Starting early next year, iOS 14 will require apps to get opt-in permission from users to collect their random advertising identifier, which advertisers use to deliver personalized ads and track how effective their campaigns were.
This new requirement was actually set to go into effect by the end of 2020, but Apple delayed the introduction of the prompt until early 2021 to provide developers with more time to make the necessary changes. Regardless, some companies like Facebook are still unhappy about the upcoming change, and a group of advertising companies and publishers in France have gone as far as filing an antitrust complaint over the matter.
This pressure from some advertisers has led Firefox maker Mozilla to launch a new page in which it urges people to show their support for Apple's decision, so that it does not further delay. "We need a massive outpouring of support for Apple's decision to help strengthen its resolve to protect consumer privacy," says Mozilla. "Sign this thank you to let Apple know consumers are eagerly anticipating anti-tracking protection on iPhone."
Last year, Mozilla urged Apple to reset the unique IDs used to serve interest-based ads in the App Store and Apple News apps on a monthly basis. Mozilla now says that Apple "went even further than what Mozilla supporters had asked for," calling the planned anti-tracking changes a "huge win for consumers."
Life Time Fitness, a gym with facilities located across the United States, today announced that it is including Apple's new Fitness+ subscription service in Life Time memberships starting later this month.
Life Time customers who have a have a membership will be able to access Fitness+ for no additional cost. Fitness+ usually costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Life Time membership pricing seems to be priced at right around $100 per month, though pricing varies depending on location.
According to Life Time, Apple Fitness+ will complement the gym's existing training and fitness programs, available digitally alongside other health and wellbeing services.
"We are rapidly expanding the way the world connects to Life Time through technology - with the same high-quality experiences our brand has been recognized for delivering at our athletic resorts for nearly 30 years," said Life Time Founder, Chairman and CEO Bahram Akradi. "Apple Fitness+ brings additional best-in-class content and variety to the ever-growing digital and omnichannel wellness programs, services and content we provide our members."
Life Time previously began offering Apple GymKit-enabled cardio equipment in 2017, which is back when GymKit functionality first became available.
Fitness+ is available as of today and requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or later to use as well as a compatible iPhone and optional iPad, or Apple TV.
Update: Beginning on January 1, 2021, UnitedHealthcare is offering five free months of Fitness+ to all UnitedHealthcare Motion enrollees with Apple Watch. Following the trial, UnitedHealthcare Motion users may be able to apply program incentives to cover the monthly Fitness+ cost.
Apple Fitness+ launched this morning for Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, but people who have been attempting to use the feature on an iPad have run into a hiccup.
On the iPad, the Fitness app isn't installed automatically and must be downloaded from the App Store. Unfortunately, when attempting to download the app, iPad users are running into an error message that says "This app requires specific features not available on this device."
This message shows up even on a compatible iPad that's running iPadOS 14.3, which is supposed to unlock Fitness+. The feature appears to be working on the iPhone and the Apple TV at this time, but until the Fitness app can be downloaded properly on the iPad, iPad owners have no way to use Fitness+.
Apple is likely working to get the Fitness app out for iPad owners, but there's no ETA on when it might be available at this time. We've reached out to Apple for more information and will update this article if and when we hear back or when the app goes live.
With the launch of iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2, and tvOS 14.3, Apple introduced its latest subscription service, Apple Fitness+. Fitness+ is designed to work with the Apple Watch, providing workouts that can be done on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, with the Apple Watch tracking your fitness progress.
You can sign up for Fitness+ using an iPhone. Fitness+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, but Apple provides a one month free trial. If you purchased an Apple Watch Series 6, SE, or 3 from Apple after September 15, 2020, you can get a three month free trial before you have to pay.
How to Sign Up for Fitness+
On iPhone, open up the Fitness app (this was previously the Activity app).
Depending on whether you recently purchased a new Apple Watch, you'll see options for either a one month trial or a three month trial. Apple will automatically detect the Apple Watch purchase and offer a three month trial as long as you're signed in with the Apple ID used to make the purchase.
You won't be charged for the Fitness+ subscription until the free trial expires, and you can cancel it before then by opening up the Fitness+ app, tapping on your profile picture in the upper right hand corner and tapping on Fitness+.
Make sure not to cancel until just before the free trial expires because canceling causes you to immediately lose access to the Apple Fitness+ app and the remainder of your trial. There is one free trial available per person or per family if you have Family Sharing enabled. A Fitness+ subscription can be shared with up to five family members.
Those who have the Apple One Premier bundle will not see a sign up link because Fitness+ is included in the Premier bundle and will be automatically available.
To use Fitness+, you must have an iPhone 6s or later updated to iOS 14.3 and an Apple Watch Series 3 or later updated to watchOS 7.2. It also works with an Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K updated to tvOS 14.3 or an iPad Air 2 or later that is running iPadOS 14.3 and has the Fitness+ app installed.
Apple in watchOS 7 and iOS 14.3 added a new cardio fitness feature that lets Apple Watch owners keep track of their cardio fitness levels through VO2 max measurements. VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen that the body can use during exercise, and it can be improved through physical activity.
Prior to watchOS 7.2, the Apple Watch was only able to estimate higher levels of VO2 max with outdoor walks, runs, or hikes, but now it can also take cardio fitness measurements as users walk throughout the day, allowing those who don't engage in vigorous exercise to see their cardio fitness levels.
Apple measures cardio fitness levels as high, above average, below average, or low relative to people in your same age group and of the same sex, and it needs to be set up in the Health app on iPhone. Here's how:
Open the Health app.
Tap the Browse tab at the bottom.
Search for Cardio Fitness.
Scroll down to Cardio Fitness Levels.
Tap on "Set Up."
Confirm your health details and enter medications you take that might affect heart rate like beta blockers.
Tap through to learn about Cardio Fitness.
Tap "Turn on Notifications" if you want to receive notifications when your cardio fitness level is low. Otherwise, tap "Not Now."
Tap "Done."
That's all there is to it. From there, the Apple Watch will take cardio fitness measurements during outdoor runs or walks, with the info then aggregated inside the Health app. If cardio fitness levels fall too low and notifications are enabled, the Apple Watch will send notifications with suggestions on how to improve it.
Apple says that there are multiple factors that can lower cardio fitness levels including age, pregnancy, chronic lung conditions, heart conditions, medications, and illness or injury, which is something to be aware of.
Aerobic exercise that causes the heart rate to rise and makes you breathe hard will give you the biggest boost to cardio fitness. Apple recommends running, cycling, or high-intensity interval training, but says even just adding a few hills to a daily walk helps.
Today's watchOS 7.2 and iOS 14.3 updates introduce a new cardio fitness feature that's designed to let users determine their cardio fitness level and receive notifications on the Apple Watch if it falls into a low range.
Apple says that "breakthrough technology" in watchOS 7 lets the Apple Watch determine cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by VO2 max. VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen that the body is able to use during exercise, and it can be improved through physical activity.
Prior to now the Apple Watch was already able to estimate higher levels of VO2 max during outdoor walks, runs, or hikes, but by taking advantage of all of the sensors in the Apple Watch, in watchOS 7.2 it's now possible for the watch to take cardio fitness measurements as users walk throughout the day, regardless of whether they're tracking a workout.
"Cardio fitness is increasingly recognized as a powerful predictor of overall health, and with today's update to watchOS 7, we are making it even more accessible to more people," said Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer. "Using its advanced sensors, Apple Watch now brings estimation of low cardio fitness levels from clinics directly to a user's wrist, so people have more insight into how they can improve their long-term health through daily activity."
This functionality lets Apple Watch better measure VO2 Max for users who don't often do high-intensity workouts. In a press release announcing the new feature, Apple says that a 2016 study from the American Heart Association recognized a link between low cardio fitness and higher risk of significant health issues like heart disease and high blood pressure later in life.
Cardio Fitness is available as a new category in the Health app on iPhone, and fitness level is classified as high, above average, below average, or low relative to people in your same age group and of the same sex. Users can also track how their cardio fitness levels have changed over the past week, month, or year, and if fitness levels fall into the low range, they can get a notification on Apple Watch that includes guidance on improving it.
The iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, and macOS Big Sur 11.1 updates that are live as of today introduce a new App Privacy labeling feature for the App Store and macOS App Store, giving customers a way to determine what data an app collects about them before choosing to install it.
Apple first introduced these labels at WWDC, and has given developers until now to prepare for them. Developers need to self-report details on the information that they collect to Apple, and Apple has now made this a requirement. You should begin seeing App Store labels starting today, though it may take some time for the feature to roll out.
Developers who skirt the rules and don't provide information on the data they use can see their apps removed from the App Store. Developers must identify all data collection and use cases and must keep the information in the App Store up to date.
Privacy labels are required for all apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, and will include three sections covering data that's used to track you, data linked to you, and data not linked to you, which is anonymized.
Data used to track you refers to data that links user or device data from an app with user or device data acquired from other apps, websites, or advertising profiles. This section also lets you know if an app shares device or user data with companies that sell data.
Data linked to you includes information like name, age, gender, and more, which is usually provided when creating an account. Data not linked to you references things like diagnostic data that does not have personal information.
Apple is also providing the same privacy information for its own built-in apps, with the details available on the web rather than in the App Store for apps that don't have dedicated App Store pages.
This includes the App Store app, Camera, Clock, Health, Messages, Phone, Photos, and Safari. Privacy info for these apps can be found in links located in Apple's privacy support document.
In an interview with Fast Company, Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi spoke about the new privacy labels that are available in the App Store. He said that privacy labels are just the "start of something really ambitious," with Apple planning to refine and iterate on the feature over time.
Apple created privacy labels in an effort to help users better understand how their data is used, and he believes users will appreciate the feature when deciding which apps to download. Federighi said that he hopes Apple's competitors will copy the feature for their own app stores.
The work we're doing here we view in the context of providing leadership to the industry, raising users' expectations of what they should expect and demand in privacy. And we absolutely expect that others in the industry will respond to the heightened expectations and demands of customers and improve privacy--and we think that's great.
This is one category where if they want to copy some of our best ideas toward improving user privacy--we embrace that.
Along with the launch of privacy labels, Apple today updated its dedicated privacy website to outline the privacy features in iOS 14. Apple's privacy policy has also been updated with easier to read sections such as Your Privacy Rights at Apple and Personal Data Apple Collects from You.
When introducing the Apple Watch Series 6 in September, Apple unveiled a new Fitness+ workout service, which is finally launching as of today alongside the iOS and iPadOS 14.3 updates.
Priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year and also included in the $29.99 per month Apple One Premier bundle, Fitness+ is a home workout program that guides you through various workouts using the Apple Watch and a device like a TV or an iPad.
Fitness+ includes a series of workout routines created by fitness experts hired by Apple. The idea is the workout is watched on a TV, iPad, or iPhone through the Fitness app, with movements tracked by the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch tracks movement, workout length, calories burned, heart rate, and more, with metrics for each workout displayed in the Fitness app on the screen where you're watching the workout.
Apple has hired fitness experts to create a range of workouts, some of which require equipment and some of which can be done with no equipment. Workout categories include Treadmill Walk, Treadmill Run, High Impact Interval Training, Rowing, Dance, Cycling, Yoga, Core, Strength, and Mindful Cooldown.
Fitness+ workouts have been designed to be done from home, the park, a hotel, or wherever else you happen to be, and there's a program for beginners along with workouts created for people of all fitness and skill levels. Fitness+ integrates with Apple Music so you can choose what you want to listen to while you work out, and the app provides post-workout metrics so you can see heart rate, calories burned, and more.
Apple's team of trainers plans to produce new Fitness+ videos on a weekly basis so there's always fresh content, and the app will suggest new recommendations based on the workouts that you've completed.
Fitness+ is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 or later, with watchOS 7.2 required. It also works with an iPhone 6s or iPad with iOS/iPadOS 14.3 or later, or an Apple TV with tvOS 14.3 or later.
Apple is offering a free three-month trial for Fitness+ for those who purchased an Apple Watch Series 6, Series 3, or SE after September 15, which will give potential customers a chance to try out the new service before committing to a subscription. Other users will get a free one month trial. Fitness+ is available in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK.
Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.1, the first major update to the initial macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 operating system version that was released on November 12. macOS Big Sur 11.1 was released following four rounds of beta testing.
The new macOS Big Sur 11.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.
There were no major new features discovered in the update during the beta testing period, but according to Apple's release notes, the new software adds support for AirPods Max, introduces a new Apple TV+ tab,
macOS Big Sur 11.1 introduces support for AirPods Max, TV app enhancements, Apple News widgets, and privacy information on the App Store. This release also includes bug fixes for your Mac.
AirPods Max - Support for AirPods Max, new over-ear headphones - High fidelity audio for rich sound - Adaptive EQ adapts sound in real time to the personal fit of ear cushions - Active Noise Cancellation to block out environmental noise - Transparency mode to hear the environment around you - Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for a theater-like listening experience
Apple TV - An all-new Apple TV+ tab makes it easy to discover and watch Apple Original shows and movies - Enhanced search so you can browse by category such as genre and see recent searches and suggestions as you type - Top search results shown with the most relevant matches across movies, TV shows, cast, channels, and sports
Apple News - Apple News widgets are now available in Notification Center
App Store - New privacy information section on App Store pages that includes a developer-reported summary of the app’s privacy practices - In-game dashboard within Arcade games recommends new Arcade games to play - iPhone and iPad apps on Macs with M1 - New window options for iPhone and iPad apps let you switch between landscape and portrait orientations or expand a window to fill the entire screen
Photos - Apple ProRAW photos can be edited in the Photos app
Safari - Ecosia search engine option in Safari
Air Quality - Available in Maps and Siri for locations in China mainland - Health recommendations are provided in Siri for the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India, and Mexico at certain air quality levels
This release also addresses the following issues: - QuickTime Player might quit when opening a movie with a timecode track after upgrading from macOS Catalina - Bluetooth connection status was not displayed in Control Center - Reliability of unlocking your Mac automatically with your Apple Watch - Trackpad scrolling speed may be faster than expected on MacBook Pro models - LG UltraFine 5K Display may incorrectly display at 4K resolution on Macs with M1 Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices. For more detailed information about this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT211896 For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
macOS Big Sur is a major update that brings a full redesign to the Mac, along with new features designed for M1 Macs. Complete details on all of the new functionality in macOS Big Sur can be found in our roundup.
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 14.3, updates that come over a month after the release of iOS and iPadOS 14.2, which brought new emojis, Intercom support, new wallpapers, and more.
The iOS 14.3 update can be downloaded for free and it is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
iOS 14.3 brings the ProRAW camera format to the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, plus it introduces support for Apple Fitness+, Apple's latest service. It also includes support for Ecosia, a new search engine option, and introduces a useful change that lets apps created with Shortcuts launch more quickly. The update brings a new Apple TV+ tab in the TV app, and includes several bug fixes.
Apple's full release notes for iOS 14.3 are below, with a complete rundown on everything that's new.
Apple Fitness+ - A new fitness experience powered by Apple Watch with studio-style workouts available on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV (Apple Watch Series 3 and later) - New Fitness app on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV to browse Fitness+ workouts, trainers, and personalized recommendations - Video workouts added each week in ten popular workout types: High Intensity Interval Training, Indoor Cycling, Yoga, Core, Strength, Dance, Rowing, Treadmill Walking, Treadmill Running, and Mindful Cooldown - Playlists curated by Fitness+ trainers to complement your workout - Fitness+ subscription available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States
AirPods Max Support for AirPods Max, new over-ear headphones - High fidelity audio for rich sound - Adaptive EQ adapts sound in real time to the personal fit of ear cushions - Active Noise Cancellation to block out environmental noise - Transparency mode to hear the environment around you - Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for a theater-like listening experience
Photos - Apple ProRAW photos can be captured on iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max - Apple ProRAW photos can be edited in the Photos app - Option to record video at 25 fps - Mirror the front facing camera for still photos on iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X
Privacy - New privacy information section on App Store pages that includes a developer-reported summary of the app’s privacy practices
TV app - An all-new Apple TV+ tab makes it easy to discover and watch Apple Original shows and movies - Enhanced search so you can browse by category such as genre, and see recent searches and suggestions as you type - Top search results shown with the most relevant matches across movies, TV shows, cast, channels, and sports
App Clips - Support for launching App Clips by scanning Apple-designed App Clip Codes via Camera or from Control Center
Health - Ability to indicate pregnancy, lactation, or contraceptive use in Cycle Tracking in the Health app in order to better manage period and fertile window predictions
Weather - Air quality data is now available in Weather, Maps, and Siri for locations in China mainland - Air quality health recommendations are provided in Weather and Siri for the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India, and Mexico at certain air quality levels - Air quality data in Weather, Maps, and Siri reflects updated national scales for Germany and Mexico
Safari Ecosia search engine option in Safari
This release also addresses the following issues: - Some MMS messages may not be received - Contact groups failed to display members when composing a message - Some videos would not appear correctly when shared from the Photos app - App folders may fail to open - Spotlight search results, and opening apps from Spotlight may not work - Bluetooth could be unavailable in Settings - MagSafe Duo Charger could wirelessly charge your iPhone at less than the maximum power - Wireless accessories and peripherals using the WAC protocol could fail to complete setup - The keyboard would dismiss when adding a list in Reminders while using VoiceOver
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
Apple today released watchOS 7.2, the second major update to the watchOS 7 operating system that was released in September. watchOS 7.2 comes more than a month after the release of watchOS 7.1.
The watchOS 7.2 update can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 7.2 introduces support for Apple Fitness+, Apple's newest streaming service. Powered by Apple Watch, Fitness+ provides subscribers with studio-style workouts that can be watched on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV in categories that include cycling, yoga, core, strength, treadmill, and more.
Fitness+ requires an Apple Watch, with the watch connecting to the device that you're watching the workout on to provide on-screen follow-along metrics for motivational purposes.
The update also adds a Cardio Fitness feature for the Apple Watch, which is a "strong indicator of overall health." The feature measures VO2 max, or the maximum amount of oxygen that your body is able to consume during exercise. Measurements are done over time, and the Apple Watch and iPhone are able to send notifications to let you know about fluctuations in your VO2 max.
Apple Watch has previously been able to measure VO2Max, but the new feature includes support for lower ranges that have needed clinical testing in the past.
Cardio Fitness can be accessed through a new trend that's been added to the Activity app, and it can be set up in the Health app on iPhone. Cardio fitness levels are available for users age 20 and above in ranges that include high, above average, below average, or low, and are estimated by age. Apple sends notifications to let you know if your cardio fitness is at a low level, providing motivation to move more.
Atrial fibrillation classification is now available at heart rates above 100BPM, the ECG app is now available in Taiwan, and support for braille displays has been added. Apple's full release notes are below:
watchOS 7.2 includes new features and improvements, including Apple Fitness+, a personalized fitness experience powered by Apple Watch. Additional features include low cardio fitness notifications and support for braille displays. This update also contains performance improvements.
Apple Fitness+ - A new fitness experience powered by Apple Watch with studio-style workouts available on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV - Video workouts added each week in ten popular workout types: High Intensity Interval Training, Indoor Cycling, Yoga, Core, Strength, Dance, Rowing, Treadmill Walking, Treadmill Running, and Mindful Cooldown - Fitness+ subscription available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States
This update also includes the following features and improvements: - Option to be notified when your cardio fitness is at a low level - Ability to review your cardio fitness level based on your age and sex in the Health app on iPhone - Atrial fibrillation classification at heart rates above 100 BPM now offered in the ECG app in most regions where the app is available - Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Taiwan - Support for braille displays with VoiceOver - Support for Family Setup in Bahrain, Canada, Norway, and Spain (Cellular models of Apple Watch Series 4 or later and Apple Watch SE)
Apple today released tvOS 14.3, the fourth update to the tvOS 14 operating system that was initially released on September 16. tvOS 14.3 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 14.2.
tvOS 14.3, which is a free update, can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System > Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 14.3 automatically.
The update brings support for Apple Fitness+, the company's new subscription workout experience that uses the Apple Watch to track workouts, and a new Fitness app will show up on the Apple TV once you've updated to tvOS 14.3.
Apple does not offer detailed release notes for most of its tvOS updates, so we may not be able to determine what else is new in the software update. Apple provides some tvOS details through a tvOS support document, but information is often limited.
The main tvOS 14 update released in September introduced Picture-in-Picture outside of the Apple TV app, introduced audio sharing features for connecting two sets of AirPods or Beats, added new HomeKit capabilities, and expanded game controller support and multiuser gaming options. More on tvOS 14 can be found in our tvOS 14 roundup.
Amazon today is discounting the Apple Pencil 2 to $99.00, down from $129.00. This is the lowest price that we've ever tracked for the Apple Pencil 2.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple Pencil 2 works with the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro (third generation and later), as well as the new iPad Air. With the stylus, iPad owners can take notes, create art, and more. The second generation Apple Pencil can also magnetically attach and pair to the iPad Pro and new iPad Air.
The original Apple Pencil is also on sale for $79.00 this week, down from $99.00. We've seen this model go down a bit lower in older sales, but this is still a solid deal if you need the older model.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
"Macs with the new Apple M1 chip offer unprecedented performance, and developers can optimize their apps for the M1 to deliver game-changing speed and capabilities," says Apple. "Get started with these apps that take full advantage of the power of M1."
At WWDC 2020 in June, Apple revealed its plans to begin using its own custom Apple Silicon processors in Macs, starting with the M1 chip. Apple said that its transition away from Intel processors in Macs would take around two years to be completed, with future Apple Silicon Macs rumored to include redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, a 24-inch iMac, a smaller version of the Mac Pro, and more.
Last month, Apple released its first Macs with the M1 chip, including a new 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini, and benchmarks confirmed that the chip delivers industry-leading performance per watt. Apple's custom silicon is so impressive that the base model MacBook Air outperforms a maxed-out Intel-based 16-inch MacBook Pro.
iOS 14.3 and associated software updates for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS are all launching today, bringing Apple's Fitness+ service and a number of other updates to users.
Apple's Fitness+ service will only be available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, but other iOS features like support for AirPods Max, new ProRAW camera support for iPhone 12 Pro models, and more will be available more broadly.
Apple has not announced when iOS 14.3 and Fitness+ will be launching today, but Apple's iOS updates tend to come out around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. While there are no guarantees Apple will stick to its usual release timing, that seems to be a pretty reasonable guess, so we've put together this list of corresponding times around the world:
Honolulu, Hawaii -- 8:00 a.m. HST
Anchorage, Alaska -- 9:00 a.m. AKST
Cupertino, California -- 10:00 a.m. PST
Vancouver, Canada -- 10:00 a.m. PST
Phoenix, Arizona -- 11:00 a.m. MST
Denver, Colorado -- 11:00 a.m. MST
Chicago, Illinois -- 12:00 noon. CST
New York, New York -- 1:00 p.m. EST
Toronto, Canada -- 1:00 p.m. EST
Halifax, Canada -- 2:00 p.m. AST
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- 3:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom -- 6:00 p.m. GMT
Berlin, Germany -- 7:00 p.m. CET
Paris, France -- 7:00 p.m. CET
Cape Town, South Africa -- 8:00 p.m. SAST
Helsinki, Finland -- 8:00 p.m. EET
Moscow, Russia -- 9:00 p.m. MSK
Istanbul, Turkey -- 9:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- 10:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India -- 11:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia -- 1:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China -- 2:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore -- 2:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia -- 2:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong -- 2:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea -- 3:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan -- 3:00 a.m. JST next day
Brisbane, Australia - 4:00 a.m. AEST next day
Adelaide, Australia -- 4:30 a.m. ACDT next day
Sydney, Australia -- 5:00 a.m. AEDT next day
Auckland, New Zealand -- 7:00 a.m. NZDT next day
Early media reviews of Apple Fitness+ have already hit the web this morning and are generally positive, and we'll have more coverage of today's updates when they become available.
Apple's new Fitness+ workout service launches later today, and ahead of time, some media outlets and YouTube channels have shared their first impressions of the platform. We've gathered up some opinions and videos below.
CNET's Vanessa Hand Orellana trying out Apple Fitness+
As a refresher, Fitness+ will provide users with access to a library of workout videos covering strength, yoga, dance, running, walking, cycling, rowing, and more, with new content delivered each week from a team of trainers hired by Apple. Fitness+ integrates personal metrics such as heart rate from the Apple Watch to motivate users, animating them on the screen during key moments in the workout.
Priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, Fitness+ requires iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2, and tvOS 14.3, coming later today. The service will be available through a new tab in the Fitness app on iPhone, while iPad users will be able to get the Fitness app from the App Store. On the Apple TV, the Fitness app will automatically appear once users install tvOS 14.3. The service requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or later.
CNET's Vanessa Hand Orellana notes that Apple Watch integration helps set Fitness+ apart from competitors, as does its "beginner-friendly" approach that provides users with both standard and beginner variants of exercises:
Under normal circumstances, I would have been too intimidated to even go near a rower at the gym. But Fitness Plus makes it easier to step out of your comfort zone with an entire beginners section with short, easy workouts along with a "getting started" video that teaches you how to use the equipment.
Hand Orellana believes that Fitness+ is a "no-brainer" for Apple Watch users, although she said it is not the best option for very experienced exercisers looking for personalized feedback on form, as the service seems to be targeted at a broader audience:
Fitness Plus is a no-brainer if you already own an Apple Watch, or are considering getting one, as you get a free three-month trial. It's also included as part of the $30 a month Premier Apple One subscription bundle. But with so many fitness apps out there, it's probably not reason enough to buy an Apple Watch.
It's also not the best option if you're a pro in any of the workout categories, or you're really looking to hone your skills, as it seems to be geared for a broader audience and it can't offer personalized feedback on form.
The Wall Street Journal's Nicole Nguyen believes that Fitness+ is a "great value," but she found it doesn't quite stack up to Peloton's workout service. One advantage to Fitness+ is that workout videos can be downloaded and played offline:
Overall, Fitness+ feels like a Peloton Digital Lite (which doesn't otherwise exist). Apple's app and Peloton Digital have high production value, motivating music playlists and charismatic trainers. But Fitness+ doesn't have as many workout types, and the library of workouts isn't as large. It also lacks Peloton's live and social features. The Apple app does have one edge over Peloton's: You can download classes and play them offline. While you can preload Peloton content for more stable playback, the workouts require an active internet connection to play.
Fast Company's Mark Sullivan believes that most Fitness+ workouts are best viewed on a TV, rather than on an iPad or iPhone:
For most workout types, Fitness+ is probably best when displayed on a big TV in front of you. The iPad works fine for some workouts—like yoga or strength training—but the iPhone is just too small.
Apple Fitness+ will be available later today in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Apple is offering a one-month free trial to all users, and an extended three-month trial to customers who purchased a new Apple Watch Series 3 or newer after September 15, 2020.
Two out of four iPhone 13 models set to launch next year (presumably the Pro models) will use OLED displays with low-power LTPO technology, paving the way for a 120Hz refresh rate, according to Korean website The Elec.
The report claims that Samsung and LG will remain Apple's primary suppliers of OLED displays, which are expected to be used across the entire iPhone 13 lineup, with Chinese manufacturer BOE also aiming to win some orders. The displays are said to be "more technologically sophisticated" to manufacture compared to those used in iPhone 12 models.
LTPO technology would result in a more power efficient backplane, which is responsible for turning individual pixels on and off on the display. In turn, this could allow for a 120Hz refresh rate for more fluid scrolling and smoother motion without causing too much of a hit on battery life. Similar to recent Apple Watch models, LTPO could also enable iPhone 13 models to have an always-on display, and contribute to longer battery life.
While some rumors had suggested that iPhone 12 Pro models would support a 120Hz refresh rate, display industry analyst Ross Young accurately claimed otherwise, noting that the feature will be added alongside LTPO in 2021.
iPad Pro models have supported up to a 120Hz refresh rate since 2017 through a feature called ProMotion, which automatically adjusts the refresh rate depending on the content. A wide variety of Android smartphones now have 120Hz displays as well. If this report proves to be true, at least a few iPhone models will soon follow suit.
Shazam has today been updated with a new design, notifications for missed or offline Shazams, global trending Charts, and sync improvements.
Shazam 14.2 brings a refreshed look to the music-discovery app, with a simpler swipe-up card to access your past Shazams and an improved design. Shazam will now actively search for a user's missed or offline Shazams and notify them when they are found.
In addition, users can see what is trending with Charts, now available in Search, to see what is trending globally. The feature provides specific trending lists with up to 200 top songs for countries, and even specific cities, around the world.
There have also been improvements to sync for both Apple Music and Spotify users. For Apple Music, the app will now sync more of users' past Shazams, and if a user deletes a song in Apple Music, it will not be added again by Shazam. For Spotify, the app will now find and sync more new Shazams. If Spotify users lose connection, Shazam will now attempt to sync again during the next Shazam search.
Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, and has been gradually bringing the app into closer alignment with Apple Music ever since.
Update: Apple has also launched Shazam as a web app for this first time at shazam.com, as spotted by 9to5Mac. The website has launched in beta and is currently only compatible with Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on macOS and Chrome OS, allowing users to check Charts and identify music directly from a browser.
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