Peloton clarifies the Apple GymKit matter
The exercise equipment company Peloton has clarified that users can no longer connect the Apple Watch to the Bike+ Bootcamp Classes because the Apple Watch doesn’t support switching from biking to lifting weights all in one workout.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Peloton’s new class type combines strength and cardio.
- Apple Watch doesn’t support multi-disciplinary workouts.
- Hence, Peloton disabled support for bike bootcamp classes.
- Regular old cycling still supports Apple Watch integration.
- Context: Peloton may soon unveil a fitness tracker.
Peloton blames it on the Apple Watch
Peloton today issued the following statement to the press:
Apple GymKit is designed to work with equipment-based cardio workouts. However, Peloton recently implemented GymKit with Bike Bootcamp, a multi-disciplinary class type that combines strength and cardio, which the feature does not support. Members can still use GymKit to sync their cycling-only workouts to their Apple Watch from Bike+.
GymKit allows Apple Watch owners to connect their Apple Watch to compatible gym equipment to track their metrics more accurately.
The company released the statement after cutting back support for the Bike+ Bootcamp Classes for Apple Watch Fitness yesterday, leaving only the cycling class. However, Peloton would prefer to include Apple Watch in more workouts in the future if Apple’s rules permit it.
Currently, Apple Watch owners can combine multiple activities in a single workout within the Fitness app. For example, you may start with an outdoor run workout and then shift to an outdoor bike ride by swiping right in the Fitness app and touching “+”. Doing so will end the current workout and automatically start your new workout.
Scrolling through the results summary shows you the total workout time and calories burned.
Could this be about competition?
Now, some people speculate that Peloton’s explanation is disingenuous and point to the fact that Peloton just bought Atlas, a smartwatch company, suggesting the company could soon unveil a fitness tracker of its own.
Aside from Atlas, Peloton has also acquired Otari and Aiqudo, Bloomberg reported.
One of the things fueling this speculation is the fact that Apple’s terms of service for GymKit are not public. Another is the fact that the Apple Fitness+ subscription service is a direct competitor to Peloton (which Peloton CEO called a “legitimization of fitness content”).
Apple Fitness+ only supports single-purpose workouts as well.
Peloton’s baseline $1,895 bike doesn’t work with GymKit, but its souped-up $2,495 version does—and therein lies the problem for end-users. As The Verge notes, many people got the more expensive bike to use with their Apple Watches only to discover yesterday that bike bootcamp classes are not supported in the Fitness app.
Peloton’s Bike+ was specifically advertised as being compatible with GymKit. The company previously disabled the ability for Apple Watch to pair with Bike+ via GymKit for strength and yoga classes.
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2021/04/16/peloton-gymkit-statement/
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