Apple Updates Website to Highlight Removal of Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Feature

[MacRumors]

As expected, Apple has updated its U.S. website to notify customers that the Blood Oxygen feature on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 is no longer included.

Apple has added a banner to the store webpages related for both devices, and removed all mention of the feature in its product comparison tool. The change was spotted by developer Dylan McDonald.

The modified Series 9 and Ultra 2 models without a functional Blood Oxygen app have part numbers ending in LW/A, according to Apple.

"The ability to measure blood oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States after January 18, 2024," says Apple's website. "These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A."

Apple has removed access to the Blood Oxygen feature in the U.S. to allow it to avoid a sales ban on the associated models. The ban was ordered by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) after ruling that Apple violated Masimo's pulse oximetry patents with the feature, which first appeared on the Series 6 model in 2020.

Apple Watch models sold by Apple will still include the Blood Oxygen app, but when a user opens it, they will be presented with an alert saying that the app is no longer available, and directed to the Health app on the iPhone.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1747864724312670228

The Blood Oxygen app still works on previously-sold Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. The feature also remains available on Apple Watch models sold outside the U.S., as the sales ban does not apply internationally. Apple strongly disagrees with the ITC's decision, and its appeal is ongoing.

Article Link: Apple Updates Website to Highlight Removal of Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Feature

 

[ohthehorror]

How utterly stupid is this. Foot, meet bullet.

 

[MrENGLISH]

I don’t know how much of this is out of their control or not but Apple looks really stupid in all of this.

 

[Pro_the_legend]

They should reduce the prices as well, considering how blood oxygen sensor was the main differentiation between S5 & S6. It’s an inferior product now when compared to what it was supposed to be.

 

[btrach144]

How did Apple let it get this bad? Wild

 

[jadenmath]

From Apple's website footnote:

"The ability to measure blood oxygen is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States after January 18, 2024. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A."

Previous models in the US had part #'s ending with "LL/A", which means that US inventory watch models ending with "LL/A" will likely retain blood oxygen functionality.

 

[xDKP]

They should reduce the prices as well, considering how blood oxygen sensor was the main differentiation between S5 & S6. It’s an inferior product now when compared to what it was supposed to be.

Suppose they can push an update and activate it again when the case is closed

 

[haruhiko]

What a shame.
Fortunately it doesn't happen in other markets.

 

[cloudyo]

This is what happens when you poach employees from other companies and they use their proprietary knowledge to improve your products.

 

[DMG35]

Seems like the price should be less now. What am I missing here?

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Do they still ask for the same prices? I think with a $100 discount customers would be satisfied. For $100 you can buy a dedicated blood oxygen monitor.

 

[Boeingfan]

Crazy. Just pay the licensing fee for chrissakes.

 

[Abazigal]

I don’t know how much of this is out of their control or not but Apple looks really stupid in all of this.

I honestly don’t think so. The fallout from this will be fairly minimal, IMO. Disable the feature first to get around the import ban and buy time while Apple continues to work on a technical workaround.

iPhone users will likely continue to get an Apple Watch because that’s the best smartwatch which works with an iPhone, even without a blood oxygen sensor.

Meanwhile, either wait out the patent (March 2028), or continue to try and prove that the patents held by Masimo have zero merit.

If Apple succeeds, which I think they believe they will, in getting all of Masimo’s claims invalidated some time later in 2024, Masimo will face a potentially massive claim for lost revenue from Apple due to the ITC ban. Masimo’s CEO’s surprise and dismay at Apple’s announcement to stop selling the watches tells the story, in my opinion.

Assuming the above is true, the way Apple is letting this play out puts Masimo in a quite perilous position. This could end up very costly, even ruinous, for Masimo.

The real battle is still far from over.

 

[Phazer]

I guess by removing any reference from their website and marketing material they might get away with not lowering the price

 

[CmdrLaForge]

wondering 🤔 how this is the best path forward for Apple. Why not pay the license fee

 

[iLuddite]

Apple, lowering prices?

Lol

 

[yegon]

Apple, lowering prices?

Lol

Haha yeah, more likely to call it a special edition and up the price

 

[hans1972]

This is what happens when you poach employees from other companies and they use their proprietary knowledge to improve your products.

No. A patent is a public document which must contain everything about the patent, so there is no secret knowledge.

ITC found Apple guilty of violating 5 claims across 2 patents, not using proprietary knowledge.

 

[hans1972]

Seems like the price should be less now. What am I missing here?

Freedom.

Apple is allowed to decide the pricing of its products by themselves.

 

[DMG35]

Freedom.

Apple is allowed to decide the pricing of its products by themselves.

Oh you don't say

It feels like if they are removing a feature though the price should reflect that. Or maybe since they have "Freedom" they should now charge MORE for it without the O2 sensor lol.

 

[dz5b609]

wondering 🤔 how this is the best path forward for Apple. Why not pay the license fee

2 possible reasons, the other party is asking way too much or Apple doesn't want to start a precedent.

 

[dz5b609]

Seems like the price should be less now. What am I missing here?

That prices are mostly based on supply and demand and not on features.

 

[dz5b609]

Do I understand it correctly that the hardware is still there, so it can still be enabled in the future when they have a solution for this mess?

 

[bumblebritches5]

2 possible reasons, the other party is asking way too much or Apple doesn't want to start a precedent.

What precedent would that be?

That Apple can’t rip off billion dollar companies with battle tested patents?

This whole mess is not doing Apple any favors in the public’s consciousness.

they should’ve settled yesterday; they need to settle today.

 

[NMBob]

Haha yeah, more likely to call it a special edition and up the price

The Legal Edition.