It all began in February when Apple posted a job listing for a physiologist that intimated the tech giant might be exploring health apps or gadgets.

This leads us to the most current news about Apple’s latest invention, which might be bringing fitness and health tracking capabilities to the forefront on future versions of the iPad and iPhone. It’s speculated that the latest update will debut with iOS 8 sometime later this year.

Much like the Passbook app that was developed by Apple, which offers a centralized location for your plane tickets, coupons, gift certificates and other passes, the Healthbook will offer a unified location for the user’s health and fitness information.

How will this new app track your wellness? For certain areas, it will utilize the new M7 chip. This technology was introduced with the iPhone 5s last year for the motion-detecting processor capabilities that are embedded inside the device. For the new app, the M7 chip will help track things such as the number of steps that you take during the course of your day, or the speed as you run.

New inventions go through a slew of changes as the process gets more involved. For instance, in the case of the Healthbook, for categories like “Respiratory Rate” and “Blood Sugar” as shown in the mock-up, these info-gathering processes would require separate devices. Does this mean that, in addition, Apple also is working on a device(s) that could perform these additional tasks?

If this isn’t the case, it’s likely that Healthbook will sync with many existing third-party devices.

You know what they say, an Apple a day keeps the doctor away and we think that Apple’s latest health invention might offer the help that consumers need!

Copyright Davison 2014

Sources:

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-shape-of-things-to-come-apples-next-big-ios-79881408967.html

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/03/17/apple-healthbook-report/6525183/

Images:

http://9to5mac.com/2014/03/17/this-is-healthbook-apples-first-major-step-into-health-fitness-tracking/

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Apple recently announced its latest product, CarPlay. This slick, Siri-enabled device will interact with your iPhone in the car. The latest invention isn’t a standalone in-car operating system; rather, it’s a “second screen” iOS interface that is optimized for the car.

CarPlay will allow for a deeper integration with iOS devices than any in-car system to date.

The system will make its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show and cars like Ferrari, Mercedes, and Volvo will be shown with CarPlay built in.

Now, in order for CarPlay to work, the system operates with a Lightning-connector that connects to the iPhone. Users are limited to using the system with the iPhone 5, 5s and 5c, which all need to be connected to the car in order for the features to work.

But, nonetheless, you can think of this system as a car-infotainment system by substitution, because everything still runs through the iPhone.

CarPlay uses a system based on streaming H.264 video in order for the screen mirroring and car-touchscreen interaction with the phone to work.

The physical connection of the iPhone to the device will be tethered via a Lightning cable, which is a proprietary computer and power connector that was invented by Apple in order to find a better way to connect Apple mobile devices like iPads, iPhones and iPods to host computers, cameras, external monitors, USB battery chargers and other devices.

The new system was designed with the idea of providing ease for users to gain access and use their iPhone’s services and software via Siri. CarPlay offers access to hands-free calling functions, in addition to Siri search, messages and maps. The latter of the features means that Apple will have the opportunity to push its own maps app over those of its competitors (cough, cough, Google).

Finally, CarPlay will work in conjunction with other apps like Podcasts and some music services from third-parties like Beats Radio, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Stitcher. Based off of what we have seen so far, many believe that the evolution of this new Apple invention will be a gradual, hand-selected roll-out, which is similar to how Apple handled adding Apple TV software partners.

Check out a demo of the Apple CarPlay in action!

Copyright Davison 2014

Sources:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2014/03/apple-carplay-system/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_cable

http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/03/apples-new-carplay-system-will-turn-tens-of-millions-of-cars-into-iphone-accessories/

Media:

http://cdn1.appleinsider.com/14.03.03-CarPlay-2.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESPyq6P9CdY

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