Tag: Apple Watch

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Apple Watch helps save U.K. man’s life after his heart stops 138 times

Apple’s smartwatch has yet again played a pivotal role in saving someone’s life.

As first reported by The Independent (via Apple Insider), David Last from Norfolk, England, was given a low heart rate warning of 30 beats per minute nearly 3,000 times via his Apple Watch’s electrocardiogram (ECG) feature. For context, the average adult male’s heart typically rests at between 60 to 100bpm.

Last assumed that the wearable was defective, but his wife encouraged him to go see a doctor. Finally, after undergoing several tests where the results would take months to come back, Last underwent a 48-hour ECG test. The hospital immediately called Last back five times before they were able to reach him, indicating how dire the results were.

Last was suffering from a serious third-degree heart block. During that 48-hour ECG test, his heart stopped 138 times in 10-second intervals. Last was given a pacemaker via surgery in August and says he isn’t experiencing any “symptoms whatsoever.”

“If she hadn’t bought me my Apple watch for my birthday, I wouldn’t be here. I will always be eternally grateful to her for it. Apart from charging it, it’s always staying on me now,” Last told The Independent.

Apple is expected to reveal its new Apple Watch Pro, Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE at its upcoming September 7th fall hardware event.

Source: The Independent Via: Apple Insider

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Everything we expect to see at Apple’s fall 2022 event

It’s almost that time of year again.

On September 7th at 1pm ET/10am PT, Apple will hold its ‘Far Out’ keynote at its Cupertino, California campus. While the presentation will feature pre-recorded sections, it’s also the first Apple event with live portions in years.

As always, we have a pretty good idea of what we might see at this year’s fall keynote, including the iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Pro, 2nd-gen AirPods Pro and several new Apple Watches, including the redesigned Apple Watch Pro.

Let’s get into it.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro

Rumours have been swirling about Apple’s iPhone 14 line for months now. First off, the iPhone mini line is being killed off this year in favour of the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, which will be sold alongside the 6.1-inch iPhone 14.

Apple’s iPhone 14 devices are expected to look very similar to last year, including the visible notch and even the same A15 chip. According to reports, only Apple’s higher-end iPhone 14 Pro models will offer the tech giant’s new A16 processor.

The iPhone 14 will also likely be available in various colours.

On the other hand, Apple’s 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max are set to feature more notable upgrades. According to Bloomberg’s often-reliable Mark Gurman, alongside a new A16 chip, Apple’s ‘Pro’ iPhones will ditch the front-facing notch for a pill-shaped camera cutout that houses a 48-megapixel wide shooter capable of capturing 8K video, alongside a circular Face ID sensor.


Some reports indicate Apple plans to fill the display space between the pill-shaped cutout and the circular sensor through software, which, if true, is the most Apple move of all time.

Other rumoured iPhone 14 features include stronger magnets that power exclusive MagSafe accessories that only work with iPhone 14 devices, and emergency calling satellite connectivity.

Apple Watch Pro, Series 8 and SE 2

Next, there’s the slew of new smartwatches that could appear at Apple’s upcoming event.

First off, there’s the Apple Watch Pro, a new high-end, Garmin-like take on the Apple Watch. The more durable version of Apple’s smartwatch is rumoured to feature a flat display and a 1.99-inch screen, making it the largest Apple Watch yet.

Other Apple Watch Pro rumours include that the wearable could offer satellite connectivity, though most reports point to this functionality coming to the high-end smartwatch next year. And finally, there’s a possibility that the Apple Watch Pro might not fit seamlessly with older Watch Bands, marking the first time since the wearable’s launch that older straps won’t work with a new Apple Watch.

Other rumoured Apple Watch Pro features include a new S8 chip and a body temperature sensor, which should also be coming to the Series 8 if rumours are accurate. Overall, the Apple Watch Series 8 is tipped to look and function like the Series 7, with most of the upgrades being on the hardware side.

Finally, there’s the Apple Watch SE 2. Rumours regarding Apple’s entry-level wearable are pretty sparse, but there’s a possibility it could be upgraded with an always-on display and a newer chip since the current version of the smartwatch still features an S5 processor.

2nd-gen AirPods Pro

Like the Apple Watch SE 2, rumours surrounding the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro are few and far between. It’s believed that Apple’s new high-end wireless earbuds will feature shorter stems, upgraded mics, improved sound quality and better battery life.

Some reports highlight a new charging case with USB-C charging and lossless audio support. While we haven’t seen many leaks regarding new AirPods Pro, given the wireless earbuds released back in 2019, they’re arguably long overdue for an upgrade.

iPads, iPad Pro/M2 MacBook Pro, new HomePod and AR headset

Most rumours point to Apple once again holding several keynotes this coming fall, with September 7th’s event focused on the iPhone 14, Apple Watch Pro and the AirPods Pro.

A second event set for October will likely focus on the M2-powered iPad Pro and a new HomePod, followed by a third presentation in November aimed at Apple’s M2 chip and the MacBook Pro. There’s also a possibility we might finally catch a glimpse of the company’s AR/VR headset given most rumours point to it releasing in 2023.

MobileSyrup will be on the ground at Apple’s September 7th keynote, bringing you all the news directly from the show floor.

Source: @mingchikuo, Bloomberg, (1), Naver, Mac Otakara, Weibo’ UnclePan‘

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Apple Watch Pro rumoured to feature flat display, rugged design and satellite connectivity

It looks like Apple’s often-rumoured Apple Watch Pro could be real.

According to the latest edition of Mark Gurman’s Bloomberg Power On newsletter, future versions of Apple’s rumoured rugged Apple Watch Pro could feature satellite connectivity functionality.

In his newsletter, Gurman explains that the satellite feature will allow the rugged Apple Watch Pro to make quick calls to emergency services when there’s no cellular signal alongside global internet access and the ability to make phone calls over satellite links.

Gurman also alludes that satellite calls will likely come to the iPhone 14 series this year, followed later by future versions of the Apple Watch Pro. It’s worth noting that satellite features were long-rumoured for the iPhone, but haven’t materialized yet. Still, with Starlink and T-Mobile joining forces to connect phones to satellites, now could be the time for Apple to launch a satellite iPhone.

Other rumours surrounding the Apple Watch Pro (via Mac Otakara) indicate that the high-end wearable will be available in a larger 47mm case size, while the Series 7 will come in 41mm/45mm variants.

The larger, flatter Watch Pro display will measure in at 1.99-inches diagonally, according to reports. Other features include longer battery life, a titanium casing, an S8 chip and an improved Low Power Mode.

With the rumoured Apple Watch Pro, it seems like Apple aims to take on Garmin’s more active wearable audience with a smartwatch that offers a similar level of durability and features.

Apple is expected to reveal the Apple Watch Pro at its upcoming ‘Far Out’ event on September 7th.

In other Apple-related news, the tech giant recently filed several trademarks related to its rumoured AR/VR headset.

Source: Bloomberg, Mac Otakara

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Health Canada reportedly approved watchOS 9 AFib History feature

Back at WWDC 2022, Apple unveiled a new watchOS feature called ‘AFib History.’ Set to arrive later this year with watchOS 9, AFib History can help track the frequency of arrhythmia in people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

However, often when Apple and other companies announce health features like this, there’s a delay in bringing them to Canada as they have to get regulatory approval. This time around, it looks like AFib History will be good to go at launch in Canada — it has already received approval.

As reported by MacRumors, a Health Canada regulatory filing approved AFib History for both the Apple Watch and iPhone (unfortunately, at the time of writing, the health products database appeared to be down).

MacRumors notes that Canada appears to be the second country to approve the AFib History feature after the U.S. The States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared AFib History after validating it in a clinical study. Moreover, Apple previously said AFib History on Apple Watch had an average difference of less than one percent in weekly measurements when compared to an FDA-cleared reference device.

AFib History looks like it will be a particularly useful health feature for people with atrial fibrillation. It’ll help track when a person’s heart shows symptoms of AFib, time spent in AFib, and the time of day or week when AFib was most active. Plus, Apple says all the data can be shared with doctors via a PDF.

It’s also very nice to see Canada among the first to get a new feature like this, rather than waiting months after launch for approval.

The watchOS 9 update will likely arrive in the fall (probably September) alongside the company’s new Apple Watch and iPhone models. Currently, watchOS 9 is available in beta.

Source: Health Canada Via: MacRumors

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Next Apple Watch might be bigger, detect if you have a fever

Rumours are swirling about the Apple Watch Series 8, suggesting that it might feature a new 50.5mm display and a new skin temperature detection method that may be able to diagnose fevers.

Apple Insider is reporting that the new watch will come in three sizes, including the new 50.5mm option. This is going to be slightly larger than the max size of the Series 7, which is currently 45mm. For context, the smallest current Apple Watch has a 41mm screen.

Apple appears to be pushing for the health-centric features of the Apple Watch per a new report from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, who says it will come with a body temperature measurement. The rumour suggests that Apple attempted to add this sensor to the Series 7, but they couldn’t get it to be as accurate as needed. Thus, it’s now being lined up to feature in the Series 8.

The new sensor isn’t going to be as accurate as a traditional thermometer, but Gurman’s report suggests that the sensor is going to simply tell people if they have a fever. Others suggest that this tech could help women understand when they’re ovulating as well.

Source: Apple Insider, Bloomberg

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Apple Watch saves kayaker that was swept 4km out to sea

A kayaker in Sydney, Australia was lucky to have their Apple Watch on hand (no pun intended) to call for help.

The man was swept out roughly 4km into the open ocean after being separated from a partner by strong currents. They were then unable to return to shore because of the “large swell and strong winds.”

Thankfully, because the Kayaker was wearing their Apple Watch, they were able to contact help, though it’s unclear if they made a phone call via the wearable’s data connection or if they utilized its SOS functionality.

The Daily Mail report goes on to state that “lifeguards and Freshwater Surf Lifesaving club also assisted by deploying jetskis and inflatable rescue boats.”

The man was eventually rescued after being spotted by a helicopter.

Source: Daily Mail Via: iMore

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This new third-party app gives you access to YouTube on an Apple Watch

While the Apple Watch is already a versatile gadget that allows you to answer calls, send messages, monitor a range of health and fitness parameters, and even listen to podcasts, its lack of a browser, or a dedicated YouTube app sends users rushing to their iPhone.

A new third-party app fixes that.

WatchTube is a new Apple Watch app that lets you stream YouTube videos directly on the wearable, as first reported by 9to5Mac.

The app is available to download directly from the WatchOS App Store, and doesn’t require any complicated setup. You simply download it, and it’s good to go.

The app is straightforward, which makes sense considering the restrictions of the screen on which you’ll be navigating the UI. WatchTube features four swipe-able panes, including ‘Home,’ ‘Search,’ ‘Library,’ and ‘Settings.’

The search bar works well with the Apple Watch’s keyboard, and also allows you to use dictation to search for a video.

Users can even subscribe to channels and save videos in the Library page to access them later, though the WatchTube library is entirely local, therefore it cannot be linked to your actual YouTube account.

While the WatchTube app serves its purpose, I don’t think many would become avid video content consumers on their Apple Watch, and the app would rather be used for situations where you need to find out information regarding something via a YouTube video, and you don’t have your phone around you.

Additionally, according to a WatchTube developer, a future update to the app will bring an audio-only mode, allowing you to listen to music on YouTube without needing to have the Apple Watch display on.

WatchTube is available for free in the App Store.

Image credit: App Store

Source: 9to5Mac

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Startup receives FDA approval to use the Apple Watch to track Parkinson’s symptoms

A San Fransico-based startup has just received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use the Apple Watch to monitor symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease, as reported by Reuters.

The startup, Rune Labs, and its chief executive Brian Pepin aims to use the Apple Watch alongside a Medtronic implant to measure brain signals and detect if and when the wearer tumbles.

Currently, doctors working with Parkinson’s patients need to collect their movement data by observing the patient during their clinical visit, which is inefficient because Parkinson’s symptoms can alter greatly over time, according to Pepin. The Watch, however, “will give doctors a continuous stream of observations over long stretches,” Pepin said.

The FDA authorization for Rune Labs to deploy Apple’s smartwatch to monitor patients with Parkinson’s is the first notable application of Apple’s software tools released in 2018 for evaluating movement disorders, and will provide doctors with precise data so they can decide whether and how to fine-tune the patient’s treatment.

When Rune Labs approached Apple about partnering, the Cupertino, California-based company jumped at the chance. “it took about eight minutes for the team lead to get back to me and say, ‘Hey, perfect, let’s explore this,’” Pepin said.

Reuters’ report also suggests that Apple has partnered with several other companies to use the Apple Watch as a health monitoring device, including Johnson & Johnson to research whether the watch can be used to help lower the risk of stroke. 

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Reuters

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Staples Canada offering $80 off on 45mm and 41mm Apple Watch Series 7

Staples Canada is currently offering an $80 discount on both the 45mm and 41mm Apple Watch Series 7.

Check out the Apple Watch Series 7 deals below:

As of the time of writing, it appears as though the estimated delivery time of Staples Canada is around seven days.

Those eager to pick up either model at a discount should do so before June 14th. As the site indicates, this offer expires on June 14th at 11:59 PM ET.

Source: RedFlagDeals Via: Staples

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Apple adds new Watch Faces, sleep monitoring and medication tracking to WatchOS 9

At its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2022, Apple unveiled WatchOS 9 with a range of new features to keep you fit and healthy.

For starters, Apple showed off four new watch faces coming with WatchOS 9, including ‘Metropolitan,’ ‘Playtime,’ ‘Lunar Calendar and ‘Astronomy face.’ Additionally, the front-end bring a new Siri UI and banner notification for some of your favourite apps with WatchOS 9.

On the fitness side of things, Apple revealed that three new running form metrics are coming to the Workout app, which makes use of the Apple Watch’s accelerometer and gyro to establish your running form, ground contact time and stride length to determine whether you’re wasting energy while you’re running or not. In addition to the running form, the watch will also be able to detect your heart rate and categorize it into zones to determine your running intensity, and whether you need to slow down, take a rest or pick up the pace.

The fitness app will be available to all iPhone users running iOS 16, so you can track steps, flights climbed, estimate your total calories burnt and even you can share your results with friends without owning an Apple Watch.

To help keep you healthy while you’re not working out, Apple has also updated the Sleep app to help users learn more about sleep stages. The Watch uses the heart rate sensor and the built-in accelerometer to determine which sleep stage you were in at what time at night, including REM, Core and Deep sleep stages.

Additionally, Apple is also adding features to help people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFIB). With WatchOS 9, users would be able to track the time your heart shows symptoms of AFIB, time spent in AFIB, the time of day or week when AFIB was most active and the ability to share a PDF of your AFIB history directly with your doctor. According to Apple, it expects to “receive FDA clearance for AFIB soon.” It’s unclear when or if the feature will make its way to Canada.

Bolstering the Watch’s ability to keep you healthy, with WatchOS 9, users will now be able to keep a record of their medications, with alerts to notify you when you need to take a specific medication.

More to come…

Image credit: Apple