iOS 8: A Take Control Crash Course
by Josh Centers

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Table of Contents

iOS 8: For Your Health

On the iPhone and iPod touch only, iOS 8 has a new built-in app called Health. Health is meant to serve as a central repository of your health-related data ①. You can enter data, have your device collect data (like steps you’ve walked), or pull in data from third-party apps or from devices such as the Fitbit and Jawbone Up, as well as the Apple Watch once it’s released in 2015. Health can also share data with other apps.

① Health lets you track nearly any bit of biometric data and import or export data.

① Health lets you track nearly any bit of biometric data and import or export data.

Populating the Dashboard

Shown above at the left, Health’s Dashboard is where you can get an overview of data that has been recorded about your health. Here’s how to modify what data is shown:

  1. At the bottom of the screen, tap Health Data.
  2. Tap a data category (such as Nutrition) and keep tapping until you select the item you want to view on the Dashboard (such as caffeine intake) ②.
    ② From the Health Data view, you can add a data category to the Dashboard.

    ② From the Health Data view, you can add a data category to the Dashboard.

  3. Turn on Show on Dashboard.

Manually Adding Data

  1. If the type of data you want to work with is on the Dashboard, tap its chart there. Or at the bottom of the screen, tap Health Data and then select a category.
  2. Choose a category.
  3. Tap Add Data Point.
  4. Fill in the desired data, and then tap Add.

Pulling in Data

At the bottom of the screen, tap Sources. The Sources view lists installed apps that are eligible to provide data to Health. Select one, and toggle the data you wish to share between Health and the app.

If you don’t see the desired app, you may have to enable Health integration in that app ③.

③ To integrate an app with Apple’s Health app, you’ll need to hunt around in the app’s settings. In MyFitness Tracker, I found the connection at More > Apps & Devices > Apple HealthKit.

③ To integrate an app with Apple’s Health app, you’ll need to hunt around in the app’s settings. In MyFitness Tracker, I found the connection at More > Apps & Devices > Apple HealthKit.

Sharing Your Data

  1. If the type of data you want to work with is on the Dashboard, tap its chart there. Or at the bottom of the screen, tap Health Data and select a category.
  2. Tap a sub-category.
  3. Tap Share Data.
  4. Under Share Data With, flip a switch to enable data sharing with an app ④.
④ You have complete control over which apps Health will share data with.

④ You have complete control over which apps Health will share data with.

Setting up a Medical ID

If you use only one feature of Health, this iPhone-only feature should be it, since it could enable first responders to provide better medical care to you in an emergency. Here’s what to do:

  1. At the bottom of the screen, tap Medical ID.
  2. Tap Create Medical ID.
  3. Make certain to keep the Show When Locked switch on.
  4. Enter your data ⑤, especially your emergency contact. When you enter an emergency contact, if that person’s card contains more than one phone number, tap the number you want to include. You can enter the same person more than once, in order to include multiple numbers.
    ⑤ You can enter as much, or as little, information as you like for your Medical ID.

    ⑤ You can enter as much, or as little, information as you like for your Medical ID.

  5. Once you’ve worked all the way down through the various options, tap Done at the upper right.

Accessing a Medical ID from the Lock Screen

  1. Press the Sleep/Wake button or Home button to wake the iPhone.
  2. Slide the screen from left to right to unlock.
  3. At the Enter Passcode screen, tap Emergency in the lower left.
  4. At the emergency dial pad screen, tap Medical ID in the lower left.

Copyright © 2014, Josh Centers. All rights reserved.