This week saw a good mix of Apple news and rumors, led by the launch of iOS 14.4, a successful earnings report from Apple and a new report that the next Apple Watch could monitor blood sugar levels.
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We also went hand in hand with Apple’s new “Time to Walk” feature for the Apple Watch, while AirPods Max owners can now purchase independent ear cushions to blend and match colors. Read on for all the details!
Everything new in iOS 14.4
Apple has publicly released iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 this week, with a handful of new features and bug fixes for iPhone iPad users.
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iOS 14.4 introduces a notification on iPhone 12 models with non-genuine cameras, the option to classify the Bluetooth device type in Settings to correctly identify headphones for audio notifications, and more.
Apple has also launched watchOS 7.3, which extends the ECG application to Apple Watch Series 4 and later in Japan, Mayotte, Thailand and the Philippines and introduces a new “Unity” watch dial based on the pan-African flag. And tvOS 14.4 is out, while macOS 11.2 remains in beta.
This week, Apple announced that the transparency measure of the transparency tracking application will be required starting with the next beta versions of iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and tvOS 14, which means that the applications will have to ask permission to track users and to collect the random identifier of the advertising device. purposes. Apple says the software updates will be released publicly in early spring.
Apple reports a record quarter with revenue of $ 111 billion
This week, Apple reported earnings for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, which corresponds to the fourth quarter of the 2020 calendar year.
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The quarter was an explosion for Apple, which reported a quarterly record revenue of all time of $ 111.4 billion, with power in all product categories, including iPhone, iPad, Mac and more.
Apple prospered financially during the pandemic because many customers work, learn, and connect with others at home. Apple launched many new products and services during the quarter, including the full range of iPhone 12, revised M1 Macs, a redesigned iPad Air, HomePod mini, AirPods Max, Apple Fitness + and Apple One subscription packages.
It looks like the Apple Watch Series 7 will feature blood glucose monitoring
The Apple Watch Series 7 will have blood glucose monitoring through an optical sensor, according to a report this week ETNews.
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The report, which focuses primarily on the blood glucose capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, explains that Apple intends to bring blood glucose monitoring into the future Apple Watch Series 7 using a non-invasive optical sensor.
Apple has gradually expanded its Apple Watch health monitoring capabilities, adding the latest ability to monitor blood oxygen levels in the Apple Watch Series 6 introduced in September last year.
Basically with the new Apple Fitness function + “Walking time”
This week, Apple officially unveiled Time to Walk, a new feature that allows Apple Watch users who subscribe to Apple Fitness + to listen to audio stories from celebrities, musicians, athletes and other influential guests as they walk – similar to the podcast . For wheelchair users, the function is called Time to Push.
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Time to Walk episodes are automatically downloaded to the Apple Watch with a Fitness + subscription, and users can start an episode directly from the Workout app. The new episodes between 25 and 40 minutes will appear in the training application from a different guest every month until the end of April, according to Apple.
Among the first guests are musicians Dolly Parton and Shawn Mendes, NBA star Draymond Green and actress Uzo Aduba, known for her role as Suzanne Warren in the original Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black.”
I took a quick look at Time to Walk in one of the latest videos on YouTube to see what it’s all about and if it’s a useful addition to Fitness +.
Apple now sells independent ear pads for AirPods Max
Apple now sells AirPods Max ear cushions independently for $ 69 for a set, allowing customers to mix and match colors, including silver, black, light blue, green and red.
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AirPods Max attach ear cushions attach magnetically to the ear cups and can be opened immediately, so making a change to a new color is simple.
MacRumors has rendered all possible AirPods Max color combinations, so if you’re wondering what a particular color might look like with irAirPods Max, this article is a valuable resource. Replacement ear pads were originally estimated to be delivered on a business day, although delivery other than silver and black has declined rapidly in late March or early April. However, the first orders are already in the hands of customers.
In other product news, Apple announced this week that it will release a limited edition “Black Unity” version of the Apple Watch Series 6. This special model will be available throughout February in honor of Black History Month and comes with a ” Black Unity “Sports Band based on the pan – African flag.
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