."

Fitness+ will offer workouts across a range of categories, including yoga, dance, treadmill walk and run, cycling, HIIT, rowing, core, strength, and mindful cooldown.

Apple films workout videos using a team of trainers in Los Angeles, with the exercises focusing on using little to no equipment.

Apple is planning to launch Fitness+ by the end of the year, with Apple charging $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Those who buy a new Apple Watch Series 3 or later will get a free three month trial.

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Top Rated Comments

tommyminahan Avatar
66 months ago
I might tune in if they can bring back Richard Simmons.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Born2Run Avatar
66 months ago

I workout and have been doing so for last 2 decades. I mean actually workout. I have read literature and researched it extensively. This is a joke.
I don't! I never exercise and I don't think I've ever been in a gym.... For £30 a month (for the bundle) I will definitely be signing up, that way I won't be bothered by gym freaks watching everything you do and judging you (I'm sure that happens!)
I would take an easy to do set of exercises I can follow at home and also looks like fun (unlike the gym)!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tethead Avatar
66 months ago

I have the peloton and app. Sorry Apple.
my wife tried the Peloton app but hated the music selection (all due to royalties). i think this will be wildly successful because of the vast music library that can be used without further cost to either part.

if this launches as strongly as I think it will, then i'd think they may even more towards live classes at some point.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrTemple Avatar
66 months ago

Wonder if it'll go the same way as Garageband Artist Lessons?
There's a *tiiiiiiny* bit more money in the guided workout space. From VHS to DVD to pelotons etc. It's a crazy big market.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
timber Avatar
66 months ago

A "logical response" to the obesity crisis would be to eat much less. Does Apple have a fasting app?
If you buy all their stuff and take on all their subscriptions you will be fasting in no time.

Guaranteed results.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cuencap Avatar
66 months ago
Props to Apple for being a content creator in this space.

I really hope they include audio only workouts for outdoor runs. I'll likely be in the minority for this, but I prefer audio only for strength workouts. I love my Peloton Bike but still use Aaptiv for strength workouts because I find the video based Peloton videos are a pain to follow while working out. Audio only allows you to focus on listening to the instructions while transitioning from workout to workout.

PS - RIP gyms....with Fitness+, Peloton, Nordictrack, Tonal, Mirror, or Aaptiv and a 3'x6' space in your house, you have your own gym.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)