Apple’s Health app updated with on-device steps, distance tracking and caffeine monitoring

Apple's Health app updated with on-device steps, distance tracking and caffeine monitoring

Apple has updated its Health app with few handy features. Still in beta, the application can now rely on the M7 motion co-processor for data sourcing.

The new Steps counter tab can report steps without connecting to any third party app or hardware device. Because this feature likely uses the M7 processor, an iPhone 5s is required, though we’re certain any future iPhone will have a similar capability, as well.

The new Steps counter tab can report steps without connecting to any third party app or hardware device.According to 9to5Mac, the M7 will be able to pre-populate the Health app with a full week of data, while allowing users to remove individual sets of tracking from the application. Sharing steps data with other apps is also supported.

Although this sounds cool, one gotta wonder what will happen with other third-party apps? Will they still be around or will they have to add new features? And related to this, will Apple face some anti-monopoly penalties for preloading its own solution in the iPhone? At the start of the century, Microsoft was fined for preinstalling Internet Explorer on Windows. As far as we can tell, some of the Health app features seem to thwart competition.

Another new feature added to the application is the ability to track one’s caffeine intake. There are other apps providing the same capability, including Jawbone’s Up Coffee.

Finally, the Medical ID section, which is an emergency card feature, has been slightly redesigned boasting a red navigational bar that is easier to see.

Apple unveiled the Health app and HealthKit platform at the 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.