With less than a week remaining before a ban on sales for the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 takes effect, engineers at Apple are working diligently to find solutions and prevent the latest wearables from being taken off the shelves. According to reports from Bloomberg, the company’s software engineers in Cupertino are working tirelessly to retool the algorithms related to blood oxygen measurement and its display to users.
This urgent effort comes after Apple announced its decision to pull the latest Apple Watch models from sale in order to comply with the U.S. International Trade Commission’s order, issued due to a patent dispute. Masimo, a health technology company, claims that the current implementation of the blood oxygen feature in Apple’s watches violates their patents. While Apple officials believe that software changes will be sufficient to address the issue, Masimo representatives argue that the hardware itself needs adjustment to resolve the dispute.
Apple is also collaborating with U.S. customs officials to develop a workaround solution. The ban, in the form of an import restriction on Apple’s overseas suppliers and factories, is now being tackled through this approach. If successful, this workaround may enable the affected Apple Watch models to be reinstated in the market.
However, this is not the first time Apple has faced bans on its devices. In the past, Apple products have been prohibited in certain countries due to legal disputes. Nevertheless, this is the first instance of such a ban affecting a significant portion of Apple’s business within the United States. The timing of the ban, just prior to the Christmas holiday, may not impact last-minute holiday shopping but could potentially disrupt after-Christmas purchases following gift exchanges and returns.
There is still a possibility for the ban to be overturned. The ruling falls within the Presidential Review Period, which will continue until December 25. During this time, President Biden has the authority to overturn the ban and allow the affected Apple Watch models to be sold again. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, appointed by President Biden, is closely examining the dispute, according to a Biden Administration official.
Despite the potential for a reversal, Apple executives are proceeding with their plans to halt sales of the affected Apple Watch models on Thursday, followed by a suspension of all sales within Apple retail stores by Sunday. In preparation for this, workers at the stores are already receiving updated posters that promote the Apple Watch line generically, removing the specific mention of the two most recent models.
It is important to note that the ban solely applies to Apple’s own retail and online stores. Other retailers in the United States, such as Walmart and Best Buy, have indicated that they do not intend to withhold the product from sale. However, the ban will also impact the sale of refurbished Apple Watch Series 8 devices. Notably, the latest Apple Watch SE, which does not include the Blood Oxygen app, remains unaffected by the ban.
In conclusion, Apple software engineers are working diligently to find solutions and avoid the ban on sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. With the clock ticking, their efforts include retooling algorithms, collaborating with customs officials, and exploring potential workarounds. While the ban poses a significant challenge for Apple, the company is taking proactive measures to comply. As the situation continues to develop, the possibility of the ban being overturned still remains.
