All articles tagged with #health tech
Some users of the newly released Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are reporting skin irritation, specifically redness and burning sensations under the sensor area. While Apple attributes these reactions to band fit or hygiene, the issue coincides with significant hardware changes to the health sensing system in the latest models.
Leaked images and charts confirm Google is launching the Fitbit Edge, a mid-range fitness tracker positioned between the screenless Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 5. The device features a 1.34-inch always-on OLED display, built-in GPS, and up to seven days of battery life. Crucially, it supports both Android and iOS devices, offering a cross-platform alternative to the Apple Watch. Pricing is estimated between $149 and $199, with European prices leaked at €179. The device is expected to launch later in October 2026.
Utah has become the first US state to allow an AI system to examine patients and prescribe medication without direct human oversight. The pilot, run by startup Nolla Health, focuses exclusively on mild-to-moderate acne. It uses a phased approach, starting with physician review of the first 100 prescriptions before moving to fully automated prescribing with retrospective checks. The program is limited to topical treatments and costs $4.99 per month.
Bryan Johnson, the 49-year-old founder of the 'Don't Die' movement, has been diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis, a chronic condition where the immune system attacks stomach lining cells. Despite the incurable nature of the disease, Johnson views the diagnosis as a validation of his longevity philosophy rather than a failure. He spends over $2 million annually on extreme health interventions and maintains a medical concierge team to monitor his body. Critics celebrated his diagnosis, which Johnson interprets as evidence that his presence in the public sphere provokes strong reactions. He argues that early detection through intensive tracking allows for better management of such conditions, aligning with his broader goal of extending human lifespan.
Tom's Guide reports that the Apple Watch Vitals app detected early signs of illness in its editor before physical symptoms emerged. The article highlights how the feature can alert users to potential health issues, offering tips to improve the accuracy of these readings.
Oura Inc has postponed its planned initial public offering due to market uncertainty, despite strong demand and a projected 90% revenue increase. The company, which aims to monitor health via smart rings, had targeted a $13.5 billion valuation. This decision follows a weak third quarter for IPOs, driven by concerns over AI spending, rising bond yields, and Federal Reserve rate hikes.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12 share identical software and core health sensors but diverge sharply in hardware. The Ultra 4 offers double the battery life, satellite connectivity, and rugged features for $799, while the Series 12 focuses on affordability and style at $399. Both feature a redesigned sensor array for higher-frequency heart rate tracking and a new Readiness score, though the Ultra 4 remains the choice for endurance athletes.
The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 introduce a hidden setting called 'In Theater Mode' to address distractions caused by their new high-frequency heart rate sensors. While these watches now measure heart rate every five seconds, the resulting green light can be visible in dark environments. The new setting, found in the Heart settings, reverts measurements to every five minutes when activated. This feature is exclusive to the new models, which also boast improved battery life, faster charging, and a Readiness score. The Ultra 4 offers up to 50 hours of battery life, while the Series 12 starts at $399. Critics note that while the health features are robust, the Ultra 4 still lags behind competitors like Garmin in extreme endurance battery life.
Apple is testing prototypes for a screenless fitness band similar to Whoop, featuring a fabric strap and sensor module. The project, backed by Tim Cook and Eddy Cue, remains in the 'technology investigation' phase with no confirmed launch before 2028.
Apple is developing a screenless fitness tracker similar to Whoop, but it remains in early prototype stages with no confirmed launch date before 2028. The device features a fabric band and sensor module, focusing on health metrics without a display. While Apple has integrated rival features into its existing Watch and Health app, the new wearable aims to offer a distraction-free alternative to smartwatches.
The Apple Watch Series 12, launched in September 2026, offers significant hardware upgrades over the Series 10, including the S11 chip, 4GB RAM, 5G connectivity, and a redesigned health sensor array. While the Series 10 remains capable, the Series 12 is recommended for users prioritizing advanced health metrics, faster charging, and durable Ceramic Shield 2 glass, though it is slightly heavier and has a marginally smaller display area.
Apple says the Health Sensing System in the Apple Watch Series 12 (and Ultra 4) delivers the most accurate heart-rate sensing of wearables, backed by a multi-site study with 1,460 adults that compared Series 12 against rivals like Garmin, Google Pixel Watch 4, Huawei, Samsung, WHOOP, and Oura Ring. In 159 comparisons, Series 12 was more accurate in 139. Pre-orders start at $399 for the Series 12 and $799 for the Ultra 4, with a September 18 launch.
Apple introduces the Series 12 with a revamped Health Sensing System, a more powerful S11 chip paired with 4GB RAM, and exclusive AI features (Audio Intelligence, Siri Recap, Live Rewind, Shazam integration, Sound Recognition) plus a Readiness app that assesses daily capacity. Design updates include Dark Bronze aluminum and Ceramic options, minor size tweaks, and faster charging with up to 12 hours on a 15-minute charge (outdoor workouts up to 10 hours). GPS gains Precision L1 for better accuracy, and pricing starts at $399 with shipments starting Sept 18.
Apple has acquired Sonera, a startup claiming non-invasive biomagnetic sensing can measure neural activity via magnetic fields, a tech that could enable new brain- and muscle-monitoring features in future wearables and health features for Apple devices.
Oura has filed to go public as rivals pile into the smart-ring space. The Finnish company says revenue reached about $1.21 billion for the nine months through June, with roughly 3.6 million rings sold in the last year and around 5 million paid members. As Oura rolls out the Ring 5, competitors such as Ultrahuman (Ring Pro), Circular (Ring 3), RingConn Gen 3, Samsung’s Galaxy Ring and Dreame are adding features like NFC payments, haptics, on‑device processing and ECG, signaling a shift from passive health tracking to a smartphone‑like experience on a tiny titanium band.