Google is taking a leaf out of the Apple Watch’s book with a new version of the Google Fit app for Android and Wear OS.
The new app is less focused on steps and more on completing a pair of activity rings. The first ring is based upon Move Minutes and the other on the award of Heart Points. The new metrics are based upon recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), with Google saying it will “abstract away the complication” of tracking your activity.
Google says Move Minutes is designed to keep you active throughout the day. In a blog post Google Fit head of product Margaret Hollendoner says credit will be given “for all of your activity.”
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She says it’ll motivate users “to make small, healthy changes throughout your day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or catching up with a friend over a walk instead of a coffee.”
As for Heart Points, Hollendoner explains: “Activities that get your heart pumping harder result in even greater health benefits. Heart Points give you credit for these activities. You’ll score one point for each minute of moderate activity, like picking up the pace while walking your dog, and double points for more intense activities like running or kickboxing.”
Google says it is following the AHA and WHO’s recommendation of 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 days a week to reach to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve sleep, and increase overall mental well-being.
Google says Fit will automatically detect walking, running or biking via the phone or watch sensors. For other types of exercise, Google will calculate the Heart Points and Move Minutes achieved during that workout. It also integrates with other apps like Strava, Runkeeper, Endomondo and MyFitnessPal.
Naturally the idea is to complete those activity rings before the end of each day. Where could Google have gotten that idea from? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
