Tag: Apple Watch

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Apple’s Crash Detection feature is causing accidental calls to 911 on rollercoasters

Upon the launch of the iPhone 14, Apple introduced its Crash Detection feature. The Cupertino company designed the feature to alert nearby authorities when the phone detects a car accident. However, one unforeseen result is that rollercoasters are triggering the feature and calling 911 accidentally.

Over the past month since the rollout of Crash Detection across iPhone 14, Watch Series 8, SE, and Ultra, authorities have begun receiving accidental alerts. Apparently, rollercoasters have been simulating the impact of a car crash, setting off the Crash Detection sensors. The feature utilizes the gyroscopic sensor and high-g accelerometer in order to gauge a car crash. When activated, the device displays an alert and calls emergency services if the alert isn’t dismissed within 20 seconds.

Examples of these accidental calls are surfacing online. In one instance, an iPhone 14 user riding a rollercoaster at Kings Island amusement park. Located in Cincinnati, the owner’s phone triggered the Crash Detection while riding. This sent a call to emergency services along with an audio message. This message contains an alert that the user has been in a crash and provides authorities with their location. In this instance, Warren County authorities received the alert, which was recorded over audio of the rollercoaster and rider screams. Authorities were then dispatched, despite no accident taking place.

As one can imagine, this does create some issues not only for emergency services but for rollercoaster riders as well. Since the release of the iPhone 14, Warren Country has received six emergency calls triggered by park rides. WSJ reporter Joanna Stern notes that this issue is being experienced across multiple parks.

As of now, there’s no failsafe to prevent the feature from triggering while on a ride. Theoretically, Apple could provide an update to allow a temporary pause in the iPhone’s crash detection while riding a rollercoaster. Alternatively, users can put their devices on airplane mode while attending an amusement park. Additionally, users can manually disable the feature on their iPhone 14 or Apple Watch.

Image credit: Apple

Source: The Verge

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Apple Watch SE (2022) is a modest upgrade to the budget smartwatch

I really liked the Apple Watch SE (2020).

It offered a fantastic $329 starting price tag, a great-looking display with relatively small bezels and access to Apple’s industry-leading Watch App store. When I reviewed the smartwatch, I described it as the best wearable available for price-conscious Apple users not interested in the health features higher-end Apple Watches offer.

In short, the smartwatch was near perfect, except for the absence of the stellar always-on display featured in the Apple Watch Series 5 and above.

Apple Watch SE (2022)

This is where the new Apple Watch SE (2022) comes in. It’s a minor upgrade to the original Apple Watch SE that, unfortunately, still doesn’t feature an always-on display or the ability to text directly from the device like its higher-end counterparts. It also lacks several of Series 8’s health-focused features like blood oxygen levels, ECG or the new body temperature sensor. It remains a bare-bones smartwatch targetting those less interested in the health side of the wearable.

Like its predecessor, the Apple Watch SE (2022) is available in 40mm and 44mm variant aluminum finishes, including ‘Starlight,’ ‘Midnight,’ and ‘Silver.’ The display and overall design of the SE look identical to the first-gen version, except for the redesigned brushed back that matches the colour of the front of the smartwatch. It’s a subtle touch, but it makes the SE look higher-end and more complete, despite its decidedly entry-level price tag.

Apple Watch SE (2022)

Beyond this change, the only notable upgrade to the Apple Watch SE is the smartwatch’s new S8 chip, which Apple says gives the wearable a 20 percent power boost compared to its predecessor. While my experience with the original Apple Watch SE was generally solid, I sometimes encountered slowdowns when running third-party apps like Strava or Wind Speed. This is no longer an issue with the jump from the S5 to the S8 during my brief time with the Apple Watch SE (2022).

Of course, the Apple Watch SE (2022) features all of watchOS 9’s best features like ‘Low Power Mode,’ ‘Car Crash Detection,’ ‘Sleep Stages,’ medication tracking, more detailed workout metrics and more, alongside additional Watch Faces like ‘Playtime,’ ‘Lunar,’ ‘Metropolitan’ and ‘Modular.’

Apple Watch SE (2022)

Like the Series 8, watchOS 9 (which also supports the 1st-gen Apple Watch SE) is a more significant update to the Apple Watch SE (2022) than the wearable’s actual hardware in some respects, with the new chip being the notable exception.

Similar to the original Apple Watch SE, Apple’s refreshed entry-level smartwatch offers a solid but bare-bones smartwatch experience at a reasonable $329 price tag. I still miss the always-on display and wish Apple brought it to its lower-end wearable, but those who don’t know what they’re missing likely won’t have the same issue with the new SE.

The Apple Watch SE (2022) starts at $329 and is available now.

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Apple Watch Ultra, Series 8 battery sizes revealed in filing

Apple tends to keep some of the more technical aspects of its hardware, like RAM and battery size, under wraps. However, there’s always a way to find out this information. Earlier this week, a filing on the Chemtrec website revealed the sizes of the batteries in the iPhone 14 line, and now the Apple Watch batteries have been revealed too.

As spotted by MySmartPrice, a listing on the 3C website revealed the capacity of the battery in the Apple Watch SE, Series 8, and Ultra:

  • Apple Watch SE (40mm) – 245mAh
  • Apple Watch SE (44mm) – 296mAh
  • Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm) – 282mAh
  • Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm) – 308mAh
  • Apple Watch Ultra – 542mAh

To put those numbers in perspective, the Watch Series 7 sported a 303.8mAh battery in the 41mm watch, and a 309mAh battery in the 45mm watch. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 sports either a 247mAh or 361mAh battery, depending on the watch size. The new Watch 5 is between 284mAh and 410mAh, while the Watch 5 Pro clocks in at 590mAh. Google’s upcoming Pixel Watch is rumoured to sport a 300mAh battery.

While the Apple Watch Ultra’s larger battery is certainly impressive, the Ultra likely needs the extra power (and it has the room for it with that 49mm case!). Apple claims the Watch Ultra can get 36 to 70 hours of battery life, and while that certainly sounds like a lot, the massive battery suggests it could last that long.

At the same time, Samsung said the Watch 5 Pro could last up to 80 hours. It has a larger battery than the Watch Ultra, however, the 5 Pro apparently hasn’t lived up to the 80-hour claim.

It remains to be seen whether the Watch Ultra can live up to that lofty battery life claim, but we’ll likely know soon thanks to reviews. In the meantime, you can learn more about the Watch Ultra here.

Source: MySmartPrice

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Mobile Syrup

How to use Apple Pay on an Apple Watch

If you’ve got Apple Pay set up on your iPhone, you can also use it on your Apple Watch.

Bring your watch and phone close together, and then open the Watch app. From there, select the Wallet & Apple Pay icon from the list of apps.

This will present you with a list of cards in your Apple Wallet. You can add or disable the cards on your watch as you wish. Take note that sometimes you’ll need to verify cards with two-factor authentication again.

Below the list of cards is another section where you can set your default Apple Watch card, shipping address and other information. You don’t need to use this for only payment cards, either. I also have my health Insurance card, Museum membership and grocery points card.

Once this is all set up, you simply need to double tap the button on your Apple Watch and tap it to the payment terminal. The card you set as your default in the Watch app on your iPhone will appear first, but rolling the digital crown allows you to choose another card.

Source: Apple

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Apple Watch Ultra supports standard Apple Watch bands

It’s come to light that the new Apple Watch Ultra has the same Apple Watch band connector as the existing 44mm and 45mm watches.

All three of the large Apple Watches share the same bands. The smaller 42mm watch won’t work with the new bands, and 42mm bands won’t work on the Ultra.

Notably, Apple’s fine print says, “The Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band are designed for Apple Watch Ultra and pair best with the 49mm case size. The bands are also compatible with 44mm and 45mm cases.”

Therefore I’d suggest that most people wait and see what the bands look like on standard Apple Watches before buying the new larger straps.

Source: 9to5mac

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Some Apple Watch Ultra, Series 8 models won’t arrive until October

Apple announced several new products at its ‘Far Out’ event on September 7th. While many go up for pre-order on September 9th, the company’s fancy new smartwatches are already available and, unfortunately, not delivering for while.

Depending on the model and band, the Apple Watch Series 8 and the rugged Watch Ultra won’t arrive until as late as October, despite becoming available on September 16th and 23rd, respectively. Those who got a pre-order in early will likely get their watches on time, but if you haven’t pre-ordered yet, be ready for a wait.

For the Apple Watch Ultra, the medium and large ‘Alpine Band,’ all  Trail Loop sizes, and the ‘Midnight’ colour ‘Ocean Band’ appear to be the most popular, with expected delivery dates ranging from early- to mid-October.

The Apple Watch Series 8 also has a few options with later expected delivery times, although thanks to the wider variety of bands, watch colours, and sizes, it’s easier to find a Series 8 set-up that will ship on September 16th.

Although I typically don’t recommend pre-ordering products, if you really want a new Apple Watch and hate waiting, you may want to place an order.

The Apple Watch Ultra starts at $1,099 in Canada. You can check it out here, or read MobileSyrup‘s hands-on to learn more. The Watch Series 8, on the other hand, starts at $529 — check it out here.

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Here’s pricing for Apple’s new iPhone 14 Pro, Watch Ultra and more

At its Far Out event, Apple company revealed several new devices, including the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8, new Apple Watch SE and new AirPods Pro. If you want a rundown of the prices for each of these devices, look no further.

iPhone 14 Pro

Pre-orders start September 9th, phone available starting September 16th.

  • 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro 128GB — $1,399
  • 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro 256GB — $1549
  • 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro 512GB — $1819
  • 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro 1TB — $2,089
  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB — $1,549
  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB — $1,699
  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB — $1,969
  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB — $2,239

iPhone 14 series

Pre-orders start September 9th, phone available starting September 16th.

  • 6.1-inch iPhone 14 128GB — $1,099
  • 6.1-inch iPhone 14 256GB — $1,249
  • 6.1-iinch iPhone 14 512GB — $1,519

Pre-orders start September 9th, phone available starting October 7th.

  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus 128GB — $1,249
  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus 256GB — $1,399
  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus 512GB — $1669

Apple Watch

Pre-order now, Apple Watch Series 8 & SE available starting September 16th; Apple Watch Ultra available September 23rd

  • Apple Watch Ultra — starts at $1,099
  • Apple Watch Series 8 — starts at $529
  • Apple Watch Series SE — starts at $329

AirPods

Pre-orders start September 9th, device available starting September 23rd.

AirPods Pro (2nd generation) – $329

You can check out Apple’s website to learn more.

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Apple adds battery life to all Apple Watches with Low Power mode

Apple has a new update that allows Apple Watch users to set the watch into a low-power state to preserve battery. Apple Says this can push the new Series 8 Apple watches all the way up to 36 hours of battery life.

This is coming to Apple Watches as old as the Series 4, so it’s something that most Apple Watch owners should be able to use to extend their battery when they need to go on overnight trips. Apple is rating the Apple Watch Series 8 for a standard 18 hours, which is the same as the Series 6 and Series 7, so ideally lots of modern Apple Watches will get big improvements in watchOS 8 when it comes out in the fall.

When low-power mode is turned on, it disables features like auto workout tracking and the always-on display. New features like Crash detection and temperature sensors still work.

Apple’s new Apple Watch Ultra can even use this feature to push its battery life to 60 hours.

More to come…

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Apple might have plans for a new, cheaper Apple Watch

It’s a morning of Apple leaks.

Apple could have plans to reveal a smartwatch “cheaper than the Apple Watch SE,” according to a report from the New York Times. The publication says that this new wearable is part of the tech giant’s effort to “compete more aggressively for young smartwatch customers” and describes it as a “stopgap cellphone for kids.”

The cheaper take on the SE will reportedly be closely tied to its ‘Family Setup’ feature that allows users without an iPhone to use a cellular-connected Apple Watch, offering access to phone calls, apps, messaging and more directly from the wearable.

Given the Apple Watch SE starts at $362 for the 40mm version, it’s likely that this new, cheaper version of the smartwatch will start in the $300 range. While the Apple Watch SE is a very capable wearable, it lacks the always-on display featured in the more expensive Series 5, Series 6 and Series 7, a great feature that I’ve found very useful over the past few years.

At its September 7th keynote, Apple is expected to reveal its iPhone 14 series and a new high-end Apple Watch Pro. For everything to expect from Apple’s upcoming fall hardware presentation, follow this link.

Source: New York Times

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Apple Watch Pro CAD renders show new flat design as well as additional buttons

Leaked CAD images of an unannounced Apple Watch Pro have been circulating online. The renders give us a fairly good look at the device ahead of an expected reveal this week during Apple’s September event.

The CAD images in question show off the Apple Watch Pro, a higher-end wearable from the company. Looking back to recent reports, the images align with what’s expected. The CAD images highlight a supposed new flat design. The “rugged” new device is also shown to have an additional button.

The new physical button is shown to be located opposite the digital crown. The digital crown itself is also shown to be a bit larger and more tactile. Above this new inclusion are three small holes, which are likely to be the Apple Watch Pro’s speakers.

The display itself appears to be completely flat with more defined edges running across each side of the device. Prior reports indicate that the device may be available in a larger 47mm case size. Though, the renders show no indication of size.

Apple Watch Pro is said to be more focused on providing use case benefits during athletic activities and sports. The rugged design should offer more durability via a titanium casing and the additional button could assist in use while active. Additional features expected are a longer battery life and Low Power Mode, all powered by an S8 chip.

The device could likely run at a premium as analysts expect the Apple Watch Pro to be sold for around $900 USD (approximately $1,138 CAD). We should know more this week during Apple’s event on Wednesday, September 7th.

Source: 91mobiles via MacRumors