Healthy impatience about Apple launch

Will we see the long-awaited Apple iWatch on September 9th? Will it guide us all to a healthier lifestyle? Will it even be worn on the wrist? Will it only work on the latest IOS software? Will it need recharging every night, along with all the other supposedly "mobile" devices that clutter our daily lives? And will it survive an accidental soaking in the shower?

Whatever about sating the appetite of an eager tech audience willing Apple to come out and play in the latest wearable-tech race, investors are growing impatient about the fact it has been nearly four years since the iPad’s debut, the last real new product launch from the tech giant.

The general view of the tech blogosphere is that on Tuesday week we will finally see Apple’s new fitness-tracking device. In preparation the company has been tightening its privacy rules relating to health apps ahead of next month’s product launch.

The technology firm has told developers that their apps, which would use Apple’s “HealthKit” platform on the forthcoming products, must not sell any personal data they gather to advertisers. The move could stave off concerns users might have around privacy as Apple seeks to move into the health data business.

Apple announced in June that a new standard app called “Health” will collect data on blood pressure, heart rate, and stats on diet and exercise.

Health apps have proved increasingly popular. With this comes a greater focus on who has access to the data they gather. As reported yesterday, campaign group Privacy Clearing House found 43 per cent of the health apps it studied shared user-generated personally identifiable information with advertisers.

The potential for health apps making a meaningful difference to society is enormous – and enormously lucrative for whomever gets the format right.

This potential has sated investors waiting for its arrival, but they will be concerned that whatever device is unveiled on September 9th may not go on sale in time for the Christmas market. Reports yesterday said it would be early 2015 before the device got into shops.