Apple Fitness+ workouts are gaining Audio Hints, a new accessibility format developed by Apple engineering that combines VoiceOver and Apple’s Text-to-Speech synthesizer to read synchronized Timed Text over video to provide verbal cues beyond those given by the trainers.
Audio Hints are intended to supplement the trainer's spoken instructions by inserting synthesised audio cues to parts of a workout that are only demonstrated visually. This can include prompts for timing on an exercise, alternate actions, and much more.
Audio Hints are available across the Fitness+ library of Studio workouts, and will be available for previously released workouts and new content. They will typically provide information on the following in a workout:
- Start and end of exercise
- Changes in body position
- Exercise modifications shown by the modifying trainer
- Tempo and rhythm
- Equipment adjustments
If you have VoiceOver turned on when you start the workout, Audio Hints will be automatically enabled. Otherwise, you can enable or disable the hints during a workout via the More Controls button. You can also adjust the speech rate for Audio Hints here, independent of the speed for the workout.
Audio Hints will begin rolling out to workouts this week with the releases of iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4. They will be available on all of the workouts except for Meditation, Time To Walk, and Time to Run.
If you are an existing user of Apple Fitness+, we look forward to hearing your experience and opinion of these supplementary cues. If you're not already a subscriber, will the addition of Audio Hints tempt you in to giving the service a try? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Apple Fitness+ launched in December 2020. It provides subscribers with access to a library of workout videos encompassing a wide variety of core strengths, including Yoga, dancing, running, walking, cycling, rowing, and pilates. Over 30 new workouts are added each week across all workout types with a variety of trainers, times, and music.
Apple Fitness+ requires iOS 14.3 or later, iPadOS 14.3 or later, watchOS 7.2 or later, and tvOS 14.3 or later. Apple says that to get the newest features, you should use Apple Fitness+ with Apple Watch Series 3 or later with watchOS 8 or later paired with iPhone 6s or later with iOS 15 or later; iPad with iPadOS 15 or later; and Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD with tvOS 15 or later.
Apple Fitness+ is available as a standalone subscription or as part of the Apple One bundle. More information is available here.
Comments
Color me very surprised! I…
Color me very surprised! I expected iOS15.4 to drop this week but not this!
I already used my free trial so can't try this out, but I'm curious to see if people think the audio hints they've come up with are helpful, or if they'll say they're not helpful enough.
I sent Apple a bunch of constructive feedback about the lack of accessibility of Fitness plus when they sent me a survey about my Apple Watch last year. Maybe they took even a little something from that?
Hoping someone does a podcast on this. At least they're trying. Good on you, Apple!!
THat's what I wanted.
I wanted something like this, but I was not sure if this was already included.
Good thing I waited.
Lets see how good/Useful it is.
I love it!
Hi,
I absolutely love it! The way it works, is that it uses whatever voice you’re using for voiceover, to give you information the workout trainer isn’t providing verbally.
If you are a voiceover user, this feature is automatically enabled.
Excited
Wow, I'm excited. Cannot wait to give this a try. Glad I waited to get my free trial.
Examples?
If anybody has a particular workout that is utilizing this new technology, could you let us know the name of the workout? I tapped on two so far but they don't seem to have any additional VoiceOver feedback.
Re: Examples
I believe the following workouts all offer Audio Hints:
Core
Cycling
Dance
HIIT
Mindful Cooldown
Pilates
Rowing
Strength
Treadmill
Yoga
Previous workouts will also get this feature
I’m not sure if I mentioned it yet or not, but workouts Apple has already released will also be getting this feature. Any future workouts will also have it.
At present, anything that has the word studio in it, will have these hints.
How do I get the app?
Is this app in the App Store? Maybe I'm writing the name wrong. Is it called Fitness Plus? Would be interested in checking it out. Thank you.
It comes with the phone, and will show up as fitness on your hom
Hi,
Since Apple made it, it’s a native app, and will appear as, “Fitness “on your home screen. On your Apple Watch, it will be called, “activity. “
I’m not real sure why they have it under two different names, but that’s just the way it is.
I have a follow up phone call with them tomorrow, and would be willing to ask, since I myself am curious.
Not Seeing The Word Studio In Fitness Plus
I've looked through quite a few of the workouts and I'm not seeing any that say studio. I'm running the latest version of iOS as well as the latest version of Watch OS. When I click on a workout it appears that most of them have audio hints. At least that's what the descriptions say. I haven't actually tested any of them yet.
Core with Kyle has it
The, “core with Kyle “workout, as well as any others in that list, will have this new audio hints feature. All other workouts Apple has made, will also get it eventually.
I did the “core with Kyle” workout the other day, and it was actually relatively easy to follow.
Can't seem to find this app.
I asked Apple Support and they just said that the app is called Fitness. Looked in the App Store and other options came up. Even tried to look in the Health App. Couldn't find it.
It’s built in
You don’t need to download it from the App Store. It comes as default on the iPhone. It’s called Fitness. So just look in the App Library. The Apple Watch version is called Activity.
Dave
Apple Fitness ... Hide and Seek
Searched app library; asked Siri, searched app store ... nothing pops up for the Apple fitness program, other than Apple One which I am not about to subscribe to. I am running the latest version of iOS. I guess you could say I'm at a loss.