Apple has introduced more features on Fitness+, as it aims to solidify the position of its services unit and dominance of the Apple Watch.
The new services include a workout programme, sound meditation theme and further collaborations with artists, aimed at catering to an estimated 100 million Fitness+ users, the iPhone-maker said in a statement.
The features will help users in “restarting after a long break, or looking to take it up a level with a new challenge”, Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of fitness technologies, said.
Fitness+ is part of Apple’s key services unit, which has, for years now, helped anchor the company’s bottom line amid a decline in sales of its iPhone and the overall smartphone market.
In its latest fiscal fourth quarter, Apple posted a year-on-year net profit growth of 10.7 per cent – 15.6 per cent up on a quarterly basis – to more than $22.95 billion, driven by both services and iPhones.
Net sales of services in the three months ended September 30 hit $22.31 billion, up about 16.3 per cent annually.
That was “another strong performance in its services business”, Investing.com senior analyst Jesse Cohen had told The National.
For 2022, health and fitness apps across all platforms registered revenue of about $4.12 billion, accounting for about 15 per cent of total health and fitness technology revenue, latest data from industry tracker Business of Apps showed.
Apple Fitness+ had the most users by active users at 100 million during that year, attributed to the popularity of the Apple Watch, the report said.
The Apple Watch has steadily maintained its lead in the smartwatch market since 2018. Its market share was 22 per cent as of the third quarter of 2023 – and shot up as high as 40 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 – data from Counterpoint Research and Statista shows.
Fitness+’s new workout programme, Strength, Core and Yoga for Golfers, features the rising Rose Zhang.
The Artist Spotlight Series, meanwhile, will feature new workouts from American singers Rihanna and Britney Spears, and Irish band U2.
And in the lead-up to Super Bowl LVIII, workouts will feature Usher, who will perform at half-time of the National Football League’s championship game.
The Time to Walk service, on the other hand, will feature new guests, with episodes to be available on Apple Podcasts. Fitness+ subscribers can access 50 episodes at launch on Apple Podcasts with the guest’s audio.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tell-tale signs of burnout
- loss of confidence and appetite
- irritability and emotional outbursts
- sadness
- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue
- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more
- impaired judgement
- excessive and continuous worrying
- irregular sleep patterns
Tips to help overcome burnout
Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’
Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do
Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones
Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation
Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Maestro
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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The%C2%A0specs%20
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
UAE%20ILT20
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