Apple Watch

For the first time since their release in September, Apple is now selling refurbished versions of the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE with a discount of up to 16%.

The release version of the watchOS 7.4 software update for Apple Watch is now available. iPhone users are now able to use Apple Watch to replace Face ID and a passcode when wearing a facial covering like a mask.

AliveCor is accusing Apple of three counts of ECG patent infringement in the Apple Watch, and is seeking to block the importation of all Apple Watches into the US.

The company – which bills itself as “the global leader in FDA-cleared personal electrocardiogram (ECG) technology and services” – has also accused Apple of trying to eliminate the company as a competitor …

Apple is further expanding the ECG application with watchOS 7.4, set to release next week. When watchOS 7.4 is released, the ECG app will come to users in Vietnam and Australia. This comes more than a month after the Australian government’s Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the feature.

Following today’s event Apple has introduced a ton of new Apple Watch bands in a wide variety of new colors and styles. The new Spring colors span across many of Apple’s current band styles, but there is also a completely new Hermès woven textile band.

Following today’s Apple event, all-new MagSafe iPhone cases have been made available to order on the Apple Store. This new Spring collection includes a wide variety of tones for Apple’s silicone and leather case. The company also debuted new colors for the iPhone 12 leather wallet and leather sleeves.

David Smith, the prolific developer behind apps like Watchsmith and Widgetsmith, is out with a new Apple Watch app today. “Ian’s Awesome Counter” is a new application for Apple Watch that Smith says is “designed to help you be more focused and aware of yourself.”

Apple Watch is at the top of its class, but it isn’t a perfect product. The hardware and design is space age compared to the competition, and the software experience meets Apple’s mark. It’s also very personal because you wear it. Apple has known this from the start, so it designs personalization into the product. From watch colors and materials to strap choices and watch faces, it’s easy to make the Apple Watch uniquely yours.

How you use the Apple Watch is even more personal. The tech enthusiast in me wants to find a use for every Apple Watch feature, but this can create an overwhelming experience if you’re not intentional about your approach. It’s possible to want to reduce your reliance on the iPhone through the Apple Watch, only to find yourself even more annoyed by interruptions on your wrist.

Identifying utility from the Apple Watch while toning it down when the watch becomes too much has been something I’ve been working through recently. I’ll share where I’ve landed as well as a few feature requests for managing the experience for the better.

Apple has a pair of new Apple Watch Activity Challenges coming this month. In addition to the annual Earth Day Challenge, Apple is also launching a new International Dance Day Challenge for the first time. This comes after the launch of Apple Fitness+, which includes an entire category of dancing workouts.

Update 4/15: The 44mm Black Unity Apple Watch Series 6 with GPS + Cellular connection is back in stock. The GPS version is still sold out after almost two weeks.

Two months after launch, the 44mm Black Unity Apple Watch Series 6 is currently sold out in the online US Apple Store. This comes after Apple branded the wearable as “limited edition” in honor of Black History Month.

The sixth 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.

Swatch will own the One More Thing trademark in the UK, despite the fact that it achieved its current fame through Steve Jobs’s use of it in Apple keynote presentations.

Apple failed to persuade a court to block the trademark application, even though the judge agreed that Swatch’s motivation was likely dubious …

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.