Apple's latest watch improves blood oxygen monitoring
Apple announced a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature would be available for customers who bought devices without the original version through software updates for the wearable and iPhone from 14 August onwards.
While the original software displayed data on the watch itself, the new iteration involves using an iPhone app instead.
The company stopped selling its Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US with the original feature enabled in early 2024 as a lengthy dispute over related patents rumbled on.
Versions of its Series 10 device, which was released in 2024, sold in the US had the same restriction.
Apple stated the updates mean 'sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app'.
The company explained the move was 'enabled by a recent US Customs ruling'.
Apple stated there is no impact for devices bought outside of the US or those with access to the original feature.
Source: Mobile World Live
Image Credit: Apple
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Post
an hour ago
- Arabian Post
Africa's AI Ambition Takes Shape with AfricAI Venture
Four technology firms from Australia, Nigeria, the UAE and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a joint venture named AfricAI, aimed at creating enterprise-grade artificial intelligence solutions specifically designed for Africa's diverse markets. The pact marks a strategic push for digital sovereignty and localised innovation across the continent. Lakeba Group of Australia, Next Digital of Nigeria, AqlanX of the UAE and Agentic Dynamic of the Netherlands are the founding partners behind AfricAI. Nigeria will serve as the venture's launchpad, leveraging existing digital infrastructure to deploy AI-powered systems in public services, healthcare, enterprise operations and identity management. Strategic planners envision AfricAI as a distributed AI network that reaches across the continent, offering tailored solutions in agriculture, urban planning, education and citizen services. Expansion plans include Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Rwanda by 2026, with a commitment to training more than 100 AI professionals to bolster regional expertise. ADVERTISEMENT This initiative aligns with broader shifts in Africa's AI ecosystem. Investment in AI startups is rising, drawn increasingly towards sectors beyond fintech—particularly in climate tech, healthcare and education. Several African-born startups have already attracted significant funding. Notably, eight were raising over US$1 million apiece this year, with Egypt leading the pack with three firms securing such backing. Among those, the startup PlayAI, focused on voice technology, has even been acquired by Meta, underlining the continent's potential for globally competitive AI innovation. This heightened activity in AI mirrors the strengthening of digital ecosystems—with Lagos, Nigeria, recently being named the fastest-growing tech ecosystem in the world for 2025, driven by the presence of major unicorns such as Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay and Moniepoint. Still, barriers persist. Challenges related to limited infrastructure, funding gaps and data availability remain obstacles for widespread AI deployment. The AfricAI joint venture demonstrates a strategic response to these challenges. By focusing on solutions built in Africa for African contexts, the partners aim to avoid outsourcing while empowering local development. Meanwhile, other international collaborations—such as the Ghana-UAE US$1 billion tech hub deal—signal growing global interest in supporting Africa's digital transformation, including talent development and AI infrastructure. Venture capital patterns provide further insight: African AI startups are increasingly winning investor interest by demonstrating problem-first approaches, capital efficiency, domain expertise, scalability beyond home markets and regulatory alignment. Moreover, global tech giants are positioning themselves to support African innovation; Google, for instance, selected fifteen AI ventures from the continent for its Startups Accelerator programme, enabling early-stage development and mentorship.
Gulf Business
an hour ago
- Gulf Business
WhatsApp drops game-changing features: Here's whats next
Image credit: Getty Images WhatsApp has announced a suite of new features aimed at improving how users connect via group calls, making them easier to schedule, more interactive, and technically more reliable. Whether you're organising a family catch-up or a work meeting, WhatsApp now allows users to schedule calls directly from the app. By tapping the '+' button in the Calls tab and selecting 'Schedule call', users can set up a group call in advance and invite participants seamlessly, Read more- All scheduled calls appear in the Calls tab with a full attendee list and shareable call links. These links can be added to personal calendars or shared externally. To make sure no one misses a meeting, WhatsApp sends a notification to all invitees when the call is about to begin. Interactive features: Raise hand and react To improve group call etiquette, WhatsApp has introduced new tools to reduce interruptions. Users can now raise their hand to indicate they'd like to speak, a feature particularly useful during large calls or team meetings. Additionally, users can send emoji reactions in real-time to engage without breaking the flow of conversation. In a related upgrade, Call link creators will now receive a notification when someone joins via a link, offering better awareness and control during planned sessions. Enhanced call experience These updates follow earlier improvements rolled out in April 2025, iPhone users can now also pinch to zoom during video calls for a closer view of themselves or others. Meanwhile, a new feature allows users to add someone to an ongoing 1:1 call directly from the chat thread by tapping the call icon and selecting 'Add to call'. To top it off, WhatsApp has optimised video call quality, with a smarter routing system and faster bandwidth detection that upgrades streams to HD more quickly, reducing dropped calls and video freezes.
Tahawul Tech
3 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
Apple's latest watch improves blood oxygen monitoring
Apple has reintroduced the ability for their watches to monitor blood oxygen data in the U.S., a feature omitted from certain models due to a legal row with medical devices company Masimo. Apple announced a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature would be available for customers who bought devices without the original version through software updates for the wearable and iPhone from 14 August onwards. While the original software displayed data on the watch itself, the new iteration involves using an iPhone app instead. The company stopped selling its Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the US with the original feature enabled in early 2024 as a lengthy dispute over related patents rumbled on. Versions of its Series 10 device, which was released in 2024, sold in the US had the same restriction. Apple stated the updates mean 'sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app'. The company explained the move was 'enabled by a recent US Customs ruling'. Apple stated there is no impact for devices bought outside of the US or those with access to the original feature. Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: Apple
