Apple's much anticipated iPhone 6 and watch product announcements included two components that will surely have an impact on the overall retail and personal fitness markets. Apple CEO Tim Cook, also a member of the Nike board, says the company will launch a mobile payment solution called Apple Pay in an effort to replace physical wallets, credit cards and other mobile wallet services that have failed.
On the fitness front, the new iPhones will feature a dedicated health app that utilizes sensors to track steps taken and calories burned, adjusting based on elevation. The app also will be able to detect a person’s weight. Apple is promising that its new Apple Watch will “change the way [people] look at fitness” by acting as both a simple activity tracker and comprehensive fitness device. All cardio workouts will be tracked and synced to the iPhone with the ability to set goals and timers for a run or a cycling workout, for example. The watch is also said to have the ability, through photo sensors and visible-light LEDs, to detect an individual’s pulse and set his or her heart rate.
