Apple Watch

Stanford University has published the results of a new Apple Watch and iPhone study focused on functional mobility of cardiovascular disease patients. The data suggests that iPhone and Apple Watch can accurately asses “frailty,” both in-clinic and at home.

Image: UAG Civilian and Rugged Apple Watch cases

We got news today that Apple is considering a ruggedized version of the Apple Watch that could arrive as soon as later this year. This potential new variant could help Apple better compete with more durable options from Casio, Garmin, Samsung, and more. What do you think? Let us know in the poll below whether or not you’d pick up a rugged Apple Watch Explorer Edition.

Apple is considering to expand its lineup of Apple Watch models, with a new model that would be focused on athletes and extreme climbers and hikers. As reported by Bloomberg, the casing of this watch would feature a rugged design with impact shock resistance and protective exterior, similar to a Casio G-Shock watch.

Current Apple Watch models feature aluminium, steel and titanium exteriors. The idea of the rugged watch model is it would feature a rubberized casing that is perhaps not so elegant to look at, but would be less prone to scratching and damage.

The fifth and hopefully last developer beta version of the upcoming watchOS 7.4 software update for Apple Watch is now available. iPhone users will be able to use Apple Watch to replace Face ID and a passcode when wearing a facial covering once this update goes public.

A great perk of working with 9to5Mac from age 22 to 30 and counting is the privilege of revisiting writing from years ago with the perspective of time. My first Apple Watch review is something I’ve been thinking about rereading recently with the perspective of six years of progress. Let’s take a look at where we are now versus where we started, and how my perception in 2015 has aged in 2021.

OnePlus has unveiled its first smartwatch today and the wearable takes a lot of cues from Apple Watch. While that’s no surprise and many Apple Watch clones have come before, OnePlus Watch looks to differentiate with a round design, 2-week battery life, and other high-end features at a budget price of just $159.

Apple continues to dominate the wearables industry. According to the latest data from IDC, Apple’s wearables shipments accounted for 36% of the total industry shipments during the fourth quarter of 2020. This includes Apple Watch as well as the AirPods family of products.

The fourth developer beta version of the upcoming watchOS 7.4 software update for Apple Watch is now available. iPhone users will especially appreciate this update as it allows the Apple Watch to replace Face ID and a passcode when wearing a facial covering.

Walt Disney World Resort has long offered a MagicBand wristband as an electronic pass, and has now announced an iPhone or Apple Watch MagicBand option.

Instead of purchasing Disney’s own NFC band, you will be able to create a Disney MagicMobile pass that is added to your Apple Wallet. You can then simply hold your iPhone or Apple Watch close to the readers to gain park entry, and charge refreshments and merchandise to your hotel room…

Stories about Apple Watch changing people’s lives are becoming more and more frequent, and this time the smartwatch helped a man save his life in Somersworth, New Hampshire. William Rogers fell through the ice on Sunday, and things might have been even worse if he hadn’t been wearing his Apple Watch.

Update March 5, 2021: watchOS 7.4 beta 3 is also now available to public beta users as well.

The third developer beta version of the upcoming watchOS 7.4 software update for Apple Watch is now available. iPhone users will especially appreciate this update as it allows the Apple Watch to replace Face ID and a passcode when wearing a facial covering.

Apple Watch shipments grew a healthy 19% last year, according to a new report today, increasing from 28.4M units in 2019 to 33.9M units in 2020.

No other brands came anywhere close, and indeed most of them saw their shipments fall during the course of the year…

Best Buy has stepped further into the health and technology market with a new partnership with Apple. The move sees the retailer also partner with the Lively app to offer both emergency and non-emergency support for elderly Apple Watch users along with up to $200 off the Series 6 or SE wearable.

Apple launched the ECG feature in 2018 exclusively for the Apple Watch Series 4 and primarily in the US with the FDA approval. Three years after that, some countries got the electrocardiogram app, and Australia is probably the next one to get the feature.

Apple launched three research studies in September 2019 that use the iPhone and Apple Watch to learn more about hearing health, women’s cycle tracking, and movement’s effect on wellbeing. A year and a half later, Apple has published what it describes as new insights gathered from the Apple Hearing Study.

Popular podcast app Overcast got a major update today that includes an all new Apple Watch app, improved compatibility with Siri, and other improvements. The headline of this release, labeled 2021.1, is undoubtedly the redesigned watchOS app. New watch apps are fairly rare these days, so it’s exciting when an existing one gains a big update. The new app is more streamlined and adds several features previously only available on your paired iPhone.

We saw Apple air a playful pitch for the ECG app on the Apple Watch last month, and now two more videos have dropped that promote Apple’s “The Future of Health is on Your Wrist” campaign.