Apple Watch users receive good news

Apple has brought back the blood oxygen level measurement feature to the Apple Watch in the US market, by changing the data processing mechanism to avoid the ITC ban.

The blood oxygen level measurement feature on Apple Watch has been restored in the US market. Photo: Bloomberg .

Apple has released a software update for the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 that brings back blood oxygen monitoring in a new design, a move that bypasses an import ban imposed by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in late 2023.

Accordingly, blood oxygen level monitoring will be measured and processed on the iPhone instead of directly on the watch. Users will no longer be able to see parameters directly on the wrist, but can still access information in the "Respiration" section of the Health app on the iPhone. Apple said that US customs has approved the import of these new watch models.

The change only applies to Apple Watches sold in the US after January 17, 2024, when the ban goes into full effect. Models sold before that date or distributed outside the US will retain the traditional blood oxygen measurement feature. Users can determine whether their device is covered by checking the serial number, which ends in LW/A, indicating it’s a new model.

To use the tweaked feature, users need to upgrade their watch to watchOS 11.6.1 and their iPhone to iOS 18.6.1.

The import ban stems from a legal dispute between Apple and Masimo, a medical device maker best known for its blood oxygen monitors. Masimo sued Apple in 2020, alleging patent infringement and theft of trade secrets. In 2021, the company filed another petition with the ITC, which resulted in a December 2023 ruling banning the Apple Watch.

Apple responded by countersuing Masimo, claiming that the company’s smartwatch copied the Apple Watch. The iPhone maker also filed a 916-page appeal of the ITC’s ruling. The appeal is still ongoing, and Masimo’s patents are set to expire in 2028.

Apple's quick adjustment of its software design is considered by analysts to be a strategic move to maintain market share in the US, and at the same time shows that the company is willing to apply technical solutions to overcome legal barriers.

Source: https://znews.vn/nguoi-dung-apple-watch-nhan-tin-vui-post1577127.html