Home technology software Apple's updated watchOS are most definitely â€œnotâ€ diagnostic tools

Apple's updated watchOS are most definitely â€œnotâ€ diagnostic tools

Software

CIO Bulletin
2018-12-07

Apple releases Watch OS 5.1.2 – the update that includes a critical feature for Apple Watch Series 4 owners, the ECG app.

The new app that acts as an electrocardiogram will allow users to monitor their heart rhythm using a more granular method. The FDA-cleared app refers the wearer to a physician for any potential medical issues, at least in the U.S. The new feature can also detect if its wearer suddenly falls to the ground.

The Apple Watch Series 1-4 will receive the new software update and the only one model that is left is the Original Apple Watch, unluckily. Apple’s Series 1-3 Watches, without the redesigned sensors, will be able to detect irregular heart rhythms with the same software update.

The ECG app will only work on Apple Watch Series 4. “Electrodes built into the Digital Crown and the back crystal work together with the ECG app to read your heart’s electrical signals. Simply touch the Digital Crown to generate an ECG waveform in just 30 seconds,” Apple said during the announcement.

With this new update, you can also see seven new complications appear in the watch face gallery app for the Infograph and Infograph Modular faces: Home, Mail, Maps, Messages, News, Phone and the Remote app. The latest update also enhances how tickets and reward cards work with the Wallet app.