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Tag: iwatch

  • The iOS stopwatch gets Live Activities support in iOS 17.4

    The iOS stopwatch gets Live Activities support in iOS 17.4

    The iOS 17.4 beta update that was recently released by Apple includes a new feature for the Clock app’s Stopwatch. Once iOS 17.4 is installed on your iPhone, (we expect the update to be released as soon as March 4th), you’ll be able to start the Stopwatch from the clock app and watch it count the seconds, minutes, and hours on the Dynamic Island and the Lock Screen.

    The Dynamic Island will display an up-to-the-second look at the Stopwatch and tapping on it will give the user an option to pause the timer, or start a new lap. The same controls are all available for the Stopwatch on the Lock Screen. After pausing the Stopwatch on the Dynamic Island, you can clear it by tapping on the “X” button. On the Lock Screen, you can clear the Stopwatch by pausing it and swiping it off the screen.

    While timers have worked with Live Activities since the feature was introduced with iOS 16, the Stopwatch could only be viewed in the Clock app. But with iOS 17.4, that is going to change. And with an active Stopwatch running on the iPhone showing up front and center, you will no longer forget that you have one running.

    Because iOS 17.4 will bring major changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the EU thanks to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA mandates that Apple make these changes by March 8th which is why we expect the update to arrive on Monday, March 4th. As we noted the other day, iOS 17.4 will also add a switch to the Stolen Device Protection feature allowing users to have the feature work everywhere. Currently, users can arrange to have the feature work at unfamiliar locations or they can disable it.

    Stolen Device Protection requests that Face ID and Touch ID verify your identity to complete certain actions. More sensitive tasks, such as changing your iPhone passcode, changing your Apple ID password, resetting Face ID or Touch ID, and disabling the Find My app, require that an hour pass before the requested changes take place. And even then, after an hour, you must verify your identity via Face ID or Touch ID.

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  • The Uber Apple Watch app is now discontinued

    The Uber Apple Watch app is now discontinued

    It appears that Uber has ended support for its Apple Watch app. Many users noticed that they no longer have the ability to use Uber’s Apple Watch app to order a ride.

    When a user opens Uber’s Apple Watch app, the app displays a message that Uber no longer supports this app and suggests users use the mobile app instead.

    Confusingly, although Uber’s Apple Watch app doesn’t work anymore, it is still available in the App Store and can still be downloaded and installed. Uber also didn’t reflect the change on its support site. The support site still says that users can use Uber’s Apple Watch app to order a ride.

    In 2015, Uber launched its app for the Apple Watch, which always had a few limitations compared to the iPhone version. Uber’s Apple Watch app didn’t support uberPOOL for sharing a ride with someone headed in the same direction as you. Uber’s Apple Watch app also lacked the fare splitting option and the ETA sharing feature through which you can share your trip details with friends or family. You also couldn’t use your Apple Watch to contact the Uber driver.

    It appears that users were unhappy with the way Uber’s Apple Watch app worked. Users on Reddit have complained about the little information the Apple Watch version offered. A Reddit user also mentioned having “bad experiences” with Uber drivers owing to the inability to select a destination via their Apple watch when ordering an Uber.

    Uber is not the first to end support for its Apple Watch version of the app. Back in 2018, Uber’s competitor Lyft pulled out its Apple Watch app from the app store and ended its support.

    Around 2020, Uber also silently ended the support for its wearOS version of the app. Users then had reported the inability to log into the app. Many users had also complained about having various problems with the wearOS version. Some users even had said that Uber’s wearOS app never really worked for them. It is possible that due to the numerous issues the Uber wearOS app had, many users preferred using the mobile version instead. And if this is the case, there is no surprise why Uber decided to stop supporting the WearOS app.

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  • Apple releases final versions of latest iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch updates

    Apple releases final versions of latest iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch updates

    Apple today released an update to iOS 14.0.1 that exterminates some bugs and more. This isn’t the first public update released by Apple over the last week. On September 16th, the final public build of iOS 14 was introduced bringing changes to the home screen, Android-style widgets, picture-in-picture capabilities, App Clips, and more. The latter allows a user to take advantage of an app’s feature set to take care of tasks without having to completely install the app.

    So what are the issues that iOS 14.0.1 fixes? One causes the default browser or Mail app you’ve selected to reset to Safari or Mail when your iPhone or iPad is rebooted. With today’s update, this problem is erased which means that once you’ve selected your default browser or mail app, you won’t have to select it again. The update also corrects a problem with the Apple News widget that prevents images from showing up on the screen. Other bug fixes are related to Wi-Fi connectivity, and the sending of email through certain mail providers. And there is even an issue specific to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus related to camera previews that Apple repairs with iOS 14.0.1. Also being pushed out today update to iPadOS 14.0.1, and watchOS 7.0.1. The latter “fixes an issue where some payment cards in Wallet were disabled for some users.”

    To update your devices, on your iPhone and iPad go to Settings > General > Software Update. To update your Apple Watch, on the device itself go to General > Software Update. If an update is ready, tap on Install and follow the directions on the device. The Apple Watch must be within the range of your iPhone’s signal and must have a Wi-Fi connection. The installation will begin once the timepiece is charged to 50% or higher. Keep the watch connected to the charger until the update is completed.

    The update to iOS 14.0.1 weighs in at approximately 171.MB and the watchOS update to version 7.0.1 weigh in at 1GB. Updates to macOS Catalina 10.15.7, and tvOS 14.0.1 have also been made available by Apple today.

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  • Pokemon GO support for Apple Watch gets the ax

    Pokemon GO support for Apple Watch gets the ax

    The folks at Niantic, developers of Pokemon GO, have always added support for new platforms and OSes when it was needed. The most recent announcement coming from the company does exactly the opposite though.

    It looks like Pokemon GO developer Niantic has decided to discontinue support for Apple Watch, which means that those using the wearable device will no longer be able to connect it to the game after July 1, 2019.

    According to Niantic, the change was needed because Adventure Sync allows Trainers the option of tracking their steps, earning Buddy Candy, and hatching Eggs in one mobile device rather than two separate devices.

    In other words, the developers want to focus on building Adventure Sync so that players will no longer have to split their gameplay between two devices. To continue tracking their distance, Apple Watch users will have to sync their fitness apps in their phones, which doesn’t require wearable devices.

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  • Swatch wins trademark lawsuit against Apple

    Swatch wins trademark lawsuit against Apple

    Swatch is no stranger to legal battles with giants like Apple and Samsung, and to some success, we might add. The Swiss company filed a lawsuit against Samsung two months ago, because the South Korean company copied Swatch’s trademark on its smartwatch faces. However, Swatch was sued by Apple two years ago for a similar reason. The Cupertino-based company claimed in the lawsuit that Swatch’s logo – “Tick different,” which is etched on some of its smartwatches, strongly resemble its famous “Think different” slogan.

    Unfortunately for Apple, a Swiss court has just ruled in Swatch’s favor over the use of its “Tick different” logo. Apparently, the court doesn’t think that Swatch’s slogan infringes on Apple’s own logo, but even if they are very similar, the Swiss company claims the “Think Different” advertising campaign wasn’t too popular in Switzerland to warrant protection.

    The Federal Administrative Court has agreed with Swatch and said that Apple hasn’t given the court enough documents that would back up its case. Of course, Swatch wouldn’t stand a chance in the United States where the “Think Different” advertising campaign remains one the most famous in the company’s history.

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  • Apple concedes new watch has connectivity glitch

    Apple concedes new watch has connectivity glitch

    Apple on Wednesday conceded its latest smartwatch unveiled a week ago has problems with its most important feature: the ability to make phone calls and access data without an iPhone nearby.

    Several prominent reviewers said Wednesday they could not recommend the device because of a wifi glitch that causes cellular connectivity problems.

    The Watch Series 3 starts at $399 and was launched alongside new iPhone models. Unlike previous versions of the watch, it has cellular network connectivity built in.

    Apple said the watch can experience LTE connectivity problems when it connects to open wi-fi networks such as at a hotel or a coffee shop.

    The company is “investigating a fix for a future software release,” Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette told.

    Many reviewers praised the new features and gave generally positive assessments.

    But other prominent publications, including the Wall Street Journal and The Verge, recommended against purchasing the new model because the LTE cellular data connectivity did not work as expected.

    The mixed reviews weighed on Apple shares, which closed down about 1.7 percent at $156.07.

    Apart from connection issues, some reviewers were disappointed with the drain on the watch’s battery while making calls. Apple had touted up to 18 hours of battery life but said the watch would get only one hour on a cellular phone call. Gene Munster, a longtime Apple analyst with Loup Ventures, doubted issues with the Series 3 Watch would hurt Apple’s bottom line. “That review takeaway is a negative but is not a surprise. This is the first generation watch with LTE,” he told.

    Bob O’Donnell, an analyst with Techanlysis Research, said the watch reviews, paired with reviews of the iPhone 8 that were generally positive but described the phone as an incremental improvement on its predecessor, put more pressure on the iPhone X to garner good press before its Nov. 3 launch.

    Apple also experienced hiccups with iOS 11, the new operating system the firm released Tuesday.

    For business users, iOS 11’s Mail application had problems sending mail for Microsoft Exchange and Outlook.com mail accounts.

  • China is buying about one-fifth of the world’s Apple Watches

    China is buying about one-fifth of the world’s Apple Watches

    Demand from China has helped drive the massive success of the iPhones 6, but will it do the same for the Apple Watch? The early numbers look a bit muted, though still promising.

    Since the device’s release in May, research firm RedTech Advisors/TalkingData estimates that over 1 million of the watches have been sold in China. Sales for the three-month period ending in June topped out at over 626,000, which the company calculates to equal 22% of estimated global sales of 2.8 million devices.

    That’s lower than China’s overall contribution to Apple’s revenues. While the company doesn’t disclose disclose iPhone sales by region, last quarter Apple generated 26% of its revenues from China, driven by sales of its smartphone.

    Growth of the Apple Watch is slowing in China, and sales aren’t expected to increase until November, when China’s e-commerce companies launch their Cyber Monday-esque Single’s Day deals, and then later through Chinese New Year in February.

    RedTech said the uptake for the Apple Watch in China has been slower than other Apple products, but attributes this to a lack of supply rather than demand. The company estimates that 30% of activated Apple watches in China came from “grey market” third-party vendors during the product’s release, but as supply increased, grey-market sales plummeted to 13%. Right now, the firm calculates that 40% of Apple Watch sales are coming from official Apple Stores, another 28% come from its official Chinese online store, and the remainder from third-party vendors, gifts, and overseas vendors.

    Apple is aggressively expanding its retail presence in China, and plans to double its number of retail outlets in China by 2016 to 40.

    It may be difficult determine whether the Apple Watch has been a success for some time, either in China or globally. Smart wristbands, unlike phones, are a relatively new type of hardware. IDC estimates that Apple globally has 19% of wearable market share, a remarkable feat given that Apple’s watch has only been available for just over a three month period.

    But one Apple supplier from Taiwan complained that orders for watch components were lower than anticipated, which suggests Apple had even higher expectations.

  • Apple Watch knock-offs hit China stores

    Apple Watch knock-offs hit China stores

    Apple’s new Watch range won’t be on sale until late next month.

    But Chinese consumers whose appetite for the wrist-mounted communications technology has been whetted by the high profile Apple Watch launch last week can already buy similar products at a fraction of the price.

    Apple Watch real and copy 315One is real, the other is a copy. Can you tell which is which? Answer at the end of the story.

    Knock-offs, copies, imitations, fakes – it’s hard to categorise the new breed of rival products hitting retail store shelves. For sure, some are blatant copies of the Apple Watch and their makers are likely to find themselves on the receiving end of litigation from Cupertino. But others fit into a large grey field of the retail landscape: conceptually they may be similar, they may even look alike (a watch is a watch, right?) but some operate on Google’s Android operating system making it extremely difficult to dub them fakes.

    The official Apple Watch goes on sale in three styles, ranging in price from US$350 to $17,000.

    But already Alibaba’s Taobao is selling a watch called the AW08 for $59 which can be connected to devices running Google Android and delivered within 24 hours. Other similar products cost as little as $39.

    According to tech news website Geekwire.com, other “knock-offs” branded D-Watch, Airwatch A8 and Ai Watch are also available on Taobao at prices substantially below the Apple Watch and “designed to look just like the Apple Watch”.

    Some commentators question whether the knock-off phase will damage Apple, in a nation where image and status is of growing importance, or if all the hoopla will actually help Apple’s brand and product awareness, driving sales of the ‘real McCoy’.

    “Most people who buy them will do so knowing they are not Apple’s real Watch,” Matthew Forney, president of the business consultancy Fathom China, told the BBC.

    “Apple products are very popular in China, and it’s possible that Chinese consumers will want to be seen to be the first person on their block to wear its Watch. However, I think most of those consumers are aware that there has been an issue with fakes and copycats on Taobao and would be highly suspicious of the devices.”

    Others are worried about the damage such businesses do to brands in general.

    “These guys are specialists,” Laurent Le Pan, founder and CEO of the Omate smartwatch maker told CNN Money.

    “The speed at which they can bring copies on the market is amazing. The hardware is not the big challenge – the hard part is on the software and the application side. In the end, you sometimes need to be an expert to tell the difference between real and fake.”

    For now, Apple might own the Watch space with the perception it is the first to market – other brands have already released smart watches of their own, but to date few if any connect to smartphones, their features largely limited to exercise measuring and physical fitness monitoring. But that won’t hold for too long, with Apple’s second wave of competition coming from established genuine brands rather than the armada of copycats.

    Swatch, the world’s largest watchmaker, plans to launch a smart watch to undercut Apple and other legitimate rivals featuring Near Field Communication (NFC) chips later this year, which will allow payments by watch, among other features.

    Rival manufacturers will have to be compatible with iOs or Android, so most will focus on Android given the likely barriers Apple will place on sanctioning direct competitors on its own OS.

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  • China, Japan first to get Apple Watch

    China, Japan first to get Apple Watch

    The much anticipated Apple Watch has been unveiled – and China, Hong Kong and Japan will be among the first 10 markets globally in which it will go on sale.

    From April 10, the Apple Watch range will be available for preview, fitting and ordering in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US and on the Apple Online Store. On April 24, Apple Watch will be available to purchase online or by reservation in Apple’s retail stores and in China and Japan through selected Apple authorised resellers. Customers who purchase online or in-store from Apple will be offered Personal Setup to customise and pair Apple Watch with their iPhone.

    Apple describes the Apple Watch as its “most personal device yet” – an “incredibly accurate timepiece, an intimate and immediate communication device and a groundbreaking health and fitness companion”.

    “Highly customisable for personal expression, Apple Watch also brings an entirely new way to receive information at a glance and interact with the world through third-party app experiences designed specifically for the wrist.”

    Apple says the watch will keep time to within 50 milliseconds of UTC, the universal time standard. Its face can be customised by the user, with a traditional analog look, an “information-rich Modular face” or animated butterflies and jellyfish.

    “Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We can’t wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before.”

    Apple Watch 3 models

    Its touch screen can differentiate between touch, tap and swipe and the watch ‘taps’ the wearer’s wrist if new information is received.

    Features include email, the ability to answer phone calls from your wrist (the device must be wirelessly connected to an iPhone 5 or later running on iOs 8.2, downloadable from today), Apple Pay (where markets and retailers accept this payment mechanism), communication through social media apps and monitoring your health and fitness.

    Apple Watch is available in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm, and in three distinct collections –  Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition. Apple Watch Sport features a lightweight anodized aluminum case in silver and space gray with a Retina display protected by strengthened Ion-X glass and matching high-performance fluoroelastomer Sport Band in five colors.

    The Apple Watch collection features highly polished stainless steel and space black stainless steel cases with a Retina display protected by sapphire crystal. The Apple Watch collection comes with a choice of three different leather straps, a stainless steel link bracelet and Milanese loop, and a black or white Sport Band.

    Apple Watch Edition features cases specially crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys developed to be twice as hard as standard gold, a Retina display protected by polished sapphire crystal and a choice of uniquely designed straps and bands with 18-karat gold clasps, buckles or pins.

    Apple Watch Sport is priced at US$349 and $399 and Apple Watch, from $549 to $1099. The Apple Watch Edition, crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys, starts at US$10,000.

    In line with its luxury brand positioning, Apple will also put the Apple Watch on show at selected department stores around the world.

    Apple Watch will also be available to preview or try on at Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Isetan in Tokyo and Selfridges in London on April 10 and for sale on April 24. It will also be sold from boutiques in major cities, including Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Maxfield in Los Angeles and The Corner in Berlin.

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