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Healthbook, Apple’s step into health and fitness tracking

34 points by srikar 13y ago

fidotron 13y ago
Unless there's some major improvement in data sources (i.e. sensors) it's very difficult to see what Apple are going to achieve here. They've managed to surprise people before, but breakthrough medical sensors (especially around blood monitoring) would make previous revolutions look minor.
- hahainternet 13y ago
  They're going to eliminate the alternate market for health monitoring. By providing a first party solution they can block all external apps, and require all third party solutions to adhere to their requirements. Controlling yet another market segment with a mandatory 30% cost.
  - spullara 13y ago
    Or it could be more like Passbook where each sensor contributes to the Healthbook. That would be more in line with their previous efforts.
    - hahainternet 13y ago
      Right, but the point is that each sensor works for Apple. Pays the MFI fee, the app pays the 30% fee and no other solution is permitted. Apple gets your health data, the manufacturer gets nothing, developers get nothing. Apple once again sits as the unflappable middleman taking a cut of everyone's money.
coldcode 13y ago
This is speculation based on supposed screenshots. Not exactly the definition of 'is'.
digitalengineer 13y ago
Here we go again. Apple has us talking and pondering about their future products again. Mission accomplished.
tomelders 13y ago
"If" Apple is working on health monitoring, and I genuinely think that they are, I believe this will the firing pistol that starts the arms race that leads to kind of increases in human life expectancy that the theory of accelerated returns predicts.
- hahainternet 13y ago
  You think that a random phone app is all that is stopping people trying to extend human life? Could you perhaps gain some goddamn perspective?
  - tomelders 13y ago
    No, I think generating demand for good tools to monitor, manage and improve health amongst the general public will drive real innovation in consumer health care that goes beyond multivitamins, fad diets and fad workouts. It will introduce a whole new dynamic to the bio technology industry via a better informed and educated consumer. And I think Apple may be the only company that can do this in a way the general public will warm to and accept. But you're not really interested in what I think are you.

34 points by srikar 13y ago

Unless there's some major improvement in data sources (i.e. sensors) it's very difficult to see what Apple are going to achieve here. They've managed to surprise people before, but breakthrough medical sensors (especially around blood monitoring) would make previous revolutions look minor.

hahainternet 13y ago
They're going to eliminate the alternate market for health monitoring. By providing a first party solution they can block all external apps, and require all third party solutions to adhere to their requirements. Controlling yet another market segment with a mandatory 30% cost.
- spullara 13y ago
  Or it could be more like Passbook where each sensor contributes to the Healthbook. That would be more in line with their previous efforts.
  - hahainternet 13y ago
    Right, but the point is that each sensor works for Apple. Pays the MFI fee, the app pays the 30% fee and no other solution is permitted. Apple gets your health data, the manufacturer gets nothing, developers get nothing. Apple once again sits as the unflappable middleman taking a cut of everyone's money.

coldcode 13y ago

This is speculation based on supposed screenshots. Not exactly the definition of 'is'.

digitalengineer 13y ago

Here we go again. Apple has us talking and pondering about their future products again. Mission accomplished.

tomelders 13y ago

"If" Apple is working on health monitoring, and I genuinely think that they are, I believe this will the firing pistol that starts the arms race that leads to kind of increases in human life expectancy that the theory of accelerated returns predicts.

hahainternet 13y ago
You think that a random phone app is all that is stopping people trying to extend human life? Could you perhaps gain some goddamn perspective?
- tomelders 13y ago
  No, I think generating demand for good tools to monitor, manage and improve health amongst the general public will drive real innovation in consumer health care that goes beyond multivitamins, fad diets and fad workouts. It will introduce a whole new dynamic to the bio technology industry via a better informed and educated consumer. And I think Apple may be the only company that can do this in a way the general public will warm to and accept. But you're not really interested in what I think are you.