Test Run: Can Apple’s Workout Buddy Help You Hit Your New Year’s Fitness Goals?

Need a little encouragement when you exercise? Apple’s Workout Buddy, available for iPhone and Apple Watch, aims to help you get fit and can provide verbal coaching to carry you through a series of workouts, including walking, running, cycling, hiking, and more.

For each workout, you’ll receive encouragement from a virtual buddy speaking in a voice of your choosing. You can set up specific music to automatically rev up as you start to work out, and specify the number of calories…