Nuked Hey there, fellow tech enthusiasts! It’s your funny guy Nuked here, ready to share some interesting news about Apple’s latest gadgets. So, let’s dive right in!
It seems like the blood oxygen feature is about to bid farewell to the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 devices. While Apple hasn’t officially addressed this yet, reports from Bloomberg and 9to5Mac suggest that the feature will be removed. And guess what? The US Customs and Border Protection gave their approval for this change, allowing Apple to potentially sell these products again after a ban was imposed last year.
In case you missed it, both the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 faced a ban in the US due to a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo. The International Trade Commission ruled that the blood oxygen sensors in these watches infringed on Masimo’s patents. As a result, Apple had to remove these watches from their stores just before the ban came into effect on December 26th, 2023.
But here’s where things get interesting. Apple didn’t sit back and accept defeat. No way! They filed an appeal against the decision, and luckily for them, they won a temporary pause on the ban. This allowed them to resume sales while waiting for the US Customs and Border Protection to review their proposed changes.
In the weeks that followed, Apple worked tirelessly to make modifications to the watches in order to avoid infringing on Masimo’s patents. And it seems like their efforts paid off. Masimo’s attorneys published a letter stating that all parties had agreed on Apple’s plan to remove the blood oxygen feature from the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2.
Matt Whewell, director of Global Communications at Masimo, expressed his approval of Apple’s redesigned watch, stating that it’s a positive step towards accountability. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, modified watches have already been shipped to Apple retail stores. However, these stores have been instructed not to sell them until they receive further instructions from the corporate headquarters.
Now, here’s where things get a bit unclear. The blood oxygen feature still seems to be active on the watches that have already been sold. Apple spokesperson Nikki Rothberg mentioned that the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will continue to be available with the feature, but it’s uncertain for how long.
So, if you’re an Apple Watch owner or planning to become one, this situation might be a tad confusing. It’s probably a good idea to double-check the release notes before updating your watch. And if the blood oxygen feature is essential to you, you might want to hold off on purchasing a new Apple Watch for now.
That’s all for now, folks! Stay tuned for more tech updates, and as always, keep smiling and embracing the wonders of technology!
Update January 15, 2024 3:49 PM ET: We’ve added comments from both Masimo and Apple to provide further insight into this matter.
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