In this week’s Sunday Reboot, the Apple Watch is better for your health, but perhaps the rumored screen-free wearable could be better for your peace of mind.
Restart on Sunday is a weekly column covering some of the lightest stories from the past seven days in Apple’s reality-warping camp. All to start next week with a good first step.
Keeping customers alive with simplification
The September event schedule usually covers the main portable touchpoints that Apple has with its customers. That is iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch. This year was no different, and when it came to wearables, that meant new wrist-worn models.
There’s a lot to talk about, including things like Audio Intelligence and the privacy implications, as well as the Siri overhaul. But here too, health is an important thing.
It’s a bit like that for me too, on a personal level. After attending a funeral earlier in the week, it definitely makes you think about your life and do something to stop yourself from being the perpetually overweight guy. But I digress.
Apple has added a new health sensing system with an expanded electrode surface, more electrodes, and a better photodiode array. Now check your heart every five seconds, so you know how your heart varies throughout the day.
So many electrodes…
The new Recovery score also seems like a pretty simple way to measure your ability to train or, frankly, get through the day ahead. It’s a pretty clear signal to anyone that they need to take better care of themselves.
It’s not quite the Apple Watch that screams “Sleep more!” or “Train harder!” but it will be useful to some of your audience.
All of this impacts the changes Apple has made to the Health app on iPhone and iPad, with greater use of Apple Intelligence. Although I fear that many will look at the age of health with some trepidation.
Some people will see Apple Intelligence comparing them to someone five years younger and think they are extremely fit for their age. Others will see a health age that has added a few years too many, and will laugh quietly if someone mentions it.
I fear that if I check this figure, I will have to face questions from Apple Intelligence asking how I’m not dead yet.
Would you stop already?
These notifications and metrics also tie into something else that surfaced this week. Apple was rumored to be prototyping a new health and fitness tracker.
Specifically, a tracker that isn’t meant to be a mini iPhone on your wrist, but more of a collection of sensors that transmit data to your iPhone. Something similar to trackers like those sold by Whoop, which collect data about your activity and nothing else.
You might consider it a dumb Apple Watch, and you’re right. It won’t give you information directly, but that’s the point.
I’m a long-time user of the Apple Watch Series 4, especially the Nike Edition one. As if the swoosh makes me exercise more.
The Apple Watch Series 4, still working on my wrist. It’s more worn out now, though.
I’ve written before about how the Apple Watch is great at collecting data, but also how it’s also incredibly good at tormenting you. Every now and then, your wrist vibrates when another notification arrives and you’re too lazy to keep looking at your iPhone for once.
The amount of dings I get on my wrist every day is sometimes maddening. On many occasions I wanted to throw the Apple Watch through a window because I heard the sound and immediately made Pavlov proud by looking at my wrist.
Over the past few months I’ve started wearing the Apple Watch with Do Not Disturb enabled. It’s definitely helped me feel less nervous and more relaxed because I’m able to ignore the pulse signals, but it doesn’t stop me from checking out.
This is a problem that Apple has partially solved. With the introduction of fitness tracking functionality in Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, it means I can do some workouts and exercises without the Apple Watch.
However, if I want to monitor my health throughout the day, that’s not an option. I still have to stick with the Apple Watch and live with the potential auditory distraction.
At least the Whoop-like tracker will be there to keep tabs on my day.
He will still judge me silently, but that’s the point.
Last week’s Sunday Reboot discussed the Battersea Power Station Apple Store and what it would look like as a more widely used design across Apple’s retail landscape
