Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone of LightShed Partners, a New York-based technology, media and telecommunications research firm, are questioning whether Cook is still the right person to lead one of the world’s most valuable companies amid concerns that it’s fallen behind in AI — a technology that’s already disrupting work, education and other facets of everyday life. Apple has already faced pressure to come up with a new hit product as sales of smartphones, Apple’s biggest revenue driver, have slowed across the industry.

Image: Real Madrid and CISCO

The LaLiga team Real Madrid CF (Spain) and the technology company Cisco have extended their multiyear global partnership and reaffirmed the world’s leading networking and security company as one of the club’s official technology partners.

‘realmadrid.com’ stated that this agreement will incorporate Cisco’s advanced technology at the Real Madrid home ground – the Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain – and significant enhancements to the Real Madrid City.

The Real Madrid CF is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid (Spain). The club competes in LaLiga, the top tier of Spanish football.

The Bernabéu Stadium is a retractable roof football stadium in Madrid, Spain. With a seating capacity of around 78,297 following its extensive renovation completed in late 2024 the stadium has the second-largest seating capacity for a football stadium in Spain. It has been the home stadium of the Real Madrid CF since its completion in 1947.

San Jose (US)-based Cisco is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way the organizations connect and protect in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. For more than 40 years Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry-leading AI-powered solutions and services Cisco enables its customers, its partners and the communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all.
 
‘realmadrid.com’ further stated that the partnership renewal took place at the Bernabéu Stadium and the alliance will focus on cutting-edge technology upgrades, including:

• The creation of a scalable, high-performance, AI-ready data center at the Real Madrid City which will boost the club’s energy efficiency measures and enable new AI workloads to be integrated alongside the traditional ones;
• Cisco Wi-Fi 7 around Real Madrid City, a next-generation wireless standard that offers faster speeds, lower latency and seamless connectivity for the fans and the employees; and
• The deployment of robust 100 Gbps network infrastructure connecting the Bernabéu Stadium to the Real Madrid City. Powered by Cisco’s Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) the network will provide simple and secure management, rapid deployment of new services and increased digital resilience across the club’s digital network.

Leading Innovation in Sport Technology

The Cisco solutions have served as the technology foundation of the Bernabéu Stadium for nearly two decades including a comprehensive renovation completed in 2024 that made it the standard-bearer for innovation and fan experience. The renovation involved the implementation of a comprehensive portfolio of Cisco solutions including a single, converged Software Defined Access (SDA) network, the first-of-its-kind in a European stadium. This ensures fast and secure operations by connecting all the assets of the Bernabéu Stadium. Additionally, Cisco’s cloud-based Internet Protocol (IP) Fabric for Media solution is being used to efficiently produce and distribute content to more than 2,500 screens throughout the venue in real-time and to the millions of fans following the action via broadcasts around the world.

Andreu Vilamitjana, head honcho, Cisco Spain and Portugal, said about the agreement, “The networks are at the heart of digitalization which is transforming all the sectors including sport and entertainment. Three years ago the New Bernabéu Stadium set a global benchmark in converged connectivity thanks to Cisco technology. Now, it will once again be a pioneer in delivering immersive, sustainable and cost-effective interactions.”

Added Agostino Santoni, Senior Vice-President, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) South, Cisco, “Technology has the power to transform the fan experience and the Real Madrid CF is marking a new milestone in innovation in sports, entertainment and culture. By leveraging Cisco’s expertise it is not only reinventing sport for the fans but also enriching the experience of hundreds of thousands of visitors to the stadium.”

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The founders of Hyrox, Alpha Fit Club, The Athletic Clubs and Strong New York argue that community — and some healthy competition — are vital to the long-term growth of the fitness industry 

As loneliness reaches record levels, particularly among younger demographics, fitness brands are delivering more than just workouts.

At the ATN Innovation Summit 2025, the panel “Creating Community Through Competition” brought together leaders in the boutique and competitive fitness space to unpack how community is reshaping fitness business models.

But first, it’s worth noting that “community” may be the most overused term in fitness today. As moderator Kenny Santucci, founder of Strong New York and The Strength Club, noted, the term’s real impact lies in how it’s operationalized.

“We’ve all seen people show up for each other in ways that go beyond the gym,” Santucci said. “But how do we build systems and environments where that happens consistently, and at scale?”

Hyrox has done just that. Douglas Gremmen, chief growth officer at Hyrox, noted that the Germany-founded fitness racing brand has seen explosive growth since launching in the U.S. just six years ago.

“In 2019, we had a few hundred people at our New York event,” Gremmen said. “Two weeks ago, we had 15,000 competitors and 40,000 on the waitlist. The sport of fitness is now speaking a universal language.”

At the Innovation Summit, panelists emphasized that accessibility is what will determine long-term impact.

“I think CrossFit missed the boat when it came to mass participation,” Gremmen said. “They nailed performance, but Hyrox built a lower barrier to entry. You don’t need to be a powerlifter or gymnast to line up at the start. You just need a reason to show up.”

For Sam Tooley, co-founder and CEO of Alpha Fit Club, a New Jersey-based boutique fitness chain, the way to cultivate community begins with in-studio experiences, but continues outside the four walls.

“The most exciting part is when a community bleeds outside,” he said. “Some of the best friendships we’ve seen in the gym become lifelong. Whether they stay members or not, they’re showing up for each other in ways we never could’ve engineered.”

Tooley shared how Alpha’s own in-house event, the Alpha Games, was designed as a member-first retention tool.

“We wanted to create something that made people feel they didn’t need to go anywhere else to find their challenge,” Tooley explained. “It’s a celebration of the work they’re already doing, not just a chance to compete.”

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“There’s no better way to build confidence than to give someone something really freaking hard to do, and let them go do it,” he added. “You do hard things together, and that’s what builds a real community.”

As Alpha Fit Club scales to 40 locations and Hyrox races sell out from Miami to Melbourne, the question turns to operational strategy.

“People are entrusting us with their time, their goals, their emotional and physical energy,” Tooley said. “We take that seriously. So we’ve invested in making sure the experience feels the same at every location, with systems that support that level of hospitality.”

As their studios have scaled, the panelists spoke about how leadership must evolve, too.

“I used to be the one opening the gym at 3:30 in the morning to coach a 5 a.m. class,” said Dane McCarthy, founder and CEO of The Athletic Clubs, an NYC-based social fitness brand with big expansion plans of its own. “I’ve done everything I’m asking my team to do, and now my job is to coach them. That’s how we grow.”

And while competitive fitness may seem intimidating, Santucci argued that it’s one of the most effective engagement (and community-building) tools the industry has.

“We’re starting to understand that gamification and group accountability are powerful. … You don’t have to go it alone,” he said. “That’s the real unlock.”

GolfLogix joins Foresight Sports, Bushnell Golf and PinSeeker in Revelyst’s Golf Technology platform, a leading portfolio of golf technology brands

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Revelyst, a collective of world-class maker brands that design and manufacture performance gear and precision technologies, today announced the acquisition of GolfLogix, a leading golf course mapping company featuring the most expansive, detailed library of more than 40,000 courses worldwide, from 8AM Golf. The acquisition closed on July 9. Terms were not disclosed.

Founded in 1999, GolfLogix was the first company to introduce handheld GPS to the golf industry and has continued to innovate including releasing the first Golf GPS app in 2009, a revolutionary Puttbreaks feature in 2018 and now, the first 3D virtual reality offering in a Golf GPS app.

The GolfLogix business will be integrated into Revelyst’s Golf Technology platform, which recently announced a rebranding. The addition of GolfLogix gives Revelyst’s San Diego-based platform another innovative brand in its growing portfolio, which includes Foresight Sports, Bushnell Golf and PinSeeker. This acquisition further expands the company’s product ecosystem, instantly increasing its software capabilities and on-course presence.

“We’re incredibly excited about this acquisition of GolfLogix,” said Eric Nyman, CEO of Revelyst. “This addition of a well-respected golf technology innovator strengthens our leadership in the golf tech space and opens the door to new categories where we see tremendous opportunity. By bringing GolfLogix onto Team Revelyst, we can accelerate our growth strategy and, more importantly, ensure that golfers of all levels have a one-stop shop for improving their game.”

Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., GolfLogix has been professionally mapping courses for nearly 25 years and owns the largest, most up-to-date golf course database in the world. Today, the company has a library of more than 40,000 golf courses mapped across the globe for use in the GolfLogix app, including its new, first of its kind 3D mapping features released in April 2025, its GreenBooks offering and through licensing. GolfLogix will maintain a presence in Scottsdale, which will become a digital studio for Revelyst Golf Technology in the future.

“This is a game-changing addition to our portfolio,” said Jeff Foster, GM and President of Revelyst Golf Technology. “It not only boosts our market presence but also gives us the tools to innovate in areas we’ve been eager to explore. We’re confident this will bring significant value to our customers and app users and fuel our next phase of growth.”

GolfLogix’s cofounders Scott Lambrecht and Pete Charleston said teaming up with Revelyst made the most sense as they look to begin the next chapter of their company. The new home will enable GolfLogix to double down on tech investment and reach scores of golf fans seeking to enhance their golf game through the world’s most innovative on- and off-course technology. Lambrecht and Charleston will remain with Revelyst post-acquisition.

“Joining forces with a leading golf tech company is an incredible opportunity for our team and our brand,” said Lambrecht, GolfLogix CEO. “We’re thrilled to bring our expertise into a larger ecosystem where we can reach more golfers and push innovation even further.”

Added Charleston, GolfLogix president: “This partnership allows us to scale in ways we couldn’t on our own. We’re excited to be part of a company that shares our passion for the game and is committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions for golfers everywhere.”

Reed Smith LLP served as legal adviser to Revelyst in connection with the transaction.

About GolfLogix

As the most frequently used app for golf, over 7 million golfers have downloaded GolfLogix on the world’s top-selling smartphones. GolfLogix has also created enhanced Green Books for over 15,000 courses worldwide. Dedicated to offering consumers the most advanced green mapping and GPS solutions with the most useful features at accessible prices, GolfLogix helps improve individual performance.

About Revelyst

Revelyst Inc. is a collective of world-class maker brands that design and manufacture performance gear and precision technologies. Our category-defining brands leverage meticulous craftsmanship and cross-collaboration to pursue new innovations that redefine what is humanly possible in the outdoors. Portfolio brands include Foresight Sports, Bushnell Golf, Fox, Bell, Giro, CamelBak, Bushnell, Simms Fishing and more. For more information, visit our website at www.revelyst.com.

When Whoop introduced its new hardware and membership tiers back in May, one of the devices was called the MG, with the abbreviation standing for “Medical Grade.” Among the big features ostensibly making it worth the upgrade was something called Blood Pressure Insights. But now the FDA has sent Whoop a warning letter saying that Whoop is marketing an unapproved medical device.

Whoop is a screenless fitness tracker with an extensive array of features that track a user’s fitness, sleep, and other metrics related to wellness. (You can read about my experiences tracking my health with Whoop here.)

In a message to members posted today on the r/Whoop subreddit, Whoop stated that, despite the FDA letter, the Blood Pressure Insights feature “remains available” to members on the Life tier. This is the highest tier of membership and the only one that was marketed as including Blood Pressure Insights. Whoop also stated that any regulatory issues with the FDA don’t affect devices sold outside the U.S.

If you have a Whoop 4.0 or 5.0, this doesn’t apply to you either; the issue is solely about the blood pressure feature offered in the top-tier Life membership ($359/year) with the MG (“medical grade”) device. 

Why the FDA intervened (and how Whoop responded)

According to the FDA’s letter, measuring and reporting users’ blood pressure classifies the Blood Pressure Insights feature as a medical device. Medical devices that can measure blood pressure need to be approved by the FDA before they go to market. 

Note that the FDA’s letter is directed at the Blood Pressure Insights feature, not the Whoop MG hardware itself. Whoop argued (to the FDA, according to the letter) that the blood pressure feature falls under the definition of software that is intended for “maintaining or encouraging a healthy lifestyle,” and thus is exempt from the rules for medical devices. 

The FDA counters that the measurement of blood pressure is “inherently associated with the diagnosis of hypo- and hypertension, and is therefore intended for use in the diagnosis of a disease or other condition, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.” The FDA notes that they have approved other blood pressure monitors that didn’t make direct claims about disease, and they consider Whoop’s blood pressure readings to be no different.

Whoop sees it differently, saying to members: “Wellness features like this are common in wearable technology without requiring FDA review, like tracking your respiratory rate or HRV, and provide valuable insights to support you in making better decisions. Blood pressure is no different.”

You can read the FDA’s entire warning letter here. It asks Whoop to reply with an explanation of how they will follow the rules going forward. You can also read Whoop’s notice to members here, where they explain why they believe they are not violating the law, and state that the Blood Pressure Insights feature remains available. 

What this could mean for Whoop

To be fair, Whoop was perhaps sticking its neck out a bit by offering an MG (“medical grade”) edition of its wristband. The standard model, without the blood pressure feature, is the Whoop 5.0, which provides the company’s established fitness and wellness metrics for either $199/year (the “One” membership) or $239/year (the “Peak” membership). But the Whoop MG is an upgraded version that goes with the “Life” membership for $359/year. 

What does that significant price hike buy you? Three features, according to Whoop’s pricing page, and two of those are “medically regulated,” in Whoop’s words: ECG readings and irregular heart rhythm notifications. Both of these can tell you if there are problems with the rhythm of your heartbeat. According to Whoop’s country-by-country availability page, ECG readings are available in 39 countries, including the U.S. This feature requires you to put your fingers on the device’s metal clasp and leave them there while it takes a reading.

Irregular heart rhythm notifications, meanwhile, are available in 36 countries, but the U.S. is not one of them.

Blood pressure is the third feature (or, if you’re in the U.S., the second) that the Life membership buys you. Which means that if Whoop ends up having to pull it, you’re essentially paying an extra $120 each year for the ability to take ECG readings—a pretty standard feature on smartwatches these days. Heck, you can buy an entire Apple Watch SE for $169, and it has an ECG app. (It also will last more than a year.) So if the company has to stop offering Blood Pressure Insights, the expensive subscription doesn’t make much sense. 

“Since this is one of the selling points of Life I’m hoping there’s going to be compensation if this feature will be removed, we paid for it,” said one Redditor in a reply to Whoop’s statement. So far, the feature is still available—presumably while Whoop continues to argue its side to the FDA.