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CNET
6 days ago
- Health
- CNET
These 7 Favorite Apple Watch Tips Assist Me Every Day
You know your Apple Watch is capable of doing a lot, whether that's tracking your health metrics or managing multiple timers when cooking dinner. But it's easy to treat it mostly as a timepiece, even though it always feels like there's more happening beneath the watch face that you're not fully using. That's why I've put together seven of my favorite Apple Watch tips, each of which I use nearly every day to save me time and trouble. See also: Did you think you were stuck with just the built-in watch faces? Learn how to expand the variety of timekeeping designs. And if you have an old Apple Watch in a drawer, see how to extend its utility. Swipe between watch faces (again) Until WatchOS 10.0, you could swipe from the left or right edge of the screen to switch active watch faces, a great way to quickly go from an elegant workday face to an exercise-focused one, for example. Apple removed that feature, likely because people were accidentally switching faces by brushing the edges of the screen. Swipe from the edge to switch between faces. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET However, the regular method involves more steps (touch and hold the face, swipe to change, tap to confirm) and people realized that the occasional surprise watch face change wasn't really so bad. Therefore, as of version 10.2, including the current WatchOS 11.2, you can turn the feature on by toggling a setting: Go to Settings > Clock and turn on Swipe to Switch Watch Face. Stay on top of your heart health with Vitals Wearing your Apple Watch while sleeping offers a trove of information -- and not just about how you slept last night. If you don the timepiece overnight, it tracks a number of health metrics. A new feature in WatchOS 11 gathers that data into the Vitals app that reports on the previous night's heart rate, respiration, body temperature (on recent models) and sleep duration. The Vitals app can also show data collected during the previous seven days -- tap the small calendar icon in the top-left corner. (If you own a watch model sold before Jan. 29, 2024, you'll also see a blood oxygen reading. On newer watches in the US, that feature is disabled due to an intellectual property infringement fight.) The Vitals app reports heart and health trends collected while you sleep. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET How is this helpful? The software builds a baseline of what's normal for you. When the values stray outside normal ranges, such as irregular heart or respiratory rates, the Vitals app reports them as atypical to alert you. It's not a medical diagnosis, but it can prompt you to get checked out and catch any troubles early. Make the Smart Stack work for you Bring up the Smart Stack using the crown or by swiping. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The Smart Stack is a place to access quick information that might not fit into what Apple calls a "complication" (the things on the watch face other than the time itself, such as your Activity rings or the current outside temperature). When viewing the clock face, turn the digital crown clockwise or swipe from the bottom of the screen to view a series of tiles that show information such as the weather or suggested photo memories. This turns out to be a great spot for accessing features when you're using a minimal watch face that has no complications. Choose which Live Activities appear automatically The Smart Stack is also where Live Activities appear: If you order a food delivery, for example, the status of the order appears as a tile in the Smart Stack (and on the iPhone lock screen). And because it's a timely activity, the Smart Stack becomes the main view instead of the watch face. Live Activities like mobile orders appear in the Smart Stack. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Some people find that too intrusive. To disable it, on your watch open the Settings app, go to Smart Stack > Live Activities and turn off the Auto-Launch Live Activities option. You can also turn off Allow Live Activities in the same screen if you don't want them disrupting your watch experience. Apple's apps that use Live Activities are listed there if you want to configure the setting per app, such as making active timers appear but not media apps such as Music. For third-party apps, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Smart Stack and find the settings there. Add and pin favorite widgets in the Smart Stack When the Smart Stack first appeared, its usefulness seemed hit or miss. In WatchOS 11, Apple seems to have improved the algorithms that determine which widgets appear -- instead of it being an annoyance, I find it does a good job of showing me information in context. But you can also pin widgets that will show up every time you open the stack. For example, I use 10-minute timers for a range of things. Instead of opening the Timers app (via the App list or a complication), I added a single 10-minute timer to the Smart Stack. Here's how: View the Smart Stack by turning the Digital Crown or swiping from the bottom of the screen. Touch and hold the screen to enter the edit mode. Tap the + button and scroll to the app you want to include (Timers, in this example). Tap a tile to add it to the stack; for Timers, there's a Set Timer 10 minutes option. If you want it to appear higher or lower in the stack order, drag it up or down. Tap the checkmark button to accept the change. Add specific widgets to the Smart Stack. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The widget appears in the stack, but it may get pushed down in favor of other widgets the watch thinks should have priority. In that case, you can pin it to the top of the list: While editing, tap the yellow Pin button. That moves it up, but Live Activities can still take precedence. Use the watch as a flashlight You've probably used the flashlight feature of your phone dozens of times, but did you know the Apple Watch can also be a flashlight? Instead of a dedicated LED (which phones also use as a camera flash), the watch's full screen becomes the light emitter. It's not as bright as the iPhone's, nor can you adjust the beam width, but it's perfectly adequate for moving around in the dark when you don't want to disturb someone sleeping. To activate the flashlight, press the side button to view Control Center and then tap the Flashlight button. That makes the entire screen white -- turn the Digital Crown to adjust the brightness. It even starts dimmed for a couple of seconds to give you a chance to direct the light away so it doesn't fry your eyes. Your Apple Watch can double as a hands-free flashlight. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The flashlight also has two other modes: Swipe left to make the white screen flash on a regular cadence or swipe again to make the screen bright red. The flashing version can be especially helpful when you're walking or running at night to make yourself more visible to vehicles. Press the Digital Crown to turn off the Flashlight and return to the clock face. Pause your Exercise rings if you're traveling or ill Closing your exercise, movement and standing rings can be great motivation for being more active. Sometimes, though, your body has other plans. Until WatchOS 11, if you became ill or needed to be on a long-haul trip, any streak of closing those rings that you built up would be dashed. Now, the watch is more forgiving (and practical), letting you pause your rings without disrupting the streak. Open the Activity app and tap the Weekly Summary button in the top-left corner. Scroll all the way to the bottom (take a moment to admire your progress) and tap the Pause Rings button. You can choose to pause them for today, until next week or month, or set a custom number of days. Give yourself a break when needed and pause your exercise rings. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET When you're ready to get back into your activities, go to the same location and tap Resume Rings. Bypass the countdown to start a workout Many workouts start with a three-second countdown to prep you to be ready to go. That's fine and all, but usually when I'm doing an Outdoor Walk workout, for example, my feet are already on the move. Instead of losing those steps, tap the countdown once to bypass it and get right to the calorie burn. How to force-quit an app (and why you'd want to) Don't forget, the Apple Watch is a small computer on your wrist, and every computer will have glitches. Every once in a while, for instance, an app may freeze or behave erratically. On a Mac or iPhone, it's easy to force a recalcitrant app to quit and restart, but it's not as apparent on the Apple Watch. Here's how: Double-press the Digital Crown to bring up the list of recent apps. Scroll to the one you want to quit by turning the crown or dragging with your finger. Swipe left on the app until you see a large red X button. Tap the X button to force-quit the app. You can force-quit an app on the Apple Watch. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Keep in mind this is only for times when an app has actually crashed -- as on the iPhone, there's no benefit to manually quitting apps. These are some of my favorite Apple Watch tips, but of course there's a lot more to the popular smartwatch. Be sure to also check out which new health features are expected in the next models and Lexy Savvides' review of the Series 10.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
No needle, no vial: India's first AI-based blood test launched in Hyderabad
In what is being seen as a potential game-changer for public health, Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad has become the first in India to adopt an artificial intelligence-based diagnostic tool that conducts non-invasive blood testing in less than a minute, without needles, vials, or lab by health-tech startup Quick Vitals, the tool, called Amruth Swasth Bharath, is an app that uses advanced face-scanning technology to deliver blood test results in 20 to 60 seconds without needing a single drop of was recently unveiled at the hospital's Red Hills campus in Lakdikapul.A BREAKTHROUGH IN DIAGNOSTICSUnlike conventional blood tests, Amruth Swasth Bharath uses Photoplethysmography (PPG), a technology that detects changes in light absorption through the skin to assess vital health parameters such as:Blood PressureOxygen Saturation (SpO2)Heart RateRespiration RateHeart Rate Variability (HRV)Hemoglobin A1cStress LevelsPulse Respiratory Quotient (PRQ)Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System activityThis non-invasive method allows healthcare workers to conduct instant health assessments using just a smartphone or tablet system also supports continuous monitoring for patients using wearable contact-based PPG how the tool works: 'AS EAST AS A SELFIE'Describing the technology, Harish Bisam, founder of Quick Vitals, said with the app, health monitoring has become as simple as taking a selfie."Our mobile face scanning system provides access to essential health data in under a minute. We believe this will bridge existing gaps in healthcare access, especially in underserved communities," Bisam ease of access, experts say, could be vital in large-scale health screenings, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where access to laboratories is ON WOMEN AND CHILDRENThe AI tool is being seen as a major boost to maternal and child health Ravi Kumar, Niloufer Hospital's superintendent, said that the initiative will help bring "timely diagnosis to the most vulnerable populations.""Amruth Swasth Bharath is safe, fast, and beneficial for children and pregnant women," he said. The AI tool is being seen as a major boost to maternal and child health programmes. Dr. Santhosh Kralet, member of the National Medical Commission, added that due to the technology, diseases like anaemia and other silent conditions, which often go undetected in women and children, can be diagnosed faster with more people being screened."It will ensure that no one is left behind in our health interventions," said Dr. SCALE, AND NEXT STEPSQuick Vitals claims that data privacy and security are at the core of its design. The tool allows multiple users to be registered and also ensures patient data is shared only with authorised healthcare system complies with Indian regulatory norms around medical data handling. At the launch event of the Quick Vitals app. The launch at Niloufer Hospital marks the first institutional rollout of this it won't be the last. Speaking at the launch event, Bisam announced that Maharashtra will be the next state to adopt the technology to scale access to AI-based diagnostics across a time when diagnostic backlogs and lab access still pose major challenges, tools like this could help speed up detection, reduce the need for invasive testing, and democratise access to quality health insights.
South China Morning Post
28-04-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
HKTDC helps PanopticAI take its AI-powered health monitoring app onto global stage
Few prosperous businesses ever get started without the support of experts. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is one such expert, which has helped numerous start-ups achieve success since it was established in 1966. Advertisement One of the trade promotion body's missions is to provide Hong Kong companies with advisory services, resources, connections and promotional tools so that they can not only flourish but also expand their reach beyond the city's shores. Its Start-up Express programme is one example of how it provides business support. Each year, the scheme, which was launched in 2018, selects 10 of the city's promising innovative technology companies and helps them to improve their capabilities, identify and explore opportunities, find business and funding partners, and increase their brand awareness. PanopticAI, a start-up working in health technology – one of the main focuses of the programme – is one of the successful businesses that have benefited from its support. A built-in camera on a smartphone, tablet or computer helps PanopticAI's Vitals app measure a person's heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, oxygen saturation and stress level. The company, founded in 2020, has developed its Vitals app, an AI-powered health and wellness monitoring solution, which uses the built-in camera of a smartphone, tablet or computer to measure a person's heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, oxygen saturation and stress level. Its app is able to capture these readings by analysing subtle differences in a person's natural skin colour caused by changes in their blood flow. Advertisement The idea for the app was conceived during the Covid-19 pandemic, which sparked a growing demand for new methods of remote patient monitoring. Today the technology is continuing to help healthcare providers reduce the workload of their staff through the effective management of chronic diseases and the early detection of illnesses.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Latest Apple Watch Series 10 Is $100 Off, the Lowest Price We've Seen So Far
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the latest model and quickly made itself at home on many lists of the best smartwatches around after its 2024 release. It comes in new colors and has a larger display than previous models while the faster chip means apps are more responsive than ever before. Despite all of that, you can now get your hands on the Apple Watch Series 10 for its lowest price ever at $299 at Amazon while Best Buy is selling the same model with the same $70 savings. Other than the fact that it was only a relatively incremental upgrade over the Series 9 -- and that some people might prefer a slightly smaller screen -- there wasn't much that CNET's resident wearable tech expert Lexy Savvides didn't like about the latest flagship Apple Watch. Some of its highlights include the extremely thin and lightweight design, impressive voice call performance and a vibrant screen that makes it easy to read notifications. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. It's also equipped with some advanced fitness functions, starting with the Vitals app which provides a well-rounded picture of how your body is doing. It also has a new function that monitors your sleep over 30 days and alerts you if the data indicates you might suffer from sleep apnea. You'd be surprised how many people don't realize they have it. Other features include improved durability, 50-meter water resistance and all the usual features Apple Watch owners have come to expect like Apple Pay support, Siri access, quick notifications and much more. Apple's latest flagship wearable is an excellent option for most people, but it's not the only Apple Watch on sale right now. Check out our full roundup of all the best Apple Watch deals for savings on the Ultra 2, second-gen SE and Series 9. Apple doesn't offer direct discounts on its own products, so it's a big deal any time one of its latest devices drops down, especially to an all-time low price. Just keep in mind these deals can change at a moment's notice.
CBC
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
This play staged inside a Toronto cafe serves up workplace horror stories
Everyone remembers their first job, and Rosamund Small's was slinging coffee at her neighbourhood Second Cup. "I will never ever forget just how bad I was," she says with a hearty laugh, calling from her apartment in downtown Toronto. The year was 2009, she recalls, and Small — now an award-winning playwright — had just finished high school. As a student, she was "used to being good at things." At work, however, everything felt like a trial by fire. And as she watched her friends leave for university — and internships and gap years abroad — she was stuck home with her parents, unable to tell a Cuzco decaf latte from an Italian soda. "I was just completely lost." Small wasn't born to be a barista, but she's fared significantly better in her chosen profession. By 2014, she'd won a Dora Award for Vitals, an immersive play about a Toronto paramedic on an emergency call, and her latest show, Performance Review, is another project informed by real-life workplace drama. This time, though, she's taken inspiration from her own eclectic C.V. "It's seven stories about seven very difficult days at seven jobs," says Small, and the production, which begins previews Feb. 27, is happening in a Toronto cafe, Morning Parade Coffee Bar at 256 Crawford St. (Alas, Small's Second Cup went out of business the same winter she was brewing lattes.) In addition to writing, Small stars in the one-woman show, and when the doors open at 7:30 p.m. each night, she'll be serving coffee (in character) until the proverbial curtain is ready to go up. In the play's first chapter, Small tells the story of a struggling newbie barista, a girl who's a lot like her teenage self. "The boss is not liking her speed at which she's doing things. There's drama with the colleagues. She doesn't feel like she fits in," says Small, but our heroine shines when it comes to the people-skills aspects of the job. "She starts to feel like maybe she can be good at this," says Small. But her confidence is shaken when a customer tips a whopping $150, instead of the usual 15 per cent. "It begins a core theme in the play of getting in over your head and encountering power dynamics and things you didn't expect," she says — subjects covered over six more stories. There's a scene about a theatre company, a TV writers' room; a university. Small's worked in all those places herself. The tales, however, are fiction. It's seven stories about seven very difficult days at seven jobs. - Rosamund Small, creator of Performance Review As the story unfolds, the action never physically leaves the coffee shop. "There's a sort of metaphor built into it that I find kind of meaningful," says Small. "Wherever you go, there you are. You can feel sometimes that you're back where you started." Mitchell Cushman directs the play. He's the founding artistic director of Outside the March, whose immersive theatre company is also presenting the show. Small is a longtime OtM collaborator, and in addition to writing Vitals and TomorrowLove (2016) for OtM, she was the story editor and dramaturg on No Save Points (2023), a playable play by Sébastien Heins. Performance Review marks her first time acting in one of the company's productions, however, and in fact, it's her first on-stage role since high school. "I really wanted to do this show, and I really wanted to be in it," says Small, who considers the play to be "a self-portrait in some ways." "I think work is really a performance. Work is often not about what you're making, it's about how you're making the people around you feel. So I talk a lot in the show about, you know, trying to try to suck up, basically. Trying to ingratiate, trying to make connections, trying to reach out to people. And sometimes that's in a really authentic way … and sometimes that's it in a more ambitious way or a more calculating way." According to Small, the show is about navigating the complicated — and occasionally perilous — politics of the workplace. "It can be a very confusing dynamic when your job, or part of your job, to perform liking someone or making them feel good." I think work is really a performance. Work is often not about what you're making, it's about how you're making the people around you feel. - Rosamund Small, creator of Performance Review Is acting in a play any easier? And do her future career goals include more performing? "I hope so, yeah. I've really enjoyed feeling this kind of ownership of my own work," says Small. "My own taste [in] theatre has moved toward 'please speak right to me, please be authentic, please be yourself.' So that's kind of the kind of work I want to make too," she says. "I do feel really comfortable. I mean, it's terrifying to perform for sure, but I really wanted to do this show."
