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Changing Your Apple Watch or iPhone's Region Won't Enable ECG App Outside of United States
- Thread starter MacRumors
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Interesting. I was thinking having an Apple ID from the U.S. would work, but no?
They would need approval from local regulators.
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Likely not. People abroad who bought their phones and watches here have been posting that the feature works for them.
If you’re a consumer, you have probably done this in the past already:
Don’t want to pay more, feel you’re not getting your money’s worth, just don’t buy it.
Simple.
I'm with you there. I don't think you should have to pay for something you can't use and wasn't trying to be snarky. But, your Series 4 still has the necessary equipment for ECG's down the road when UK support comes. Hope it does soon my friend! Cheers
It's not a hardware component - just an app that has to be approved for each local health regulatory agency
I've bought it from the day 1 AW4, now I cannot returned, I’m just disappointed but not angry.
I'm in Guatemala and it works on my watch, i did purchase the watch on the US, regional settings are on the US too.
Huh? I thought there were specific hardware changes to the HR sensor and Digital Crown to support this.
Thank you, my friend, I'm just hoping that Apple would get approval from the NHS/government regulation.
Not clear by what is meant by "over the counter device of its kind".
If you mean watch then probably.
If you just mean first OTC ECG device, then you'd be wrong.
Apple’s Watch isn’t the first with an EKG reader but it will matter to more consumers
"Apple’s COO Jeff Williams exuberantly proclaimed Apple’s Watch was the first to get FDA clearance as an over-the-counter electrocardiogram (EKG) reader during the special event at Apple headquarters on Wednesday. While Apple loves to be first to things, that statement is false.
AliveCor has held the title of first since 2014 for its KardiaMobile device, a $100 stick-like metal unit you attach to the back of a smartphone. Ironically, it also received FDA clearance for the Kardiaband, an ECG reader designed to integrate with the Apple Watch and sold at Apple stores late last year."
I think they have installed a pulse sensor (ECG) hardware for the digital crown.
Why can't they just say "This is not a medical device and is for entertainment only." outside of the US?
All it does is pick up electrical impulses and show them on a display. Unless you're calling it a medical device, how can it be illegal?
All it does is pick up electrical impulses and show them on a display. Unless you're calling it a medical device, how can it be illegal?
The ECG app does not appear on the AW4 although it and my iPhone are up to date. I live in the US.
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Hello! I live in Argentina, my Apple ID is from Argentina, I bought the iPhone XS in the US and my Apple Watch in the US. I did the corresponding iOS and WatchOS updates (12.1.1 and 5.1.2) and the ECG application works correctly. No need to change anything. They only have to have acquired both the Apple Watch and the iPhone in the US.
Regards!
Regards!
WOW! **** you Apple!
I love how the ****heads waited with releasing this information so people who bought on release day cannot return the watch.
I bet you'll need to buy a new shiny ECG enabled model if you want the feature after it's approved by your country too.
I love how the ****heads waited with releasing this information so people who bought on release day cannot return the watch.
I bet you'll need to buy a new shiny ECG enabled model if you want the feature after it's approved by your country too.
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Doubt we see it for years
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Huh? Why would people think it would work? Use your brains people.
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Works with other apps. Wasn't specifically stated it wouldn't. Apple confirmed the HW is the same for all models.
They said from the start US only...pretty simple really as this is hardly like other apps where where you are doesn’t matter
Because a specific government says so.
Apple didn’t say you had to buy the watch from the US only for the ecg to work. What about those people that bought outside of the US because they were on holiday, work, etc. All of these people got screwed.
I bought my Apple Watch Series 4 in Florence, Italy on release day while on vacation there. I've been back in the US since. It's always been set up with my US account. I was running the beta and ECG wasn't working. I called tech support and they told me there's nothing wrong with the Watch model that would prevent it from working. He told me to uninstall the Beta, which I did. I updated to the regular iOS, but still nothing, though the ECG does show up in the Health app. I just can't do anything to set up the ECG function. I've restarted both devices multiple times. I find it really hard to believe the watch HAS to be purchased in the US to work and I'm going to be pretty ticked off because I was told at the Apple Store in Italy it wouldn't be a problem.
That’s unfortunate as I live in the US but was in Canada when I bought my watch...