Apple’s first keynote event from the company’s new Steve Jobs Theater featured strong sports components throughout the presentation. Here are SportTechie’s top three takeaways:
1. Apple Watch
While baseball’s Boston Red Sox inadvertently introduced the sports world to one illicit feature of the Apple Watch — sign stealing — the tech giant unveiled the Apple Watch Series 3 with several on-label sporting features in an apparent shift to reposition the device more as a fitness wearable than a fashion accessory. The updated Heart Rate app provides more information, including one’s pulse during resting, workout, recovery, walking and Breathe sessions. A new Workout app includes en vogue High Intensity Interval Training options and tracking for swimming laps. “It’s the ultimate watch for a healthy life,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said.
Apple Watch OS4 to include resting heart rate/arrhythmia monitoring, sync to fitness machine, auto sets for swimmers #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/X5ayym8Qyr
— Ian Bush (@ianthebush) September 12, 2017
2. Augmented Reality
Back in June, Apple announced that ARKit, which gave developers a new platform for AR apps on the iPhone and iPad, would be available in iOS 11. Now, esports has received what is being billed as the first competitive multiplayer game designed for dedicated AR play. That new offering utilizing ARKit technology, The Machines, was unveiled at the event; gamers operate in the space around them with the ability to use their physical location for tactical advantage. “It’s like you’re not just controlling the game,” CEO and co-founder of Directive Games Atli Mar Sveinsson. “You’re in the game.”
Apple announces The Machines, an exclusive, competitive AR game for iPhone 8. #AppleEvent https://t.co/c85FqUy7Xo pic.twitter.com/iqDaFLxWRf
— GamesBeat (@GamesBeat) September 12, 2017
Among the other AR features Apple teased: MLB’s widely popular At Bat app will have the capacity to provide additional info and stat boxes when the phone is used at a big league ball game.
Apple showing augmented reality features on the iPhone 8. MLB at Bat app will show player stats above their heads in realtime #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/TiwEzozLN5
— Richard Southern (@richard680news) September 12, 2017
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3. Apple TV
Apple continued to enhance the sports capabilities of its TV product, building on last fall’s integration of Siri commands, by bringing live streaming of sporting events in its new 4K picture quality. Details of rights considerations and the logistics of how this will play out were not included. There will also be a Sports tab that can provide updates on scores and alert viewers of live game broadcasts.