Apple Just Made a Bittersweet Announcement. It's the End of an Era - Inc.Africa (2024)

FAQs

Why is the Apple Watch 9 banned? ›

The ban is the result of a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo. The ITC has ruled that the SpO2 sensor in Apple's smartwatches infringes upon Masimo's patents.

In December, the ITC imposed a ban on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 models of the Apple Watch after finalizing its decision that the blood oxygen sensors in the devices did indeed infringe on patents owned by Masimo and its subsidiary Cercacor Laboratories.

The ITC initially banned sales of the Watch because of a patent dispute brought by the medical technology company Masimo, which sued Apple in 2021. The company alleged that Apple had infringed on its patents for a smartwatch sensor that uses lights to measure the concentration of oxygen in the wearer's blood.

Apple has once again been banned from selling two smartwatch models in the US, while a legal battle continues over a patent dispute. The tech giant was earlier allowed to sell its Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches while proceedings were ongoing - but a US appeals court has since reversed that decision.

That ITC order prevented Apple from importing the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, among other newer models, to the United States because they violate patents registered to another company.

Starting on Thursday, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 will no longer detect people's blood oxygen levels, to comply with a ruling by the International Trade Commission.

Apple has its steepest quarterly decline in iPhone sales since pandemic's outset The 10% drop in year-over-year iPhone sales for the January-March period is latest sign of weakness in a product that generates most of Apple's revenue.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 were banned after California health tech companies, Masimo and Cercacor Laboratories, accused Apple of infringing on its patent for a blood-oxygen tracking technology.

Apple Watch and its bands are designed so that parts containing acrylates and methacrylates are not in direct contact with your skin.

If Apple Watch detects a hard fall and that you have been immobile for about a minute, it will tap your wrist, sound an alarm, and then attempt to call emergency services.

Which Apple Watch has blood oxygen? ›

Use the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch Series 6 or later to measure the percentage of oxygen your red blood cells carry from your lungs to the rest of the body. Knowing how well oxygenated your blood is can help you understand your overall health and wellness.

Apple Watch Series 4 and later can help you make an emergency call if you've taken a hard fall. And if you can't move, your Apple Watch automatically calls emergency services, then sends a message with your location to your emergency contacts.

No matter the model or condition, we can turn your Apple Watch into something good for you and good for the planet. Learn how to trade in or recycle your watch with Apple Trade In.

2015: The first Apple Watch was released in April 2015. It featured a Retina display, Force Touch, Taptic Engine, heart rate sensor, digital crown, and interchangeable bands.

Apple Watch can do what your other devices can't because it's on your wrist. When you wear it, you get a fitness partner that measures all the ways you move, meaningful health insights, innovative safety features, and a connection to the people you care about most.

Apple is taking pre-emptive action to pause sales in the U.S. That means that Apple will stop selling two of the three current models in its stores and on apple.com—the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2—because they include the blood oxygen feature.

The Apple Watch Series 9 in aluminum (top) and stainless steel. A federal appeals court reportedly ruled on Tuesday that Apple can't keep selling its Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US with the blood oxygen feature under a patent dispute, according to Bloomberg.

The bottom line: The Apple Watch Series 9 is a worthwhile upgrade over the Series 5. The performance benefits that come with upgrading from a 4-year-old chip will feel substantial, and there are plenty of new features that make the Series 9 feel significantly different.

How to Measure Blood Pressure With an Apple Watch. “At this time, the Apple Watch isn't equipped to measure your blood pressure alone,” says Dr. Bronstein. “ [It] requires pairing with a [separate blood pressure measuring] device to measure and record your blood pressure.”