Tag: Apple Watch Series 9

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Smart Watch

How Is The Apple Watch Ban Going To Impact You?

Apple is no longer allowed to sell Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the United States due to a patent infringement case related to the SpO2 sensor. The watches will disappear from the official website starting December 26 and here is how this ban will impact you.

Apple is in trouble as they are no longer allowed to sell their latest models of watch bands namely, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the USA because of the recent ban by the International Trade Commission. The sale has already halted from its website as of December 21st and its retail stores will also stop selling the two models by the 24th of December. This is a major setback to Apple, especially during the time of Christmas when Apple could make the biggest revenue hit.

So, let’s dive into the issue and figure out what are its consequences, and most importantly how is it going to impact you.

Why Is the Apple Watch Banned?
The US International Trade Commission recently imposed a ban on two of the latest models of Apple watch bands namely, the Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the USA. The decision was made in response to a patent battle with Masimo Corp., a health technology business, over a critical component of these watches: the blood oxygen measurement technology.

Masimo Corp. is a medical device company that sells its own health and wellness wearable products. It is mainly known for its Pulse Oximetry technology, a way of measuring oxygen levels in the blood. Apple Watch has used this feature since 2020 on the back of Apple Watches that help consumers know their blood oxygen levels.

Consequently, ITC, in January 2023 found out that Apple infringed the patent rights of Masimo by using the Pulse Oximetry technology, and as a result, these Apple Watch models were banned from being imported, which had a direct impact on Apple’s sales in the US market.

This is bad news for Apple as watch sales in the year 2022 hit $52 million. This decision affects not just Apple but also its global network of suppliers that produce and assemble its components as the Apple Watch is a massive player in the wearable market as a whole with Apple selling more watches than the entire Swiss Watch industry at over 15.4 million units.

Impact of the Ban
The ban does not only impact the sale of Apple Watches but it also has many other impacts that are a matter of concern for Apple Watch users. It includes preventing the repairing of other watch models, pulling out the online sale of the latest smartwatches, and financial implications on the markets of different countries.

Let us discuss all the major impacts in detail below.

1.Preventing Repairs of Out-of-Warranty models
This recent ban might affect the existing Apple Watch users. Apple stated in a memo sent this week to its customer support staff that it will no longer be fixing out-of-warranty Apple Watch Series 6 products. With the new modifications, Apple will no longer be able to repair older iPhones’ hardware; however, the company will still be able to assist customers with software-related concerns. This implies that you will not be able to get an Apple Watch with a blood oxygen sensor that is out of warranty — serviced, repaired, or replaced in any way. For example, Apple will not be able to assist you in any way if the screen on your Apple Watch Series 6 is broken.

Additionally, Apple won’t be able to exchange a watch that is purchased even before the ban. It can only be returned or refunded. This means that anyone who receives an Apple Watch for Christmas cannot exchange it for a new model if they need a different size or colour, which seems particularly disappointing for Apple and their customers.

2.Impact on the Online Sales of Apple
The ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 could have an impact on Apple’s product strategy, as both watches are crucial to the company. The ban may cause Apple to shift its focus to other products, such as the Apple Watch SE, which is unaffected by the ban. Concerns have been raised about the ban’s potential impact on iPhone sales. The ban might have an impact on Apple’s overall sales and profits, especially given the popularity of the impacted models.

3.Impact on the Consumers in USA
Consumers in the USA will be impacted the most as Apple has already suspended its sales and services in the country. To biggest downside is that people cannot gift the latest model of Apple Watches to their loved ones on Christmas. However, there are no restrictions on use for customers who purchased the impacted models before the ban’s adoption, and Apple’s warranty services continue to operate normally, ensuring that devices inside the warranty term can still undergo servicing.

Only the new users are going to suffer because of the unavailability of these products both online as well as offline. However, some third-party retailers like Target Corp., Walmart Inc., and Best Buy Co. can continue selling the smartphone despite the ITC restriction because it only affects Apple’s direct sales channels.

4.Impact on the Consumers in India
The impact of the ban in India is minimal. ITC only bans the sale of these models in the USA. In India, Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are available and continue to remain on sale. However, it might affect the import of some Apple Watch models, including the Series 6, 7, 8, and Ultra models, as well as the current Series 9 and Ultra 2, which possess the blood oxygen feature. However, the major impacts of the ban on other countries except the USA are yet to be determined. But most likely if the issue is not resolved in a few weeks then this ban would result in suspending sales of these two Apple Watches in India as well.

What can Apple do now?
To prevent the ban on the Apple Watch, Apple is taking several measures. The Biden administration is “tracking” the US Trade Representative’s potential veto over the decision to ban almost all Apple Watch sales in the US owing to the patent issue. However, the ban is scheduled to take effect on December 26, 2023, and the White House has not yet stepped in.

To resolve the matter, Apple is looking into several options, including possible settlements and licencing deals with Masimo. If possible, the corporation is also thinking about changing the software to get around the ban. Given the popularity of the impacted models, it is anticipated that the ban will have some effect on Apple’s overall sales if it does go into force.

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Smart Watch

Double Tap Hand Gesture On Apple Watch: 5 Surprising Killer Facts

Check out the new double tap hand gesture of Apple Watch – an intuitive and groundbreaking feature that’s set to revolutionise how you interact with your wearable device, making it effortless and utterly user-friendly. Want to know about its superpowers?

The brand new double tap hand gesture Apple Watch Series 9 has to offer has taken the town by storm, and we’re equally thrilled by its arrival for the first time! With this year’s grand launch event, Apple has once again taken a bold leap forward with its innovative technologies loaded in Apple’s new edge smart devices. The buzz surrounding this double tab feature is electric, and rightfully so.

Imagine having the power to control your world with a simple double tap – a gesture that’s not just intuitive but also remarkably impactful. Does that sound exciting? Without much ado, let’s dig into this game-changing feature that has the power to make our lives more effortless.

Double Tap Hand Gesture on Apple To Answer or End Calls.
Suppose you get a call, and your smartwatch starts ringing. You are in the middle of something important. Instead of taking your phone out or reaching out to your smartwatch to take action, you can make the double tap hand gesture to answer the call. When the conversation is over, another double tap effortlessly ends it. It’s a seamless and convenient way to stay connected without missing a beat.

1.Double Tap To Snooze Your Apple Alarm
We all know the struggle of waking up in the morning. Eyes snap open with a blaring alarm sound, and next comes the useless flapping of hands here and there in the dark to find the snooze button. Not anymore! With the double tap hand gesture, you can now give yourself a few extra minutes of sleep without fumbling for buttons to stop the noise. A gentle double tap gesture and your alarm snooze. Now, you can peacefully get back to your sweet dreams.

2.Start A Timer Or Resume Using Double Tap
Cooking, workouts, or simply keeping track of time—starting and pausing timers has never been more intuitive. Just a quick two-finger tap, and your Apple Watch timer is under your control.

3.Double Tap & Control Camera on Your Smartphone
Are you that person in the group who always gets cut out from the group pictures because you are the one taking them? Or someone who gets blurry, awkward poses in a stint to make it before the timer runs out for capturing? It is time to put an end to this injustice for good! You can use the double tap hand gesture to snap a picture through your Iphone. All you have to do is be a part of the group-ies and pose with a brimming smile.

4.Using SmartTV Becomes Easier
Have you ever imagined your smartwatch could be your part-time remote control? Yes, that’s right! You can actually play media on your smart TV with the double tap hand gesture for your Apple Watch. This is possible when you do a screencast or screen mirroring through your phone. No more fighting over the remote or frantically searching for it in the dark corners of your couch. You’ve got it all under your fingertips!

In A Nutshell…
The double tap hand gesture in the Apple Watch Series 9 is unarguably the future of wearable tech unfolding before our very eyes. Whether you’re a tech-savvy person or someone just dipping their toes into the world of smartwatches, this feature is designed to be both captivating and incredibly easy to use.

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Smart Watch

Apple Watch Series 9, SE And Ultra 2 Launched: Price, Specs

Apple has finally launched the next generation of Apple Watches at its Wonderlust event. The company unveiled the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Apple has launched the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, focusing on better performance with new chipsets and improved sensors.

Apple Watch Series 9: Specifications And Price

The Apple Watch Series 9 has received some serious upgrades in the performance department thanks to the new S9 chipset. It uses a 5nm architecture and is a substantial improvement over the previous S8 chip. Apple claims it is the most powerful chipset with 5.8 billion transistors, which is 60 per cent more than Series 8 and 30 per cent faster.

It also has a four-core Neural Engine that can process tasks like Siri requests on the device without requiring cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. This is the biggest performance upgrade since the S6 processor used in the Series 6. Furthermore, it is also more power efficient, offering an 18-hour battery life.

In addition, the Apple Watch Series 9 also gets the new U2 Ultra WideBand (UWB) chip, which enables Precision Finding for iPhones.You can navigate to your iPhone with directions and a vibration to help you locate the device. This offers improved location accuracy and more reliable FindMy capabilities. Both the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Ultra 2 have been launched with these new chips.

The Series 9 has an Always-On Retina Display with slim bezels that can go as bright as 2,000 nits and as low as one nits. This is more than twice the brightness of the Series 8. You can activate a new Double Tap gesture by tapping your index finger and thumb together twice.

You can use this gesture to answer a call, stop a timer, snooze alarms or scroll through widgets. This is useful if your other hand is occupied and you want to perform actions on your watch. The feature will be available on Series 9 starting next month.

WatchOS 10 has a new Name Drop feature, which can help share your personal information with another user when in the vicinity of their device. The new operating system also allows interaction with HomePod devices and improved Find My functionality.

The Series 9 will be available in Aluminium options of Pink, Starlight, Silver, Midnight and Product Red and stainless steel options like Silver, Gold and Graphite. It is available in India for a starting price of Rs.41,900 and will go on sale in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, respectively.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Specifications And Price

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is lighter and faster than before. Similar to the Series 9, it uses the new S9 chip apart from the U2 Ultra Wide Band Chip. It features a 49mm titanium case with MIL-STD 810H certification, IP6X dust resistance, and 100 meters of water resistance.

The Ultra 2 has the brightest display on the smartwatch, with a peak brightness of 3000 nits. It offers up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge and 72 hours on the low power mode. The Night Mode will be automatically enabled in a dim environment, and the new watch face will show you information like Altitude, Depth and Seconds.

Like its predecessor, it retains the customizable action button for quickly starting workouts or using the compass. The Ultra 2 features the S9 chip with 5.6 billion transistors and a 60 per cent performance improvement over the previous generation. Thanks to the dual-frequency GPS, it can now track your workout sessions and location more accurately.

It also gets all WatchOS 10 features, like the Double Tap gesture, which will be available in October. Apple has also focused on sustainability by promising to make all products carbon-neutral by 2030. The watch’s Alpine Loop and Trail Loop bands are made from recycled materials. The Apple Watch Ultra starts at Rs.89,900 in India and will be available in a single size of 49mm from September 22.

Apple Watch SE: Specifications And Price

Apple announced a refresh of the Apple Watch SE made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium. The new watch has a Sports Loop strap that offers 75 per cent carbon footprint reduction.

It runs on the older S8 chip and has a Retina display with 1,000 nits of brightness. The watch also offers GPS connectivity and up to 18 hours of battery life. It runs on watchOS 10 and provides safety features like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS.

The watch is water resistant up to 50 meters and has GPS and cellular connectivity options. It lasts 18 hours on a single charge and comes with a Low Power Mode. It will be available for a starting price of Rs.29,900 from September 22.