Slashdot Mirror
Apple Watch Series 4 Includes a Bigger Display, ECG Support, and 64-Bit S4 Chip (9to5mac.com)
Apple has unveiled its next-generation Apple Watch Series 4 smartwatch, featuring a larger display with smaller bezels, a 64-bit processor that's twice as fast as the previous generation, and electrocardiography (ECG) support. 9to5Mac reports: In terms of hardware, the Digital Crown has been completely reengineered with haptic feedback. For instance, as you flip through content in the Podcast application. The speaker is also over 50 percent louder, according to [Apple COO Jeff Williams]. As we reported earlier this week, the Apple Watch Series 4 uses a new 64-bit processor that offers performance up to two times faster performance. There's also a next-generation accelerometer gyroscope, which Williams says allows Apple Watch to detect a fall. When a fall is detected, Apple Watch will send an alert prompting you to call emergency services. If it senses you are immobile for more than 1 minute, the call will be started automatically.
As for heart features, Apple Watch is now capable of detecting a low rate. The device will also now screen your heart rhythm, allowing it to detect atrial fibrillation. As expected, Apple Watch Series 4 also now supports ECG -- which measures the electrical activity of the heart. With Apple Watch, you can take an ECG directly on the Apple Watch by putting your finger directly on the digital crown. The feature -- as well as irregular heart rate detection -- has received FDA clearance. Williams says that all health and fitness is encrypted on-device and in the cloud. Battery life on Apple Watch Series 4 is the same, 18-hours as before. Outdoor workout time is now 6 hours. In terms of pricing and colors, the Apple Watch Series 4 will start at $399 for the GPS model and $499 for the cellular model, with preorders starting September 14th. The aluminum model will feature space gray, silver, and black color configurations, while the stainless steel model will feature gold, polished black, and space black color configurations.
As for heart features, Apple Watch is now capable of detecting a low rate. The device will also now screen your heart rhythm, allowing it to detect atrial fibrillation. As expected, Apple Watch Series 4 also now supports ECG -- which measures the electrical activity of the heart. With Apple Watch, you can take an ECG directly on the Apple Watch by putting your finger directly on the digital crown. The feature -- as well as irregular heart rate detection -- has received FDA clearance. Williams says that all health and fitness is encrypted on-device and in the cloud. Battery life on Apple Watch Series 4 is the same, 18-hours as before. Outdoor workout time is now 6 hours. In terms of pricing and colors, the Apple Watch Series 4 will start at $399 for the GPS model and $499 for the cellular model, with preorders starting September 14th. The aluminum model will feature space gray, silver, and black color configurations, while the stainless steel model will feature gold, polished black, and space black color configurations.
64 bit on a watch? Does this thing access more than 2 GiB of addressable memory?
64 bit is not just about memory, but other things also - and it puts it in line with all the phones so the 32-bit path is closed down.
And ECG. There's no way in hell this thing is remotely certified
And yet, it is. The heart rate monitor itself has proven to be as good as a dedicated heart rate monitor... if you watch the video it'd not like it's taking an ECG all the time, the user triggers an ECG and you get a 30 second reading (which you can then examine or share a PDF of with your doctor or anyone else). I think that's part of how they are able to make it reliable enough to get certified.
I don't know if Apple originally planned on all this latent health monitoring when they first cooked up the watch, but I think they have a winning strategy here. If my mom will wear one I'd get it for her, to have the fall detection and early warning of heart issues... heck I am finally upgrading my original first gen Apple Watch because I really would like warnings about my own heart rate!
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
It is certified by the FDA for AFib and ECG.