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Apple Watch ECG Feature Gets Approved in Australia
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Hallefreakinlujah! Well done to all involved at the TGA, Apple, MacRumors and of course the many Australians who made this happen, whether by forum posts or direct emails. Sometimes it takes a village...or in this case two countries.
Well if it makes any difference, late March is when we generally start seeing the $100 off offers on current gen watches. I’ve only owned a Series 0 and 3. Waiting so long to update (as you do) it doesn’t matter to me when I update.
I think that’s been rumored since Series 3 or 4.
My personal belief, they have the technology but are refining it until it is the right time to release. Wouldn’t be surprised to see that feature being held for “peak watch”. When most owners are happy with what they have, release a version with a feature so ground breaking everyone will want it. Sort of like iPhone 6 Plus. Created an in precedent demand to upgrade, and brought in a whole new group of people holding out for that one feature.
Finally, after decades it felt like. But why are the products in other countries not as good as in the US? Can someone please explain that to me.
They could submit it all they want, it wouldn't get approved.
TGA finally modified their policies last week (on February 25th) to allow devices like the AW to get approved, we're not even a week later and Apple has already submitted their paperwork and got it approved which means they literally had their paperwork ready on day 1. These TGA policy changes were supposed to be made last summer but due to COVID it got delayed.
Get informed:
Understanding regulation of software-based medical devices
Find out how TGA regulates software and artificial intelligence (AI) based medical devices.
Also, they never advertised ECG in Australia.
FYI the ecg function does not check for afib if your heart rate is below 50. Many athletes have rates under 50.
They certainly did. I saw it on TV ads all the time, and on the Apple Watch page on apple au.They could submit it all they want, it wouldn't get approved.
TGA finally modified their policies last week (on February 25th) to allow devices like the AW to get approved, we're not even a week later and Apple has already submitted their paperwork and got it approved which means they literally had their paperwork ready on day 1. These TGA policy changes were supposed to be made last summer but due to COVID it got delayed.
Get informed:
Understanding regulation of software-based medical devices
Find out how TGA regulates software and artificial intelligence (AI) based medical devices.www.tga.gov.au
Also, they never advertised ECG in Australia.
Sometimes it’s to do with regulations in different countries, but it’s mostly because these products are tailored for the US market, since that’s where the money is.
It will when I fall!Reminder: Apple Watch does not and cannot detect heart attacks.
Given the nanny state that is Australia I have no surprise this has taken this long.
About time...The rest of the world is faster than the TGA....
The Australian government has approved ECG functionality on the Apple Watch, giving Apple the all-clear to launch the feature for Apple Watch users in the country, according to a regulatory document first spotted by The 8-Bit.
Earlier last month, the Apple Watch's irregular heart rhythm notification received approval in Australia, although ECG did not. Irregular heart rhythm is a feature that periodically reads your heart rhythm in the background and alerts you if it detects signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Both parts work in tandem as users who receive an irregular heart rhythm notification are advised to take an ECG for a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of their heart condition.
With regulator hurdles now out of the way, it's unclear when Apple will roll the feature out for users in Australia. Apple is currently testing watchOS 7.5, and although there's been no indication thus far, the update could include support for ECG in Australia. watchOS 7.4 is expected to debut in the early spring alongside iOS 14.5, which will introduce the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch, amongst other features.
Article Link: Apple Watch ECG Feature Gets Approved in Australia
You say that but we have the best medicine testing policies in the world, vitamins, fitness supplements, baby formula. Most other countries you can’t trust what’s on the labels. Australia’s not perfect but we’ve got good regulations on important products.
That was only an announcement of when it was approved. And your second link is about 7.3 which included that ECG update. Not a Japan centric thread. I already knew that since I'm living in Japan.
There was never a dedicated thread like there was for Australia. Not a big deal. Just thought it was interesting since Apple products have a lot of love in Japan.
You're mistaken. They never specifically called out ECG as a feature in the TV ads. As far as the website goes it calls out countries by name in terms of where it's available. Australia was never listed.
I'm living in Japan as well.
I can understand MacRumors posting an announcement article for Australia and not Japan since there is a huge community of Aussies posting to these forums.
Japan-residing English speakers like ourselves are a small number in comparison.
Apple definitely did issue a press release announcing it. It also got major coverage on the big Japanese language Apple and tech blogs like iPhone Mania and Impress Watch.
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Finally I got the watch 4 on pre order and thought I was going to end up replacing it this year without ever using it.
I had been debating on holding out buying a new one until I can go to the UK to get one with it enabled but it looks like
I will be on the pre orders again this spring.
I had been debating on holding out buying a new one until I can go to the UK to get one with it enabled but it looks like
I will be on the pre orders again this spring.
I don’t have the beta but I doubt it would be enabled there either.
I’m very concerned that Apple is no longer concerned about being a global company. I’ve expressed this concern in many threads across many product lines (most notably ATV+ content)
I understand that Android have taken 80% of the global mobile market but you would think they would double down on becoming competitive, not simply back off and ignore countries outside or North America.
Withings announced their ECG approved watch last year. For some people this is a game changer and literal life saver. About 500,000 people in Aus suffer from atrial fibrillation.