mayfly

I got zilch. Who determines who is "eligible" and what is the metric for it? Is there a way to contact anyone about it?

No one is a bigger Apple fan than me. I worked for an Apple VAR, then for Apple, Inc. My wife and I have at least two of everything Apple makes (except a Mac Pro and only one iMac), and subscribe to AppleOne. We both have AirPod Pros.

But when it came time for over the ear headphones, we both found the AirPods Max hot and uncomfortable. Didn't like the fit and finish of the Beats, either. Then we tried the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. And bought two of them on the spot. They're lighter, more comfortable, and never have condensation, even when I wear them during my morning LifeCycle workout. Their audio fidelity is comparable to Apple's. But then, there's the ANC (noise cancelling tech). It's the BEST, bar none. We wear them when we travel by air or rail, and I've used them in noisy restaurants (they also have good voice priority settings) and at the movies and the symphony. Did I mention they're $200 less than the Max, and sometimes can be found on sale for $250? And that they fold flat to fit in a supplied case? They also have an audio jack, with an airplane adapter. They only come in two colors, and the app is an Android port (but I almost never use it). Other than that, they're superior to AirPods Max.

I always wondered why Apple bought Beats by Dre when they had their own super successful line of ear/headphones. Now I know. It's so they can offer all these commercial tie-in colors ("Barbie" pink, anyone?) without sullying the "white" branding of AirPods.

hammeroftruth said:

I wouldn’t rely on the Apple Watch if you have a condition that needs oxygen monitoring. You’re better off buying a portable pulse oximeter and going to your doctor’s office and comparing its accuracy to your doctors WIRED meter that connects to a portable unit the nurses use. 

Some offices use the same battery operated ones that can be inaccurate. 

This along with blood sugar are readings you can’t get wrong because the consequences can be fatal. 

I'd certainly rely on it. Of course if you get an alert that your O2 is low, see a doctor. But I've tested the watch against those things they put on my finger every time I go to a doctor's office. It's always within 1%, usually dead on. Even at my pulmonologist's office. That's accurate enough to feel confident that I'll get an alerrt if it drops too low. And face it, no one is going to walk around with a pulse oximeter on their finger all the time.

So give up thousands of dollars worth of your demographic, personal and purchasing information, and get a $399 watch?

You'd be crazy NOT to enter!