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              Apple Disables Blood Oxygen App in New Apple Watches

   Adam Engst

   Remember this headline from late last year: '[1]Apple to Stop Selling
   Two Apple Watch Models in the US Due to Import Ban' (18 December 2023)?
   The drama has continued, with a US federal appeals court agreeing to
   Apple's request to pause the ban in late December while it determined
   if the company's proposed changes would avoid two patents granted to
   medical device maker Massimo. The court has now reinstated the ban,
   denying Apple's request that it remain paused until there's a final
   ruling. That doesn't mean Apple has lost its appeal, just that the
   court felt the ban was appropriate during the hearings.

   Nonetheless, Apple will continue selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and
   the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but without a functional Blood Oxygen app. The
   US Customs and Border Protection agency ruled that the software change
   of removing the blood oxygen feature was sufficient to sidestep the
   International Trade Commission import ban.

   In a [2]statement to 9to5Mac, Apple wrote:

     Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the ruling
     while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited
     disruption. These steps include introducing a version of Apple Watch
     Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States without the
     Blood Oxygen feature. There is no impact to Apple Watch units
     previously purchased that include the Blood Oxygen feature.

   So, if you're buying a new Apple Watch, you won't be able to use the
   Blood Oxygen app until Apple settles with Massimo or comes up with some
   other workaround. Those who already own an Apple Watch with the blood
   oxygen sensor can continue to use the app.

   [3]Read original article

References

   1. https://tidbits.com/2023/12/18/apple-to-stop-selling-two-apple-watch-models-in-the-us-due-to-import-ban/
   2. https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/17/apple-watch-series-9-ultra-2-without-blood-oxygen-sensor/
   3. https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/17/apple-watch-series-9-ultra-2-without-blood-oxygen-sensor/

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