Developer Hamza Sood has done some digging inside the public iOS 8.2 build that was distributed to users on Monday. Although the Apple Watch is included by default as stock app (undeletable, whether you like it or not), the OS also includes an Activity app. Although it was previously known that the app existed, Apple has not shared details about what features the app has or even how you installed onto your phone.
Sood claims that the Activity app automatically appears on your Home Screen, once an Apple Watch is paired to the iPhone. After setup of the Activity features on the Watch itself, the app unlocks.
This is what Apple has shown so far about the Activity app.
This makes sense — the app is useless without a Watch. The app icon depicts the three rings of the Apple Watch’s fitness app. Each ring represents the amount of standing, walking and brisk exercise the user achieved in one day.
The leaked screenshots reveal that the app is very complete, including graphs over time of activity and the achievements attained by completing certain goals. The achievements appear to be depicted as flat outlines, whereas they are fully graphical videos on the Watch, however. It is possible that the full skeuomorphic medal will be visible on the iPhone, when you tap through.
It looks like a full representation of the Activity app from the Watch, but optimized for a larger phone display. Like the Apple Watch companion app, the interface has a black user interface and uses Apple’s San Francisco typeface. The Activity app also manages sharing activity and workout data with the Health app, so third-party developers can access the data with user permission.
https://twitter.com/hamzasood/status/576170532468572160/photo/1
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Appears to be similar in function and features of Google’s activity log on Android phones? No idea tho if it’s available to Android smartwatches tho. I like the look on iOS more so than on Android. More polished which should be no surprise.
OOPS! Meant to link to Google Fit for comparison.
Missed opportunity to call the app OverWatch.
So when does an all dark interface option come to iOS? iOS 9 perhaps?
I hope so!!! Dark mode toggle in control center please!!!!!
Couldn’t this app, at least in theory, be driven by the iPhone’s sensors? It would be great if Apple made it usable without a Watch.
Agreed! I really don’t understand why this app has to be useless without Apple Watch. Seems like such a great addition that could help motivate iPhone users to be more active throughout the day. It is already intertwined with the Health app, and the technology is there in the iPhone…why not open it up?
Busines move to motivate more watch purposes. Kinda sucks, but with an initial product release, they aren’t going to do anything that marginalizes. its success.
Apple didn’t try to hide the fact that the Activity app is part of 8.2. In the update/release notes for 8.2 it says “New Activity app for viewing fitness data and achievements from Apple Watch; appears when Apple Watch is paired”
The dark layout of the application looks really attractive. I wonder when we will get something like this. Meanwhile, this activity application become a real pain for the iPhone users if it gets activated without linking with the Apple Watch. I doubt, it will cause battery drain issues.