I see Vision Pro as more of a commercial business device than a consumer device. Medical, space and military applications are obvious but it goes well beyond that. The OS is amazing, it's truly a breakthrough and will improve over time. Remember the first iPod or iPhone?

This feature should have been included on the iPad.

dinoone said:

If the Masimo patents are related to hardware and software, then removing just the software might not avoid the violation.

After all, a device that still carries hardware for a (temporarily) forbidden service could have that service reactivated at any subsequent software update.

In consequence a device with hardware for a (temporarily) forbidden service inevitably has a higher market value than the same device without such hardware (where such service cannot be simply turned on with a software update).

Such market value difference between a device with hardware for a (temporarily) forbidden service and one without such hardware would still be a violation of the patent holder exclusivity rights i.m.o..

"Apple accomplished this through a "software workaround" for smartwatches recently shipped to its physical stores, according to a Bloomberg report from Mark Gurman on Monday. However, the stores will not sell the redesigned watches until Apple headquarters tells them to, Bloomberg reported."

It's worth noting they are still selling off their current stock with the feature enabled.   

"Currently, the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 are still available with blood oxygen monitoring, an Apple spokesperson confirmed to Ars. But Apple hasn't confirmed how long that will be the case, jeopardizing demand and the perceived value for Apple's latest smartwatches.

Longer term, Bloomberg also reported that Apple is developing a software update that alters the watches' blood oxygen monitoring app and algorithms so that users can still check out their blood oxygen but without Apple infringing on any patents."

Apple Watch redesigned without blood oxygen monitoring to avoid import ban

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/01/apple-watch-redesigned-without-blood-oxygen-monitoring-to-avoid-import-ban/

dinoone said:

If the Masimo patents are related to hardware and software, then removing just the software might not avoid the violation.

After all, a device that still carries hardware for a (temporarily) forbidden service could have that service reactivated at any subsequent software update.

In consequence a device with hardware for a (temporarily) forbidden service inevitably has a higher market value than the same device without such hardware (where such service cannot be simply turned on with a software update).

Such market value difference between a device with hardware for a (temporarily) forbidden service and one without such hardware would still be a violation of the patent holder exclusivity rights i.m.o..

I doubt it. The point is that the feature is no longer "functional". The simple fix was to disable it in firmware until all of the appeals are exhausted and the case is settled. It's possible Apple may yet prevail, in which case they would be able to enable the feature in firmware.

As for the hardware, it appears the same sensors use for heart rate and ECG, are the same set of censors use for blood oxygen. The patent is probably more about technique than the actual hardware. Hardware which has likely been around in medical devices for decades.

9secondkox2 said:

Why wouldn’t removing the offending tech be enough. That was the crux of the whole thing. 

I doubt any of the hardware tech was removed. They simply disabled the feature in firmware.   If they eventually win, they will simply turn it back on again.

"Apple claimed "its Redesigned Watch products definitely (1) do not contain pulse oximetry functionality,"