O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: Wearables

  • Leaker indicates potential iOS 18 update could be released in the near future

    Leaker indicates potential iOS 18 update could be released in the near future

    Apple may release another minor iOS 18 update for the iPhone prior to its fall release of iOS 26.

    Per an anonymous leak on X on Monday, which originated from a private account, evidence has been seen of iOS 18.6.2 with a build number of 22G1000. Although anonymous, the leaker is said to have a good record and has proven to be a reliable source for upcoming iOS versions. The leaker also indicated through a private message that the update could simply end up being a revised version of iOS 18.6.1.

    A similar situation played out last year, when the leaker said iOS 17.5.2 was in the pipeline, but Apple ended up releasing a revised iOS 17.5.1 build for the iPad 10.

    Apple released its iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 updates last week, which re-enabled the Blood Oxygen feature on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S., with calculations now happening on a paired iPhone. A follow-up update could include bug fixes and/or security patches, or perhaps some minor tweaks to the re-enabled Blood Oxygen feature.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors

  • Apple releases iOS 18.6.1, watchOS 11.6.1 updates, reenables blood oxygen monitoring feature for Apple Watch units

    Apple releases iOS 18.6.1, watchOS 11.6.1 updates, reenables blood oxygen monitoring feature for Apple Watch units

    Blood oxygen monitoring just returning to your Apple device.

    Apple on Thursday released its iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 for the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches. The updates re-enable blood oxygen monitoring in the United States.

    The company stated that blood oxygen monitoring is coming back to U.S. Apple Watch models due to a “recent U.S. Customs ruling.”

    The update harkens back to an issue from early 2024, wherein the United States International Trade Commission found that Apple had violated a blood oxygen sensing patent owned by Masimo. Thus began a trade ban, with Apple having to stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌. Sales resumed after Apple disabled the blood oxygen monitoring feature in Apple Watch devices sold in the U.S.

    Since that time, no Apple Watch models purchased in the U.S. have offered a functioning blood oxygen sensor.

    Thursday’s updates include a workaround, wherein data collected by the blood oxygen sensor on the Apple Watch will be processed on a paired ‌iPhone‌, with the results available in the Respiratory section of the Health app.

    The update is designed for Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ models sold in the U.S. that do not already have blood oxygen sensing available. Blood oxygen monitoring remained available on older watch models, and there has also been no change to Apple Watch models sold outside of the United States.

    As usual, the iOS update can be downloaded on eligible iPhone models by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update. watchOS 11.6.1 is available for newer Apple Watch models that have blood oxygen monitoring disabled, and it can be downloaded through the Apple Watch app on the ‌iPhone‌.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors

  • Code leak hints at next-gen Apple Vision Pro being powered by an M5 chip

    Code leak hints at next-gen Apple Vision Pro being powered by an M5 chip

    Apple’s next-gen Vision Pro headset may be powered by the M5 chip as opposed to the M4.

    Per a code leak noted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, the forthcoming headset will apparently use the M5 processor. There had been some debate between leakers Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman over whether it would be M4 or M5, but the code leak settles it.

    The Apple Vision Pro currently runs the M2 processor with the R1 chip used for spatial analysis. The chip bump could breathe life into Apple’s spatial platform in the short term as customers wait for a cheaper model. It’s unknown as to when future Apple Vision Pro models will arrive, with one rumor suggesting 2028.

    Expect to hear about the next iteration of Apple Vision Pro by early 2026. At that point, it will have been two years since the original model launched.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and MacRumors

  • iOS 26 developer beta 6 hints at forthcoming Live Translation feature for AirPods

    iOS 26 developer beta 6 hints at forthcoming Live Translation feature for AirPods

    It’s the code references in the new betas that point towards the really interesting stuff on the horizon.

    Apple’s iOS 26 developer beta 6 adds to the Live Translation hype, which was highlighted at WWDC25 as being able to assist with events such as FaceTime conferences, phone calls, and messages, but lacked references to real-world conversations. The new beta includes references to a new system asset that appears to depict a gesture triggered by pressing both AirPods stems at once.

    The image displays text in English, Portuguese, French, and German, and it is associated with the Translate app. Given the image, this seems associated specifically with the second-generation AirPods Pro and the fourth-generation AirPods.

    A report by Bloomberg from earlier this year stated that a conversation feature was in the works, as this is something that has already been done with devices like the Meta Ray-Bans.

    At present, it’s unknown which iPhones will support the new gesture, and it’s possible that the feature will run entirely on the AirPods.

    Per Apple:

    “Live Translation in Messages is available in Chinese (Simplified), English (UK, US), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish (Spain) when Apple Intelligence is enabled on a compatible iPhone, iPad or Mac, as well as on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 when paired with an Apple Intelligence–enabled iPhone.

    The feature is also available for one-to-one calls in English (UK, US), French (France), German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain) when Apple Intelligence is enabled on a compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac.”

    Stay tuned for additional details when they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Bloomberg

  • Apple posts $94 billion in revenue, $23.4 billion profit for Q3 2025

    Apple posts $94 billion in revenue, $23.4 billion profit for Q3 2025

    Apple was able to beat analysts’ predictions with its third quarter 2025 financial results on Thursday, posting revenue of $94.0 billion, a 10 percent year-over-year increase. The company reported $23.4 billion in profit.

    Analysts had predicted revenue of under $90 billion, which Apple comfortably beat by 6 percent.

    The iPhone led the company’s revenue with $44.5 billion, a 13.5 percent increase over the Q3 2024. Apple’s Services division saw a boost of $3 billion year-over-year, boosting it to another quarterly record. Mac sales were also up nearly 15 percent.

    The iPad division generated $6.6, but saw a 7 percent reduction in the year-over-year from Q3 2024. Apple updated the iPad Pro with M4 chips in May, but the iPad Pro is a low-volume product. Apple’s more affordable tablets were refreshed earlier this year: iPad Air was updated in March with an M3 chip, along with the A16-equipped 11th-generation iPad.

    The company’s Wearables, Home, and Accessories divisions saw an 8.6 percent decrease in the year-over-year. This category is mainly bolstered by AirPods and Apple Watch, both of which are due to get updates this fall.

    The financials sttod as follows:

    • iPhone: $44.6 billion (up from $39.3 billion)
    • iPad: $6.6 billion (down from $7.2 billion)
    • Mac: $8 billion (up from $7 billion)
    • Wearables, Home, and Accessories: $7.4 billion (down from $8.1 billion)
    • Services: $27 billion (up from $24 billion)

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Macworld