Tag: Apple Watch

Apple recently won a big legal victory against AliveCor, a company that sued it in 2021. A federal appeals court agreed with a decision to cancel three patents AliveCor said Apple broke with its Apple Watch. This means the court also threw out a ruling from the International Trade Commission (ITC) that could have stopped Apple Watches from being brought into the U.S.

In a message to MacRumors, Apple thanked the court and said it would keep working on new health tools for the Apple Watch. “We’re grateful to the Federal Circuit for their thoughtful review. Our teams have spent years creating top-notch health, wellness, and safety features that help people, and we’re excited to keep going,” Apple shared.

The trouble started when AliveCor took Apple to court, claiming Apple misused its heart rate and ECG tech ideas. At first, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) said Apple was in the wrong. But after Apple asked the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board to take another look, the board decided those patents weren’t valid, hurting AliveCor’s case.

Even so, the ITC had suggested banning some Apple Watch sales, which Apple fought since the patents were no longer valid. While both sides appealed, the ban was paused. Now, the appeals court has backed the decision to cancel the patents, so no import ban will happen in this case.

AliveCor told MacRumors they’re upset with the ruling and feel the court ignored key details the ITC found convincing. “This won’t stop our business or our drive to keep creating for our millions of customers,” they said. They argue this fight is about protecting small companies and future ideas from big players like Apple. AliveCor plans to keep exploring legal steps to prove their patents are valid and that Apple crossed a line.

Last year, AliveCor lost another lawsuit against Apple about unfair competition, and they’re appealing that too. Meanwhile, Apple’s facing a separate challenge with Masimo over blood oxygen tech, where an import ban still affects U.S. Apple Watch sales. For now, Apple has turned off that feature in watches sold here and is working to fix it.

The Apple Watch is making a big difference for referees in NHL hockey games. A special app called NHL Watch Comms was created just for NHL officials who work on the ice. This app will get its first outdoor test at tomorrow’s Stadium Series game in Ohio.

The NHL announced this exciting update in a blog post recently. They said:

For the first time in an outdoor match, referees will use the NHL Watch Comms App on their Apple Watches. This app, built by Presidio, sends live updates during the game to help officials stay on top of everything happening. Referees will feel small taps on their wrists to alert them about important moments, like how much time is left on the game clock, penalty timers, and even the jersey numbers of players sitting in the penalty box.

This handy tool has been tested and improved over the past few seasons at indoor rinks. Now, it’s ready for its outdoor debut this Saturday. That’s when the Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium, a famous football spot tied to The Ohio State University. Hockey games are loud and fast, which makes it tricky for referees to talk to each other. An outdoor game adds even more challenges, like wind or weather. That’s where the Apple Watch steps in to help.

The app uses those wrist taps to keep referees in sync with the game clock—kind of like how fans might follow a live sports update on their own Apple Watches. But for refs, it’s all about doing their job better. Pretty neat, right?

Here’s a peek at the NHL Watch Comms app, designed by Presidio for the NHL referees:

This simple yet smart tool shows how tech can make a tough job a little easier, even in the middle of a thrilling hockey game.

Apple has a big plan to make all its products eco-friendly and carbon-neutral by 2030. However, a new lawsuit says the company’s first “green” product—the Apple Watch—isn’t as environmentally friendly as promised. Here’s what’s going on with this legal challenge.

Buyers Say Apple Tricked Them with False Green Promises

According to Jonathan Stempel at Reuters, some Apple Watch owners are upset. They’ve filed a lawsuit claiming that Apple’s promise of a “carbon neutral” watch isn’t true. The case, brought to a federal court in San Jose, California, involves seven people who bought the Apple Watch Series 9, SE, and Ultra 2. These customers say Apple’s green labels convinced them to buy the watches—or pay more than they would have if they’d known the real story.

Apple rolled out these watches in September 2023, saying they were carbon neutral. The company explained it cut emissions and bought carbon offsets to balance things out. But the buyers disagree, pointing to two projects Apple used to claim its eco-friendly status:

• Kenya’s Chyulu Hills Project
• China’s Guinan Project

The lawsuit argues these projects don’t help the environment as much as Apple says. The buyers claim the carbon cuts from these efforts would’ve happened anyway, even without Apple’s involvement. Because of this, they say Apple’s “carbon neutral” label is misleading and not honest.

What the Lawsuit Wants

The people suing are asking for money to cover their losses. They also want a court order to stop Apple from calling its products “carbon neutral” in ads or marketing. Since launching those first “green” Apple Watches in 2023, Apple has added more eco-friendly products, like the M4 Mac mini (its first carbon neutral Mac) and the Apple Watch Series 10 lineup. But this lawsuit could challenge how truthful those green claims are. For now, it’s a waiting game to see how the court rules and what it means for Apple’s big environmental goals.

A recent feature from a popular news source has shed light on a curious trend: people are choosing to wear their Apple Watches on their ankles rather than their wrists. Here’s why:

• Better Fit for Small Wrists: Some individuals have very small wrists, leading the Apple Watch to sit too loosely. This can affect the accuracy of heart rate monitoring.
• Tattoo Interference: For those with tattoos on their wrists, the ink can sometimes disrupt the heart rate sensor’s function. Apple has noted in its support documents that tattoos might “block light” needed for measuring heart rates, leading to less reliable data.
• Step Counting Accuracy: There’s a belief among some users that wearing the Apple Watch on the ankle might yield more accurate step counts than on the wrist.
• Skin Conditions: People with skin sensitivities or conditions might find wearing the watch on the ankle more comfortable.
• Professional Restrictions: Certain medical professionals, for instance, might not be allowed to have anything on their wrists while on duty.

While Apple has not officially responded to this trend, its documentation clearly states that the heart rate and calorie tracking features are designed for wrist use. There’s no mention of ankle use in their guides, suggesting that this practice goes beyond what’s officially tested or recommended by Apple. However, the company hasn’t discouraged it either.

This trend reflects how users adapt technology to fit their unique needs and lifestyles, showing that even high-tech gadgets like the Apple Watch can be used in unconventional ways.

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This Valentine’s Day, Apple Watch users have a special reason to celebrate. On February 14, you can earn a unique award by simply completing a workout that fills your Exercise ring. It’s a fun way to show your heart some extra love during Heart Month.

Heart Health Challenge 2025

All you need to do is close your Exercise ring on February 14th. By doing this, you’ll not only keep your heart healthy but also receive a special award. This award can be seen in your Fitness app, adding a badge of honor to your health achievements.

Alongside this, Apple provides a set of lively animated stickers for the Messages app. These stickers are themed around heart health, making your conversations more engaging and fun.

More Ways to Engage

Apple doesn’t stop there. They also roll out themed content across various platforms to promote heart health awareness. Expect to see special content in the App Store, Apple TV app, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Books. This content is designed to educate and inspire you to take better care of your heart.

So, make this Valentine’s Day special by participating in the Heart Health Challenge. It’s a simple yet meaningful way to celebrate both love and health.

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Apple has agreed to pay $20 million to settle a lawsuit about early Apple Watch models. The lawsuit claimed that certain models had a battery problem that made the screens pop or crack (as reported by CNET).

The lawsuit was filed in a court in California. It involved the first Apple Watch, and the Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 models. The claim was that these watches didn’t have enough room inside for the battery to expand normally. When the batteries swelled, they pushed against the screen, causing it to break or come off. Apple said they did nothing wrong, but they’ve decided to settle the case instead of going through a long court battle.

Here’s how the settlement works: Apple will put $20 million into a fund to pay back people who had problems with their watch’s battery. Each person who qualifies can get $20 for each watch they had issues with, but this amount could go up or down based on how many people claim money. Some of the funds will also cover legal and admin costs.

If you already told Apple about your battery problem, you don’t need to do anything extra to get paid. You’ll automatically get your money unless you decide you don’t want it by February 24, 2025. If you think you should get money but haven’t told Apple yet, you need to go to the settlement website and submit your details by April 10, 2025.