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Apple Says iOS 18.6.1 is Coming Today

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In case you missed it — this is the post for people who mainly only read headlines — Apple has announced that it will be releasing iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 later today. Apple shared this information in a press release on its Newsroom website.

Generic-iOS-18.6.1-Feature-Real-Mock.jpg

The software updates will re-enable the Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models sold in the United States.

It is unclear if iOS 18.6.1 will include anything else, such as bug fixes or security patches. Overall, it is likely to be a minor update. Apple is now focused on iOS 26, which is deep into beta testing ahead of a general release in September.

Update: Apple has released iOS 18.6.1. There are no new security patches.

Article Link: Apple Says iOS 18.6.1 is Coming Today
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/14/ios-18-6-1-coming-today/
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Wow, blood ox back on line was certainly unexpected. (This could spark a wave of deferred initial purchases and upgrades*).

I wonder if Apple found that software workaround the Masimo patent(s), or if we will see in a regulatory filing (or press release) that a licensing or acquisition agreement has been reached.

(My understanding is that at least one of Maximo’s patents is scheduled to expire next year. If so, their window to extract revenue from it is closing).

* as for me I’ve stayed with my AW6, and as long as battery health (today 80%) hangs in, and it gets s/w updates, I’ll wait for BP or blood sugar, etc. despite a desire for an Ultra).
 
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Robert.Walter said:
Wow, blood ox back on line was certainly unexpected.

I wonder if Apple found that software workaround the Masimo patent(s), or if we will see in a regulatory filing (or press release) that a licensing or acquisition agreement has been reached.

(My understanding is that at least one of Maximo’s patents is scheduled to expire next year. If so, their window to extract revenue from it is closing).
Click to expand...
They have several new patents
 
Robert.Walter said:
Wow, blood ox back on line was certainly unexpected. (This could spark a wave of upgrades*).

I wonder if Apple found that software workaround the Masimo patent(s), or if we will see in a regulatory filing (or press release) that a licensing or acquisition agreement has been reached.

(My understanding is that at least one of Maximo’s patents is scheduled to expire next year. If so, their window to extract revenue from it is closing).
Click to expand...

mdriftmeyer said:
They have several new patents
Click to expand...
Would love to see a focus article on this. Applying new s/w to existing h/w as workaround for controlling IP.

I guess if Apple has new IP, and Masimo still has a hankering to fight (not clear given the CEO changes since this all started) we will hear about new court filings soon.
 
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I expect Apple to prepare and release iOS 18.7 for mid-September release for those who need the latest security patches but don't want to go to the huge changes in iOS 26. If such a version does exist I will temporarily update to that until iOS 26.0.1 gets released probably in early October.
 
Robert.Walter said:
Wow, blood ox back on line was certainly unexpected. (This could spark a wave of deferred initial purchases and upgrades*).

I wonder if Apple found that software workaround the Masimo patent(s), or if we will see in a regulatory filing (or press release) that a licensing or acquisition agreement has been reached.

(My understanding is that at least one of Maximo’s patents is scheduled to expire next year. If so, their window to extract revenue from it is closing).

* as for me I’ve stayed with my AW6, and as long as battery health (today 80%) hangs in, and it gets s/w updates, I’ll wait for BP or blood sugar, etc. despite a desire for an Ultra).
Click to expand...
Its a work around. They are taking readings and completing the analysis on the phone. The Masimo patents pressumably were regarding doing the analysis on the watch directly.
 
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Think there will be no other changes other than the return of blood oxygen app and usual bug fixes. So don't think users outside US will notice any difference.
 
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poematik13 said:
Wow, did the patent troll finally give up? Thank god lol
Click to expand...

They are not a patent troll, which doesn't produce anything. My company buys six figures of worth of Masimo SpO2 sensors per year.

..but to answer your question, no they did not. Apple is taking the readings on the watch and displaying on the iPhone only. You won't be able to view it on the watch before or after processing.
 
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I was under the impression that they didn't even include the O2 hardware in the Series 10 in the USA because of the results of the patent lawsuit. Did they have the hardware in it just disabled in software?
 
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WarmWinterHat said:
They are not a patent troll, which doesn't produce anything. My company buys six figures of worth of Masimo Sp02 sensors per year.

..but to answer your question, no they did not. Apple is taking the readings on the watch and displaying on the iPhone only. You won't be able to view it on the watch before or after processing.
Click to expand...
Agreed on Masimo being a real company.

That's interesting on how they are circumventing. I'm glad to hear they found a workaround since I had to exchange my original AW Ultra 2 with functioning SpO2 (from before the dispute) for a warranty replacement just a week or two ago. I was fretting over that a bit, but realize I don't really think about SpO2 much any more. But glad to have it back, particularly since I paid for the sensor.
 
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To be honest, after all the iOS 26 Betas so far, I'm really not feeling like sticking with it long term. I'm glad to see they're still patching up iOS 18, I will downgrade my 14 Pro back to iOS 18 just before iOS 26 comes out and keep it there for a while. It's probably still not 100% polished but the most polished iOS 18 to date, and I'll take that over not at all polished and not even close to being polished iOS 26. From where things are now, there's only that much they can do in less a month.
 
poematik13 said:
In this specific scenario, theyre def a patent troll. Sueing and getting functionality that millions of users paid for, removed, and holding us all
hostage to their whims.

Surprised there isnt a class action against them
Click to expand...

No, they are not.

Patent troll (n) - Disparaging term for a person or company that hoards patents for the purpose of threatening alleged infringers with legal action.

They absolutely build and sell products using the patents they own. You and others may not like what they are doing, and I have issues with how steadfastly disagreeable they are with licensing, but they do not fit the definition in the slightest. This nonsense is completely Apple's fault.
 
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I was curious if this would change how the feature works on models that already had it. Apple said this:
There will be no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the original Blood Oxygen feature, nor to Apple Watch units purchased outside of the U.S.
Click to expand...
Beyond curiosity, it doesn't affect me much even if it did change. I almost never look at the measurements.
 
I have a series 9 that came with blood oxygen app, does this affect or not affect the currently installed app.
 
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Hm no mention of Series 7 and 8 that have had blood ox disabled due to service swap.

I'd expect those to be reenabled too (LW/A model numbers) but Apple didn't address those.
 
Nice! Thankfully I’ve had it since I live in Canada but happy for y’all in America to have your watches full feature set again.
 
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