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Tag: Apple Watch

  • Apple May Switch to In-House Displays for Its Devices

    Apple May Switch to In-House Displays for Its Devices

    Apple appears to be expanding its goal of bringing device components in-house, with reports it plans to use its own displays in devices.

    According to Bloomberg, Apple is looking to reduce its reliance on Samsung and LG for its device displays. The company is eyeing the Apple Watch as the first candidate for a change to its own displays, possibly as early as 2024. Eventually, Apple could use its own displays in other devices as well, including the iPhone.

    If the report is correct, the move is simply the latest in an effort by Apple to bring more of its component design in-house. The company famously ditched Intel in favor of its own custom silicon and is now working to replace both Broadcom and Qualcomm for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular connectivity.

    Apple has always been a fan of ‘controlling the whole widget,’ as Steve Jobs described it. Controlling the entire stack, both software and hardware, gives Apple a major advantage over competitors and is largely responsible for the industry-leading performance its phones, tablets, and computers now offer.

  • Apple Watch Version of Microsoft Authenticator Discontinued

    Apple Watch Version of Microsoft Authenticator Discontinued

    Microsoft is pulling the plug on Microsoft Authenticator for Apple Watch, sunsetting the app in January 2023.

    Microsoft Authenticator is the company’s app for handling two-factor authentication. While the company first released an Apple Watch version in 2018, Microsoft announced in a support page that the app has reach end-of-life:

    In the upcoming Authenticator release in January 2023 for iOS, there will be no companion app for watchOS due to it being incompatible with Authenticator security features. This means you won’t be able to install or use Authenticator on Apple Watch. We therefore recommend that you delete Authenticator from your Apple Watch. This change only impacts Apple Watch, so you will still be able to use Authenticator on your other devices.

  • Apple Testing MacBook and Apple Watch Production in Vietnam

    Apple Testing MacBook and Apple Watch Production in Vietnam

    Apple is looking to expand its manufacturing presence in Vietnam, testing MacBook and Apple Watch production.

    Apple has been working to diversify its manufacturing process and reduce its dependence on China. The pandemic’s lockdowns highlighted the inherent risks of Apple having its entire manufacturing process in a single country.

    According to Nikkei Asia, the company is looking to expand its manufacturing footprint in Vietnam, including the manufacture of its most complex device, the Apple Watch. Despite the complexity of the iPhone and iPad, the Apple Watch presents even greater challenges due to its smaller size.

    According to the report, Apple’s efforts include doing production test runs with both Luxshare Precision Industry and Foxconn. The transition is presenting some challenges, however, especially with the MacBook. China has been a hub of computer manufacturing for so long that virtually all of Apple’s MacBook supply chain is located in that country, and the supply chain is already optimized and cost-effective. As a result, moving production to Vietnam is taking longer than might be expected.

    Nonetheless, Apple’s focus on Vietnam is a big win for a country looking to establish itself as a center of tech manufacturing.

    “AirPods, Apple Watch, HomePod and more … Apple has big plans in Vietnam, apart from iPhone manufacturing,” one of the people with direct knowledge of the situation told Nikkei. “The components for MacBooks have become more modularized than in the past, which makes it easier to produce the laptops outside of China. But how to make it cost-competitive is another challenge.”

  • Smartwatches Can Serve As Early Coronavirus Detection

    Smartwatches Can Serve As Early Coronavirus Detection

    Smartwatches can do much more than count steps, with research showing they can detect coronavirus infections days before diagnosis.

    One of the keys to combatting coronavirus is early detection and diagnosis. The faster someone is diagnosed, the faster they can be quarantined and the less likely they are to spread the virus to others. Adequate testing has long been a major problem, making it difficult to get the pandemic under control. Adding to the challenge is COVID-19’s long incubation period, as well as the fact that patients can transmit the disease before they are visibly symptomatic.

    According to CBS News, researchers at Mount Sinai Health System in New York and Stanford University in California have shown that wearable devices — such as the Apple Watch, Fitbit and Garmin — can detect coronavirus before symptoms appear and even before tests can detect it.

    The key is in detecting minute changes in a wearer’s heart rate, skin temperature and other physiological markers. In particular, heart rate variability is a key factor. Heart rate variability measures the time between heartbeats, and is impacted by the state of a person’s immune system.

    “We already knew that heart rate variability markers change as inflammation develops in the body, and Covid is an incredibly inflammatory event,” Rob Hirten, assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai told CBS MoneyWatch. “It allows us to predict that people are infected before they know it.”

    The findings could be another important step in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and will likely lead to a jump in wearables demand.

  • John Hancock Offers $25 Apple Watches to Regular Exercisers

    John Hancock Offers $25 Apple Watches to Regular Exercisers

    John Hancock is offering customers who commit to regular exercise an Apple Watch Series 6 or an Apple Watch SE for as little as $25.

    John Hancock, life insurance company, has offered Apple Watches since 2017 as part of its John Hancock Vitality Program. The program provides steep discounts on the wearables in exchange for customers exercising. The company now includes Apple’s latest models in the program, offering both the Series 6 and the Apple Watch SE.

    “While John Hancock Vitality offers something for everyone, it can be especially impactful and beneficial for people in higher-risk health categories or those who are concerned about their personal health — something that is top of mind for many right now,” said Brooks Tingle, president and CEO of John Hancock Insurance. “Consumers are more mindful of their mortality and we’ve seen an increase in the demand for life insurance. In addition, people are more aware of their baseline health. That’s why we believe we have the right solutions for this time in history — life insurance that provides essential protection in the event of death, combined with the latest in personal health technology, including Apple Watch, to help our customers live longer, healthier lives.”

    The program requires customers to pay $25 plus tax, with the remaining balance divided into monthly payments over a two-year period. Customers who exercise regularly will see those payments reduced to as little as $0.

  • Humane Scores Another Apple Executive

    Humane Scores Another Apple Executive

    Humane has announced that Patrick Gates, former Apple Internet Services executive, has joined the startup as Chief Technology Officer.

    According to the announcement, “Patrick led the development of iconic Apple services like iCloud, iMessage and FaceTime. During his 13 years at Apple, he oversaw technical design, built critical infrastructure, and led the teams for numerous industry-defining features across all platforms.

    “A Silicon Valley veteran, Patrick did research at Sun Microsystems and built developer frameworks at NeXT before his time at Apple. He is passionate about building and scaling teams and technologies with an unrelenting focus on customer privacy and security.”

    Gates joins a startup founded by two other former Apple employees, Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno. Chaudhri is a designer who “spent over 20 years at Apple imagining and creating some of the world’s most beloved consumer products, like the Macintosh, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch and iPhone.” Bongiorno was a Director of Software Engineering and “responsible for all software project management for iOS and macOS and also played a key leadership role in the execution of critical projects such as the launch of the original iPad.”

    While Humane is still in stealth mode, the addition of Gates as CTO is a big win for the startup. Together, the three former Apple employees give the young company a significant creative pedigree.

  • Apple Watch Outsells Entire Swiss Watch Industry

    Apple Watch Outsells Entire Swiss Watch Industry

    It may only represent a small percentage of Apple’s revenue, but the Apple Watch has already beat the entire Swiss watch industry by a large margin, according to Strategy Analytics.

    According to the press release, Steven Waltzer, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, “We estimate Apple Watch shipped 30.7 million units worldwide in 2019, growing a healthy 36 percent from 22.5 million in 2018. A blend of attractive design, user-friendly tech and sticky apps makes the Apple Watch wildly popular in North America, Western Europe and Asia.”

    In contrast, the entire Swiss watch industry only shipped 21.1 million units in 2019, a 13% decline from 2018. Strategy Analytics chalked this up to Apple delivering a better product.

    “Traditional Swiss watch makers, like Swatch and Tissot, are losing the smartwatch wars,” Waltzer added. “Apple Watch is delivering a better product through deeper retail channels and appealing to younger consumers who increasingly want digital wristwear. The window for Swiss watch brands to make an impact in smartwatches is closing. Time may be running out for Swatch, Tissot, TAG Heuer, and others.”

    In view of this report, it’s little wonder Jefferies analyst Kyle McNealy is predicting 2020 will be a “breakout year” for Apple wearables.

  • 2020 Could Be ‘Breakout Year’ For Apple Wearables

    2020 Could Be ‘Breakout Year’ For Apple Wearables

    According to TheStreet.com, Jefferies analyst Kyle McNealy believes 2020 may be a “breakout year” for Apple wearables.

    Apple’s Wearables unit has been growing increasingly important for the company, as AirPods, AirPods Pro and the Apple Watch have become must-have devices for many people, especially during the holiday season. What’s more, these devices receive almost universally high praise from critics, increasing their appeal even more.

    Revenue from Wearables hit $10 billion in the latest quarterly earnings, and McNealy sees the category contributing 3% to 4% of total company growth in 2020 and 2021.

    According to TheStreet, McNealy said in a research note: “We see fiscal 2020 as a breakout year for Apple’s Wearables business. Multiple 2019 product launches, potential average selling price expansion from AirPods Pro, and strong customer interest across product lines support our view that 2020 will be a meaningful inflection point for the business.”

    This is good news for Apple, as the company looks to build its non-iPhone revenue streams.

  • Apple Introduces ‘Apple Watch Connected’ Gym Partnership

    Apple Introduces ‘Apple Watch Connected’ Gym Partnership

    CNBC is reporting that Apple has unveiled a new gym initiative called “Apple Watch Connected.”

    At the time of launch, four gyms have joined the program, including Basecamp Fitness, Orange Theory, YMCA and Crunch Fitness, although that number will likely grow quickly since its free for gyms to participate. Participating gyms must offer four tiers to qualify:

    • The gym has to provide iOS and Apple Watch apps for members to login at the gym, see classes and track their fitness.
    • The gym has to provide a way for Apple Watch owners to earn some kind of credit or reward, such as a way to earn money off of their bill if they work out a certain amount.
    • The gym must accept Apple Pay.
    • With few exceptions, gyms must support GymKit on cardio machines. This allows the machines to provide a wealth of information to Apple Watch, more than it might be able to get on its own, about the type and intensity of a workout.

    As CNBC points out, there’s a big benefit to gyms, as Apple Watch integration will likely lead to lower membership turnover.

  • Google to Acquire Fitbit: Promises to Protect User Privacy

    Google to Acquire Fitbit: Promises to Protect User Privacy

    Google has announced a definitive deal to acquire Fitbit, a leading maker of wearable devices.

    The deal, valued at $2.1 billion, will help Google compete more aggressively with Apple in the battle over the wearable space. Wearables have increasingly become an important market for tech companies, with Apple’s record-breaking Q4 due, in no small part, to the Apple Watch. While Google has been competing in the space via their Wear OS platform, being in control of the hardware and software will give them greater freedom and flexibility.

    “Over the years, Google has made progress with partners in this space with Wear OS and Google Fit, but we see an opportunity to invest even more in Wear OS as well as introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market,” wrote Rick Osterloh Senior Vice President, Devices & Services, in the announcement. “Fitbit has been a true pioneer in the industry and has created engaging products, experiences and a vibrant community of users. By working closely with Fitbit’s team of experts, and bringing together the best AI, software and hardware, we can help spur innovation in wearables and build products to benefit even more people around the world.”

    At the same time, Google is trying to reassure Fitbit owners that their privacy and data will be respected. Google says they will be transparent about what data is collected and how it is used, and will never sell it to third-parties. They have also committed to not using Fitbit data for Google ads. This should be reassuring for customers concerned about their data being in the hands of a company that specializes in monetizing consumer data.

    If Google is as successful with Fitbit as they have been with their line of Pixel smartphones, the battle over the wearable space promises exciting developments moving forward.

  • Blue Shield of California to Integrate Apple Watches in Doctor Visits

    Blue Shield of California to Integrate Apple Watches in Doctor Visits

    According to a report by Health Data Management, Blue Shield of California (BSC) is planning on using the Apple Watch to improve doctor’s visits.

    “BSC, together with its health services partner Altais, have partnered with Notable Health, a company that provides technology to captures office visits through the use of artificial intelligence.

    “The data is captured, then the tool adds lab results, prescriptions and referrals, and prepares everything for sign-off for addition to the EHR. In short, the doctor wears the watch, speaks naturally during the office visit, and the technology does the rest.”

    BCS and Altais hope to roll out the technology to BSC’s network of doctors first, then expand as it proves successful. The Paradise (Calif.) Medical Group will be the first to receive the new tech and is slated to start using it soon.

    Notable’s platform uses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and natural language processing to pair down the audio it hears to the most relevant data necessary for EHR records. Even after the visit, the AI continues to organize the information to expedite claims.

    As Jeff Bailet, MD, president and CEO of Altais said: “Our goal is to help physicians seamlessly leverage technology to improve the health and well-being of their patients—all while reducing administrative hassles and enhancing their professional gratification. Notable Health will help us get there with its digital assistant technology that automates manual tasks across any electronic health record.”

    With a 2016 study showing that physicians only spend a total of 27 percent of their day interacting with patients, as opposed to 49.2 percent spent on EHR and desk work, this initiative could prove to be a boon to doctors everywhere.

  • Apple Watch Gets Pokémon Go

    Apple Watch Gets Pokémon Go

    “Oh boy, here we go,” said John Hanke, CEO of Niantic Labs when speaking at Apple’s iPhone 7 event today. “Pokémon Go is coming to the Apple Watch.”

    Hinke stated that Pokémon Go has had more than 500 million downloads and that trainers have walked more than 4.6 billion kilometers. Although possibly the most successful digital game in history, it has also generated controversy from trespassing and nuisance lawsuits to deaths caused by the games mobile distractions.

    The Apple Watch version of Pokémon Go includes features that make the game playable without having to always be glaring at your phone, mitigating some of the more dangerous pitfalls. The basic game is the same but is designed to be a more walking experience, where users can view distances walked, calories burned and be alerted when a Pokémon is within reach.

    Picture 8

    The app will be available before the holidays.

  • Square Cash For Apple Watch Lets You Pay From Your Wrist

    Square Cash For Apple Watch Lets You Pay From Your Wrist

    Square just announced Square Cash for Apple Watch, which will enable owners of the device to easily send money money to their friends right from their wrist.

    “The latest Square Cash release provides an even easier way to send money to friends, family or anyone nearby, freeing customers from fishing around in a pocket or purse, or unlocking their phone to send money,” a spokesperson for Square tells WebProNews. “We’re really excited about this news – providing people with more ways to make a payment no matter what device they use.”

    Here’s what Square Cash looks like on the watch:

    Screen Shot 2015-08-18 at 9.31.48 AM

    “The Square Cash app for Apple Watch conveniently complements the mobile app for iPhone,” the company says. “Square Cash for Apple Watch streamlines payments by enabling customers to easily send money using virtual stacks of cash in the form of $1, $10, $20, $50, or $100 bills with just a few simple taps on their Apple Watch. The app also provides actionable notifications, allowing the ability to approve and reject payment requests directly through the watch. Like the Square Cash app, Square Cash for Apple Watch also provides the option to send money to anyone nearby using Bluetooth LE technology, making payments quick and convenient to send. Square Cash also added the ability for anyone to sign up for Square Cash on the web, without needing to download the app.”

    The Square Cash app for is available in the Apple App Store, and can be used with Apple Watch starting today. Make sure to grab the latest update.

    Earlier this year, Square launched business-friendly “$Cashtags” for businesses in the U.S. to take advantage of Square Cash. Increased device support should only help businesses accept payments in more ways.

    Images via iTunes

  • The iWatch Doesn’t Exist, But Apple’s Getting Sued Over It

    Apple is getting sued over its iWatch.

    You may have not noticed anything wrong with that sentence, and to be honest it’s hard to fault you if you didn’t. Apple’s smartwatch is actually called the Apple Watch, but hey – it should’ve been the iWatch, right?

    Anyway, the iWatch doesn’t exist. But Apple is still facing legal action over it.

    Probendi, an Irish software firm has filed legal documents against Apple claiming its use of the term iWatch in Google ads is a violation of trademark.

    “Apple has systematically used iWatch wording on Google search engine in order to direct customers to its own website, advertising Apple Watch,” says Probendi.

    In other words, Probendi is miffed that Google searches for “iWatch’ return results for the Apple Watch. Of course, companies buying ads that direct customers to their products when related queries are entered is nothing new.

    Here’s what Probendi has to say on its website:

    The recent public announcement of “Apple Watch”, the new wrist wearable device/smart watch by Apple Inc., has been preceded and followed by persistent rumors identifying said product with the name “iWatch”.

     

    Probendi Limited hereby informs to be the exclusive holder of the Community trademark “iWatch” No. EU007125347, registered for computers and software effective as of August 3, 2008.

     

    Consequently, Probendi Limited is the sole entity lawfully entitled to use the name “iWatch” for products such as “Apple Watch” within the European Union, and will promptly take all appropriate legal actions to oppose any unauthorized use of “iWatch” by whomever for that kind of products.

    According to Bloomberg, Probendi is currently working on a product called the iWatch, but it doesn’t exist yet. The company has held the iWatch trademark since 2008, and according to an audit commissioned by Probendi that trademark is worth nearly $100 million.

  • Apple Watch 2 Rumors Point to FaceTime Camera

    After enjoying online ordering-only status since its launch, the Apple Watch finally arrived in stores this week. Apple just released its first wearable device a couple of months ago, but the rumors are already flying about the next version of the device.

    9to5Mac quotes the ubiquitous sources familiar with the matter, who claim that Apple is already spinning up ideas for the Apple Watch 2 (sure to be called something other than the Apple Watch 2).

    The most interesting new feature said to be planned for the next Apple Watch is a FaceTime camera. The current model allows users to answer FaceTime audio calls and redirect video calls to another device – but having a camera “integrated into the top bezel” would allow users to make face-to-face video calls from their wrists.

    Surely, this sort of functionality is what people had in mind when they first heard about Apple Watch.

    Also, according to 9to5 Mac‘s sources, Apple wants to release the Watch from the chains of the iPhone. Kind of.

    In order to make the next-generation Apple Watch more capable without a connected iPhone, Apple intends to integrate a new and more dynamic wireless chipset into the wearable. Although the Apple Watch 2 will likely continue to require an iPhone for heavy data transfers, including software upgrades and the synchronization of media files, basic communication tasks could be handled without iPhone assistance.

    We’re talking texting, emailing, and using some apps. This would go a long way to assuage critics who lamented that they still need their phones to have a functional Apple Watch.

    Apple hasn’t released any official sales figures for the Watch, but the latest independent estimate pegs sales at 2.79 million.

  • Apple Watch Gets Software Update, More Developer Tools

    Apple Watch Gets Software Update, More Developer Tools

    Apple previewed the new watchOS 2 update to its Apple Watch software today at WWDC. It gives developers the ability to build faster and more powerful apps natively on Apple Watch, and lets them take advantage of hardware features like the Digital Crown, Taptic Engine, heart rate sensor, accelerometer and microphone.

    New APIs let them enable audio and video playback and animation. Additionally, the ClockKit framework lets them represent their data as complications on the watch face.

    “These new tools allow developers to make apps more robust,” the company says. “For example, Strava can more accurately track your heart rate while on a ride or run using data from the heart rate sensor and accelerometer; Insteon can give customers more precise controls to dim their lights or control the temperature with the Digital Crown; Volkswagen owners can get haptic feedback when their car door has been locked; WeChat includes audio messaging using the microphone; and Vine can host and play video right in the app.”

    It includes new watch faces, anew new communication features for Mail, Friends, and Digital Touch.

    “We are thrilled with the feedback we’re getting from Apple Watch customers, and after just a few weeks of availability we’re excited for developers to start building native apps for watchOS 2,” said Kevin Lynch, Apple’s vice president of Technology. “We think Apple Watch users will love being able to see information from their favorite apps right on the watch face, and enjoy the many new experiences developers will dream up now that they have access to even more innovative features of Apple Watch.”

    Users can turn photos into a new watch face or view pictures from a photos app with every raise of the wrist. There’s a new time lapse watch face and a “time travel” feature that lets users scroll to see events in the future and past using the crown. This works for temperatures and info from third party apps like flight info.

    There’s a new nightstand mode that lets you use Apple Watch as an alarm clock with the crown and side button serving as snooze and off buttons.

    Merchant rewards and store-issud credit and debit cards for Apple Pay can be adde to Wallet, and there’s new support for Transit in Maps. There are also new workout capabilities from third-party apps and new Siri integration for workouts and launching Glances and reply to email.

    Finally there’s a new Activation Lock.

    The OS will be available to users in the fall as a free update.

    Image via Apple

  • Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac Font Is Likely Going to Change

    Are all the Apple users ready for a font change? Everyone loves a font change!

    Love it or not, a new look might be coming to your iOS and Mac OS devices.

    9to5Mac‘s Mark Gurman quotes the ubiquitous sources with knowledge of the situation, who say that when Apple unveils its new operating systems iOS 9 and OS X 10.11, you can say goodbye to Helvetica Neue.

    An you can say hello to San Francisco – the Apple-designed font that it currently uses on the Apple Watch (and the new MacBook keyboard).

    Apple has had Helvetica Neue on iPhones since the iOS 7 redesign, and on OS X since Yosemite last year. Not everyone thinks Helvetica Neue is the best choice.

    Apple says it has designed San Francisco “specifically for legibility”

    “The system font was designed specifically for legibility on Apple Watch. At large sizes, the font’s slightly condensed letters are set tight to take up less horizontal space. But at small sizes, they are spaced more loosely and have bigger apertures in glyphs like a and e to make these easier to read at a glance. Punctuation is also proportionally larger when the font gets smaller,” says Apple.

    Furthermore, “above all, text must be legible. If users can’t read the words in your app, it doesn’t matter how beautiful the typography is.”

    Anyway, we’ll likely see this shift at Apple’s WWDC on June 8, when Apple is set to unveil its new operating systems.

    Images via Apple

  • Fitbit Files $100 Million IPO

    Fitbit Files $100 Million IPO

    Fitness tracking wearables company Fitbit has decided to go public

    According to Fortune, Fitbit will trade on the NYSE under the symbol FIT. The company says it plans to raise $100 million, but that number is likely to change.

    Fitbit’s regulatory filing revealed some interesting things about the company – including some impressive numbers in terms of revenues and profit.

    According to the filing, Fitbit hauled in over $745 million in revenues in 2014, up from $271 million the previous year. The company was profitable for the first time in 2014, generated nearly $132 million in net income. The previous year, that figure was a loss ($51.6 million).

    Fitbit also revealed just how many devices it has sold.

    In 2011, the company sold 200,000 devices. By 2012, that number was 1.3 million. Last year, Fitbit sold 10.9 million devices.

    “Our primary goal is to help our users improve their health and fitness. We believe our platform assists users in changing their daily behavior, such as eating healthier foods or going for a run or walking more to reach a goal or win a challenge. We empower our users to set their own health and fitness goals and track their progress towards these goals. We also offer premium services on a subscription basis that provide personalized insights and virtual coaching through customized fitness plans and interactive video-based exercise experiences on mobile devices and computers. Our premium services feature in-depth data analysis and personalized reports, as well as benchmarking against peers,” said Fitbit.

    And yes, if you were wondering, Fitbit’s filing takes a sideswipe at the Apple Watch.

    “By offering a broad range of products spanning styles and affordable price points and cross-platform compatibility, we empower a wide range of individuals with different fitness routines and goals that are difficult for other competitors to address. Moreover, our singular focus on building a connected health and fitness platform, coupled with a leading market share, has led to our brand becoming synonymous with the connected health and fitness category. This singular focus on health and fitness has driven us to dedicate significant resources to developing proprietary sensors, algorithms, and software to ensure that our products, which are specifically oriented towards health and fitness, have accurate measurements, insightful analytics, compact sizes, durability, and long battery lives. We believe this singular focus allows us to compete favorably with companies that have introduced or have announced plans to introduce devices with broad-based functionalities, including health and fitness tracking capabilities, which are not necessarily optimized for health and fitness usage.”

    Image via Fitbit, Facebook

  • These Kids Have Some Logical Reactions to the Apple Watch

    TheFineBros‘ YouTube series of kids reacting to stuff has a new entry – and this time they’re taking a look at the Apple Watch! Or the iWatch. Or that “small iPod nano.”

    While the kids can agree that it “looks cool” and is probably “from the future”, the device’s necessity is debatable.

    Also, you have to have an iPhone with you for the Watch to work? “That’s kind of disappointing.”

    “It’s not as good as a normal phone.”

    “Why do this when you could just take out your phone”

    You’ve got a new generation to convince, Apple

  • Your Apple Watch and Your Tattoo Don’t Get Along, Confirms Apple

    Your Apple Watch and Your Tattoo Don’t Get Along, Confirms Apple

    Apple has confirmed that yes, your arm tattoo is probably messing with your Apple Watch.

    Earlier this week, some new Apple Watch owners discovered something rather troubling – their shiny new devices weren’t working quite right. Turns out, their sleeve tattoos were interfering with the Apple Watch’s heart rate monitor, which uses infrared or green light. Those with ink found that the Apple Watch’s sensor wasn’t detecting when it was removed from their wrist, an issue that messed with notifications and the passcode locking.

    The darker the tattoo, the worse the problem – or so people claimed.

    Now, Apple has confirmed it.

    The company has updated its support page explaining heart rate detection with the Watch to say the following:

    Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can also impact heart rate sensor performance. The ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings.

    If you’re not able to get a consistent reading because of any of these factors, you can connect your Apple Watch wirelessly to external heart rate monitors such as Bluetooth chest straps.

    There are workarounds, like turning off the wrist detection feature – but that eliminates some of the convenience of the Watch. It’s possible that Apple could remedy this siutation with a software update, but until now you’ll just have to deal with the fact that your Apple Watch and your tattoo do no get along.

    Maybe move the watch to the other arm?

    Image via Retina Boys, Flickr Creative Commons

  • Apple Watch Stars in Most Satisfying ‘Will It Blend’ Yet

    For about a decade, Blendtec founder Tom Dickson has satisfied his urge to destroy something beautiful by placing expensive things inside one of his blenders and pulverizing them. This exercise, which has been performed for products dating as far back as the original iPod all the way through every generation of the iPhone, has also satisfied his urge to sell blenders – or at least get some positive PR.

    Yeah, the Will It Blend? series is a giant commercial. Duh. But it’s also a series in which you get to watch Apple products get ground up into black dust. So it certainly has a lot going for it.

    I probably haven’t watched a Will It Blend? in a while – but for some reason the thought of watching Dickson destroy an Apple Watch was intriguing. More so than the thought of other devices.

    Don’t you want to watch a perfectly good Apple Watch get shredded to pieces? I’m not disappointed in my choice.