Fitness

‘7 Minute Workout Challenge’ goes free in the Apple Store app

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

A lot of folks were unhappy with the free download items Apple offered during its 12 Days of Gifts event. Many felt that the company, which is worth some $140 billion, was a little cheap with the giveaway. But the good news is, it's not done giving.

Last fall, Apple started offering free content in its Apple Store app in an effort to drive more traffic to its online storefront. And today, it's posted a new free item: the popular '7 Minute Workout Challenge' fitness app for iPhone by Fitness Guide Inc...

CES 2014: introducing Voyce, health and activity tracking collar for dogs

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 4, 2017

We've seen all sorts of crazy stuff coming out of CES 2014 (the hype machine is strong) and I'm guessing half of the announced, shown off and written about whiz-bang gadgets will get forgotten as soon as the last drunken journalist checks out of an overpriced Las Vegas hotel.

The Voyce isn't one of such easily forgettable products. If you love dogs and own one, I'm guessing your four-legged pet friend would love to wear this app-enabled collar that can track his activity, measure heart and respiratory rates and record other data pertaining to his wellbeing..

Fitbit updated with MobileTrack feature via iPhone 5s’s M7 motion coprocessor

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 30, 2013

The list of apps enabled for Apple's power-efficient motion tracking chip, the M7, just keeps on growing. Fitbit, one of the finest fitness apps in the App Store, has been bumped up to version 2.1, now available in the App Store, and can now use the iPhone 5s's motion tracking chip to monitor your activity without draining your device's battery or having the app active for that matter.

M7 support has also made possible a new MobileTrack feature that allows you to use some of Fitbit's tracking features, but without buying the company's wearable tracking accessories. More on that and other changes in this Fitbit update right below...

Apple researching hover touch sensing and embedded heart rate monitoring

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

A pair of patent applications filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office earlier in the week have hinted that Apple's iPhone could gain a new sensor letting the smartphone detect your cardiac signal when it's picked up. The invention would permit your iPhone to identify you by your heartbeat.

Furthermore, the company appears to be researching hover sensing technology like that found on Samsung's Galaxy S4, which is capable of detecting touch events even when a user's finger is not really in contact with the touchscreen...

The Walk review: a fitness app disguised as a game

Lory Gil ∙ December 16, 2013

One of the most fun ways to get in shape came in the form of a clever fitness app disguised as a game called Zombies, Run! With it, users would follow a story that involved saving peoples lives and escaping brain eaters by sprinting and jogging while the app was running in the background.

The Walk is a very similar fitness app. Users complete a certain amount of exercise in order to unlock the next piece of the story. Only with this app, you don’t have to run and if you hate zombies, you won’t have to listen to them moaning as they chase you…

The 10 best health and fitness apps of 2013

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 9, 2018

I’m not one of those calorie counting fitness fanatics. I just really hate buying clothes and don’t want to have to purchase larger sized pants. In order to stay the same size and squeeze into my two-year-old jeans, I try to keep my eating habits and exercise routine as regular as possible.

However, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, I go off the wagon in a big way. Whether I’m guzzling eggnog by the gallon or munching on Christmas cookies, there is nothing stopping me from over-indulging for the holiday season.

If you are like me, you are probably going to need to invest in some quality fitness apps to shed the extra pounds in the New Year. The writers of iDownloadBlog have created a list of the 10 best health and fitness apps of 2013. Check them out and let us know which is your favorite for our Best Apps of 2013 list…

Nike+ Move gains better Leaderboards and more accurate Where You Moved screen

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

I frequently use Nike's fitness app, Move for iPhone, which made its App Store debut in early-November. Apple highlighted Nike+ Move during the September double-iPhone event as a use case scenario on how health and fitness apps can benefit by taking advantage of the new M7 motion coprocessor found inside the iPhone 5s. Not only does Nike+ Move tracks your movement even when it's inactive - with little to no impact on your battery life - it really gets you moving on a daily basis.

Beautiful and light iOS design, nicely animated interface, easy to grasp features and inviting concept together made me fall in love with the software from day one. A fresh update which just surfaced on the App Store is now introducing a more comprehensive Leaderboards and a more accurate Where You Moved screen...

Argus picks up support for Fitbit imports, Bluetooth heart rate monitor for activities and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 9, 2013

Azumio's Argus fitness software was the first App Store app to gain low-power motion tracking via support for the dedicated M7 motion coprocessor inside the iPhone 5s.

Today, the developer has refreshed the app with a bunch of fixes and a couple new features, including the new Close Friends social capability, the ability to import Fitbit data, support for Bluetooth heart rate monitor for activities and other goodies.

The updated item is now live in the App Store and free for everyone who've previously purchased the program...

Nike introduces new Rose Gold FuelBand SE for $169

Cody Lee ∙ November 16, 2013

Good news for the folks who have managed to get their hands on the supply-constrained gold-colored iPhone 5s, we just found the perfect accessory for you. It's the new Rose Gold FuelBand SE fitness-tracker by Nike.

Nike first unveiled the FuelBand SE—the second iteration of the popular fitness band—back in October, and it went on sale earlier this month. And now, for an extra $20, you can get it in this all-new rose gold color...

Jawbone introduces new UP24 fitness band with Bluetooth 4.0

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Big news from Jawbone today. The accessory-maker behind the popular line of Jambox speakers introduced a new version of its UP fitness-tracking band, the UP24, as well as a big 3.0 update for its UP iOS app.

While the new UP looks very similar to its predecessor, it does feature one significant hardware change: it now uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to your iOS device, instead of forcing you to plug into your audio port...

RunKeeper is now optimized for Apple’s M7 motion-tracking chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2013

RunKeeper, a personal trainer in your pocket, has been updated today and among a pair of AirDrop-related enhancements is a little gem which particularly stands out: support for Apple's M7 motion coprocessor.

As a long time user of fitness-related apps such as Pedometer++, Argus and Strava Run, I can't tell you how many times I wished these GPS-enabled apps were not power hogs.

The M7 is easily one of the most overlooked iPhone 5s features. The aforementioned fitness apps as of recently have M7 motion tracking and you can just immediately tell how the chip improves the experience by not forcing you to keep an app open at all.

The M7 works independently of the main A7 processor, dutifully recording and storing up to a week's worth of motion data. This allows an app to load up your motion history as if it were active all along. Without a doubt, M7 support is a major power-friendly enhancement. So, how does the newly-implemented M7 integration make RunKeeper better?

Nike+ FuelBand SE now available in Apple’s web store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Nike's second-generation fitness-tracker, the Nike+ FuelBand SE, hit Apple's web store this morning and is now available for purchase. The company showed off the new accessory during a media event back in October.

The SE looks and acts very similar to its predecessor, but adds new colorways in yellow, pink, and red, and support for Bluetooth 4.0. There's also a few new features like hourly reminders and a handy one-touch clock mode...