Early Monday morning, a leaked promotional video surfaced for Apple’s new Fitness+ feature called Time to Walk. Only a few hours later, the walking audio experience officially went live.
Currently available on the Fitness+ app, Time to Walk attempts to make daily walks more enjoyable through a mix of storytelling, images, and music from a variety of celebrities. The first four episodes, now live, feature musicians Shawn Mendes and Dolly Parton, NBA player Draymond Green, as well as actress Uzo Aduba.
You can find new episodes right on the Fitness+ app.
Image: screenshot / apple
The episodes are automatically downloaded to your Apple Watch.
Image: screenshot / apple
If you’re wondering how this entire experience is different than listening to a podcast while on a walk, the new feature is supposed to feel more intimate. Rather than the typical interviews or narration you hear during a podcast episode, Time to Walk attempts to mimic the feeling of a one-on-one conversation.
In the first half of each episode you’ll listen to two to three stories from each guest for a total of about 15 to 25 minutes — as related images pop up on your watch at specific times. To round out your walk, the second half consists of listening to three of the guest’s favorite songs.
Whenever you start one of the listening experiences, the Apple Watch automatically begins a Walking workout — recording all the metrics it normally would, like distance, calories burned, heart rate. That way, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you recorded your activity for the day.
For Apple Watch owners who use a wheelchair, the Time to Walk feature becomes Time to Push, and an Outdoor Wheelchair Walk Pace workout will start.
As for how often Time to Walk content will be added to the Fitness+ app, new episodes will drop every Monday from now through the end of April.
WATCH: We ranked the best Apple products of 2020
