Thursday, November 30, 2017
The First FDA-Cleared EKG Reading Apple Watch Strap Is Here
A new Apple Watch strap — and the first medically approved Apple Watch accessory — has recently received FDA clearance. The aftermarket band could open up additional heart monitoring and health capabilities for Cupertino’s flagship wearable.
What Is KardiaBand?
The AliveCor KardiaBand, as the device is called, is a Bluetooth-connected strap that takes on-the-spot electrocardiogram (EKG) readings. That’s a step above the optical heart rate sensor already included on the Apple Watch, and it means that the KardiaBand can better track atrial fibrillation — an irregular and typically rapid heart rate that can increase a person’s chance of stroke, heart failure or other complications.
How Does KardiaBand Work?
To use the KardiaBand, a user must place their thumb or finger on a metal contact embedded in the strap, which completes a circuit with another metal contact that rests against a user’s wrist. By most measures, it’s a discreet and easy process. The EKG reading takes about 30 seconds, and the resulting data can be stored in-app, imported to Apple’s Health app, or even sent to a user’s own doctor for further analysis.
In addition, AliveCor’s proprietary Kardia app tracks heart rate continuously with the Apple Watch’s onboard sensor. It can detect when a user’s heart rate seems out of place, using AI and a neural network to establish patterns based on previous activity and history. If the app detects a problem, it will ping a user to take an EKG reading.
Apple has already well-established the fact that it wants the Apple Watch to be a cornerstone of modern, healthy lifestyles. The Apple Watch itself has proven to be an invaluable tool for monitoring heart rates — in one case, a man said the device’s heart monitoring saved his life. But Apple’s health ambitions may stretch well beyond its chief wearable. At one point, the company was even exploring the acquisition of an on-site medical clinic startup.
Additionally, just today, Apple announced the official U.S. launch of its Apple Heart Study — a ResearchKit-based study being conducted in collaboration with Standard School of Medicine. While it may be the most significant, it’s certainly not the first Apple Watch-focused health study.
Wearable heart monitor technology that’s medically sanctioned isn’t too common yet, but all signs point toward the technology blooming in the near future. In recent years, the FDA has even made it easier for tech firms to produce health-monitoring devices, software and accessories. Apple, it seems, is again on the tip of the spear.
KardiaBand Compatibility and Price
Appearance-wise, the KardiaBand appears to be nothing more than an unassuming black Apple Watch strap. It’s compatible with Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 — which is to say, any Apple Watch except the original. It retails for $199 with EKG recording functionality via email or print. Additional capabilities, like cloud storage, history and monthly reports sent to your doctor, cost $99 a year for Alivecor’s premium subscription.
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Another Patent Hints at iPhone Compatibility with Apple Pencil
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday published an Apple patent, specifically covering the technical details surrounding “position-based communication between the Apple Pencil and iPhone.”
While it’s strictly technical in nature, today’s patent, which was originally filed back in Q2 of 2016, is the latest indication that we could be much closer to an iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil than we think.
As described by Patently Apple, Figure 7 (illustrated in the image below) shows a portion of a standard, multi-touch panel configuration, which according to Apple is capable of operating via an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to facilitate a stylus scan. Figure 8, meanwhile, shows the iPhone and its touchscreen ready to accept input from a connected stylus device (Apple Pencil).
Worth pointing out with regards to Figure 8: illustrated is what appears to be an example of Apple Pencil communicating with iPhone via a wired connection, like Lightning — however the company notes in other embodiments that the Apple Pencil can also communicate with iPhone over a wireless communication channel such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
The rest of the patent is strictly technical in both nature and terminology, and goes on to describe “touch sensitive devices” which can include “circuitry for analyzing encoded stylus data.” These examples, shown in Figures 11-A and 11-B, illustrate “exemplary stylus signal analysis hardware for decoding stylus data.” Such hardware can be used to analyze data collected from “one or more touch sensors proximate to a stylus during a fine stylus sub-scan.”
Figures 13-A and 13-B, meanwhile, illustrate examples of various “stylus data processing hardware.” In 13-A, we see an example of processing hardware which includes a “plurality of correlation engines,” which can “receive input selected by position estimation engine via multiplexers,” according to the patent documents.
As with all Apple patents, this one too should be taken with a grain of salt until further notice, especially as the company is known for patenting more in the way of concepts than it produces.
Still, considering how the inherent patent delves further into the iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil patents published previously, it’s only reasonable to assume we could actually see this in the not too distant future. Perhaps even when Apple adopts a much larger display for iPhone next year.
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Class Action Suit Filed Against Google over ‘Illegal’ Safari Browser Tracking
An unprecedented class action lawsuit has been levied at Google in the United Kingdom, claiming that the company owes compensation to millions of iPhone users in the country.
A consumer campaign group called “Google You Owe Us” is now taking Google to court in the UK, alleging that the company had unlawfully collected personal information by bypassing certain privacy settings on the iPhone between June 2011 and February 2012. The group says that about 5.4 million people in England and Wales may be eligible for up to £100s in compensation — if the suit is successful.
The lawsuit claims that Google used a workaround to track “internet browsing history” by allowing the company to deposit cookies on an iPhone’s default Safari browser, even if the device was set to block cookies. The private browsing data was then sold to targeted advertising services. Google, on the other hand, has countered by claiming the practice was only used on the company’s failed Google+ social media site.
Richard Lloyd, a former director of consumer rights group Which?, is now taking the Mountain View tech giant to court, alongside UK-based law firm Mischon de Reya. “I believe that what Google did was simply against the law. Their actions have affected millions, and we’ll be asking the courts to remedy this major breach of trust,” Lloyd told The Guardian.
“Through this action, we will send a strong message to Google and other tech giants in Silicon Valley that we’re not afraid to fight back if our laws are broken,” Lloyd added. In addition to Google, Facebook and other online advertising networks were found to be using the workaround, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2012.
The suit is unusual for the UK; class action lawsuits of this scale are rarer in the country than in the United States. Google, for its part, said it would defend its case. “This is not new,” a Google spokesperson said. “We have defended similar cases before. We don’t believe it has any merit and we will contest it.”
The consumer group expects its case to be heard by Britain’s High Court sometime next year.
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Apple Will Spend $4.2 Billion on Original TV Content By 2022
Apple’s original content ambitions are no secret: the company wants to acquire or produce a range of original and compelling television content for streaming on-demand. Earlier this year, Apple went on a hiring tangent — snapping up multiple television and film industry executives in a bid to spearhead its in-house content production projects; and the company even allocated $1 billion to help get those projects off the ground.
Now, in an indication that Apple is getting even more serious about its original video endeavors, a brand-new Variety report claims that the iPhone maker will bump up its video production allowance to as much as $4.23 billion by 2022, as part of a broader effort to expand and re-brand Apple Music.
Ultimately, according to long-time Apple watchdog slash former Piper Jaffray analyst, Gene Munster, Cupertino’s goal is to position Apple Music as a direct competitor to existing video-on-demand subscription services, such as Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Definitely worth pointing out is that while Apple may increase its bankroll by a couple billion dollars over the next few years, the same video streaming companies it’s trying to compete with, according to Munster’s predictions, will also up their spending to as much as $6.84 and $8.34 billion, respectively, over the same timeframe.
Interestingly, Munster’s predictions are coming off the heels of separate report which suggested that Netflix could spend as much as $8 billion to develop original content in 2018, while Amazon is already expected to spend more than $4.5 billion this year, alone, Variety noted.
Still, Munster believes Apple’s goal is to re-brand Apple Music over the next two or three years — expanding and re-focusing the digital audio streaming platform to encompass “much more than just songs.”
“Apple should be able to quickly expand their sub base given they have a running start with just over 30 million Apple Music subs that will have access to the video offering for the same $10 per month,” Munster noted in his blog post, noting that the company’s move to increase spending and expand the Apple Music brand is consistent with its pledge to continue growing its increasingly profitable Services Business.
Of course, while he’s a credible source of Apple knowledge, neither Munster (nor the rest of us) know for sure whether Apple’s original video content will even debut on Apple Music — and we don’t know when it’ll debut… Although we did recently learn about some of the company’s first, upcoming productions, which will include a reboot of Steven Spielberg’s classic “Amazing Stories” anthology, in addition to a new and original drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.
Are you looking forward to watching Apple’s original video programming? Let us know in the comments!
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Another New Apple Patent Hints a Foldable iPhone Is Coming
The era of foldable smartphones may soon be upon us. If you need evidence of that, Apple recently filed yet another patent dedicated to the concept.
The patent, 20170336831, details an “electronic device (that) may have a flexible portion that allows (it) to be folded” and describes flexible displays with touch sensors and components that can bend when “being opened and closed like a book.” The patent was filed in September 2016, and was published by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on Nov. 23.
Notably, the patent published this month is only the latest of several that describe similar technologies — specifically foldable displays and devices with flip phone-like characteristics. In November 2016, Apple was granted a patent that details internal smartphone components that could bend without disrupting or damaging them. The company was granted a similar patent, describing a display that could “fold-out” or “fold-in,” in January.
Similarly, according to Korean media sources, display manufacturer LG has been working with phonemakers to develop flexible OLED technology that could make a true foldable smartphone — without hinges — possible. The most recent rumor we’ve heard out of Korea about the tech surfaced on Oct. 11, suggesting that there the companies are still working on the technology.
Foldable phones and flip phones, of course, had their heyday in the ‘90s and ‘00s, but are seeing a resurgence — particularly in Asia, which is the largest smartphone market in the world, CNN reported. Several high-end flip smartphones that have debuted this year include the ZTE Axon M and Samsung’s SM-W2018.
While not all of the patents Apple applies for end up being used in a mass market product, the uptick in foldable display technology patents could hint at Cupertino’s future plans. Or, at the very least, they suggest that Apple is exploring the new form factor for a possible device. Whether that device ever sees the light of day, however, remains to be seen.
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Verizon Plans to Offer 5G Residential Broadband Next Year
Verizon is poised to launch 5G residential broadband services in three to five US markets next year, the wireless carrier announced in a press release. The first commercial 5G rollout is due to take place in Sacramento, California sometime during the second half of 2018.
“Verizon estimates the market opportunity for initial 5G residential broadband services to be approximately 30 million households nationwide,” the company said.
Verizon has been conducting trials of its 5G residential offering with a sample of non-paying customers in 11 cities across the US, with promising results. Users reportedly achieved download speeds of around 1Gbps as far away as 2,000 feet from the base station, exceeding the expectations of industry observers. Latency on internet service has also been reduced to 10 milliseconds, down from the 50 milliseconds commonly seen on 4G networks. Verizon plans to use radio signals on the 28 GHz band, rather than copper or fiber cables, to deliver fifth-generation wireless services to customers.
If these results hold, users will be able to enjoy unprecedented wireless internet speeds, paving the way for commercial use of 3D and VR products and the internet of things.
“This is a landmark announcement for customers and investors who have been waiting for the 5G future to become a reality,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon president of Global Networks and Chief Technology Officer. “We appreciate our strong ecosystem partners for their passion and technological support in helping us drive forward with 5G industry standards, for both fixed and mobile applications. The targeted initial launches we are announcing today will provide a strong framework for accelerating 5G’s future deployment on the global standards.”
Verizon also has plans in place to test mobile 5G services in 2018, in partnership with telecom equipment manufacturer Ericsson and chipmaker Intel, along with Samsung, Intel, LG, Nokia, and Qualcomm.
Learn More: iPhone Rumored to Receive LTE Upgrade Next Year, 5G By 2020
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Apple Countersues Qualcomm over Battery Saving Patents
Apple has filed a countersuit against Qualcomm alleging that several of the chip-maker’s Snapdragon Systems on a Chip (SoCs), which power a wide range of Android and Windows Phone devices, infringe on its battery patents, according to a Reuters report.
Documents filed with the U.S. District Court in San Diego on Wednesday reveal what appears to be Apple’s “revised response” to Qualcomm’s previous, battery patent infringement complaints lodged against it back in July of this year. Specifically, Apple is now claiming to be the owner of “at least eight” battery life patents which Qualcomm has violated.
Apple asserts that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 and 820 SoCs — which power a wide range of mobile devices from Samsung, LG, Nokia, HTC, Google and others — infringe on the inherent patents. However none of the aforementioned OEMs are named in the iPhone maker’s complaint.
“The Apple patents involve ensuring each part of a phone’s processor draws only the minimum power needed, turning off parts of the processor when they are not needed and making sleep and wake functions work better,” Reuters said, while Apple, in its official complaint, noted that “Apple began seeking those patents years before Qualcomm began seeking the patents it asserts against Apple in this case.”
Apple is seeking “unspecified damages” from Qualcomm, according to the report.
Interesting and worth pointing out is that back in July, Qualcomm accused Apple of “infringing several battery patents” (mainly covering methods and tools designed to help mobile devices achieve better battery life.) Apple, for its part, denied those initial allegations, firing back at Qualcomm with its usual “those patents are invalid” argument.
Based on the timing and nature of its complaint, however, it would appear that Apple is, in a way, snubbing Qualcomm. In other words: Qualcomm started it, but now Apple is fighting back, with a vengeance as it usually does in these cases.
We’ll just have to wait and see how this case unfolds, as whether Apple’s accusations are even valid remains open for [legal] discussion.
Meanwhile, the complaint is merely the latest spat in Apple and Qualcomm’s contentious and ongoing legal dispute, which has roiled the chip maker on multiple fronts. We’ll spare you the chronological details of where their case has been so far, but if you’re a fan of high-tech and high-stakes legal drama, then we invite you to catch up on all the latest happenings in ‘Apple v. Qualcomm’, and of course, ‘Qualcomm v. Apple’
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Apple’s Highly-Anticipated AFib Heart Study Officially Begins
Apple on Thursday announced the official U.S. launch of its anticipated Apple Heart Study — a joint, ResearchKit- and app-based study being conducted in collaboration with doctors and researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine. Utilizing the Apple Watch’s in-built heart rate sensor, researchers will collect eligible participants’ “irregular heart rhythm” data, while notifying those who may be experiencing a condition known as atrial fibrillation (AFib).
“Every week we receive incredible customer letters about how Apple Watch has affected their lives, including learning that they have AFib. These stories inspire us and we’re determined to do more to help people understand their health,” said Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Williams, adding that by “Working alongside the medical community, not only can we inform people of certain health conditions, we also hope to advance discoveries in heart science.”
What Is AFib?
Atrial fibrillation, or flutter, according to Cedar’s-Sinai, is “a condition in which electrical charges in the heart are sent very rapidly to the upper chambers, causing them to contract rapidly,” ultimately “stimulating the lower chambers in the heart” to “pump faster and less efficiently than normal.”
“During atrial fibrillation, the atria do not completely pump blood into the ventricles. Eventually, some of the blood in the atria starts to stagnate and clot. If these clots break up or break off, they may pass into the left ventricle, travel through the bloodstream and block a smaller artery. If this happens in the brain, it can cause a stroke.”
Apple Heart Study Method
All variants of the Apple Watch are equipped with what’s repeatedly been christened one of the most accurate heart rate monitors available in a wearable device. To calculate heart rate and rhythm in the inherent study, Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor will utilize its green LED lights, flashing at a rate of hundreds/times per second, and “light-sensitive photodiodes” to help detect the amount of blood flowing through a user’s wrist.
Accordingly, if an irregular heart rhythm is detected, participants will receive a notification on their Apple Watch and iPhone, a free consultation with one of the study’s doctors, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) patch to wear for additional monitoring.
“Through the Apple Heart Study, Stanford Medicine faculty will explore how technology like Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor can help usher in a new era of proactive health care central to our Precision Health approach,” said Lloyd Minor, Dean of Stanford University School of Medicine. “We’re excited to work with Apple on this breakthrough heart study.”
How to Participate
The Apple Heart Study app began rolling out on the U.S. App Store Thursday morning — and those who own an Apple Watch Series 1, 2, or 3, as well as an iPhone running iOS 11 or later, and are at least 22 years old can download the app and register now. Unfortunately, Apple says the study is not intended for those who’ve already been determined to have AFib.
Irregular heart rhythms are not always symptoms of a more serious, underlying condition; however AFib, or atrial flutter, is among the leading causes of stoke, which can be fatal.
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Use These 10 Gadgets to Make Holiday Travel Easy
Words most people wouldn’t use to describe ‘holiday travel’ include easy or comfortable. Whether you’re traveling by plane or by car, there will be plenty of obstacles, lost items, and other mishaps along the way. While seeing friends and family is always worth the effort it takes to actually get there, there are many tech gadgets that can help improve the quality and increase the enjoyment of traveling. Here are 10 of them.
10 BauBax Travel Bomber Jacket (Men and Women)
The BauBax Travel Bomber Jacket is the everyday jacket you’ve always needed but never existed. Of the jacket’s 15 total features, it includes earphone holders, a dedicated phone pocket, neck pillow, and built-in gloves. For anyone traveling this season, this is the perfect stress-free jacket–keeping your iPhone, passport, pen, and more protected and within close reach. Simply put, the BauBax Travel Bomber hits on three levels: style, functionality, and comfort. Buy here: Get this all-in-one smart jacket for $109.99 for men (black, red, blue) and women (black, red, blue).
9Durable Military Grade Charging Cable
Made out of braided ballistic military-grade nylon, double thick protective PVC jacket, extra thick wire gauge and a robust kevlar core, this Nomad Ultra Rugged Universal Cable is made to last. Gift this tough cable to a friend who can’t decide between iPhone or Android (although the choice should be obvious), since this utilitarian cable includes both a Lighting and micro USB cable. Or use it yourself to keep your phone charged through the holidays and beyond. Buy here: Get this universal charging cable for $34.95.
8 Ultra-Thin Battery Pack
Whether you’re driving hundreds of miles, or waiting to board a plane, you can easily run out of battery power traveling over the holidays. Be sure your phone is at full battery (whether you’re around an outlet or not) with this Mophie Powerstation 8X Battery Pack, boasting an incredible 15W output that can recharge a smartphone up to eight times. It’s also one of the slimmest external batteries on the market, meaning it won’t take up too much space while you’re traveling light. Buy here: Get this must-have portable battery for $79.95, or 46% off the usual price of $149.95.
7 Truly Wireless Earphones
When all you want is some peace and quiet in a house full of guests or while on the road, these Treblab X11 Earphones will certainly do the trick. They deliver high-quality sound in the ultra-convenient, wireless package, with passive noise cancellation to drown out even the rowdiest of relatives. Buy here: Get these wireless earbuds for $36.99, or 81% off the usual price of $199.99.
6 Highly Rated Mindfulness App
Apps are capable of doing a lot these days, and this Aura Premium: Lifetime Subscription could be your ticket to a zen holiday season (it can actually happen). Using groundbreaking AI, Aura delivers short, science-backed mindfulness meditation exercises every day to cater to you and your needs — it just won’t get your mother-in-law out of the house. Buy here: Relieve stress for $59.99 — that’s 84% off the usual price of $399.
5 Universal Dash Smartphone Clip
Hitting the road for the holidays? Prevent accidents and keep your eyes on the road, even while you navigate with this Universal Dash Smartphone Clip Mount. It easily clips onto your dashboard and allows you to adjust your phone’s angle for your best view — helping you avoid getting a ticket (or worse). Buy here: Get this handy mount for $11.99 – that’s 69% off the original price of $39.
4 Activity Planning App
You have a lot to get done before the holidays actually hit: grocery shopping, gift buying, invite sending — and the list goes on and on. With this WeDo Pro: Lifetime Subscription, you’ll be able to keep track of it all — plus, there’s a way you can collaborate on your to-dos, sharing lists with groups and setting up tasks so that you can ensure everything gets done on time. Buy here: Get this powerful planning app for $19.99, or 88% off the original price of $180.
3 2-in-1 Eye Mask and Headphone Set
Flight delays happen – and for those longer layovers or red eye flights, there’s these Sleep Eye Mask Headphones. The ultra-soft, memory foam eye mask helps block out light (including the one from the person next to you reading on the plane) and built-in over-ear headphones can play whatever music you like, or keep out ambient noise. Buy here: Get some rest for $19.99, or 59% off the usual price of $49.
2 High Quality Smartphone Camera Lens Kit
Getting that perfect holiday photo with your family and friends shouldn’t be difficult — and with this RevolCam: The Multi-Lens Photo Revolution for Smartphones kit, it won’t be. The RevolCam provides extra flash for dark shots and a wide-angle lens to make sure that the entire family fits in the shot — plus wide angle, fisheye and macro lenses that easily attach to your smartphone. Buy here: No DSLR, no problem — get this kit for $34.99, or 40% off the usual price of $59.
1 Bluetooth Fingerprint Smart Lock
Maybe you’re not traveling this year, and friends and family are actually coming to you. No longer will you need to worry about being present to unlock the door when they arrive, or passing out spare keys. Simply give your loved ones the access code to this Bluetooth smart lock and they can let themselves right in no matter where you are. This waterproof and dustproof smart lock allows users to unlock doors with anti-peep keypad touchscreen, advanced fingerprint recognition, or straight from an iPhone. Buy here: Get this smart lock for $168.99, or 47% off the usual price of $319.99
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