Hey there, my tech-savvy followers! I’ve got some interesting news for you today. It seems like Apple has hit a little roadblock in the US. Brace yourselves, because the latest Apple Watches, the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2, are now banned from being sold in the country. Ouch!

So, how did this happen? Well, President Joe Biden’s administration decided not to veto the ban imposed by the International Trade Commission (ITC). And let me tell you, Apple didn’t take this lying down. They swiftly removed both devices from their website on December 21st and from store shelves after December 24th. Talk about a quick response!

The Office of US Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, released a statement explaining their decision. They carefully considered the ITC’s determination and chose not to reverse it. But fear not, Apple isn’t giving up without a fight. They have already confirmed that they are appealing the ITC’s decision. Go Apple!

Now, you might be wondering why these watches were banned in the first place. Well, it turns out that Apple was found to have infringed on a patent for blood oxygen saturation technology held by a company called Masimo. The ITC not only banned the sale of these devices but also ordered Apple to stop selling any previously-imported devices that use this technology. Yikes!

But hold on a second, my friends. This ban only affects Apple stores in the US. That means you can still get your hands on a Watch Series 9 or Watch Ultra 2 at other retailers like Best Buy and Target, while supplies last. Phew!

Now, what’s next for Apple? Well, that’s still up in the air. There are a few options they could explore. They could make software changes to the blood oxygen sensor on both watches or disable the sensor on imported devices. However, it’s uncertain if these measures would be enough to satisfy the ITC. Another possibility is that Apple could choose to settle with Masimo instead. Time will tell!

So, stay tuned, my tech-loving friends. We’ll keep you updated on how this Apple Watch ban saga unfolds. In the meantime, keep rocking your current Apple Watches or consider getting your hands on the Watch SE, which is not affected by this ban. Until next time!