O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: Apple Watch

  • Rivian announces Apple Wallet car key support for second-generation R1S and R1T vehicle models

    Rivian announces Apple Wallet car key support for second-generation R1S and R1T vehicle models

    This could come in handy.

    Auto manufacturer Rivian has approved Apple Wallet car key support for its second-generation R1S and R1T electric vehicles with a 2025.46 software update later this month. The change was confirmed by the company’s software chief Wassym Bensaid, who did not provide a specific date.

    This feature will allow you to remotely unlock, lock, and start a second-generation R1S or R1T with an iPhone or Apple Watch, without needing to use the Rivian app. Express Mode will be supported, meaning you can keep your iPhone in your pocket as you approach the vehicle, as unlocking the device with Face ID is not required.

    Rivian has also begun implementing a newer version of the feature with Ultra Wideband features to allow for passive entry. This, in turn, removes the need to place your iPhone near an NFC reader.

    Other neat features include a Power Reserve system, which ensures that the Apple Wallet key can still be used for up to five hours after your iPhone shuts off or runs out of battery power. The Apple Wallet car key can also be shared with up to eight family and friends via AirDrop or any messaging app, such as the Messages app or WhatsApp.

    Apple Wallet car keys will not be supported in Rivian’s first-generation R1S and R1T vehicles that were built through the 2024 model year.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @WassymBensaid

  • Apple to expand Apple Watch, AirPods medical features to additional countries

    Apple to expand Apple Watch, AirPods medical features to additional countries

    A number of medical features, including the Apple Watch hypertension notifications, sleep apnea alerts, as well as the AirPods Hearing Test and Hearing Aid have expanded to a number of new countries.

    Apple Watch hypertension notifications and sleep apnea alerts, as well as AirPods Hearing Test and Hearing Aid, are now available in these new countries. Apple is rolling out hypertension notifications for Apple Watch users in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. This feature takes into account 30-day periods of heart data collected by the Apple Watch to notify the user about a possible hypertension issue.

    Apple has stated that while the new feature won’t “detect all instances of hypertension,” it is still expected to help more than 1 million users uncover hypertension issues within the first year of availability.

    The company is also reported to be expanding its Sleep Apnea alerts to Colombia. The feature, as described by Apple, “can look for breathing disturbances while you’re sleeping and notify you if they show consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea.”

    Apple is also releasing multiple assistive AirPods features to a long list of European countries, including the UK, Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Ireland, and Denmark.” The features include the AirPods Hearing Test as well as Hearing Aid with automatic Conversation Boost, which are designed to help users identify hearing issues and adjust AirPods system settings and features to meet their needs accordingly.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac, MacRumors, and support.apple.com

  • Apple launches Emergency SOS via Satellite feature in Mexico, continues expansion of service

    Apple launches Emergency SOS via Satellite feature in Mexico, continues expansion of service

    If you’re headed south of the border, this could come in handy.

    Back in October, Apple announced that Emergency SOS via satellite would be coming to Mexico before the end of the year. As of Tuesday, that feature has now officially launched in Mexico.

    The Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is currently available on the iPhone 14 and later and is also available on the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

    Like in the other supported countries, Emergency SOS via satellite lets users text emergency services and notify emergency contacts in situations they have no cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

    Apple’s Greg Joswiak offered the following announcement via X:

    After Tuesday’s Mexico launch, Emergency SOS via satellite is now available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the United States.

    If you’re down in Mexico and have a chance to try it out, please let us know about the experience in the comments.

    Via 9to5Mac and support.apple.com

  • BeeBot for AirPods app released, centers arounds geolocation features

    BeeBot for AirPods app released, centers arounds geolocation features

    If you loved the Foursquare app, you might like this.

    Hopscotch Labs has released BeeBot for AirPods, an app that functions as a social audio guide to your city. The app, which works with assorted wired and wireless earphones and earbuds, offers short updates about a city’s people, places, and things nearby, and is emceed by DJ BeeBot. In addition to this, the app contains social functions, allowing you to share updates with nearby friends and other app users.

    The app is available for free and requires macOS 15.0 with an M1 chip or later, iOS 18.0 or later, iPadOS 18.0 or later, watchOS 10.6 or later, or visionOS 2.0 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the BeeBot app, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via the djbeebot.com and the App Store

  • West Virginia launches support for Digital IDs in Apple Wallet app

    West Virginia launches support for Digital IDs in Apple Wallet app

    You can now use your digital ID in Apple’s Wallet app and on your Apple Watch to prove your identity in West Virginia.

    As of Thursday, the feature is available to residents of West Virginia. To set it up, open the Wallet app and tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner. Next, select Driver’s License and ID Cards and follow the on-screen steps. The feature requires an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 16.5 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 9.5 or later.

    The feature is currently supported in the following 12 U.S. states:

    • Arizona (since March 2022)
    • Maryland (since May 2022)
    • Colorado (since November 2022)
    • Georgia (since May 2023)
    • Ohio (since July 2024)
    • Hawaii (since August 2024)
    • California (since September 2024)
    • Iowa (since October 2024)
    • New Mexico (since December 2024)
    • Montana (since August 2025)
    • North Dakota (since September 2025)
    • West Virginia (since October 2025)
    • The feature is also available in Puerto Rico.

    The following States have previously signed on to adopt the feature in the future:

    • Connecticut
    • Kentucky
    • Mississippi
    • Oklahoma
    • Utah
    • Illinois

    Finally, the following airports have announced that Wallet IDs can be used a valid form of identification:

    • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
    • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
    • Denver International Airport (DEN)
    • Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
    • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)
    • John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
    • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
    • San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
    • Los Angeles International (LAX)
    • Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
    • Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
    • Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
    • Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
    • Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)
    • Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)
    • Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)
    • Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
    • Great Falls International Airport (GTF)
    • Missoula International Airport (MSO)

    Apple Wallet IDs can also be used to show proof of age or identity at select businesses and venues in the U.S., but there is no list of locations.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple