In response to the above post
@Mosaic made in the last
Thread #24, Post #1428
I don't know if she had a fitbit, but others might have seen one. As for the idea of a Health app on her iPhone, I have some thoughts.
The Health app is an app that stays on the iPhone. Some apps can be deleted, and reinstalled in the App Store by the user should they wish to add the app back on the iPhone. Not that one. It is a fixed built-in app that cannot be deleted.
Unbeknownst to me, my phone had been logging my steps this entire time.
Quick Story
I got a new iPhone 7 last year. I’ve been an iPhone user since 2008. I’ve never been one to buy into Health apps, especially ones that track your heart rate and steps. I didn’t know much about it, except that I didn’t want to volunteer for that. I’ll keep my health to myself, thank you. Last month, I became interested in calculating daily step counts, and decided to check it out. I opened the Health app, which I had never used before, and was in awe when I realized the this app had already calculated my steps for the day. Interesting. How far back does it go, I thought? Turns out, I was was able to go back that entire past week. And past month. The further I went back, I realized my phone logged my steps for EVERY single day, down to the minute, in the past year that I’d had the phone. Even though I never once opened, or “agreed” to using the Health app. It was silently logging my steps the entire time.
Why does this matter?
The iPhones are equipped with technology that senses step-like movement that it considers a step, and can even determine flights climbed, which is calculated based on an approximate 10 feet in elevation gain, or about 16 stairs. If SW went upstairs at any point, provided it was at least 10 feet in elevation gain or 16 steps, it is likely the Health app captured it in "flights climbed."
My theory is even in the scenario that SW never used her Health app, even to log in once, that it was still “secretly” logging all steps and floors climbed. If the Health app was tapped and opened, one would find her step counts (which can be viewed down to the hour, and even the minutes/seconds). This could be crucial information starting at 1:48am on Monday, August 13 2018, leading up to the moment it was in the hands of LE after the phone being discovered between the couch cushions in the loft.
Even if SW wasn’t the one physically carrying her phone at any point in time, as long as it was turned ON, and was being carried by someone on his/her person (iPhone steps can even be captured in a purse, back pocket, or while walking with it in your hand), this information could be valuable in knowing periods of steps, stairs, and periods of no movement at all.
ETA: JMO