People who purchased workouts on the Xbox Fitness service are now getting credits for those videos on their Microsoft Accounts. This move comes a couple of months after Microsoft announced its plans to shut down Xbox Fitness.

Microsoft made no mention of refunding customers for their Xbox Fitness workout purchases when it revealed its plans in late June to shut down the service for owners of the Xbox One console. However, we have now received tips that people have been given credits for those purchases, so it looks like Microsoft is trying to offer them an olive branch.

In addition, the Xbox Fitness retirement FAQ page on Microsoft's Xbox support site now includes this new reference to the refund credits:

Those credits are expected to be added to Xbox Fitness customers within 90 days and will expire within a year after they are put in place. Microsoft is still allowing Xbox Live Gold members access to all of the free workouts in Xbox Fitness until December 15, 2016. People who purchased any of the paid workouts can continue to use them until July 1, 2017

Thanks to Christopher and Sergio for the tips!

The fitness company MOSSA has revealed its plans to offer standalone versions of its series of video workouts that are on Xbox Fitness before the Xbox One service itself completely shuts down in July 2017.

Microsoft announced in late June that it has shut down purchases of paid Xbox Fitness workouts, but users who have already paid for those videos could continue to use them until the full shutdown in July 2017. In a YouTube message (via WinBeta). MOSSA's MOSSA Vice-President Cathy Spencer-Browning stated that the company's goal is to provide its workouts in some way long before July 1, 2017.

It looks like the plan is to offer those workouts either via DVD discs or streaming media, according to an email on Reddit that was sent by MOSSA. More information on those plans will be revealed in the future.

Xbox Fitness on the Xbox One will now let you use the app without the need for a Kinect sensor thanks to its latest update. While a Kinect sensor is still needed to take advantage of features such as muscle mapping, pulse, and form feedback, anyone can now going in with the workout programs in Xbox Fitness without the dedicated sensor.

Additionally, the latest update will finally allow users to download their purchased workouts, eliminating the need to deal with spotty internet connections when all you want to do is squeeze in some workout time. To download any workout you own, you can head to the program's details page and click over to the "Content Options" menu. From there, just click "Download" and you're good to go.

You can check out the latest improvements by firing up your Xbox One console and downloading the latest update. And be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!

Source: Microsoft

The Xbox One has offered owners a way to get in shape with its Xbox Fitness feature, which has been available since the console launched two years ago. This week they added a new program that is designed for fans of yoga. The YO:30 system is now live for $29.99 in the Xbox Store.

Here's a quick description of YO:30:

Do you use Xbox Fitness to keep in shape at home? Let us know in the comments!

Buy YO:30 for Xbox Fitness / $29.99

Even if you own an Xbox One, you may not be aware that it comes with access to Xbox Fitness. Microsoft hyped up this feature of its new console when it launched in 2013, but since then the company has mostly put it on the back burner. This week, Xbox Fitness added its first new workout program in quite a while, and it's called Extreme Combat.

The workouts are lead by well-known fitness trainer Mike Karpenko. Here's a quick description:

Keep in mind that Xbox Fitness does require a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription and, more importantly, the Kinect Xbox One sensor. The price of the Extreme Combat workout is $29.99, but the first of the five workouts is available for free.

Check out Extreme Combat for Xbox Fitness ($29.99)

Xbox Fitness has received an update on the Xbox One, introducing support for Microsoft Health, enabling users to have their exercise routines synchronized with the service. The Microsoft Band is also affected by this update, connecting through the company's health and fitness platform.

If you've yet to check out Microsoft's Xbox Fitness, we'd strongly urge you to do so, especially with this latest release installed. The added Health integration is a real neat addition to the experience and one we're sure many users will take advantage of. Now, get ripped with INSANITY.

Download Xbox Fitness for the Xbox One (free for Xbox Gold members)

Thanks, Paul O., for the heads up

INSANITY is now here for Xbox Fitness on Xbox One. Beachbody is one of the biggest names in home-excercise DVDs having made programs like P90X and Insanity from Shaun T. Now you have this insane workout on your Xbox One.

Here's the description of the INSANITY for Xbox Fitness:

Xbox Fitness is probably one of the coolest but underrated aspects of the Xbox One. It's also a great case for buying an Xbox One with Kinect. We've seen great workout programs from the likes of Seahawks QB Russel Wilson. This new Insanity program for Xbox Fitness is like the P90X version we saw earlier this year. Both cost $59.99 and bring killer workouts to your living room.

The rest of Xbox Fitness is still free for Xbox Live Gold members (and will remain so into 2015). Programs like this new Insanity workout go above and beyond with detailed and intense workouts.

Anyone thinking of getting Xbox fit?

• Download INSANITY for Xbox Fitness ($59.99)

Via: @TheRomit

Microsoft has confirmed to Windows Central that the Xbox Fitness service included as part of the Xbox One console will continue to offer access to free content for Xbox Live Gold members past the end of December 2014.

When Microsoft first announced Xbox Fitness in September 2013, the company said that paid Xbox Live Gold members would receive free access to the service, and many of its programs, until the end of December 2014. Indeed, the official Xbox Fitness FAQ still says, "An Xbox Fitness Pass gives you unlimited access to the world's best workouts for free with your Xbox Live Gold membership through December 2014, only on Xbox One."

However, we decided to contact Microsoft to see if those plans have changed, and indeed they have. Here's what the company told us via an official spokesperson:

So if you own an Xbox One with a Kinect add-on sensor and have an Xbox Live Gold subscription, it looks like there will be at least some content you can download and use for free after the end of 2014.

We like fitness around here at Windows Phone Central and Mobile Nations. We like it so much, we dedicate the entire month of February to learning and exploring the ways technology can help improve your overall health. Throughout the year we’ll do our part to promote cool fitness apps whenever they come (like Active Fitness and Adidas miCoach). When the Xbox One launches in a two months it will be another way to use technology to stay healthy with the launch of Xbox Fitness.

Xbox Fitness is looking to take the most popular fitness videos and turn them interactive. You’re going to get an extensive library from fitness brands like P90X (Tony Horton), INSANITY (Shaun T), Jillian Michaels, Tracy Anderson, and more. How are they going to make fitness interactive? By using the new Kinect 2.0 they’ll be able to evaluate your form, measure your heart rate, check the force and transfer of weight in your body and much more. Video of it in action below.

By providing instant feedback, Xbox Fitness can eliminate the need for trainers for the majority of people out there. Best part of Xbox Fitness? It will be free for Xbox Live Gold members for through December 2014. After that fitness programs might be à la carte purchases. 

What do you guys think of Xbox Fitness? Gimmick or cool use of the new tech inside Kinect 2? Looks like bundling a Kinect with every Xbox One might pay off as a way to further adoption of Kinect applications.  

Speaking of fitness. Daniel will be getting the heart rate monitor for the Adidas miCoach app and test it out over the weekend. It uses BT 4.0 LE to connect to your Windows Phone device.

Looks like Xbox One owners will be in better shape than those with PS4s. Oh no he didn’t.

Source: Xbox Wire