With WWDC 2023 just a bit more than one month away, details about Apple’s iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates continue to trickle in. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says the new operating system will include a mood-tracking feature. and bring the Health app to the iPad for the first time.
The Health app had been an iPhone-only feature, but that could change with the launch of iOS 17. The Health app could actually work somewhat better on the iPad, thanks to its larger screen. More screen real estate means there is more space for viewing health metrics, prescriptions, electrocardiogram results, lab test results, and more. Bringing the Health app to the iPad could increase the app’s popularity in the healthcare industry, where tablets are widely used.
Apple also plans to introduce a new mood tracker feature, which will allow users to keep track of their moods, viewing the results over time.
The mood-tracking functionality that Apple could include in the Health app in iOS 17 will be separate from the journaling app that was rumored last week, says Gurman. The journaling app will not be a health feature, but will instead serve as an expansion of the “Find My” service and other location features.
Apple is also expected next year to expand its health features with a new health coaching service. The AI-based service, codenamed Quartz, will help users improve their eating habits, encourage them to exercise, and take steps to improve their sleep. The service will use data from the Apple Watch to make personalized suggestions and create tailored coaching programs. Apple is said to be planning to charge a monthly fee. While Gurman says Apple is planning the service for 2024, he warns that it could be “canceled or postponed.”
