Fitness tech has evolved beyond activity trackers like the Apple Watch and Fitbit. Today, there are hundreds of streaming workout and wellness apps from brands like Nike, Equinox, and ClassPass to help track your exercises and reach your fitness goals There’s also been a boom in connected fitness equipment like Peloton, Mirror, and Tonal that are paving the way for on-demand workouts from the comfort of your home, with additional content like meditation, yoga, and mobility training to boost mind and body health.
The big update is a new integration with Strava, but there’s also a new roster of Time to Walk guests, musical Artist Spotlights, and training programs. Including one for pickleball. Yes, pickleball.
I’m most jazzed about Yoga Peak Poses — a series that aims to help you master harder yoga poses. Crow pose in 2025, here I come. (Probably not.)
Smart rings had a resurgence this year. The question is whether the renaissance will continue.
5
Verge Score
As an entry-level device, the FE doesn’t quite nail the right mix of price, features, and hardware.
I became so mired in the smart features, I forgot to walk.
If you’re a runner, chances are you’ve seen Matt Choi on your FYP. The popular influencer got disqualified from the New York City Marathon for having assistants on e-bikes filming footage of him during the race. This isn’t the first time Choi has done this and he’s been banned from future NYRR races.
There’s nothing wrong with memorializing your marathon. But maybe just stick to your phone.
The company bumped its full-year revenue estimate to $6.12 billion. Its wearable business also brought in $464 million during Q3, beating investors’ estimates of $396 million.
Wholly unsurprising. My social media algorithm is chock full of runners debating Apple Watch versus Garmin — and most of them are firmly #TeamGarmin. Plus, we’re in the middle of a marathon boom, with more people signing up than ever.
Or you could end up like French President Emannuel Macron’s bodyguards: leaking the location of the one person you’re supposed to protect.
Le Monde found the names and addresses of roughly a dozen of Macron’s bodyguards... and then found their running routes on Strava. Including routes they ran during recon trips to scout hotels for the president to stay at.
Peloton announces its Q1 2025 earnings next Thursday, meaning it’s about time when they announce some good news to jazz up investors. This time around, it’s a holiday partnership with Costco starting November 1st to sell its Bike Plus for a slightly discounted $1,999 (in-store) or $2,199 (online, with delivery). We’ll see how investors feel about it next week.
It makes no sense to upgrade based on color alone. Or does it?
8
Verge Score
The Series 10 bets big on a larger display and a more wearable design. As far as iterative updates go, that’s a savvy choice.
If you’re subscribed to Fitbit Premium, you can now access various Peloton workout classes — like yoga, running, and cycling — from the Fitbit app. The Peloton classes, which Google announced last month, are rolling out to users in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
8
Verge Score
The first two Pixel Watches were playing catch-up. Now, Google’s starting to flesh out its wearable vision.
Here’s our first look at the new Apple Watch Series 10 and the new jet black Ultra 2. The Series 10 comes with bigger than ever screens, a new processor, a depth gauge, and the ability to detect signs of sleep apnea. Except that last one isn’t quiet ready yet. Just like many things announced at Apple’s Glowtime event.
It’s been ten years since the Apple Watch was announced. Where does it go from here?
The OpenRun Pro 2 add USB-C charging, a dedicated speaker for bass, reduced vibration, and AI noise cancellation.
The bass is pretty good for open-ear fitness buds, but alas, my glasses foiled the ear hook design.
Foley’s pivot to founding a bespoke rug startup was reported a while back, but he’s remarkably candid about what he’s been up to since leaving Peloton in this New York Post interview.
“I’m working hard so that I can try and make money again... because I don’t have much left. And so I’m hungry and humble.”
But why rugs?
“I love rugs, I love interior design.”
IEEE Spectrum’s Tekla S. Perry spoke to Fitbit founders James Park and Eric Friedman, as well as designers and engineers to get the complete story on how the company’s first clip-on fitness tracker — inspired by the Nintendo Wii’s motion-tracking capabilities — came to be.
[IEEE Spectrum]
7
Verge Score
It’s not so much a standalone health tracker or a smartwatch alternative as an accessory for your Galaxy Watch.
Usually, I’m all about the bass for workout headphones, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Suunto Sonic and Wing.
