I think the ecosystem being referred to isn't the device ecosystem but the "social network" sharing ecosystem

Oh, you're right. I see that now. Having said that Apple isn't really big on cross-platform features either. I don't see a Facetime Android client, for example, and have no expectation they'd make Apple Fitness+ work on anything but their own devices; after all the byline is "Apple Fitness+ ... powered by Apple Watch." And since the watch requires their phone that's a big investment if you just want to exercise with friends.

> Having said that Apple isn't really big on cross-platform features either.

While I generally agree with you, Apple is putting apple tv+ on roku - it's not a stretch to suggest they would use a similar strategy for fitness+:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/13/22381067/apple-tv-plus-ro...

These sorts of things are probably going to appeal to people who just want a bit of a sweat.

Everyone else is going to the gym because they don’t want to look at another screen, or they want to hang out with other people, or they realise you can’t learn to snatch from YouTube. Etc.

Traditional gyms and activity aren’t going anywhere.

FaceTime was supposed to be open source or an open protocol (I think the latter) once upon a time a decade ago.

My understanding of the story is Steve Jobs just decided to say that when he announced it without checking with the lawyers, and it probably ran into patent problems.

Ah okay. I know he announced it without checking first. It would have been nice for Apple to clarify why it could not happen. Hard to give the corporation that just gutted advertising for other companies while now pumping their own ad network up, any benefit of the doubt that isn’t a cynical view.

Fitness+ already integrates with third party devices via GymKit however.

How long until device and social media networks are linked?

Oculus and Facebook is an indication of something like that; can't use your Oculus without your Facebook account.

They already are aren't they? Most social networks launch on iOS only at the beginning.