Oh the Horror of it all. Just try not to look at anyones wrists. Somehow you'll make it through.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iWatch May Use Optical Sensors to Measure Heart Rate and Oxygen Levels
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Oh the Horror of it all. Just try not to look at anyones wrists. Somehow you'll make it through.
There seems to be a whole lot of attention around the I watch this week. Anyone think this could be coming soon? It would,make a lot more sense if they plan on releasing the health book on ios I would assume it would be part of iOS 8 sometime in October ish? By why so much attention now? Usually when there is smoke there is fire
I rather disagree with your assessment of the Basis.
- It syncs perfectly well and fully automatically. I do use an Android phone to sync now, but had tried it with my iPhone 5 initially and it was the same. It does it in the background through BT, as long as you are relatively close to your phone for a stretch of a few minutes, which most of us are. For me, I get up in the morning and if I look at the Basis site on my Mac Book in about half an hour, all the data is there. Not sure what you find difficult about syncing.
- The battery performance is actually better than most similar devices, it will last about 4 days for me. I basically take mine off and put in the cradle while I am in the shower, then put it back on. So it charges about 15-30 minutes every day and it keeps on running. Not sure what battery performance you expect with current technology.
- I wouldn't call it "ugly." It's a simple design. I would not have made the logo so prominent, but at least it's not in gold....
- Yes, the display is dim. But you are already complaining about the battery life, imagine what it would be like if it was bright. It's perfectly visible in most daylight situations, just touch the light button if you need more light.
Even the software is not terrible, although it's not exactly good. The UI is not exactly intuitive: for instance if your sleep was interrupted, it will show it only in separate segment, never totalling it, or you cannot easily see activity details from the Habits screen, or from the actual Activity Details chart. And I can't figure out why isn't there "sleep" activity in the Activiy Details.
As for accuracy, it seems more accurate than most similar devices or apps. I've compared it to FitBit and to a few apps like Endomondo, and it seems more accurate in most respects, except in counting steps, where the Basis fails miserably - I believe it relies on you waving your arm when you walk, but if you keep it in your pocket, or holding something, it doesn't count anything
But, realistically, it's about the best watch/band fitness device out there right now. I am not certain Apple will be much more accurate, given current sensor technology, although I hope their implementation is better and more polished.
As far as getting bored with the data, of course. It's not all that exciting, if you expect something new every day. But you really don't want to see major differences in your vitals on daily basis....
I use it to just keep an eye on my long-term habits and performance and for that it does a decent job.
What has Apple learned?
Introducing the iPhone, there was much bravado about patents. Apple got copied anyway, and won't make up lost sales in the courts, even if they win.
So now a new product category. Others have products out there, as usual.
But this time, Apple is thinking many steps ahead, instead of just a few. Thus you have the recent glut of hires aimed at the medical apps for iWatch. The inputs from these scientists and others will in be the next iterations, but following close behind. Also, the inputs from Ahrendts on the retailing and fashion aspects will be added.
The iWatch will debut in 2014, and may be a disappointment to some. It will, however, do everything that any smart watch on the market does, and many things that they don't, e.g., aspects of iTunes/iOS. Plus it will have J. Ivy styling. Maybe as another twist, it will be priced like the AppleTV hobby for an initial big "market share". When the new capabilities are added, the price goes up, despite manufacturing savings. Apple isn't the most profitable company in the world for no reason.
OTOH, JMHO.
Introducing the iPhone, there was much bravado about patents. Apple got copied anyway, and won't make up lost sales in the courts, even if they win.
So now a new product category. Others have products out there, as usual.
But this time, Apple is thinking many steps ahead, instead of just a few. Thus you have the recent glut of hires aimed at the medical apps for iWatch. The inputs from these scientists and others will in be the next iterations, but following close behind. Also, the inputs from Ahrendts on the retailing and fashion aspects will be added.
The iWatch will debut in 2014, and may be a disappointment to some. It will, however, do everything that any smart watch on the market does, and many things that they don't, e.g., aspects of iTunes/iOS. Plus it will have J. Ivy styling. Maybe as another twist, it will be priced like the AppleTV hobby for an initial big "market share". When the new capabilities are added, the price goes up, despite manufacturing savings. Apple isn't the most profitable company in the world for no reason.
OTOH, JMHO.
That is a very good point.
I would be happy just with health information that is not critical. I still there's a lot they could do that would not be putting them in a liability situation.
Apple certainly would have thought that through ahead of time
The human body is a massively more complex system than an iPhone, and we understand a great deal less about it than you think.
There are dozens of companies researching non-invasive glucose meters and some have even developed proof-of-concept meters that can read blood glucose, just not well enough yet.
Edit: A bit of a digression. A quick look on Amazon shows $60-70/100 strips for the OneTouch Ultra (Link) (assuming it's the one you have). I don't know how they directly compare in accuracy or features you need, but the Breeze2 strips I get are usually around $30/100 on Amazon (Link) and the disks they come in are a lot more convenient than the strips.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, do not take this as medical advise. I certainly don't recommend abruptly switching meters without testing them both against each other to ensure it is at least as reliable and consistent as the one you are already used to.
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I highly doubt that iWatch would be the name (and would be rather disappointed if it was), but we haven't got any better names yet for such an unknown unknown device and these health rumors really threw a wrench into our creativity for what it could do.
----------
Actually, it sounds like a clamshell iPod nano.
I wonder where you got your definition of jewelry from.
jew·el·ry noun \ˈjü-əl-rē, ˈjül-rē, ˈju̇l-; ÷ˈjü-lə-rē\
: decorative objects (such as rings, necklaces, and earrings) that people wear on their body
There's no mention about fulfilling a purpose.
I work for Exacsys, a company that has developed a new kind of test strip and is working actively on new BGM technologies. Please don't take this as an attack, but your view of this industry is not entirely correct.
The technology that is available currently for non-invasive BGM is just not ready. Of course we are able to measure glucose concentration accurately in fluids such as urin, tear fluid and other body fluids. The problem is latency between blood glucose and glucose in other fluids. The problem of measuring glucose in these other fluids is that your blood glucose (which is really the factor that matters here) can be entirely different from what the glucose level is in the other bodily fluids.
There is no way of accurately correcting for that latency. Everywhere around the world researchers and companies are investing into technologies to resolve that latency problem, or to measure actual blood glucose without lancets and BGM's. It is absolutely correct that the FDA and the EMA are currently blocking approval of these technologies, because they are not accurate enough and diabetes patients will make the wrong decisions for their Insulin requirements based on their readings. I know all of these companies and the products they make are not close to being equally accurate as a conventional BGM with test strips.
It is absolutely true that big pharma is not investing heavily in these kinds of technologies, because their big earner is the test-strip system. One of my colleagues was on a conference last year that was organised by Dr. Klonoff, one of the authorities in BGM in the US. He is presumed to be heavily sponsored by the Big Four (Abott, Lifescan, Bayer and Roche) and it was appalling to see how these companies are trying to stick to high prices.
What none of the test-strip companies and big pharma have sufficiently realised is that the entrance of asian manufacturers such as Arkra (Reli-On meters from Wall Mart), Terumo etc, are swamping the market with cheap meters and test-strips that are just as accurate as the expensive meters from the big four. This is accelerating the maturation of the market and will mean that at least some of the big four will exit the market because their profits are dwindling on the systems. Both Roche and Bayer have indicated to want to exit in recent years. This will increase competition within the market AND will increase the speed at which new technologies will be developed.
Now you could argue that big pharma should invest in the new technology, but the reality is that they do not have the resources for that. The R&D departments of those organisations are not focussed and equipped to develop these new technologies. Your hope should be aimed at the small companies that are innovative and entrepreneurial. These will very likely be bought out by one of the big four as soon as their tech is there and test-strips are not generating enough of a profit anymore.
So, it might seem like big pharma is controlling what is happening, and that might have been true in the past, but their control is decreasing. We need to be patient, because this is not about processors and calculation. It is about fundamental research at the cutting edge of science; processes which can rarely be pushed with brute force and money.
What you as a diabetic could and probably should do is to look into cheaper meters and test strips. The MyLive Pura from Ypsomed and Reli-On systems (from Arkray) are cheaper and just as accurate as the more expensive systems. It sucks and I know how annoying testing is because we use our own blood to test our technology, but it is the best system there currently is.
I could send you a report that I prepared last year. It is the most detailed report on the market that is available anywhere, and it goes beyond what general "market researchers" have prepared on the matter. The fast majority of people in this business have no bearing on what is currently happening in the market. Send me a PM if you are interested to take a look.
Last edited:
so, is is more focused as a another health monitoring system ?
Seems, Apple ruined this one....... As this is exactly wht the fit-bit does minus the sensors maybe...
I'd like to see a comparison between this and the fit-bit, so see if Apple's doing anything at all "unique and new" not already done in other products..
What's makes this stand over and above to a fit-bit ?
Seems, Apple ruined this one....... As this is exactly wht the fit-bit does minus the sensors maybe...
I'd like to see a comparison between this and the fit-bit, so see if Apple's doing anything at all "unique and new" not already done in other products..
What's makes this stand over and above to a fit-bit ?
apple might be able to predict hypoglycemia with a blood glucose sensor even if the sensor itself isn't completely accurate. They could combine it with data from the heart rate sensor, motion sensor, perheaps a sweating sensor, etc. and thus be able to predict hypoglycemia without knowing the exact blood glucose level.
This might be the main concept of health related features of the iWatch: Warning people about dangerous health conditions (heart attacks, hypoglycemia, hypercapnea, etc.).
This might be the main concept of health related features of the iWatch: Warning people about dangerous health conditions (heart attacks, hypoglycemia, hypercapnea, etc.).
Last edited:
Decorative, now if a phone is decorative is it jewelry? No. Now do the same with a watch. BTW all those examples in the definition, what do they all have in common? They serve no purpose other than looks.
Well stated, and not perceived as an attack at all. I hardly take things personally, and you have enlightened me on some facts as well as asserting some of my claims. I certainly hope you are correct, that the vastly changing market will indeed bring about necessary change. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get insurance companies to co-pay for test strips as most only work with LifeScan and FreeStyle now. It's a battle that never ceases in the privatized sect in the U.S.
Thank you for a well written, respectful and enlightening response.
And thank you, as well. Thankfully, my Excellus BCBS plan covers everything, my co-pays on my plan are $5. Unlike many, I have been fortunate enough in having been raised in an affluent family, however that doesn't mean I do not take what I have for granted and do work to help those who are not as fortunate. In this regard, many are faced with deciding on blood glucose meters and their necessary test strips based on what their health insurance will cover and/or what companies are willing to give as breaks to the consumers. Having been raised in the U.K. (London proper), and having dual citizenship, it's frustrating to witness the lobbyist and corporate hold on government policy in the States when so much more can be accomplished in so many area's of our lives.
Thank you both for your posts, I greatly appreciate your insights and I hope we've helped others along the way.
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Its killer feature is that it calls an ambulance if you have a heart attack?
About 154 people came up with that already.
About 154 people came up with that already.
Last edited:
I think you are taking things too black and white. Jewellery is usually some kind of precious metal containing ornament that can be worn directly on the body or clothing. A phone doesn't really fit that description, but watches definitely do. Many people own multiple watches to match occasions. I personally own several watches and notice that I sometimes forget to set them. They have for me partly a jewellery status. Not to brag or to show off, but because I like the look of them. If watches were only needed for their functionality than there wouldn't be so many people with boxes full of the things. How many watches do you need to tell you the time?
On the airport in Amsterdam there is a diamond trader that converts gadgets to jewellery by adding diamonds. I saw a disgustingly ugly diamond studded Samsung Gear watch and an S3 with diamonds added to it. Absolutely ridiculous, but I can imagine some people might see this as jewellery too.
iWatch may include
A bottle opener, inflateable bathtub, a parachute, a dishwasher, and lots of other cool stuff.
Or it may not?
-Brian
A bottle opener, inflateable bathtub, a parachute, a dishwasher, and lots of other cool stuff.
Or it may not?
-Brian
i didn't say they're bad, i said no one uses them.
----------
you can have your 4.3% USA marketshare.
----------
3.2% global marketshare for windows phone.
yeah, still no one.
Excluding laptops, the only Windows mobile devices I've seen outside of the internet have been either on display in stores, part of the Microsoft Surface line (a few), or 10-15 year old Telxon guns.
Which is a shame because I'd like to see a real third competitor penetrate the market.