It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 15 years since the very first iPod came out. It feels like just yesterday we were watching those ads on TV with the silhouettes rocking out against brightly coloured backgrounds!
Fast forward to 2017 and Apple has not only changed the way we listen to music but has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our daily lives. When we’re not working on our Macs, we’re scrolling vigorously on our iPhones. It used to be that the only time we weren’t surgically attached to our Apple devices was when we were at the gym or out for a run. But, of course, with the release of the Apple Watch, they’ve managed to change the way we work out too!
And let’s be honest, we’re not complaining. Thanks to the new Apple Watch Series 2, it’s now easier than ever to track our workouts and seamlessly send the data to our smart phones. The new in-built GPS means it can accurately map and record your workouts without you having to carry your phone with you. Oh, and good news for swimmers—the Apple Watch upgrade is water resistant to up to 50 metres and has a new ‘auto lap’ feature that automatically picks up any turns and tumbles.
Swimming ain’t your thing? No worries—the Apple Watch allows you to easily switch between an endless amount of workout categories. Not only does it track how long you spend sitting, standing and exercising each day with its three core ‘activity rings’, it can accurately report on pretty much any type of exercise you could think of. You can even set up challenges with your friends or colleagues to motivate each other to be more active.
⇒ Read more about sitting and the breath functions of the Apple Watch app here
But here’s where it gets really interesting. Using the upcoming GymKit feature, you will be able to link your watch up with certain brands of cardio equipment, like your treadmill, elliptical or indoor bikes. By syncing with the machine, it will compare stats like calories, distance, speed, floors climbed, incline and pace with the data collected from the watch’s heart monitor, for a more accurate overall reading.
While the Apple Watch isn’t the only fitness watch on the market, it’s undoubtedly the smartest.
Apple are constantly learning and gathering new data about our fitness habits to ensure they’re offering the most intelligent piece of fit tech on the market. In fact, they even have an Apple Fitness Lab in California, where they’ve carried out what is believed to the world’s biggest study into health and fitness. Within the nondescript warehouse, more than 16,000 people have worked out to collect more than 66,000 hours of data.
While many fitness trackers can’t distinguish between different types of exercise, the Apple Watch algorithms are tested by recording their test subjects’ oxygen consumption, heart-rate and blood pressure while working out on fitness machines in the lab. Yep, the future has well and truly arrived—and we’re here for it!
Of course, the Apple Watch has a range of non-fitness features too. You can use it to listen to music, check your email, answer calls and even pay when you’re out shopping! There’s even an app called Breathe, which reminds you to slow down and take a few deep breaths every now and again. Basically, it’s like having an assistant, personal trainer and meditation coach on your wrist!
You can find out more about the Apple Watch Series 2 here.
