The tech giant officially announced this week that they would be hosting a major event on September 15th, however, they have yet to reveal any details as to what consumers can expect to be revealed.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
The Apple Watch has officially been on the market for five years now, and while the device itself was originally advertised as an “iPhone for your wrist,” the Apple Watch has truly made a name for itself as one of the best wearable fitness tracking devices out there. When the Watch first launched back in 2015, it had about 3,000 compatible applications available to download. Now, there’s over 20,000 apps, 21 of which are pre-downloaded onto the device itself.
“The watch is really about convenience. You’re not going to spend so much screen time on your watch. So I think the secret of building a good Apple Watch app is to think of it as an accessory in addition to something. Very few people use it as a standalone unless it’s for fitness or health, or some kind of monitoring.” said Ray Wang, principal analyst and founder of Constellation Research.
So what are some of the best applications for the Apple Watch that have been able to withstand the test of time/multiple generations of Watch upgrades?
Noise: This application is available for anyone with an Apple Watch Series 4 or later and allows users to measure the ambient sound in your surrounding environment. This application is especially useful for those with hyper-sensitive hearing, or any other type of hearing impairment. If the decibel level in your environment has risen to a point where your hearing itself may be impaired, the app can notify you.
Cycle Tracking: No not bicycle tracking, menstrual tracking. With this application, individuals who experience menstruation are able to log details about their cycle; including flow information, and what symptoms they normally experience. Using that data the app is able to alert users when it predicts your next cycle to begin, and allows them to track where they’re at every month.
ECG: As previously stated, the Apple Watch has really made a name for itself as one of the best wearable fitness tracking devices on the market currently. If you have a Series 4 or later, there’s an electrical heart rate sensor built into your watch that works in sync with the ECG app. This app works like a traditional heart monitoring app and tracks your heart-rate as you do various activities throughout the day.
Breathe: The breathe app is a reminder to stop for a few moments every day and take a breath. This is an especially great tool to use during this time of constant uncertainty and panic. You can set breath reminders everyday, or just open the app itself when you feel like you need a break. You’ll see a calming animation that encourages you to sync up your breathing with its movements for 5 minutes. During this time, you can also use the app to check your heart rate.
Remote: If you have an Apple TV, you can use your watch as a second remote using the remote application. If you already have an iPhone or iPad, you may be familiar with this application as it’s available for both those devices as well.
Walkie-Talkie: The Walkie-Talkie app is definitely one of the most popular Apple Watch apps that has been around since the very beginning. This app allows you to use your watch like a real walkie-talkie for you and any other individual who also has the app. You simply press and hold the button to speak, and then you can listen to it back before sending it on its way, it’s basically like sending voice messages, but you’ll feel much more like James Bond.
Voice Memos: Speaking of voice messages and memos, this application is perfect for the individual on the go who’s constantly being inspired by the outside world. Instead of taking out your phone and opening up a note to quickly jot down, simply record your memo into your Apple Watch, and it will save the recording across all of your iCloud devices.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
Like most of the products in Apple’s massive line of personal smart devices, the smartwatch has gotten its fair share of annual upgrades since its initial launch back in 2015. This year, tech experts everywhere are expecting no different, and their setting their expectations high for some new features that they’ve been begging for since the initial release of the smartwatch five years ago.
According to some early 2019 rumor reports from Bloomberg, an online publication, the sixth generation of Apple smartwatches will implement sleep-tracking technology. Mark Girman is the journalist who covered the initial whispers coming from his tech sources regarding the sleep-tracking feature for the Apple Watch Series 6; which is also the predicted name for the next generation. His report states that Apple was already testing this feature when the Series 5 was released last year, but they wanted to make sure it was able to compete with the likes of FitBit and Samsung’s wearable smart technology; both of which have had sleep-tracking capabilities for quite some time.
According to one of Strategy Analytics annual reports, Apple alone accounted for almost 50% of the smartwatch market by the end of 2019, Samsung accounting for 14%, and Fitbit 11%. While Apple already is at the number one spot, they continue to desire dominance in the market; hence the annual upgrades.
Typically, Apple debuts their newest Apple Watch versions with their annual September Keynote Conference; which is more so known for when the new iPhone’s are announced as well. It’s expected that this year will be no different, meaning fans waiting for all the new features to come will have to wait at least a few months.
Apple introduced water-resistant technology to their watches with the second generation, so it’s a guarantee that the same will stand for the sixth version. However, it’s likely that Apple will increase the strength of said technology, as they’ve done that with the past two iPhone upgrades as well. An increase in water-resistance likely means that the watch itself will just be able to stay fully engulfed underwater for more extended periods of time and at a potentially greater depth.
Going along with the theme of new features that are basically guaranteed for the Series 6 versions of the Apple Watch, it’s likely an updated processor will be implemented into the internal side of things.
“It would not be surprising if so-called Apple Watch Series 6 models feature a faster Apple-designed S chip, as the only known differences with the S5 chip in Series 5 models compared to the S4 chip in Series 4 models is a built-in compass and a new always-on display driver, so a performance bump will be due next year,” according to Ming-Chi Kuo, a data analyst who often accurately predicts Apple product upgrades on the popular forum, MacRumors.
Apple software upgrades often take the spotlight at any Apple event within a given year. Updates to the internal aspects of how all of our devices run occur annually, and are normally already implemented within the newest devices once they finally ship out.
Like how we can always expect the announcement of a new iPhone at Apple’s September Keynote Conference, tech experts know that Apple normally announces many of their operating system updates at their Worldwide Developers Conference in June. In fact, every year since the Apple Watch was first released, Apple has announced key software updates at this specific conference, so this year will likely be no different.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is a much anticipated upgrade to an already successful wearable technology. Now it’s just a matter of time before the public is allowed insight into what features we can truly expect in the coming update.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
If you own an Apple Watch, you may already be motivated to go to the gym thanks to the watch’s various fitness features, including heart rate monitoring and automatic exercise detection. However, Apple is planning to incentivize owners of the Apple Watch even further by partnering with gyms to offer perks like discounted membership fees and even gift cards for frequent visitors of the gym. Apple’s plan is called “Apple Watch Connected,” and in order for a gym to partner with Apple under this plan, they need to meet a set of standards set by the technology company. In order for a gym to be granted Apple Watch Connected branding, it’ll need to offer four things: an iPhone and Apple Watch app that presents information like class times; Apple Pay support; perks like membership discounts for Apple Watch users; and equipment that supports GymKit, a system Apple uses to sync Apple Watch data with machines like treadmills and ellipticals.
The partnership should improve the gym-going experience for Apple Watch users, who already enjoy the benefits of continuous heart rate tracking and tracking of other statistics while working out. By using a treadmill that supports GymKit, for instance, gym members can record exact data about their distance and speed while walking or running. The partnership should also encourage more gyms to develop their own apps, which should improve the workout experience for technology fans. In theory, the partnership should benefit Apple as it should expand the number of gyms that support its products, but also the gyms themselves, as the partnership could help them attract and keep customers.
As of today, four gyms have already announced their participation in the Apple Watch Connected program, which are YMCA, Crunch Fitness, Basecamp Fitness, and Orange Theory. Initially, the program will only apple to select locations, but Apple hopes to expand its network of participating partners as time goes on. The perks that are offered to Apple Watch customers varies by gym; Crunch Fitness offers membership discounts to regular visitors; Orange Theory is offering gift cards; and the YMCA will donate classes to kids. Apple recognizes that one of the primary appeals of the Apple Watch to consumers is its ability to function as a fitness device, and seeks to capitalize on this demand by giving its customers as many reasons to visit the gym as possible.
Tyler Olhorst is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. You can reach him at inquiries@thenationaldigest.com.
Monitoring your heart rate during a workout can provide you with a plethora of data relating to your performance and overall level of fitness, which can be tremendously valuable to people interested in tracking their progress in developing cardiovascular fitness over time. However, not every heart rate monitor is the same, and different models offer different levels of performance. Additionally, each brand of heart rate monitor offers a unique set of features, and while many products connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone, not every heart rate monitor is compatible with every fitness app. As such, this article will examine some of the top-selling heart rate monitors on the market to help you decide which is right for your individual needs.
In general, heart rate monitors come in two forms; either they strap to your chest, or your wrist. Chest strap heart monitors boast superior accuracy, particularly when one’s heart rate is especially high during an intense workout, whereas heart rate monitors used on the wrist generally offer smartwatch features as well, including sleep tracking, notifications from your phone, and automatic detection of exercise.
If you want the most accurate, highest-quality heart rate data during workouts, the Polar H7 Transmitter and Strap is likely your best choice. This device provides data with a level of accuracy similar to an ECG, which is widely considered the gold standard in heart rate measuring technology. The device takes advantage of low energy Bluetooth to transmit data to your smartphone while preserving battery life, and works with the Polar Beat app which lets you check your heart rate in real time. Additionally, the Polar H7 costs around sixty dollars, which is cheaper than most other wrist-based solutions, though the device of course does not offer smartwatch-like features of any sort. However, if your only concern is collecting highly accurate data about your heart rate while exercising, the Polar H7 is likely your best bet. Another option is the Scosche Rhythm24, which attaches to one’s forearm, which may be a more comfortable configuration for some.
Most smartwatches that are sold today include fitness tracking features, including a wrist-based heart rate monitor. These products use small LEDS positioned on the underside of the watch to measure minor variations in skin color, which correspond with one’s heart rate. Though this technology is fairly accurate for measuring one’s heart rate while at rest, they tend to produce less desirable results as one’s heart rate becomes elevated. Additionally, not every wrist-based heart rate monitor measures with the same degree of accuracy, as recent research shows that results can vary dramatically between products. However, as they are generally integrated with smartwatch features, for most people, particularly those who take a more casual approach to their fitness, the trade-off can be worth it.
The most accurate wrist monitor tested in the previously-mentioned study is the Apple Watch, which was found to vary from the chest-based solution by just 1.5 beats per minute, a degree of accuracy which should be fine for most people. While not primarily a fitness-focused device, the Apple Watch offers an impressive array of health features, even including the ability to conduct an ECG and check for potentially serious heart conditions. While the Apple Watch is perhaps the most elegant and sophisticated smartwatch on the market, the product has some major drawbacks. For one, it’s only compatible with iPhones, so if you have an Android smartphone, you’re out of luck. Additionally, the Apple Watch is one of the most expensive smartwatches on the market, as the newest model starts at a base price of $399.
Luckily for Android users, plenty of alternatives to the Apple Watch exist, many of which can be purchased for a dramatically-lower price. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, for instance, costs $100 less, and offers a very similar set of features, including the ability to conduct an ECG and can even measure users’ blood pressure. In terms of its ability to measure heart rate, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 includes an upgraded heart rate monitor compared to its predecessor, and should provide most people with reasonably accurate results.
Of course, these are but a few of all available heart rate monitoring solutions. As such, when you’re deciding on which device to buy, you should take your individual needs and preferences into consideration and do some independent research. Heart rate monitors can be great tools for monitoring your fitness over time, and as an added bonus many include other useful health features as well.
Tyler Olhorst is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. You can reach him at inquiries@thenationaldigest.com.
Apple is one of the world’s biggest personal device companies and with good reason. Every year Apple releases the next generation of innovation within their slew of sleek devices, and smooth software systems. However, throughout the past few years Apple has been criticized by tech experts everywhere, claiming that they rely to much on their yearly iPhone upgrades to get them through sale periods. The claims have substantial evidence to back them, as the iPhone accounts for over half of Apple’s annual sales, according to CNN.
The criticisms also came as a response to Apple’s overall sales taking a decline in the past, however, in the past few years the brand has been introducing more and more innovations to the tech world in an attempt to rebuild its image as more than just “the iPhone company,” and they’ve been successful. Air-pods are widely accepted as the new normal for headphone technology, so much so that companies such as Google, Amazon, Beats, etc. have all released their own wireless earbuds. Additionally, Apple has released a total of three generations of Airpods, all which have done amazingly sales wise.
Apple has also revolutionized the way people pay for things with their creation of Apple Pay. The app on everyone’s phone that allows you to attach your debit and credit cards digitally to your wallet account, so when you go to to pay at any retailer you can simply hold your phone over where you would normally insert your card and boom! You just bought a new shirt.
Services such as Apple Pay are a huge part of the reason that Apple’s seen an increase in revenue. Apple Care for all Apple devices offers the best protection over any of your devices and ensures that if you have any sort of damage, internally or externally, done to your device you’ll be able to get it fixed at the cheapest price possible. Apple Music has also totally replaced iTunes and the iTunes Store. With this new subscription service, that’s reaching the same popularity level as other streaming services such as Spotify, Apple device users are able to access any and all music at any time from any device. According to CNN, quarterly sales from Apple’s services grew 18%, and their service division as a whole is now worth about $50 billion, not bad for a company only known for selling their phones.
Apple has also been one of the first major companies to take advantage of “wearable technology.” They revolutionized the smartwatch market with their Apple Watches. As previously stated, their Airpods are also one of the most popular wireless headphones on the market. CNN reported that all of Apple’s wearable technology has seen an increase in sales of 54%, growing their wearable division to the same size as their Mac division.
Apple has also seen a major comeback in their iPad income. Tablets have seemed to take a backseat in the world of technology, as most companies, including Apple, have just been focusing on cell phones, or tech accessories like the Apple Watch. iPad sales reportedly have increased 17% this quarter (CNN). This most likely has to do with Apple releasing many different versions of the iPad, such as the mini and pro, all built with different software’s to ensure that anyone in the market for a new tablet can find the one best fit for them.
A spokesperson for Apple recently discussed with CNN that while the company may be known to the greater public mainly for their iPhones, that doesn’t mean that every other aspect of their company isn’t thriving just as much. Additionally, their still beating out the competition.
“Yes, there’s only so much Apple can do to improve the iPhone, and saturation of smartphones means Apple can no longer rely on iPhone sales to grow every quarter. But the big takeaway from Apple’s most recent quarter is all that talk about how Apple can’t innovate is a bunch of bologna.”
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
Today, Apple made a number of announcements at its yearly press event, including a new gaming service called Apple Arcade, the launch date and price of its Apple tv+ streaming service, upgrades to its iPad and Apple watch devices, as well as the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
The event began with the announcement of Apple’s new Arcade service, a subscription-based service for the App Store, which allows users to download unlimited games of a variety of genres for a monthly fee. The service launches with a number of games from partners such as Konami and Capcom, including an updated version of the classic game Frogger called Frogger in Toy Town, a side-scrolling action-adventure game about navigating underwater caves called Into the Depths, and Sayonara Wild Hearts, a rhythm-based racing game described as a “playable music video.” The service launches on September 19th in over 150 countries, and will cost $4.99 per month for a family subscription, including a 1-month free trial.
Next, Apple discussed Apple tv+, a streaming video service meant to compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime video. The service will feature exclusive television programs such as For All Mankind, Dickinson, and the Morning Show, and a drama film starring Jason Mamoa about a distant future in which human beings have lost the ability of vision, called “See.” Apple tv+ will launch on November 1st, and like Apple Arcade, will cost $4.99 per month, and any purchase of a new iMac, Apple TV, or iPhone will include a year of the service for free.
Apple transitioned into focusing on their hardware releases, starting with the new 7th generation iPad. This upgrade includes a larger and higher-resolution 10.2” display and an upgraded chipset. Additionally, the new iPad is compatible with an optional case accessory that includes a full-sized keyboard, introducing much of the functionality of a laptop. The new iPad also supports software improvements, including improvements to multitasking, a floating keyboard, and compatibility with accessories like SD cards and thumbdrives. The Apple Pencil also sees added functionality, such as a streamlined ability to annotate screenshots. Apple touted accomplishments in more environmentally-friendly manufacturing, and announced the base model iPad would cost $329.
Next, Apple discussed the Apple watch. The company shared a video featuring stories of the Apple Watch’s lifesaving EKG capabilities, which alerts users to health emergencies and can automatically call emergency services in the event of a fall. Additionally, the company discussed the ways in which collecting data about users’ health contributes to research in fields such as cardiovascular fitness, hearing damage, and women’s health. Apple watch users can opt-in to share their health data with these research programs if they’d like to help improve the field of medical science.
The company then introduced the next generation of the Apple Watch, the series 5. The new version of the product features an always-on display, leveraging advancements in power-saving technology to maintain an 18-hour battery life. Additionally, the new watch includes a built-in compass and improvements to its safety features, such as international emergency calling. The new watch cases are made of 100% recycled aluminum, and other options for materials include stainless steel, ceramic, and titanium, and a variety of watch straps. The company again touted its environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes, and announced the base series 5 model will cost $399, whereas the price of the series 3 watch was dropped to $199.
Then, Apple discussed the newest addition to its flagship line of products, the iPhone. The newest iPhone, the iPhone 11, features an improved camera and comes in a variety of colors. Apple claims that the all-glass construction is the strongest glass in the industry. The phone’s two-camera design features a main lens and an ultra-wide lens, and leverages software improvements for enhanced image processing, including more accurate depth-of-field simulation and better pictures in low-light environments. Additionally, users can take advantage of 4K video capabilities at 60 frames per second, image stabilization, and high dynamic range. The phone also includes an improved front-facing camera, with a wider depth of field and higher resolution.
Afterwards, the company discussed the improvements to its processor, called the A13 chip, which it claims is the fastest CPU ever in a smartphone. The company also showcased its new GPU, offering console-quality graphics, with an adventure game developed by a third-party called Pascal’s Wager. Apple also announced improvements to the new iPhone’s battery life and touted the device’s durability and water-resistance. The iPhone 11 will be offered at a base price of $699, following a trend of reduced prices for their products throughout the presentation.
The company also announced the iPhone 11 Pro, which it described as a product for power users and professionals. The device is constructed from durable stainless steel, and features an additional third camera on the rear. The iPhone 11 Pro comes in two sizes, and features a high-resolution OLED panel, which it calls the Super Retina XDR display. The phone’s chipset is called the A13 Bionic, is capable of 1 trillion operations per second, and features hardware specifically designed for machine learning and power efficiency.
The iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max features a battery life 4 and 5 hours longer than the previous model devices, respectively. The device’s third camera, with a telephoto lens. enables what Apple calls professional-grade photography by introducing 4x optical zoom, and showcased photographs taken by professional photographers on the iPhone 11 Pro. The new phone includes a technology which Apple calls Deep Fusion, which combines nine pictures taken in quick succession using a neural engine to produce a higher-quality result. Additionally, Apple showcased video taken by a professional cinematographer with the device to emphasize its 4k, 60 frames per second video recording capability, and showcased the wide selection of photography and videography apps available for the device.
The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max will cost $999 and $1099, respectively, and will be available starting on September 20th. Apple concluded by discussing changes to its Apple retail locations, including a greater number of customization options for the Apple watch, the Apple Trade In option for device upgrades, and a redesign of the company’s 5th avenue location in New York City.
Overall, the presentation represented a renewed effort by the company to present more affordable devices while responding to some of the criticisms of the previous generation of products. Throughout the event, Apple emphasized their commitment to environmentally-friendly business practices, and focused mainly on improvements to camera quality, battery life, and durability. While all of Apple’s announcements today represent a clear improvement of their device line up, the program offered few surprises, and no major launches of new product categories, with no mention whatsoever of the company’s desktop and laptop offerings. However, consumers are likely to respond positively to the products announced today, as the improved performance and reduced price of the overall lineup will be hard for competitors to beat.
Tyler Olhorst is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. You can reach him at inquiries@thenationaldigest.com.